When Silence Is Golden

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get discouraged when I send off queries and get no response. Even if you’re an experienced freelance writer, there’s no guarantee that the people offering the work will get back to you. But, as I’ve learned recently, just because you don’t hear anything it doesn’t mean that your application has fallen into a black hole.

Beyond The Black Hole

Recently I got an email regarding an application I had made to write a web article. The client explained that his first pick had let him down, but that he had also prepared a shortlist of other possibles and I was on it. The catch? He needed the article in less than 24 hours.

I responded immediately (it was 11pm) and then spent much of the next morning trying to get in touch with the client so we could talk through the job. That proved really helpful given the short deadline. Then I got to work and was able to deliver a draft in less than an hour. Normally, I would have polished the work before sending it to the client, but with the tight deadline I thought it was better to get instant feedback. The client was happy and I got paid by the end of the day.

What I Learned

So, what did I learn from that experience?

• Even if you don’t hear back immediately, there’s still a chance that you can get the writing job.

• Sometimes there’s no substitute for talking on the phone. We didn’t have time to exchange emails till we’d clarified everything.

• Pulling out all the stops to help a new client will put me top of the list when he’s got another writing job.

Finally, I plan to strike while the iron is hot. A grateful and happy client means a good testimonial for my website.