Help! What to say to reconnect with clients - email wording?

[NooNooMummy]

Can one of you who's good with words please help!
I need to connect with some old clients to see if they'll give me work again. I've been really busy and neglected them and actually turned down work from them. But I really need their work now!
Or maybe they don't need me any more? Or maybe they weren't that happy with me anyway...
Help!

What about a call first then follow up with an email if they don't answer. Just be open and honest and apologise for not being in touch, ask how business is going, how they are and whether they have anything you can help them with?

When you say you 'neglected' them, do you just mean that you turned down work from them, or did you take work and not complete it? Just trying to understand the background.

What happens if you get busy again? Will you neglect them next time around?

If you're genuinely sorry, have learned your lesson, and know you won't allow it to happen again, then get in touch. If you're only being nice now only because you need the work, then I'd leave it.