It is very easy to get overwhelmed when you are freelancing. You are so excited about getting new clients that before you know it you have more work than you think you can reasonably handle. Before you find yourself in this untenable position, make sure you know when to say no. In some cases, saying no is not difficult. In fact, clients who ask you to do work that is outside of your area(s) of expertise, work that is contrary to your personal ethical standards or clients who are constantly asking you to work under difficult deadlines are prime candidates for “no”. So when else is it appropriate for you to say no?
The Job From Hell
Your client has just contacted you at 9am on Monday morning and wants you to write a 1500 word article on a topic that is completely foreign to you. They are willing to pay great money for this article but there is a catch – they need it before 5pm. Unless the money is REALLY good and you have nothing else to do all day long, this is a great time to say no! After all, a completely foreign topic is going to require you to do a lot of research before you can think about putting one word on a blank screen. Think about work quality – and answer these three questions:
- Do I have the time to fully research this article and produce a high quality article?
- Will my article sound professional and come across as strong as I’d like it?
- Will this article help my freelancing career?
If you cannot answer these three questions with a positive answer, then definitely turn down the work. If you are willing to risk it, go for it!
The Client from Hell
We have all met them at one time or another. The micro-managing client. They want to tell you lock stock and barrel exactly what sources you should be using, exactly how the paragraphs should be structured and exactly which program you should be using to write your article. Forget it! This type of client will suck you dry over time. Run, do not walk away from this client or you will lose any way to extract yourself from them.
Work That Violates your Standards
Whether it is article rewriting or adult content, politics or religion, if you are not comfortable writing about a specific topic, just say no. There is no shame in turning down work that violates your personal moral or ethical standards, if anything it makes you a more credible writer.
Summary
There are certainly other valid reasons for turning down freelance writing jobs. Each freelance writer must decide for themselves if a job is worth taking on. You should never feel bad about turning down work, even though each turned down job is a matter of money literally getting away from you, you should never feel that you have to do something that you do not feel is appropriate.
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