10 Signs a Freelance Writing Client Will Be a Nightmare (and How to Handle It)

If you’re working as a freelance writer long enough, you’re going to run into a bad client.

It’s almost a rite of passage.

I’ve been there myself, more than once, and it’s never a fun experience.

Bad freelance writing jobs don’t all look the same.

I’ve worked with clients who wanted replies within minutes no matter the time of day, and I’ve also worked with clients who disappeared online for weeks and then came back asking for a “quick” update.

Both can be frustrating in very different ways.

That said, I’ve learned over the years that not every challenging writing job is a bad one.

Some clients are demanding, but they’re still solid clients.

They know what they want, they communicate clearly, and they pay on time.

The work can feel intense, but I never had to chase them for feedback or wonder when an invoice would be paid.

Bad clients feel different.

Communication is all over the place. Feedback is unclear or constantly changing.

Payments are late, or worse, require multiple follow-ups (and no one likes that!).

When your income depends on those invoices, that kind of uncertainty starts to weigh on you fast.

For me, it always comes down to trust.

The moment I stop trusting a client to communicate or pay without reminders, the working relationship starts to crack.

And in freelance writing, trust isn’t optional.

The good news is that bad clients usually show their warning signs early.

Once you know what to look for, you can protect your time, your energy, and your income.

In some cases, you can even course-correct before the situation turns into a bigger problem.

So, to help you navigate this freelance thing, let’s look at some warning signs and get the experts to weigh in.

1. They’re Bad at Communicating What They Need

One thing I cannot stand as a freelance writer is poor communication with a client.

You can only do your best work when your client gives you what you need — clear info, timely feedback, and responses that don’t take forever.

If you don’t get that, the whole project stalls, your schedule backs up, and suddenly your week is a mess.

Seriously — I once had a client ghost me for three weeks.

They vanished on calls and emails so completely that I was ready to send a full-on breakup email.

And then?

Right when I was about to go nuclear, they popped back in as if nothing ever happened.

If you’ve been in that boat, you know exactly how frustrating it is when communication is… well… nonexistent.

Freelancers often talk about this.

Meredith Bethune, a seasoned freelance writer, says she’s learned that, “it’s always better to over-communicate than under-communicate,” because clarity up front saves a ton of back-and-forth later.

Here’s what I actually do when communication gets shaky:

Keep following up — not once, not twice, but enough that they actually acknowledge you.
Schedule a chat if messages aren’t working — sometimes a 10-minute call clears up everything faster than 10 emails.
Set a clear deadline for change — if things don’t improve after a month or two, it might be time to walk away.

You deserve clients who treat communication as a part of your job, not an optional extra.

If you can set expectations early and address issues head-on, you’ll save yourself time, stress, and a whole lot of headaches.

2. Freelance Writing Clients Try to Get a Discount

If I had a dollar for every time someone tried to barter for my services back in the day, I could definitely treat myself to a bunch of tacos and margaritas, and maybe even pay someone to clean up the mess afterward!

But while I’m all for a good margarita, the truth is this happens way more often than it should as a freelance writer, especially when you’re new.

When someone asks you to lower your prices, what they’re really saying is they don’t value your work at your rate and that hits a little sour.

You might feel offended, frustrated, even disheartened. I’ve been there, and it’s not fun.

Here’s the honest truth: you shouldn’t have to defend your rates!

If you’re not charging something wildly out of line with the market, then your rates are fine, the issue is usually that their budget doesn’t match your worth.

In that case, that prospect probably isn’t the right client for you.

As Vicky Stokes, a fellow freelancer, put it on LinkedIn recently, when clients push back on your rates it reminds her that, “knowing your value isn’t about being rigid, it’s about being clear on what you need to deliver strong work and protect your boundaries.”

Here’s how I handle it in real life:

Decide if you want to discount your services — not because someone asked, but because the project truly excites you or opens doors you care about.
Be confident and polite when you say no — you’re running a business, not donating your time.
Stand your ground — when you stick to your guns, you naturally start attracting clients who get your value and are happy to pay for it.

One practical way to reduce rate haggling is to put a pricing guide right on your website.

When potential clients see your rates upfront, the ones who can’t afford you won’t waste your time, and the ones who can will respect your clarity and confidence.

Now I’ll be the first to tell you that I DON’T post my rates on my website so it’s not a requirement to be successful.

I like to haggle and negotiate with all types of clients so I’m okay with walking into a client who has a low budget for content.

3. They Can’t Explain What They Want

Freelance writers are not mind readers.

I love adding a creative touch to a project, but first I need to know what you want, what success looks like, and what you do not want.

Most clients are clear when they reach out. Some are still figuring it out, and that is where things can get tricky.

When a client is not prepared, you really have two options.

Help them get clear by asking the right questions and walking them through it.
Ask them to come back once they have a better idea of what they need.

If you pick option one, just be aware of what you are stepping into.

When a client cannot explain what they want at the beginning, it often becomes the pattern for the rest of the freelance writing project.

You will get vague direction, fuzzy feedback, and more rounds of edits than you planned for.

And sometimes you still end up with an unhappy client, even if you did everything “right.”

Tamilore Sonaike put it simply: “Want better content from your writers? Start with a better brief.”

If only ALL the clients in the world could read that, it would make freelance writing a breeze.

And that’s why I only work with clients that give me a client brief.

The fix isn’t complicated.

You slow down, ask for clarity, and set expectations early.

If the client cannot get there, it is okay to pause the project until they can.

That one decision can save you so much time and stress later.

4. Scope Creep Happens

I hate scope creep!

Scope creep is one of those things every freelance writer learns about the hard way, and it is a rabbit hole no one wants to go down.

If you are not familiar with the term yet, scope creep is when a client tries to get you to do more work than what you originally agreed to, without extra pay.

It could be as small as doing more rounds of edits than you said you would.

It could also be bigger, like a client suddenly asking for an extra page of website copy when the agreement was clearly for five pages.

Sometimes scope creep happens by accident, because the client did not realize a particular task was not included.

Other times, clients might be testing the boundaries of what they can get without paying for it.

Either way, it can create frustration and confusion if you do not have a strong way to protect your time.

The best way to protect against scope creep is to have a signed contract, proposal, or creative brief before any freelance writing work begins.

A clear contract spells out what you are offering and exactly what is included.

Then, if a client requests additional services, you can refer them back to that contract and show what is and is not covered under the original agreement.

This makes it easy for the client to decide if they want a quote for the extra work.

Elizabeth Hanes posted about this on LinkedIn, and what a project can turn out to be.

“I have seen it derail even the most capable writers. One small favor turns into a pattern. Before you know it, you are delivering extra work you never agreed to, and you are not being paid for it. Here is the truth: if it was not in the contract, it is not in the scope. Boundaries are not optional. They are how you protect your business, your sanity, and your schedule.”

5. They Pull a Houdini

Does this sound familiar:

You get a DM from a prospect who sounds so interested in working with you.

They took the time to explain what they need and how you can help, so you spend time typing up a thoughtful reply and even suggest setting up a call.

Then… silence.

No reply to your initial email or to any follow-ups.

Eventually it hits you — the prospect Houdini’d.

There is nothing more frustrating than getting excited about potential new work and investing time and energy into the lead, only to have them disappear without a word.

Fortunately, as irritating as a Houdini prospect can be, it doesn’t always mean they would be a bad freelance writing client.

People get busy.

Responding to emails often falls low on somebody’s priority list.

That is why following up is so important.

A thoughtful follow-up keeps you on their radar, and most people appreciate the gentle nudge that reminds them to come back to the conversation.

Not sure when or how often to follow up? Here is a good guideline I use:

1st follow-up: 3 to 5 business days after the initial message
2nd follow-up: About one week after the first follow-up
3rd follow-up: 1 to 2 weeks after the second follow-up

After the third follow-up, you can either close the loop or decide to check in every few months.

I personally like to follow up at least once a quarter.

That way I stay on their radar if their situation changes, whether it is a prospect who disappeared or someone who wasn’t quite ready to move forward yet.

Freelance writer Jamie Allison Sanders feels it’s highly unprofessional for prospects to do this (and I agree!).

“Ghosting. Please, PLEASE don’t do it. You get close on a project, send over scope or contract, and then… crickets. Maybe they chose someone else. Maybe their budget changed. Maybe the project stalled. Whatever the reason, leaving someone hanging without even a quick response is unprofessional and wastes everyone’s time. A simple ‘no thanks’ costs two seconds and shows respect.”

6. They Have Unrealistic Timelines

Sometimes clients have no idea how long it takes to write valuable content. Some might think it takes two days while others might think a week is best.

But here’s the thing: no one knows better than you how long it will take to produce high-quality work.

You have the experience, the tools, the process, and the pace that let you create real results.

The best thing you can do is explain to a client exactly how you work, what your process looks like, and where their project fits on your current to-do list.

When people understand how long steps take, from research to draft to edits to final delivery, most will adjust their expectations to match your timeline.

Some may not be receptive, and that tells you something useful: that client might not respect your process or your expertise going forward.

That can be a warning sign worth paying attention to.

Samantha Leal, a long-time freelance writer, shared this quote that sums the idea up in a simple way:

“In a freelance writer’s world, time is money. When you are transparent about your process and timeline from the start, you show respect for everyone’s work and build trust that makes future collaborations smoother.”

Being clear about your process and timing doesn’t just set expectations.

It helps separate prospects who are ready to work professionally from the ones who might struggle with deadlines or communication later.

A simple timeline conversation up front can save you time and stress down the road, and it sets the tone for respectful and productive freelance writing relationships.

7. They Try to Contact You Outside of Normal Business Hours

I got this a lot as a newbie writer!

I was soo excited to get work that I didn’t care about what time they emailed me or wanted me to respond!

But after a few years of doing this, I was getting burnt out and didn’t have a firm schedule. So, I HAD to give myself working hours where I can take calls or do email.

Before you start working with a client, it helps to be very clear about your business hours.

This removes confusion right away and sets expectations early.

Most prospects and clients do not expect replies outside of normal business hours, usually Monday through Friday during the workday.

Still, every freelance writer eventually runs into the client who sends a late-night “urgent” email or text and expects an immediate response.

Sometimes it really is time-sensitive, and that is a different conversation.

Other times, the emergency is not an emergency at all.

Or the client sends multiple follow-ups within a short window when you have not replied yet.

When that happens, the best approach is to calmly remind the client of your business hours and how they can contact you.

This does not need to be confrontational.

It is simply a boundary. If the behavior continues, it may be time to have a more direct conversation about expectations on both sides.

Respect for your time is part of a healthy freelance writing relationship.

Freelance writer Tanisha Chhabra understands you need to set boundaries early in the client relationship.

“Here’s what healthy boundaries can look like: Clear working hours and communication expectations.”

8. They Push Back on Every Recommendation You Make

A client hires you for your expertise, not just to type words into a document.

If a client constantly pushes back on your recommendations without explaining why, that is something to pay attention to.

This can look like ignoring your strategy suggestions, dismissing SEO best practices, or questioning every decision without offering clear alternatives.

Healthy collaboration includes discussion and feedback.

That part is normal.

And that’s why I tell new freelance writers to think of the client relationship as more of a collaboration than an employer-employee type.

But when a client repeatedly overrides your professional judgment while still expecting strong results, it creates tension quickly.

Over time, that often turns into frustration, endless revisions, and a feeling that you are not trusted to do the work you were hired to do.

Freelancer Jamie Brindle really gets at this idea of trust and respect in the working relationship.

“Delivering high quality work is just one part of freelance writing. You also need clients who understand that good outcomes come from a balance of trust, clear expectations, and respect for your process. When clients consistently second guess your expertise, it makes the work harder and erodes confidence on both sides.”

9. They Rush You Without a Real Reason

Every freelance writer understands that deadlines matter.

That part is not up for debate.

But there is a difference between a real deadline and unnecessary urgency.

If a client constantly rushes you without explaining why, or expects turnaround times that ignore the scope of the work, that is a red flag.

This often shows up as last-minute requests, shortened timelines after the project is already underway, or pressure to “just get something over quickly.”

Over time, this kind of rushing leads to burnout, mistakes, and tension.

Clients who respect your process understand that quality freelance writing takes time.

Freelance writer Melissa Hobson knows about balancing urgent vs. important work that aligns with this idea: ” Just because a deadline feels urgent to someone else does not make it urgent to the project. Good work needs rhythm, not panic.”

10. You Have a Gut Instinct

No matter what warning signs you see, you still want to listen to your gut.

If something feels off in those first emails or calls, it is okay to turn the prospect down.

You do not need a dramatic reason.

Sometimes it is simply a vibe that you cannot shake, and in freelance writing, that matters.

And if it is not going well with an existing client, it is okay to cut ties. It can feel hard in the moment, but it is usually better for both of you.

You get your time and energy back, and the client can find a freelance writer who is a better fit for their project and working style.

The truth is, not every client or project will be right for you.

That is one of the best parts of freelance writing. You can say no.

You just want to do it the right way.

So please do not Houdini.

We hate when clients disappear on us, and it never feels good to do it to someone else.

Also skip the passive aggressive sign-off or the snarky comment. Be kind.

Be direct. Keep it professional. Burning bridges rarely helps your business.

If it is simply not a fit, say that.

Most clients actually appreciate honesty, especially when they are about to invest real time and money into a project.

If you can, recommend another freelance writer who might be a better match.

That small gesture goes a long way.

Freelancer Tom Chivers knows this all too well, “I used to think saying no would lose me work. Now I know it’s why I keep it… the clients who respect your boundaries are the ones who stick around.”