How Freelance Writers Deal With Hassle

I equate working as a freelance as living the good life. For one, you work at home, or anywhere of your leisure. Another, you keep your time, provided you meet whatever quota your client has for the day/week/month.

However, it can’t be helped that setbacks will appear every now and then. It can’t always be good; otherwise it’d be very boring. You have to accept the fact that such things will happen, whether you like it or not. Might as well prepare for it before it happens, right?

What setback am I talking about? The biggest one, by far, is being requested to rewrite an article or blog post that you’ve submitted. Sure, you may not think too much of it, but it’s a big hurdle for other writers.

Most of the time, rewrites are requested because of certain changes clients want done on what you’ve given them. To them, it may not be a big deal because it’s just simple details that they want incorporated into the post.

But it’s not as easy as that.

Sometimes, small changes make a big difference to the meaning that you want to convey with your content. Integrating those changes may actually mean having to re-do the entire piece instead of simply revising it according to the client’s specification. Sometimes, you can have it easy as rewriting a paragraph and tweaking other paragraphs to bind the whole piece together.

Tweaking certain aspects of an article is one thing, being told to start from scratch because the client didn’t like your work is a whole other thing. It can be ego busting, if you know what I mean. Here you are channeling your creative energy into writing the piece, and yet you end up getting it all wrong.

This kind of rewriting is the hardest to do because you’re probably going to be grasping at straws for ideas on how to write the entire thing again. You thought you had a clear idea of what the client wanted but ended up wrong. What now?

It’s best to clear your mind before you start to write again. Chances are, you’re going to feel hurt about the do-over request and dwell on it for a while. My advice, turn off your laptop for a bit and take a nice, relaxing nap. Nothing like a rejuvinated mind to come up with fresh ideas for a rewrite, yes?

If you wake up and you’re still dwelling on the client’s remarks, detach yourself from the article. You are not the article. You may have written it, but it doesn’t mean that it’s you the client doesn’t like. Think of it as a case of misunderstanding rather than a personal attack, because it isn’t.

Apologize. Don’t think of it as taking the high road because, quite frankly, you’re partly to blame for the misunderstanding. After you’ve sent your apology, make the rewrite, run through it twice, and submit.

Sometimes, if you’re unfortunate enough, you’ll have a client that’s not only difficult to please, but somewhat of an ass, too. If this is the case, it would be in your best interest to refer the said client to someone else who you think would best capture what your client wants to happen.

Personally, I don’t think any unreasonable client is worth the hassle you’re going to put yourself through by working for them.

Any thoughts on this matter?

Freelance Writing and Rollercoaster Rides (ghostwritinguncovered.com)
Is Ghostwriting Right for You? (harlemworldblog.wordpress.com)
Our Latest Book: How to Write Great Copy for the Web (freelanceswitch.com)

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Waxgirl333

I've been on both sides of the equation, both as a freelancer and as a marketing person using them. As someone using freelancers, it's impossible to educate the freelancer on all the branding, marketing goals, guidelines, etc. so most of the times changes that may seem small are actually to pull the piece into alignment with larger goals.

On the other hand, when clients start wordsmithing your pieces and adding/changing copy that turns it into marketing fluffy, that's when it's time to find someone new to work for, in my opinion!
Turon at Lugaw

I've been working as a freelance writer for about 9 month now. I am fortunate to have clients who are straightforward but pleasant. There have been some instances, however, when I felt that they were a bit unreasonable. I agree, they're not worth the hassle.