PAID WRITES FREELANCE WRITING CONTRACT TEMPLATE

Delete Before Use: By using this contract, through either the Paid Write blog post or by
downloading another file type, you assume all risk and responsibility in association with its use.
The author will not be held liable for any damages incurred by the use of this contract or any
variation hereafter. The contract template, nor this article, are meant to be a substitute for
professional legal advice. Always consult proper legal council.

Parties and Assignment. This agreement (the "Agreement") is made and entered into as of the
INSERT DATE (the Effective Date) by and between YOUR CLIENTS NAME OR COMPANY
(hereafter referred to as Client) and The Writer,YOUR NAME, (hereafter referred to as Writer).

In consideration of the mutual covenants made herein, the parties agree as follows:

Work. Writer agrees to produce written materials (the Work) at the request of the Client for the fees
agreed upon in advance and will turn in or deliver the Work by an agreed upon deadline. Work will
include:

Describe the assignment, ongoing work or project, broken down by elements, here. Include any
interviews, graphics, screenshots, photography, word counts,

Example: Work will include two 600-word articles each week, with each article including a copyright-
free image, the link to that image, two external links to reputable sources, one internal website link for
further information, and one quote from a professional source.

2. Work will be submitted by EMAIL/GOOGLE DOCS/WP PORTAL/PRIVATE ACCOUNT in

.doc and .jpg file formats every DAY AND TIME.

3. Work will be assigned by the Client every DAY OF WEEK OR MONTH, with that work due for
completion and delivery to the Client on or before the following DAY OF WEEK OR
MONTH/TIME. Upon delivery, Client has ONE WEEK/THREE BUSINESS DAYS/ TIL THE
END OF TIME to provide notes and request edits. Work includes one edited rewrite at the request of
the client, rewriting an article beyond the first completed edit will cost $$$ per revision.

-or-

3. Possible ideas for Work will be pitched by the Writer every DAY OF WEEK OR MONTH. Client
will provide approval by the following DAY OF WEEK OR MONTH, with these assignments due
for completion and delivery to the Client on or before the following DAY OF WEEK OR
MONTH/TIME.

-or-

3. Work to be completed in sections, as with a big project, or in a way that isnt described above should
be described here. Include the scope of your Work for the Client, how it will be assigned or approved
before you move on with the project, and when it is expected to be completed. (Adding a fee for
additional rewrites can save you from problem-clients.) Also include how the acceptance, editing, and
rewrite process will function.

Writer agrees that he/she will be the sole author of the Work, which will be original work by Writer,
free of plagiarism and PREVIOUSLY UNPUBLISHED/PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED. Writer
agrees to use reasonable care to ensure that all facts and statements in the Work are true and that the
Work does not infringe upon any copyright, right of privacy, proprietary right, right of publicity or any
other right of a third party. Writer agrees that Client has the right to edit the Work as it deems
appropriate for publication, and that Writer will cooperate with Client in one round of editing and
otherwise reviewing the Work prior to publication.

Client Approval. Client is responsible for written approval of work ordered (i.e., copy, design,
photography, typesetting, and other services) required for the completion of the Work. Upon
acceptance of the Work, client accepts responsibility for any further processes in which this work is
used (i.e., film output, printing, etc.) Writer is not responsible for errors occurring in this work or
projects related to this work after acceptance of the Work.

Changes. Any verbal or written changes made by Client to the scope of the Work following one edit
and rewrite (or second draft) are subject to additional charges. Should such changes negate any part of
the Work already completed at the time of the changes, Client accepts responsibility for payment of the
completed work and all services related to it, in addition to charges for the change itself.

Cancellation. Upon written or verbal cancellation, Client is responsible for payment for all expenses
incurred and any work done toward the completion of the project based on the percentage of project
completed. Should Client cancel the project following its completion, Client is responsible for full
payment as per the above estimate plus all other expenses incurred.

Payment and Invoicing.

Client agrees to pay Writer $$$ in USD funds for the Work outlined above upon
COMPLETION/PUBLICATION/INVOICE/A SET SCHEDULE. Invoices will be sent to the Client
via PAYPAL/EMAIL/OTHER by the Writer upon COMPLETION OF WORK/THE
AFOREMENTIONED SCHEDULE. Client may pay Writer by PAYPAL/CHECK/OTHER. Invoices
not paid within 30 days will be subject to collection. If the parameters of the Work changes, or if it
involves more time than originally estimated, Writer will inform Client and they can renegotiate the
rate.

-or- for more complex projects, you may want to use this:

Writer will bill for half of the total estimated cost when Writer begins the Work with the balance due
upon completion. Writer will submit the final invoice for the Work via EMAIL/PAYPAL upon
receiving approval from Client. If Writer has not received any comments or revisions within a week of
submitting a completed draft, Writer will send the invoice. Writer requires half of the total estimate
cost up front before beginning a rush job if for a first-time client. Writer requires a purchase order
number or an initialized agreement, such as the signing of this contract, before beginning Work. If the
parameters of the Work changes, or if it involves much more time than originally estimated, Writer will
inform Client and they can renegotiate the rate.

Reimbursement. Client will reimburse the Writer for any previously approved expenses related to the
Work including but not limited to PHOTOCOPYING/POSTAGE/MATERIALS/IMAGE
LICENSES/PROGRAM LICENSES/ETC. Incidental expenses such as long distance phone calls are
absorbed by the Writer. Mileage to special events or interviews is billed at the rate currently accepted
by the IRS. Writer is responsible for the payment of all federal, state and/or local taxes with respect to
the services she performs for the client as an independent contractor. The Client will not treat Writer as
an employee for any purpose. Reimbursement expenses will be included in the Writers invoice to the
Client.

Collection. Unless otherwise specified in writing, invoices not paid within 30 days of the invoice date
will accrue interest at 1.5% per month. Unpaid invoices are expected to be paid before further Work is
assigned. Past due payments will result in no further Work being completed until the balance is paid
and received. Client agrees to pay all reasonable attorneys fees (at least 15% of all amounts due,
including interest) if any account is placed with an attorney for collection. Client agrees that the
purchase of the services described herein constitutes doing business with respect to any suit brought
by The Writer to collect any sums hereunder.

ALWAYS include an indemnity clause that protects you. As a sole-proprietor (and even an LLC) you
are legally liable for damages incurred by your work. Since client work is commissioned, you can
transfer responsibility for publishing your work to them. Without this clause, you are held liable for any
legal claims against your work. Which seems crazy that someone would sue, but if someone does, you
could lose your business, house, car, savings, everything. Protect yourself here and keep an eye out for
what liabilities youre saddled with in contracts sent to you by clients, too!

Indemnity. Writer will cooperate with Client if any complaints, claims or litigation should arise
regarding the Work, though the Writer will not be held legally responsible or absorb any damages
pertaining to the Work. Client will be responsible for any legal fees arising from any lawsuits filed
against the Writer in relation to the Work.

You can modify the Rights clause however you like, depending on which rights will be granted to
whom. As always, negotiate to keep as many rights to your work as possible. Assignments where
youve sold First Serial Rights, One-Time Rights, or limited Electronic Rights allow you to sell Second
Serial or Reprint Rights once the rights revert back to you, the author. This content can then be resold
over and over, so long as you continue to own the rights. Ive even rounded up 19 Reprint Markets that
will pay for your previously published work.

Rights.

1. The Client retains All rights to the Work and may digitally publish, print, modify, create electronic
products, or hereby further develop the Work.

-or-

1. The Work, including any graphics, content, interviews, digital media or other information developed
by the Writer shall be the property of the Writer who grants, upon completion of the Work, FIRST
SERIAL RIGHTS/ONE-TIME RIGHTS/SECOND SERIAL (REPRINT)
RIGHTS/SUBSIDIARY RIGHTS/ELECTRONIC RIGHTS to the Client for a period of TIME
PERIOD, though the Work may continue to be archived by the Client on their blog or website.

Confidentiality. Writer acknowledges that he/she may be furnished or may otherwise receive or have
access to information which relates to the Clients past, present or future products, vendor lists, creative
works, marketing strategies, pending projects and proposals, and other valuable information which
gives the Client an opportunity to acquire an advantage over its competitors. Writer agrees to preserve
and protect the confidentiality of this Valuable Information including all physical forms thereof. In
addition, Writer shall not disclose or disseminate the Valuable Information to any third party and shall
not use it for his or her own benefit or for the benefit of any third party. Writer shall be prohibited from
discussing the Client or the Work with a representative of the press or media, either directly or
indirectly, without the Clients express written prior approval.

DO NOT include the Non-Compete clause unless your Client requests it specifically, and even then
negotiate for the shortest non-compete period possible. If you specialize in a subject, you may even
turn down a client if it means legally shutting yourself out of your niche.

Non-Compete. The Writer specifically agrees that for a period of 90 DAYS/6 MONTHS/OTHER
TIMEFRAME after the Writer is no longer employed by the Client, the Writer will not engage,
directly or indirectly, in the salable creation of media, written or any other content similar to those
topics created for the Client or for audiences within their industry as a whole.

Termination. Official termination of this Agreement may be made by either party through written
means, email included, delivered to the other party two weeks in advance of the date of termination.
Client shall not decrease workload after initiating termination of Writer.

I, ___________________________________ (Client company representative), assert that I am

employed by ___________________________________ (Client), and that I have the authority to
promise payment for the services rendered by The Writer for the aforementioned Work. I assert that I
have read, understood and agree to the Freelance Writing Contract and Agreement.

_____________________________________ Client Signature _____________________ Date

I, (The Writer) assert that I have read, understood and agree to the Freelance Writing Contract and
Agreement.

_____________________________________Writers Signature _____________________ Date