Here's a harebrained idea.. drop that horrific client

Wave buh-bye to terrible clients. 

Seriously. Just do it. Live longer.

Yeah, it sounds crazy to fire a paying client. Maybe also a little tempting?

Don't get too eager--I'm talking about that client that gives you nightmares, fills your days with dread and prompts spontaneous bouts of sobbing at the thought of writing for them.

You know which one I'm talking about. They are literally ruining--and stressing years off of--your life.

Be professional, but tell them your writing services will no longer be available after x amount of time.

Then take a minute to breathe and go out and find a better client. Actually, you may want to do that last part first, depending on the severity of your situation. Just don't remain trapped in a cycle of unhappiness and unrealistic
demands by doing nothing.

That's not healthy and you don't have to take the abuse. It may even just be that you aren't a good fit, for whatever reason.

It's okay, I've been there. You can do it too and move on to better working relationships.

For those of you who are disappointed by this post and looking to drop a client that wants too much for too little money, that's a matter of negotiation. Go to bat for yourself.

Writing for a decent client (which in my experience 99.9% are) and simply hate what you thought would be a good gig? It occasionally happens. Let them know. Barring idiosyncrasies and contractual obligations, they probably won't even want you to continue writing for them. Help them smoothly transition to a writer who is enthusiastic about the project.

But those rotten apples? Remove them before they poison the whole barrel.

Have you ever fired a client? Why?

Photo credit: User:Love Krittaya/Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons