[ SECRET POST #3406 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #3406 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 03 pages, 056 secrets from Secret Submission Post #487.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

[fscom]

06. http://i.imgur.com/2kLPymg.jpg

[(Anonymous)]

Have you put a list of things you won't do on your commissions post? If her fics involve that stuff, you can point her to your list of "won't do". Putting common squicks and triggers there should suffice

[(Anonymous)]

That bear is breaking my heart. :(

[(Anonymous)]

It's okay. He shows up in a lot of memes.

[blitzwing]

You don't have to provide a reason for refusing her. A lot of artists and writers have a clause explicitly stating that they reserve the right to refuse any requests, at their own discretion.

[(Anonymous)]

You don't owe her an explanation. A polite "Sorry, but I'm not interested and never will be; please don't ask again" should suffice. If it doesn't, she's the asshole, not you.

[(Anonymous)]

Don't be a doormat OP, you have a right to say no. She can't force you.

[grausam]

so you take commissions but you disapprove of her commercializing her fanwork? okaaaaay...

sure, that book cover would be a walking advertisement for your art for better or worse. but I have the feeling that you would have mentioned it if her stories contained controversial tropes, like idk, furries, rape, racism, beyond your fandom POV.

just say "no". you haven't even unfollowed her. she had no indication that you're not open to doing it, so you can hardly complain about her bothering you.

[(Anonymous)]

I know I don't speak for all fanwriters, but I'd recommend something along the veins of "Sorry, not interested." If they start up the "why not?", just play the broken record. That way if she continues to bug you, she looks like the jerk, not you.

You shouldn't do art for stories or authors whose subject matter you disagree with.

However, I would rather know if an artist is willing to work with me or not than be left hanging, thinking there is a chance.

Though I am curious what the subject matter is you object to..? Just random!

[(Anonymous)]

I just say, 'sorry, it's not my thing and I don't feel comfortable drawing it' and forget about it. What's asshole about refusing to do a thing that you neither like nor is obliged to do? Also, the more you drag it out, the worse you will feel - I used to suffer from the same sort of inability to say no and it was driving me mental. Don't do that to yourself, OP.

[(Anonymous)]

You can totally refuse her on the basis of her commercializing her fics. If she wants to use your art as covers/illustrations of stuff that she's creating to be sold, you can easily refuse her on that basis. Just shove a "commissions for personal use only" clause in there.

[(Anonymous)]

If you have something specific that she wants that you don't want to do, then I'd include that in your description of commissions. But if there's nothing specific, then I'd just tell her, "Sorry, but I don't think I'd be a good fit for your request."

Don't elaborate or offer further explanation even if she tries to argue. Just keep repeating, "Sorry, I don't think your commission is for me." "I'm flattered, but I can't do this." Keep repeating it even if it feels awkward. It's not YOUR fault it's awkward, she's the one making it awkward by refusing to hear your "no thanks". After a few firm but polite refusals, stop responding to her messages at all.

[purpleseas]

If she's "notorious" and has alienated all these other people in the fandom, why would you look bad for saying no to her? Being able to say no to things you just don't want to do, regardless of what your reason is or whether you choose to give one or not, is one of the most important skills you can have in life. People will never leave you alone if don't learn that. She can get her art elsewhere. There are plenty of people outside fandom who will do a book cover for her. I don't know what you charge, but I got mine for a whole $40.

[(Anonymous)]

if you want a pretty passable excuse I've used as a freelancer, tell her that you can't do that particular project because you're taking commissions based on expanding your portfolio, and you don't believe that particular project will help with that. I kind of assume from your wording maybe there's a kink or NSFW aspect you're uncomfortable with? just tell her you're trying to develop a professional portfolio and that aspect doesn't fit. (and if you do other NSFW things, explain that those are within the realm of your interests, and hers unfortunately isn't.)

[dinogrrl]

You don't need a reason to refuse a commission. If it's not something you're comfortable doing, then don't do it. It's not worth the aggravation to you to try to force yourself to do it. Just say something like "I cannot create the art you are looking for, sorry." Period, end of discussion. The more general the statement, the better, because people like her are great at finding loopholes once you start listing exact reasons why you won't take their money. If she keeps contacting you about it, block her.

I know it sounds harsh, especially if you've never faced a situation like this before, but if you intend to do freelance commissions for a long time, you'll need to learn to stand up for yourself. Not every commission is going to be 100% up your alley, but if even just thinking about taking the commission is causing you stress...just don't do it. There are plenty of other customers out there who want art that's more in line with what you like and will be a lot more fun to work for. Don't burn yourself out because you aren't able to say 'no'.

I've had to turn down some commissions before because either the customer rubbed me the wrong way or I knew I wasn't really able to draw what they wanted, and actually it was very freeing to know I wouldn't have those things hanging over my head for a month at a time.

[(Anonymous)]

OMG. Just say NO. No is a wonderful world. Learn it. Learn to use it. Learn to love it. It will make your life so much better! You don't owe assholes explanations.

[(Anonymous)]

Yep, this.

[(Anonymous)]

"Sorry, I'm not interested in taking on this project."

[(Anonymous)]

I love this secret. I'm not an artist but a BNF in my fandom tries to direct my fic output and I'm so over it. Arhg. Don't give in OP.

[(Anonymous)]

This secret speaks to me so much. As an artist, it really rubs me the wrong way when people do things like that, or try to pester you into drawing for their ship/fic/what have you.

[otakugal15]

Ok, to apply some simple business logic: you can choose to not sell a service so long as your reason isn't some racist/sexist/abelist/homophobic/transphobic/etc reason.

Businesses have declined services based on behavior and the like before, so you have the same right.

Edit: And I agree with everyone saying you don't owe her explanation if she does ask. Just tell her you aren't interested and that's that.

Also, have a handy dandy list of what you WON'T draw front and center so people like her can get an idea of what they can and can't get. If she tries to wheedle past that, well, tell her to take her business elsewhere.

[(Anonymous)]

Aside from what everyone else said... it'll be kinder to the author (assuming you want to do the decent thing) to let her know it's out of the question.

I had a fanartist friend who took the occasional commission and I was dying for her to illustrate one of my fics. She kinda-sorta said she would, but somehow she never found the time and it sort of ... tailed off. It eventually dawned on me that I only saw her illustrating other people's fics when they were solely about her OTP - which my fic wasn't (at least, not as a romantic pairing). My friend was softhearted and hated to say No to people, so I think she was trying to avoid hurting my feelings, but honestly I wish she'd said No to begin with.

[(Anonymous)]

OK, first, pet peeve: the word is 'prejudiced'. I hear and read SO many people drop that 'd' at the end. It's a verb, not an adjective. "I am prejudiced against her." (Also 'bias'. One does not say "I am bias against her." It's BIASED. Same thing - verb.)

Past that - I actually understand why you are reluctant to say no easily. She's obnoxious and if you tell her no and then succumb to saying why, she'll bad-mouth you all across the fandom because you're just TOO GOOD for HER *snobby*. I get it. You're rude. You're mean. I can hear it already...I learned inadvertently recently that a member of the site I work for thinks I was being sarcastic to a group of people when really I was being sincere, so now I'm having to deal with knowing that and it hurts, because I'm never, EVER sarcastic to my members. That just doesn't fly. But it doesn't matter - the thought has been planted and I can't undo it.

My suggestion: From here out post a policy on the sort of art you will consider. Say something about it not being personal against authors, it's only about what you feel happy creating and some things just aren't going to make you happy. So, I'm sorry, I can't do your art - it's not part of what I want to make.

I hope it works out.

[lb_lee]

As a writer and an artist, I reserve the right to say no to any request/commission for any reason. I mean, ignoring anything else, anyone nagging me to work with them kinda guarantees they're not someone I actually want to work with.