Recognizing Client Red Flags

(aka The Freelancer's Shit Detector)

Ernest Hemingway in Spain, 1959

Photograph by Mary Hemingway, in the Ernest Hemingway Photograph Collection, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston.

"The most essential gift for a good writer is a built-in, shock-proof, shit detector. This is the writer's radar and all great writers have had it."

- Ernest Hemingway in an interview with George Plimpton, 1958

Hemingway wasn't just talking about writing. He was talking about life.

As freelancers, our shit detector isn't just essential—it's our lifeline.

Here's a scenario that should set off your alarm bells:

A prospect reaches out. They need work done ASAP. It's urgent, they say. Deadline's tight. But when it's time to discuss details? Radio silence. Rescheduled calls. Vanishing acts.

Sound familiar?

This, my friends, is your shit detector in action.

Because here's the truth:

How they act now is how they'll act later.

That client who can't make time for a call?

They won't make time to pay your invoice.

That prospect who keeps rescheduling?

They'll reschedule your payday too. Indefinitely.

Remember:

"How you do anything is how you do everything."

It's not just a saying. It's a warning.

So, what's the solution?

1. Trust your radar. If something feels off, it probably is.

2. Set clear boundaries. No discussion, no work.

3. Always get a deposit. 50% upfront is standard. No exceptions.

Your time is valuable. Your skills are valuable. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise—especially not through their actions.

Hemingway's shit detector saved him from bad prose.

Let yours save you from bad clients.

Because in the end, the best writing in the world won't matter if you're not getting paid for it.

So, freelancers, writers, creatives of all kinds—how's your shit detector working today?

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DIY: Implement these strategies yourself.
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