You get a new email alert and anxiously open it up in hopes of seeing a new love list posting from your favorite client (or better yet, a solo order!). And then your heart sinks: “Assignment Revisions Requested.” That was the last thing you wanted to see. Yes, it’s an important part of content development, but that doesn’t mean it’s fun. Not even a little bit. So now what?
First, don’t do anything.
Take a deep breath. It’s just a revision request. Yes, it sucks. And yes, you have better things to be doing with your time. But if you can handle the revision with class you will gain the client’s respect, and maybe even build a lasting relationship that leads to regular orders. That being said, you should probably allow yourself to calm down before hastily completing it. Allow at least 30 minutes to pass before even starting the revision so that you can concentrate on the task at hand instead of being distracted by your anger. Do something brainless while you pass the time (Facebook, anyone?), because working on a different order in your current mindset will not end well for anyone.
Now, get on with the content development.
Once you have allowed yourself to relax, you should make the revision your top priority (out of sight, out of mind, right?). If you try to get anything else done first, the dreaded red will haunt you every time you view your dashboard, which will definitely affect your productivity. Plus, the sooner the revision is completed, the happier your client will be. You may not care about the client’s mood right now, but in hindsight, you will be glad you treated him right (especially when the solos start rolling in!). Just buckle down and get ‘er done. Since most revisions are minor changes (hopefully!), this shouldn’t take very long.
Finally, forget about it.
Treat the submit button like a memory-erase button. Once you have put in a valiant effort and completed the revision to the best of your ability, turn it in and move on with your life. You don’t have time to waste any of your brain power thinking about it for one more second. If you are lucky, you even have a full queue demanding your undivided attention. The clients behind these orders deserve all of the talent that is in you, and you can’t give it to them if you are still pouting about the revision you just completed.
Remember, it’s not personal.
It’s just business (isn’t that what they say?). A revision request does not mean you are a terrible writer. It does not mean you should quit the craft and look for a day job. All it means is that you and the client are not on the same page. And that you aren’t a mind reader.
Rachel M is a freelance writer available on WriterAccess, a marketplace where clients and expert writers connect for assignments.
