Should I do it or should I ditch him?

Hi Jill, You are just too SOFT sometimes, sorry but this guy is taking the pee and wants something for nothing. Firstly what I would do is to send him quotes from other companies for this type of work and then ask him to pay you a percentage upfront for you to do this for him. I have given so much for so long but there comes a time when one has to say ENOUGH. You need to concentrate on your own book first and foremost and let all these outside distactions take a back seat because that is what they are to stop you from achieving your goal and what you want to do in life, and that includes the invitations which you really did not need to be volunteered for doing. Sorry to nag but you are such a lovely lady and it annoys me that people take advantage. He can afford more which is probably why he is well off because he is tight. Remember the reason he can't find anyone else to do it is because he won't pay the price. I think to much of you for you to be stitched up so upfron money or don't do the work. Huggles. Ellie :D

hey babes have you ever thought that this might be the reason that he can't find anyone else to do it. i understand he's been referred and you don't want to let that person down but at he end of the day you are a busy girl and your time is valuable. Make him an offer that you are comfortable with and feel it is reasonable point out to him how much of a reduction compaired to what your publisher would charge. If he isn't happy then he is quite welcome to take it elsewhere, you are not the one that will be loosing out. I know it sounds harsh but i am sick of people expecting other people to use their time and effort for pitance, nothing is free these days and lets be honest would he go to that much effort for you! We can't please everyone all of the time so sometimes you have to stand true to yourself and stick by it. Good Luck

i think you just have to be more professional with him and treat him like a customer... so you can tell him upfront how much you are going to charge him depending on the quality of the work that he wants... if he wants a crap work, then you can charge him cheaper... but if he wants a good quality work, of course he has to pay you more... and don't forget to make him pay the deposit as well to make sure that he won't run away and also put everything in writing so you have something to hold on if something happens... verbal agreement is just not good enough and i had learn from there... good luck... hope everything will work for you... take care and have a nice day...

If it doesn't feel right, then don't do it. You can help him find someone else but you don't Have to do it.

before you do anything set the price and stick to it if he don,t want to pay let him move on to someone else causing you a lot of stress answer his call and be firm with him and be nice.he needs you not the other way around.

Here have your publisher give a price on it. Then he can see how much it would cost him or tell or show him how much it does cost you for your own books. Then tell him that is the price and that is it. And the things I tell you, You should do are only to better the book. Not to make it worse or to try to charge more. I would ask the same Questions as I don't have a lot of money even if I did I would ask. And if that don't work tell him to take it somewhere else. Give him names of place's that will do it or not. Your friend onlydia

If you don't think you are going to be paid enough for your hard work, I'd tell him you just can't do it. I would suggest telling him right away so he can begin another search for someone who has the time and won't charge him much. You need to be paid for your experience. He can find a student to edit his manuscript and pay less. If he insists that he wants you to do it because you are experienced and you don't want to invest the time, make your rate high enough he will refuse you or explain you won't have time to review his work for awhile. Making the decision to look elsewhere would then be his choice and you wouldn't feel bad.

hi jill! that's really a problem. you should have talked about the charge during your first meeting. it would have been better if things were clear from the very start. well i think you should tell him straight about your charges and all and why $25 is not enough. and tell him no one would agree on that kind of fee! if he wouldn't agree on it then you just give him back his manuscript. just stand your ground jill. work is work and we're just doing it for a living. good luck jill.

H[i]i jillhill, There are really people who are like that but most will also give in once they know that they will get the best of what they want.. If I were you, I will talked to him for the last time and if ever he will go with the price, then good! Of course, it's not easy to do that job, he should be willing to meet with your asking price![/i]

He does sound like he would be a pain to work for and might be the type who would complain about every thing when you were finished and not want to pay you what was left on his tab to pay. It is so funny how it is the ones with the big bucks who seem to want to argue the price. I think I would tell him to try to find someone else and when you finished your book then you might consider doing it for the right price. hahaha

I am a Chinese,my english is poor,i read your article for long times,but a lot of word i cann't translation,so i can not give you some suggest i am so sorry.

Jill Sweetie, I think it's time for you to be strong as I'm sure you are and tell this man that you don't have time for this project. Be honest and tell him exactly how much you would charge. You have no obligation to this man. Just because a friend sent him to you doesn't mean you should do something you are not comfortable with. the reason this man has money is because he doesn't spend it. If he wants this book for his kids, then he needs to be willing to pay for it. That phone will keep ringing so make it stop. It doesn't sound like you have a lot of time to play around with this, so don't let him take advantage of you. Alot of elderly people don't know what they want, but they don't want someone telling them what to do. I used to care for an elderly couple that I met through the bank I worked for. They became like my surrogate grandparents. He wanted me to do all these little errands but didn't want to give me any money for gas or whatever. she would always slip me some money when he wasn't working. I was in a financial crisis at the time, or I wouldn't have taken it. Anyway, they don't really understand somwetimes. You have to be the one in charge. Good luck sweetie. I hope I helped a little. Please pm me and let me know how it worked out.xoxo leenie

I think you should be honest, then block his calls!! But if you choose to do the work I would get a nice chunck up front. Those types will look for any little reason not to pay you! Good Luck Rachel

I agree. Maybe work out a contract and have him sign it and get a 25% deposit up front, then 2 or 3 payments as the work progesses. I would definately iron out the price before starting. He may have been through some rough deals and been ripped off, so he wants to protect himself. Just explain how much your time is worth and how much time you estimate it will take. He will be reasonable if he doesn't feel threatened. Treat him like a businessman. :)

hi Jillhill make sure that you get adequate payment for the time spent on typing his manuscript. If I were you I would give a fair price for both and leave it upon him. I would give him my date when I can finish his work. Either he likes it or not. But yes I know the Scrooge feeling that some people can make you feel.

I'd do it, but stick with a price that is fair to you, and you alone. A lot of times when we get older, the stubborness gets even worse, along with being a tightwad. He's lucky you are considering this. I hate to say this, but maybe he thinks playing on your sympathy might help him out. I don't want to insult the elderly, and we can all be manipulative, but this guy I think takes the cake.

jillhill, I do not think you should feel hesitant and withdrawn with this person. As you had already met up with him and read through his manuscripts, I am sure you are aware of what is required of you and the time needed. So, just name your price and state the time frame required and see if he will be willing to take up your offer. I think it is being responsible on his part to keep asking you on the charges as all the time it has been verbal between the both of you. Also, it may be his way of keeping track of his money and expenses. I am for the thought that he does not want to spend too much but at the same time short change you. You may want to draft up a simple contract stating your terms, with the allowance for additions should there be additional works to be done. You could charge piecemeal or time base, whatever you deem fit and comfortable with. You may also want to secure half upfront if it makes you comfortable to commence and proceed. You need to be a little positive here. You have been recommended and I am sure that he is comfortable with you and your terms as well. So, that is why he is calling you and not someone else. He has the money so I wouldn't think that he will not be paying you. At all times, you should not feel bad or hesitant. Just be honest and professional about it. Relations and introductions aside, this is just another business transaction.

Hi Jill. I see your dilemma. I certainly wouldn't want to just type the manuscript as a favor to a person I don't even know, and who sounds a little unpleasant. I guess that once I thought of a price, I would type up a brief "contract" that says what I will do specifically (like typing, correcting spelling errors and grammar, etc.) and how much per page I will charge. I would include my estimated timeline for getting it done. I'd include the font and font size he wants me to use. I would state there will be 1 original delivered (i.e. I would not be making extra copies for him). I might offer him an opportunity for 1 extra re-write, (for extra) if he should see things he wants to correct after it's typed. If he doesn't like it, then he can say so and not accept your terms. Problem solved. It's just good business to tell him, in advance, about what you will do, how you will do it, and when you think you could have it done. However, he needs to be willing to pay for that. You don't have to have him sign the contract (maybe I should call it an agreement) or anything, just let him read it and have in print what I am willing to do. Well, unless you think he's gonna keep trying to change things. I guess, in this case, it may be a good idea to let him sign it. Of course, it would be wise to anticipate any problems that could slow you down completing the work, and put those on the document. Maybe there wouldn't be any. If you can read his writing and you know whether he wants you to correct grammar and stuff, there may not be other potential "problems". Anyhoo, I think that's how I might go about something like this. But, if you don't want to do it at all and you think he's gonna be a pain in the you-know-what at this point, I can understand how you wouldn't want to do it. Good luck and I'd love to know how this all turns out!

Just answer the phone and tell him that something has come up and that you aren't going to be able to do it afterall. Maybe he could get someone from the local college or high school to do it. In high school the typing (or whatever they call it these days) instructor may be able to suggest someone and even give them extra credit for doing it, that way he may get a break on the amount he has to pay and the student could get a little spending money and extra credits in class.

Dear jillhill, You might be so kind that's why you have so much patience avoiding this old man. :P Kidding aside. You need to face him. That's the only way you can make him stop calling you when you laid out what you CAN do for him and what it will costs him to finish the manuscript for him. It's like sales talk. You outline all the costs, expenses that will incur and if he won't pay that much then explain what will be missing in his manuscript if he don't pay. Then you say, that's just an estimate, it's up to him to go find somebody else who might charge him less. And if he still chose you, then tell him about your priority right now, about your book. If he doesn't agree with you, then tell him to find someone else. That's that. Sound easy but you need to find courage. Don't let him intimidate you. You can do it. You want your life back then better stand on your feet and shoo him away :P Good luck.