Dear Clients,
I love you. Yes, I do. I love that you have faith in me to deliver your project your way. You know I’m bending over backwards to make you happy, right? No? Well, I am. It’s not just my job – it’s something I take seriously.
However lately, dear clients, I’m not feeling the love returned. Instead, I’m seeing more of you expecting my services for free. While I do adore you, I can’t pay for my utilities with admiration and respect. They’re not quantifiable commodities, nor can I write a check to the auto mechanic for one “atta boy.”
So as of today, I’d like to mention a few things to keep in mind about my relationship with you going forward:
The price is the price is the price. Did I mention the price you receive is the price I charge? No? While I can maybe spot you a break once in a while, I have my services priced fairly and to allow me to actually make a living. It’s okay – we live in a capitalist society. We’re allowed to profit.
The contract must be in place. I’ve been burned, dear client. Not by you – not yet – but it’s happened. My writerly heart’s been toasted and my trust has been abused. For that reason, thanks to all the cads who came before you, I must insist on doing business properly – in writing. It’s for your own good, too. I’m looking out for both of us.
My skill set does not include ESP. I love that you think I can know exactly what you want or what you omitted from your communications with me. It makes me feel good to know you have such faith in me, but really, I get so disheartened when you become upset because that service or product or accomplishment you failed to mention isn’t included in your brochure. I can’t please you if you don’t help me out a little. Since I own no tarot cards, I’m going to have to count on you to supply the necessary info. Sorry. Nothing I can do there.
Your lack of organization does not constitute my emergency. Sure I’ll help you get that late project going. I may even give up my weekend for it, but please understand why that involves a higher fee. See, there were three other people and projects in line ahead of you and I had to bump them and arrange for somewhat later delivery times in order to accommodate you, plus I’m now not going to the art exhibit/theme park/birthday party but spending my time off with your project. Wouldn’t you expect someone to compensate you for that, too? By the way, this also applies to those of you who love to hand me a project that you need help with ASAP and oh my, you’re going to miss your deadline! I work for a lot of folks, not just you. I want to please them, as well. It wouldn’t be fair to drop their deadlines in order to meet yours, especially since they were kind enough to plan far enough in advance so as not to put additional pressure on me to get things done.
My existing samples are all you’ll see, thank you. Remember my saying I was burned? Part of that frying included people who expected free samples and then never hired me (and probably used the samples verbatim). I’ve been at this for over 15 years now. I have samples from nearly any industry or job you can name. Just name it – I’ll give you one. That should suffice. If not, my small fee for that sample should be paid upon receipt. Otherwise, I’m not your writer.
I’ve heard it all before. You’re not paying because it’s A) a labor of love for you; B) a startup company with limited cash (but you paid your designer, I bet); C) an easy job for the right person; D) a ground-floor opportunity; E) the chance for free exposure for my work; F) a revenue-share opportunity from a company I’ve never heard of on a site I’ve never heard of that promises big money from revenue generated from out of the blue; G) your family has no money but you know your story will sell and you’ll share some of the royalties with me; H) all of the above. Again, refer to my first point in this letter.
I have a consistent, strong collection process. Again, I’ve heard much of what you’re going to say before: you never received the invoice, you processed the invoice and the check’s on the way, you decided months later you hated what I’ve produced, you need more edits, you can’t get legal/accounting/the CEO to cut that check and you’re looking into it, your relative’s been sick and you’re just now back in the office, or you simply stopped responding to my invoices/litigation notices. Referring once more to being burned in the past, I have long since stopped reacting and have become proactive in the collection of what’s due me. While I’m happy to help you work out payment plans, I’m not happy to have you reduce my work to a pile of rubbish in an attempt to avoid payment. It won’t work. I make sure I get at least one note from you saying things are fine before I invoice. And I keep a very thorough paper trail.
I know it sounds harsh. Please don’t think I don’t still adore you. I do. I’m just practicing what any good therapist would advise – I’m stating my boundaries and asserting them. Now let’s just file this under Good to Know and get on with business, okay?
Much love,
Your writer
Amen! Well said!
Oh my yes. With your permission, I'd like to post a couple of points from this blog with a link back to the whole thing in our social network, Inked-In. It's a lesson that all writers, freelance or fiction, needs to learn about the value of work and the value of self. And wise up!
Go for it, Joseph!
Can we carve this in marble and use it as a cornerstone for the CPWA?
The commandments? I love it, Paula! LOL