Say no to clients with this interactive letter

Sometimes finding the right words can be difficult, especially if you're trying to let someone down gently. This applies to the business world, especially when you're trying to negotiate project terms with suspect clients. To help creative directors ask for more favourable terms, or reject an enquiry outright, letterer, illustrator, and type designer Jessica Hische has created this choose-your-own-adventure style form.

To get started, simply select the budget on the table. If the amount is none or very low, the form quickly shuts down negotiations with a firm entreaty that insists this request for work probably isn't going to go any further. However, if there's a decent amount of cash being offered, more options such as a timescale appear to help you craft your response.

While this isn't a hard and fast solution to pestering emails, it does give you a basis to build on. Considering that different creative industries have their own idiosyncrasies, it's worth adapting the words Hische provides to suit your own agenda. Besides, if everyone used the same rejection message, potential clients are bound to get suspicious!

Simply select the right criteria to create your own client response email

Simply select the right criteria to create your own client response email

Related articles

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Dom Carter

Dom Carter is a freelance writer who specialises in art and design. Formerly a staff writer for Creative Bloq, his work has also appeared on Creative Boom and in the pages of ImagineFX, Computer Arts, 3D World, and .net. He has been a D&AD New Blood judge, and has a particular interest in picture books.