Do you like the clients you write for?
Interesting question isn’t it? But it is worth asking yourself this question every now and again, because if the answer is no you aren’t going to enjoy your online writing career very much at all.
Many writers – particularly those who are just starting out with their online writing career – are afraid to turn work down. That is perfectly understandable and it can be a habit that is difficult to break. You automatically think ‘What if I don’t get offered anything else this week?’ or ‘Supposing all the work dries up after this? I’ll wish I’d have taken it then…’
As I said, it’s understandable. But you are working for yourself now, so you have choices to make. And you are free to decide whether or not you want to work for any one particular person.
Some clients are a dream to work for. They are polite, friendly, easy to get along with and you are never left in any doubt as to what they want from you and your writing skills. But then there are those clients who can be – how shall I say this tactfully? – a pain. Now I’m not talking about people who don’t pay when the work is delivered. If you get caught out by one of these you won’t get caught by them again. No, what I am referring to here are the clients who change their minds, alter what they want to get from you, dither over important points, never answer emails promptly, are vague about their requirements… and on it goes.
If you have a client right now that you hate working for, ask yourself this – why are you still working for them?
Being happy with your clients is just part of the puzzle
It’s a fair question isn’t it? After all YOU are in charge here, and if you decide that you don’t like working for them, you don’t have to work for them any more. Period. Done, decided and worked out once and for all. Why would you carry on writing for a client that you dislike working for?
The main reason is probably money. Yes, if we are honest most of us would say we have a client or two that isn’t exactly a model client, but they pay well enough to keep us more tolerant. Your online writing career may have room for one or two clients who are like this, but remember that you are in charge here. It’s much better to work for five clients that you love writing for than it is to work for ten who get on your nerves.
Yes, this is a touchy subject. But it is one that every online writer should think about every now and again. Because by doing so you are working towards an online writing career that will be more enjoyable and more carefree.
Now, isn’t it time you thought long and hard about the clients you are writing for?
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