5 Common Ways Freelance Writers Get Scammed

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Ever since I started writing at Plagiarism Today and especially since I started this column, I’ve been hearing a lot from freelance writers who have been scammed or otherwise victimized by unscrupulous clients. Though the good news is that such bad clients are very rare in the big scheme of things, they are common enough that almost every freelancer, if they remain active long enough, will run into one or two over the course of their career.

So how do you avoid being taken advantage of as a freelance writer. As we discussed previously, clients have the playing field tilted to their advantage on most legal issues. As such, litigation isn’t often practical in these matters.

This means that the best way to protect yourself from these scams is to learn what they are and not step into them in the first place. [Read more…]

How to Write a Freelance Contract Using ChatGPT

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In the world of freelancing, it’s crucial to establish clear expectations and protect both parties involved in a project. This is where freelance contracts come into play.

Freelance contracts (or freelance agreements) are important for both freelancers (independent contractors) and clients. For freelancers, they provide a level of protection in case there are any disputes with the client. For clients, they help to ensure that they are getting the services they have paid for.

But, believe it or not, only 28% of freelancers use contracts!

[Read more…]

Be Contract Smart: 13 Copyright Terms to Know

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One thing nearly every freelance writer is going to have to do is sign a contract. Contracts, when written well, protect both the freelancer and the client by avoiding any confusion and preventing anyone from giving up any rights that they didn’t intend.

But as necessary and as useful as contracts are, they are often filled with terms that can cause confusion. Many freelancers, intimidated either by the size or the seeming complexity of their contracts often just sign them with little more than a cursory glance. This is a poor move that can cause a freelance to sign a bad deal with no legal recourse against it.

[Read more…]

What to Do If Clients Are Not Paying You Right Now + 5 Common Scenarios

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Clients who don’t pay are nothing new. Even without a crisis, we have encountered at least one client who knows all the delaying tactics in the world when it comes to paying for work we’ve done. And then there are those who don’t pay up at all.

In this time of crisis, the problem is even more pronounced. Clients are likely facing financial issues themselves, and while we sympathize—we are truly in the same boat—we also need to keep food on the table.

So what do you do if clients are not paying you right now? [Read more…]

Tenant and Freelancer Rights – UK Edition

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There is a time when your choice to be a freelancer and work from home could impact your right to live in your house.  It seems so simple nowadays. You can use the internet to connect with clients, and from there you can earn a wage without commuting.  One in four people in the UK agrees with you, as the gig economy continues to grow in influence. However, with the increased numbers comes increased scrutiny from the Government and the taxman.  Therefore, it is not so simple as just getting started and seeing how it goes. Let’s guide you through some of the essentials. [Read more…]

Top Tips to Ensure Your Freelance Contracts Secure Your Financial Freedom – UK Edition

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As of 2016, there are 2 million freelancers in the UK. With this in mind, we want to make sure that those living in the UK who have taken the self-employed route are making the best choices for their income and mental wellbeing, particularly when it comes to contracts between freelancer and client. 

After all, you aren’t working as a freelancer because it’s easy. Most freelancers do what they do for: passion, a level of flexibility that can’t be experienced in an office or the possibility of great disposable income and financial freedom. [Read more…]

How to Create a Freelance Contract

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If you’ve recently landed a new writing gig, your first thought may be “when do I get started?” Before you ever write that first word, however, you need to ensure that your future as a freelancer is secure with a legally-binding freelance contract that protects you and the income you’ve planned on receiving.

Contracts don’t need to be complicated or even very long. They do, however, need to be clear. Here are the basic steps to making a contract that your clients will be comfortable signing and that covers your interests. [Read more…]

What To Do When Clients Don’t Pay Their Invoices – 5 Common Scenarios

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If you’ve clicked on this article, you probably either already have an unpaid invoice lingering around, or have had to deal with an unpaid invoice before.

No matter if you are a freelancer, small contractor, or large business owner, unpaid invoices are an aggravating inevitability. While the whole point of an invoice is to streamline the payment process and make it easier to get paid on time, clients always seem to find a way to miss the due date. [Read more…]

5 Tips for Dealing with Plagiarism Accusations

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As freelance writers, we spend a great deal of time quickly researching topics we’re unfamiliar with and then producing articulate web content that makes it sound like you know what you’re talking about. A brief scan of several other informative websites often gives you background information and inspiration to write what your clients have asked for. You wind up putting together and submitting an article to your client and begin the process over again with a new topic and don’t think about it again. [Read more…]

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