No. Seriously? No.

I took a freelance writing course a few years ago and the advice was quite good. What she told us was to remember that you are worth in X dollars per hour and never go lower, and to be crystal clear how many hours and how much money to expect from any client up front - changes in what is expected should return more money. If they don’t agree - tell them to bugger off. Your time and efforts are worth much more - whey else would they be hiring you if they could do it themselves?

Sounds feeble in print, but as writers we get the short end way too often and try to strike compromises too quickly. Stick to your principals, work ethics and guns and in the end your integrity and reputation will precede you. And let those A-Hole clients go F-Themselves.

I just get kinda peeved hearing how we writers sometimes get stepped on like we are a sub-class of second class citizens.

@Sharon - thanks for providing great content!

@Paul - Terrific points. Sounds like a great class you attended, one with the perfect perspective on day-to-day freelancing work. It’s so true, isn’t it? I read this post yesterday about the difference between being firm and being mean. Being firm is sticking to your principles, ensuring that you are respected, and in turn respecting others. Being mean is just being irrational and garnering attention through fear. I strive to be firm, and so was proud that I was able to get through the confrontation with this douche with the utmost logic and firmness. Thanks for chiming in, Paul, and stick around!

In retrospect, I recognize that I am somewhat complicit since I didn’t start firm. So in the future, as much as possible, expectations will be set at the beginning. I’ve found that I actually get more than I expect when I do so…