Freelance writing comes with its own challenges, from copyright and contract considerations to libel and slander claims. That’s why Dinghy, together with Freelancers Union, recently brought together a panel of industry leaders to offer freelance writers key advice for running their businesses. If you missed the event, don’t sweat.
The Freelance Solidarity Project is a division of the National Writers Union
It was started by a group of digital media workers in spring 2018
- One of the biggest challenges for freelance writers centers on contracts and terms of work.
- What a standard contract can and should look like for freelancers is an important piece missing for many people because freelancers are siloed
Vital Contract Considerations
Indemnity: Most contracts say that you will indemnify the publication, when of course it should be the other way around
- Graduated Payment: Don’t settle for only being paid when your story is published
- Copyright: Hand over the copyright to the contributor instead of keeping it for themselves
- Intellectual property and copyright
Contract Red Flags
Work for Hire
- It means that instead of you (the author) keeping the copyrights, the copyright and publishing rights will belong to the publication.
- No Kill Fees
- If a publication decides not to publish your work after you’ve done the work, you will be paid a certain amount for the work you’ve already done.
