Comments on: Successful Freelance Writers Say No http://www.poewar.com/successful-freelance-writers-say-no/ The blog of writer J.C. Hewitt Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:21:17 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Jeanne Dininni http://www.poewar.com/successful-freelance-writers-say-no/comment-page-1/#comment-114114 Jeanne Dininni Sat, 04 Aug 2007 02:46:20 +0000 http://www.poewar.com/successful-freelance-writers-say-no/#comment-114114 John, I absolutely LOVE the last five items on your list! But, hopefully, most of us would never go beyond simply THINKING those! LOL! Jeanne John,

I absolutely LOVE the last five items on your list! But, hopefully, most of us would never go beyond simply THINKING those! LOL!

Jeanne

]]> By: John Hewitt http://www.poewar.com/successful-freelance-writers-say-no/comment-page-1/#comment-113688 John Hewitt Sun, 29 Jul 2007 21:40:13 +0000 http://www.poewar.com/successful-freelance-writers-say-no/#comment-113688 Hi Amy, Wow, you really ran into a dreamer that time. For me, that's one it is easy to say no to. I simply quote them a rate, tell them cash in advance and move on. I wouldn't bother to respond to the second email you received, they're clearly not the type of client I would want. The offers that are difficult are when they are proposing reasonable money to perform an unreasonable task. I once had to turn down an offer to write copy for a site that was clearly a scam. The money wasn't a problem, but I couldn't let myself be a part of such a rip off. Hi Amy,
Wow, you really ran into a dreamer that time. For me, that’s one it is easy to say no to. I simply quote them a rate, tell them cash in advance and move on. I wouldn’t bother to respond to the second email you received, they’re clearly not the type of client I would want. The offers that are difficult are when they are proposing reasonable money to perform an unreasonable task. I once had to turn down an offer to write copy for a site that was clearly a scam. The money wasn’t a problem, but I couldn’t let myself be a part of such a rip off.

]]> By: Amy Derby http://www.poewar.com/successful-freelance-writers-say-no/comment-page-1/#comment-113685 Amy Derby Sun, 29 Jul 2007 20:55:37 +0000 http://www.poewar.com/successful-freelance-writers-say-no/#comment-113685 Ha! Thanks for this. I needed a good laugh. I usually say the "Are you insane?" out loud to my computer (because I enjoy talking to inanimate objects), but my actual response is a bit more tame. One of the greatest things about dealing with people online is having the advantage of waiting to respond until you can find the right words. Another advantage is that it's often easier to say no to someone via email than it is when the person is standing right in front of you. You also have the ability to ignore/delete communications from crazy people. I recently had someone contact me to write press releases for a book that hasn't been published yet, and she wanted to pay me in a percentage of book sales. I got a headache reading the email. I was lost for a response that didn't include profanities or references to crack smoking, so I went with my old standby -- and evidently one of yours -- "That isn't the sort of work I do." She responded by asking me if I could put her in touch with an agent who could get her book published. I told her I wouldn't know where to begin and wished her luck. She then sent me a list of reasons why her book would be the next Harry Potter. I eventually blacklisted her email address. Ha! Thanks for this. I needed a good laugh. I usually say the “Are you insane?” out loud to my computer (because I enjoy talking to inanimate objects), but my actual response is a bit more tame.

One of the greatest things about dealing with people online is having the advantage of waiting to respond until you can find the right words. Another advantage is that it’s often easier to say no to someone via email than it is when the person is standing right in front of you. You also have the ability to ignore/delete communications from crazy people.

I recently had someone contact me to write press releases for a book that hasn’t been published yet, and she wanted to pay me in a percentage of book sales. I got a headache reading the email. I was lost for a response that didn’t include profanities or references to crack smoking, so I went with my old standby — and evidently one of yours — “That isn’t the sort of work I do.” She responded by asking me if I could put her in touch with an agent who could get her book published. I told her I wouldn’t know where to begin and wished her luck. She then sent me a list of reasons why her book would be the next Harry Potter. I eventually blacklisted her email address.

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