How to Avoid Bad Freelance Writing Jobs

So you want to be a writer.

Lucky for you, there’s no better time to become one. In the age of SEO, social media, and content marketing, interesting, high quality writing is king. And only great writers (like you) know how to provide it.

But while there are lots of opportunities to succeed as a freelancer, there are also plenty of opportunities to get scammed. From jobs that pay you less than 5 cents a word to contracts that never pay you at all, there’s no shortage of crummy writing jobs.

So how do you know to identify a terrible freelance writing gig? In this post, I’ll share what I’ve learned from more than 5 years as a freelance writer. I’ll also offer advice from other writers in my community to help you separate the bad contracts from the good.

1. Get paid (properly)

People hate talking about money. But for a freelancer, knowing what to charge is essential.

In the past, I’ve been paid anywhere between $0.20 and $0.50 per word. But I’ve agreed to contracts that paid me less than that. I’ve also turned down jobs that paid me more. The right rate will depend on your experience and the nature of the gig.

Ask yourself a few questions before you decide whether it’s worth it:

• How much research is involved in the job?
• Will you be credited by name for your work?
• Is it a last-minute assignment?
• Will you need to write multiple drafts?
• Are you getting paid per word or per hour? This is especially important when it comes to writing web copy. One brief (but well-written) paragraph can take hours to compose.
• Do you love this topic, person, or organization? Will this article raise your profile in some way? Sometimes, a poorly paid job is worth it for reasons other than cash.

“I don’t write for free (unless I’m trying to break into a new market or have a passion about what I’m writing about).”

— Carimé Lane Boehr, freelance writer

Not sure what’s appropriate? The Professional Writers Association of Canada has a useful rate list that can help. If you’re in the US, Writer’s Market is a great resource too.

2. Get paid on time

As a freelancer, your income won’t be as stable as a salaried employee’s. That’s why it’s important to settle on when you’ll get paid before you agree to the job.

Net 30 is one popular payment option to consider. This gives clients 30 days to pay you after receiving your invoice. But there are other options too, like net 15, net 60, or upon receipt.

Whatever you decide, clearly state your deadline in your invoice or contract. If it’s a new gig, don’t start writing your second article until you’ve been paid for your first.

I like to use an invoicing software and track my invoices in a spreadsheet or calendar. That way, I know what’s coming and when. It also lets me keep tabs on who has and hasn’t paid me yet. You’d be surprised how often even established companies forget to pay freelancers.

And always, always follow up with clients if they don’t pay you on time. I once had to follow up 5 times for a payment! It wasn’t a fun experience, but it was effective.

3. Set your terms in writing

This goes hand in hand with knowing when and what you’ll get paid. Make sure you know all of the details of your contract before you agree to it.

A good writing contract should include:

• How much you’ll be paid
• What you’ll need to write, including word count
• Who you’ll report to
• What your deadline is
• Whether you’ll have holidays or sick days (especially for long-term or hourly contracts).

Although contracts don’t have to be written to be legal, putting things in print can be helpful. You can draw up your terms in a formal agreement or just put them in an email. But whatever you choose, make sure it includes a clear offer of work and acceptance to that offer.

4. Watch out for “test pieces”

This is one of the most common signs of a crummy writing job.

Of course, it’s completely valid for clients to request a few writing samples before offering you the gig. But if the company asks you to write a long, specific assignment before you get hired, they may just want some free content.

“I’m also hesitant about any place that wants huge, specific ‘test pieces’ since the one time I did that the company just published my piece and didn’t pay me.”

—Sylvia Braun, technical writer, editor & copywriter

If someone asks you for a test piece, ask yourself:

• How much do you trust this company?
• Do you know any other writers who have written for this client?
• How much work will the test piece require?
• How will you feel if you write the article and don’t get the job?

If anything about the request seems strange or unreasonable, don’t be afraid to turn it down.

5. Ghostwriting is fine, but only with permission

Some companies hire general editorials writers to ghostwrite content. This means they’ll publish your work anonymously or under someone else’s name.

Ghostwriting isn’t illegal in and of itself. But if someone publishes your work under another person’s name without asking you first, that’s a problem.

If you’re open to ghostwriting, establish your terms right at the outset. Your employer should pay you between 2 and 3 times your standard rate. If they’re not willing to compensate you properly, the job probably isn’t worth it.

6. Choose clients who make things easy for you

Some clients have unreasonable expectations of their writers.

I spoke with one freelancer who was constantly competing for jobs. Her company required writers to sign up for gigs through a daily job listing site. Writers had to be constantly available, ready to click at a moment’s notice. Otherwise, they couldn’t score any decent projects — or any pay.

“Anyone who has a whole bunch of hoops for you to jump through before getting to any actual PAID work.”

— Genevieve Anne Michaels, freelance writer

There are lots of other examples of difficult client behaviour. Maybe a company asks you to write additional drafts that weren’t mentioned in the contract. Maybe they email or text you at odd hours of the night. Maybe they require tons of “volunteer” work before offering you pay.

While none of these examples are illegal, they are disrespectful of your time. In many cases, they’re also signs that the company you’re working for isn’t legitimate.

If you’re in doubt, turn down the job. You are a professional and deserve to be treated like one. Sometimes, saying “no” is the best thing you can do for your career.

7. Get support from other writers

I’ve been lucky enough to write for some amazing clients over the last few years. People who appreciate my skills, value my time, and treat me professionally. But not everyone has these experiences. That’s why connecting with other freelancers is one of the best things you can do as a writer.

Does your city have a local Girl Gang? This Facebook community helps self-identified women in media, communications, and tech support each other. There are chapters across Canada, as well as in Singapore, Australia, and the UK. For me, it’s been one of the most helpful sources of support I’ve had as a freelancer.

You can also sign up for writer’s groups, like freelancewritersden.com or freelancesuccess.com. If none of them feel like a fit, start your own! Check out resources like the Urban Worker Project and the Canadian Media Guild. Consider hiring a writing coach, if that’s in your budget.

Whatever you do, know that you’re not alone. Writing can feel like incredibly solitary work at times. But with an awesome community around you, it doesn’t have to be.

Did I miss anything? Leave me a note here or find me on Twitter. I’d love to hear from you!