… realized that I’ve never heard back from a new client.

It’s someone who hired me in November to write “his story,” for use on his web site, brochure, etc.

Wonderful guy and a quick, small project. So much so that I almost didn’t bother asking for a 50% deposit up front.

But one of my ironclad rules is: I don’t do any work for anyone new, no matter how large or small the company, without a significant deposit up front.

(My other ironclad rule is: Never sit in the front row of a dolphin show.)

And so I asked for and got a deposit.

Now he seems to have vanished (poof!) into thin air. Several emails from me and nothing.

He may yet materialize. But knowing I’ve already been paid for my first draft, I’m not losing any sleep over it.