A client who I had worked with through his company got in touch with me requesting my services for a personal project. He wanted content for an SEO website he was launching. He had already written copy for some of the pages in broken English.

Me: Did you want me to edit the copy you’re already written?

Client: No, that’s perfect. Don’t touch that.

Me: Fine. For the new content, what kind of tone do you want?

Instead of describing the tone, he sent me the “1984” Apple Commercial.

I did my best. But he wasn’t happy with it.

Client: This is terrible. I have to read all your writing word by word.

Me: “Word by word”? How do you read otherwise?

Client: It’s terrible. You completely missed the tone of voice, too – after I gave you such clear instructions.

Me: Well, I’m sorry you feel that way. I’ll make any amends you want for free after I receive our agreed payment.

Client: I’m not paying you!

Me: But you uploaded the content I wrote to your site. You’re using my content.

Client: So? I’m not happy with it.

Safe to say, I will now be avoiding working on any “personal projects.”

Source: Clients from Hell