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Topic: Backing Out Make Me a Terrible Person?
| Author | Message |
| KC4 | Posted – 8/13/2006 8:35:43 PM | show profile So I have a full-time job but had been doing some freelancing to make some extra cash. I was contacted by a company to write 2 press releases a week (not my favorite, but seemed doable and the money didn't hurt). Unfortunately that has turned into multiple press releases and other projects that seem better suited for a PR person or copy writer; plus the person I'm writing for doesn't seem to understand that I have a very demanding full-time job, contacting me during work hours, asking me to change plans so I can help her, etc. My dilemma is this: I have a huge work project to do tonight, plus 2 freelance articles that pay very well...but this woman has dumped more press releases onto my lap that she wants tomorrow. I'm tempted to e-mail her tonight and say, I'm sorry, this is too much for me to juggle, but is that completely stupid/screwing her over? I don't want to burn bridges but I have no interest in writing press releases or copy writing. Also, she is very high-maintenance...and I just got a raise at work so I'm not hurting for money. Thoughts? |
| Lotus665 | Posted – 8/13/2006 9:34:49 PM | show profile I would say pull an all nighter, prioritizing the job-job work and the freelance articles, then whip off the minimally acceptable press releases and give your notice to Ms. High Maintenance when you hand them in. Just say you thought it was going to be 2/week and it has bloomed since then, and what with your FTJ demands you can no longer freelance for her, thanks for the opportunity, adieu. If you really can't do it all by deadline...back out as soon as possible so you can give her some time to find someone else. If she's mad, so be it, sounds like you have enough work and references to go around. But next time, set limits and stick to them so this doesn't happen again. |
| veteranjournalist | Posted – 8/13/2006 9:39:15 PM | show profile I would tell the person who hired you to write the press releases that you're too busy to handle the increased workload. Be polite but firm, and remind this lady that you had accepted the job because you thought it would be only two press releases a week. If she's unwilling to reduce your workload to what you originally signed up to do, just sever your ties with the company. You said you don't need the money and you probably don't need her as a reference. Any legitimate company that hires a freelancer should have a contract that specifies what is expected of the freelancer. If you don't have a contract, then that's maybe why they think they can take advantage of you and overload you with work. |
| Marie | Posted – 8/13/2006 9:53:43 PM | show profile I wouldn't do anymore work for her tonight. This job has spiraled into more than you signed on for. She can't be dumping stuff on you at the last minute. Remind her you have a full-time job and that when she hired you the deal was to write two press releases a week (or whatever it was). I certainly would NOT pull an all-nighter to do her last-minute work. If you do that, you'll be a mess all week and jeopardize your full-time job. Do your freelance articles, and that's it for tonight. You had an agreement for a certain amount of work, and she's overstepped that agreement. You don't owe her a thing. |
| KC4 | Posted – 8/13/2006 10:05:42 PM | show profile thanks Thanks for all the advice. I've never been one to quit, but my main responsibility has to be my job...I don't want to jeopardize that in favor of something like this. I have done some of her work so I guess I'll just have to send her that. |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 8/13/2006 10:20:44 PM | show profile I don't see the problem, really. You agreed to do two press releases; you're not on a retainer where you have agreed to take on any projects they offer. If you don't have time to do the additional press releases, just write to her and say, "Unfortunately, I am booked up today with contracted projects, so I can't take on these two new releases if you need them by tomorrow. I'll be happy to take on the projects if we can work out a mutually agreeable schedule." |
| writesonwater | Posted – 8/14/2006 12:58:47 PM | show profile | email poster Sometimes you have to fire a client. Just the way it is. Doesn't happen often, but I had one client tighten the parameters on a batch of assignments after they were given. As I was already threading a pretty tight needle in terms of how much work I was doing for how little money, the new, even pickier specs aimed at marketing to a tiny little sliver of profitability were the last straw, to mix metaphors. I'm a good sport, but I'm not a doormat. |
| belinda | Posted – 8/14/2006 3:38:51 PM | show profile It sounds as if you (you!) haven't yet set boundaries with this person. If this is the case, then thinking ill of her and quitting seems extreme -- she doesn't know you have a problem with the work she's giving you if you haven't told her! |
| Lotus665 | Posted – 8/14/2006 6:30:26 PM | show profile What Belinda said. If you've committed to do something and it's due tomorrow, it's only professional to finish the gig before you bail...but then you really have to be clear with this person that the arrangement isn't working for you any more and that will be the last thing you'll do. Next time if you get into something like this stick to the original deal and don't say yes to everything, and get it in writing! But it sounds like your plate is full now so there won't be a next time. |
| writesonwater | Posted – 8/14/2006 8:04:12 PM | show profile | email poster I appreciate the "not bailing" thing, but when a client changes an assignment to something not agreed to or doubles the scope of the project at the last minute with blind disregard to your schedule, you renegotiate something -- the timetable, the money, something. And if there's not more time in the timetable, you may not be able to just suck it up. THe best clients know this. The ones we want to keep will work with us. Sometimes I can handle the last-minute "Wouldja couldja pleeez" and sometimes my schedule wont let me. But when it's part of a larger pattern of frantic oversight and disorganization, I am probably not the first they have tried this junk on. THank goodness most publications and clients are more professional. Those are the ones to keep. |
| The phashionista | Posted – 8/14/2006 11:36:12 PM | show profile | email poster KC4, I had a client who wanted me to put together a 28-page newsletter. We agreed on rates, deadlines, etc., I put it in the contract and had him sign off. I put together the entire newsletter, first proof (and I even spelled out the edit rounds at two). He decided that instead of building a rocket ship, we were going to build a submarine after seeing the first proof. That's fine, I said, but you'll have to pay extra. I'm not paying extra. Well, the contract states that this is what I am going to do for you, I did it, and now you want to change it. That costs money. CYA. Make sure you have all of this in writing. Once a client sees how much extra they have to pay for extra work, they sometimes back down. I ended up scrapping the rocket ship, building the submarine in a week and getting paid a nice sum for it. In your case, I would have a contract that states that I will write two 500-word press releases once a week with a five-day turnaround. The price of $XXXX includes two rounds of edits. Additional press releases or projects are subject to a different contract, priced separately. Communication is key here, too. And if you do decide to drop this client, feel free to pass along my name. I could use some more work. E-mail enabled. |
| The phashionista | Posted – 8/14/2006 11:43:48 PM | show profile | email poster One other tidbit that I thought of after posting. Make sure the client signs off on the project as well. Same above client said that if he found a typo in the newsletter, he would sue. I told him that before I would send it to the printer, I had a form for him to sign stating that he took responsibility for the content. Trust me, clients don't want to help you make money. They want to wring every drop of work out of you for the lowest price. That's why you need to CYA, CYA, CYA. And, hey, it's kind of fun when you know you're going to make money off their mistake, changes of heart, changes of mind, etc. So many people who aren't in the publishing business have no clue what it takes to write press releases, write an article, create a brochure, write copy for a Web site. At least my publishing clients understand that turnaround doesn't always happen overnight, a change in the angle of the story can take days to become a reality. I call clients, especially in PR or business, idea people and I'm someone who can deliver. It's easy to say you have an idea but not always easy to execute. Part of your job is to train clients how long execution can take. |
| writesonwater | Posted – 8/15/2006 1:27:53 AM | show profile | email poster Definitely right idea, Phashionista. I have clients who will ask me to pull a miracle on occasion, and I'm happy to put the hustle to the muscle. However, perpetual disorganization is something I have learned to stay away from, and I will not reward. It's bad feng shui if nothing else. |
| bjoconnorfla | Posted – 8/15/2006 2:20:22 PM | show profile An alternative: It sounds like you like the work (such as it is) and it pays you well enough, and I assume that you charge more when you get work. The only problem, then, is that she's giving you too much of it (a nice problem for a freelancer to have). Why not outsource the bulk of the extra work to another writer rather than risk losing all the assignments? This way you can keep the client happy, hang on to the work, and throw some jobs to perhaps less-experienced friends or colleagues. I did this with some research and factchecking on assignments, reserving the final writing and editing for myslef, and still made OK money on the gigs. But more importantly, I was able to take on other assignments from clients I could not afford to turn down. |
| writesonwater | Posted – 8/15/2006 4:32:03 PM | show profile | email poster That's an interesting proposition, BJ. I guess I need to consider doing that, because I have too much work coming in right now. What are the ins and outs of subcontracting like that? |
| The phashionista | Posted – 8/15/2006 11:00:05 PM | show profile BJ & Overhill, I did exactly that with the client I referenced above. I farmed out a lot of the writing, design and photography, marked it up and then managed the client and the project and handled all the editing. Everything was ultimately in my hands. Same thing a PR firm does when they farm out copy to freelancers. They take a cut, give you a smidgen and everyone makes money. Just make sure you are dealing with professionals who will get copy in on deadline. I always fudged the deadline to give myself a cushion. |
| bjoconnorfla | Posted – 8/16/2006 12:38:31 PM | show profile Not much to it -- phasionista pretty much spells it out. You make an informal arrangement with some other writers that you KNOW and TRUST, if possible; pad your deadline in case something goes wrong, and make sure you go over everything with a finetooth comb. You handle the front end, outline things, identify possible sources, etc., then hand the stuff over to your sub. You handle all the client contact. If your subs need to deal with outside sources, decide how you want them to ID themselves. I always had my folks say they were my research assts. To avoid problems, let the client know you will be having "a friend help you out" with minor research. I didn't use any contracts, but these were fellow freelancers in my town. We all had friends and shared contacts, so it was in everyone's best interest to be professional and behave. Plus, if I stiffed them, they knew where I lived. I did make sure they understood that they didn't get paid until I did. For the most part, it was work that they could do in between other assignments or at slack times. It was easy money for all of them, and they got paid about a month later. Good luck. |
| KC4 | Posted – 8/16/2006 11:28:16 PM | show profile postscript I ended up e-mailing my client, sending her as much work as I had finished, and explained that I still hadn't finished my work project and would need more time, I understand if you want to hire someone else who can spend more time, this is more than I anticipated, etc. To my surprise she was pretty cool and is letting me take my time because she wants to work with me. Of course now I'll be sure to set boundaries. |
