I had my first ever dispute with a new client recently. 
The fact that it was minor and easily resolved heartened me a little, but it did remind me about how important it is to set out your stall from the very start. In other words – agreed terms and conditions. Maybe even…a contract?
Are contracts possible when you’re a freelance writer?
Of course they are. The challenge comes in remembering to set out what you intend to do right from the get go. As a freelance writer it generally isn’t considered very good for business if once you’ve been hired for a job, you immediately send out a contract to the client. Yet, that is exactly what some writers do particularly when they’ve been hired for a job that will take several weeks or months of their time to complete. There is still a stigma attached to this as many people consider an invoice a contract.
Yet an invoice can be challenged far easier then a contract.
What I do
Generally once I’ve been commissioned for a piece or a series of pieces, I prefer to simply invoice. I assume trust right from the outset as I want to establish a good relationship quickly. Yet I’ve spoken to other writers who regularly send out a standard contract to their clients partly to protect themselves but partly to make it very clear what is expected from either side. The benefits of doing this are clear as it often prevents any disputes from occurring down the line. The negative aspects of doing this mainly come down to whether or not you have a pre-existing relationship with the client. If you do, then you know that client is likely to pay you for the work you’ve done. If you don’t then you run the risk of alienating someone who has yet to experience what you can do for them first hand.
Long term solution?
I think it comes down to dealing with things on a job by job basis. When I’m looking to work with a new editor or other client I prefer to simply do the work and invoice. However if I am going to spend weeks or months on one particular job for a new client, then I have to admit, recent experience has made me seriously think about drawing up a contract.
For shorter jobs I think it wiser to just invoice. At the end of the day writers are often hired quickly to complete work fast – I know I am – and issuing a contract can actually be detrimental to both parties particularly when you work with someone for the first time.
What do you think?
