You’re happy in your job and life. You have a good balance between your work and personal life. But, one day, out of the blue, you get a phone call from your literary agent informing you that you’ve got a new client and his offer is too good to turn down.
You’ve been writing for leisure ever since you finished university and decided it was time to make a living out of your passion. You enjoy the flexibility of being a freelancer and you’ve found plenty of work doing commissioned pieces for businesses, blogs and even a few high-profile individuals.
But now, seemingly out of the blue, an opportunity appears that may change your life forever. And, more importantly, the lives of those you care about most.
How do you answer the phone when you’re in the middle of a project? How do you say no to a client you’ve been working hard to impress? What happens to your carefully cultivated relationship with your existing clients?
More importantly, how do you handle this sort of situation professionally? What should you do, and what should you say?
In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about quitting your freelance writing job, including what to do and say to your clients, how to negotiate with your agent, and more.
Why Should You Quit?
Quitting is never easy, especially when you’ve built your career and life around a certain path. But, if you’re serious about doing this, then you may as well jump at the chance now rather than wait until your existing clients start declining your services due to lack of use.
You’re probably wondering why your literary agent would suddenly call you with a new client when you’re on the verge of pitching to an important business client. Well, it’s quite simple. Your agent has probably been watching your carefully curated Twitter account and sees your penchant for networking. As a result, he feels that you’re the best person to advise this particular client on his editorial needs. So, he calls you and hands you this new project to begin working on immediately. Once you begin, you’ll have no choice but to continue until your contract is completed or until you decide to walk away with nothing.
What Should You Do Next?
As soon as your agent calls with this surprising new project, you should sit down with him and have an honest chat about it. This is a good opportunity to get some much-needed advice and, hopefully, secure a contingency plan in case things don’t pan out as you expect them to. Your agent may have some suggestions about how to deal with this new project that will benefit you in the future. Plus, he might have some connections that can help you out with the project, as well. So, don’t hesitate to ask.
After you’ve had a chat with your agent about this new project, it’s time to get to work. Even though this may be a one-shot deal, you never know if it will develop into something more. So, you may as well begin drafting your proposal immediately.
How To Negotiate With Your Agent?
Once you’ve begun working on this project, your agent will undoubtedly start setting some strict terms and conditions. Even though you’re ecstatic about finally securing a paid project, you may have to put your foot down and firmly establish what you and your agent are looking for in terms of payment. After all, you’re a professional and this is a paid opportunity. Your agent may also request some additional fees for his services, so be sure to ask about those, as well.
Usually, literary agents charge clients a six-figure sum for their services. So, you should start off on the right foot by being prepared to pay a handsome sum. Never be afraid to ask your agent for a total up-front quote before you lock yourself into a contract. Also, be sure to read your agent’s guidelines thoroughly before you begin preparing your proposal. This will save you both from any unpleasant surprises down the line.
What Should You Say To Your Existing Clients?
Speaking of unpleasant surprises, you may find that, once your project is completed and you’ve delivered the written piece, your agent decides against representing you. In this scenario, you’ll have to decide how to handle the fallout from this particular project. Even though it’s unfortunate when this happens, especially after you’ve gone through the trouble of working your way up through the ranks, this is why you must be prepared for the worst when you’re in negotiations with your agent. In this case, you’ll have to decide how to deal with a total stranger. And, let’s face facts: Your existing clients may not be feeling very generous at this particular moment.
Ultimately, this is a decision you’ll have to make. But, at the very least, you should have a plan B ready in case your plan A doesn’t work out as expected. This is something you should have been preparing for all along. So, don’t be too overwhelmed by the situation; try to keep things in perspective.
The Final Step
When everything is said and done, it’s time to reflect on the past few months. You’ve worked hard to establish yourself as an expert in your industry and to gain some level of confidence and security in your role. But, now, it’s time to take stock of your situation and determine how you want to proceed. Even though this may not be the kind of project you signed up for, you should view it as a blessing in disguise. This is a one-time opportunity to gain some much-needed experience and to prove to yourself and to others that you are, in fact, a worthy writer.
On the subject of becoming a freelance writer, this is something you’ve wanted to do for a long time. Now, with a bit of luck and some wise negotiating on your part, this may be the one and only opportunity you’ll ever need to make it happen. So, don’t hesitate to seize the day and to accept this amazing offer.