“No” Is A Complete Sentence

For some reason, many freelance writers hesitate to say “no,” particularly to a client. I know I used to be afraid. Part of it was my fear that this client might be the very last client I’d ever have. Where I got that notion I have no idea.

I do know that as I matured as a writer, I learned to say no to clients when they asked too much, or wanted me to do something outside my expertise, or something that I simply didn’t want to do.

Of course, I’m usually polite; I often explain why. For example, a client asked me if I could put pull quotes in a manuscript. I said I’d be happy to do two pages with pull quotes he could use as a sample for a book designer, but I couldn’t handle the book design. He wanted to know a bit more, so I told him, in the most general terms, the difference between word processing and page layout. It was new information to him, not surprisingly. He asked how he could find a book designer and everyone’s happy.

I don’t’ always explain. Sometimes I just say “no.” If they don’t ask why, I certainly don’t have to go into it.

Knowing when to say no frees up all sorts of time and energy.

Write well and often,

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