From time to time, I work with clients who have no idea what they want. Well, they seem to know what they want when we first talk, but over time they change their minds time after time. While I can understand where they are coming from, most of these clients never take the time to think about the writer. Obviously, when a client decides to change direction mid-project it can cause major issues. Not only does the writer have to stop working, but there is a chance that many edits and complete revisions will be requested.
Here are two common “direction changers†that I have run into in the past. Although they may not be common, there is a chance that you will encounter these issues sometime during the course of your freelance writing career.
1. The project is going along just fine, and out of nowhere the client tells you that they are no longer interested in moving forward. I have had clients do this, and then pay me what they owe. But at the same time I have had clients who cancel a project and tell me that they do not have to pay because they don’t want the completed content. Of course, this is not fair to the writer in the least bit.
If you run into a situation where a client does not way to pay after canceling a project, the best thing you can do is explain your side of the story and hope that they will come around.
2. Midway through a project, you get an email or phone call from the client saying that they love your work but the entire scope of the project has changed. For instance, you may have been working on 10 keyword articles on general health when the client tells you that all 10 need to touch on diabetes, symptoms, and treatment. While a similar category, it will be on you to revise the articles. In many cases, a change of direction like this can put you back to square one.
Once again, if you encounter this situation you need to be open and honest with the client. State that you also like working with them, but that you put a lot of time into the initial project. They may offer you a “kill fee†as well as payment for the new project. If you don’t ask, but instead sit back and take it, you will run into this situation time after time without any monetary compensation.
Just like a lot of people in the business world, freelance writing clients have the tendency to change their mind from time to time. You need to make sure that you are as accommodating as possible but that you do not go so far that you put yourself out. Simply put, you should do what the original project guidelines state and then deal with any change in direction as it comes up.Â
When I first started this blog I was not entirely sure in the direction that it was going. I wanted to offer tips and basic freelance writing information, and I feel that this goal has been attained to a certain extent. At the same time, my initial thought was to offer information on professional blogging, making money online, and other related topics. Although I post on these areas from time to time, they are few and far between.
At this point, I am looking to take ChrisBlogging.com to the next level. What does this mean, exactly? Well, I have some ideas of my own but at the same time I would like feedback from my loyal readers as well. After all, you guys and gals are the ones who keep the blog moving in the right direction. Without you, I would simply be talking to myself.
One of the first things that I plan to do is finish the site redesign. But before I do this, I must decide which direction I want to take the blog. Here are my thoughts:
1. I am definitely going to keep up with at least one post per day. This is the backbone of ChrisBlogging.com, and this is never going to change. Additionally, I want to make sure that this content is easy to find and view from the front page of the blog.
2. If you are familiar with freelancewriting.com, you are aware that they offer much more than tips. They offer detailed information on job openings, newsletters, and much more. In other words, they are a one stop shop for everything freelance writing. This is something that I am considering.
3. I also want to begin to offer more value to current readers and others interested in the make money online niche. Possible ideas for doing so include regular reviews of blogs, products, and services related to writing and earning online. I am also mulling around the idea of holding monthly contests in order to increase reader participation, and to give back to all of you who have helped to make ChrisBlogging.com successful.
Overall, my main goal is to expand from a basic blog to more of a full-blown resource center for freelance writers and other like minded professionals. What do you think of the ideas above? Is there anything else that you would like me to consider including?
Any thoughts would be a great help. I am looking forward to all of your ideas!
In many ways, being a freelance writer is much better than a traditional office job. But at the same time, writing is not always an easy thing to do, day in and day out. Every project requires special care and attention to detail. To go along with this, it can often be difficult to leave your freelance writing work behind and enjoy the rest of your life. In the long run, all of these potential downfalls can lead to burnout. Many writers never suffer from this, but there are quite a few who are going through this problem right now or will encounter this situation in the future.
Here are three reasons that you may begin to suffer from freelance writing burnout:
1. Do you feel like you have “maxed out†as far as your income is concerned? This can definitely lead to burnout. When you feel that you are stuck at a certain level of income, it is time to reassess your career and determine what you can do to increase your productivity. With all of that being said, this is not always a bad thing; especially if you are sitting at an income that you are comfortable with.
2. It is common for freelance writers to get bored because they feel as if they are doing the same thing everyday. There used to be times when I would run into this problem, but as of late it has not come up nearly as much. The best way to avoid this issue is to accept a wide variety of projects, while also working on tasks that are not 100 percent freelance writing related. For instance, I run this blog as well as my writing course. Both of them allow me to bring diversity into each day.
3. Are you feeling the pressure of working for yourself? Do you miss the security of a 9-5 job? These feelings can lead to burnout sooner rather than later. This is perhaps the most serious situation that you will have to deal with. After all, it will force you into deciding between continuing your freelance writing career or heading back to a job with more security.
As of late, more and more freelance writing professionals have been asking me for help overcoming burnout. Unfortunately, this is usually a problem that you have to deal with on your own. Even though there are some basic reasons for burnout, each writer has different feelings and unique ways of dealing with these problems.
