Freelance writing agreement

This agreement is made on [date] between the client and the writer named below (“Client” and “Writer”). It covers the writing project described in section 1.

1. The work

1.1 Deliverables. The Writer delivers:

1.2 Purpose and audience. Who will read it, and what it should help them do or decide.

1.3 Included. Such as research, up to two interviews, two headline options and a list of sources.

1.4 Not included. Such as images, uploading to the Client's website and social posts.

1.5 Extra work. Work not included above is quoted separately and starts only after both parties agree to it in writing; email counts.

1.6 Style. The Writer follows [style guide] and the brief the Client sends by [date].

1.7 What the Client provides. The Client provides [materials] by [date]. If anything arrives late, every later deadline moves by the same number of days.

2. Revisions and approval

2.1 Revision rounds. Up to [2] rounds of revisions are included. For each round, the Client sends one set of combined feedback within [5] business days of receiving the draft.

2.2 What a revision is. A revision changes the agreed piece. A new topic, angle, audience or length is extra work under 1.5.

2.3 Further rounds. Further rounds cost [amount] per [round / hour] and start only after the Client approves the cost in writing.

2.4 Approval. A deliverable is approved when the Client says so in writing, or [10] business days after delivery if the Client has not asked for a revision.

3. Fee and payment

3.1 Fee. The fee is [amount] [for the project / per word / per hour]. A per-word fee counts the words of the approved piece; an hourly fee is capped at [amount] unless the Client approves more in writing.

3.2 Payment schedule. The fee is paid as follows:

3.3 Invoices. The Writer invoices the balance within [5] days of approval. Invoices are due within [15] days of the invoice date, by [payment method].

3.4 Late payment. A late fee of [rate] per month on the unpaid amount, where the law allows, starts [30] days after the invoice date. Delete if you don't charge one.

3.5 Expenses. The Client reimburses expenses it approves in writing in advance, within [30] days of receiving receipts. Delete if there are none.

4. Kill fee and cancellation

4.1 Cancellation. Either party may cancel this agreement by written notice.

4.2 Kill fee. If the Client cancels, for any reason other than the Writer failing to deliver, the Client pays:

4.3 Rights in a canceled piece. All rights in a canceled piece stay with the Writer, who may sell or publish it elsewhere.

4.4 If the Writer cancels. The Writer refunds any payment for work not yet delivered.

5. Rights, credit and portfolio

5.1 Rights. The Writer owns all rights in the work until the Client has paid in full. On full payment, the Writer grants the Client the rights below. Keep one option and delete the others.

• All rights. The Writer assigns the copyright in the final deliverables to the Client.

• Exclusive license. The Client may publish the work in any medium for [12] months from first publication. After that the license continues without exclusivity, and the Writer may republish the work.

• First rights. The Client may publish the work first. All other rights stay with the Writer, who may republish it [90] days after first publication with a line crediting the Client.

5.2 Credit. The Writer [is / is not] credited with a byline.

5.3 Portfolio. The Writer may show the published work in a portfolio and name the Client as the publisher, unless the Client asks otherwise in writing.

6. Originality and sources

6.1 Original work. The work is the Writer's own, has not been published before unless stated here, and does not knowingly copy anyone else's work.

6.2 Sources. The Writer attributes quotes and data to their sources and keeps notes and links for [3] months after delivery, for fact-checking.

6.3 The Client's material. The Client is responsible for material it supplies (images, data, product claims, quotes from its staff) and for any change it makes after approval.

6.4 AI tools. What is allowed, such as research and editing help with the Writer checking every fact, or no AI tools at all.

7. General terms

7.1 Independent contractor. The Writer is not an employee, decides how and when to do the work, and pays their own taxes.

7.2 Confidentiality. The Writer keeps the Client's nonpublic information private during the project and for [2] years after it ends.

7.3 Liability. Each party's total liability under this agreement is limited to the total fee.

7.4 Disputes. The parties first try to settle any dispute by talking. If that fails, [mediation / small claims court] in [place]. This agreement follows the laws of [state or country].

7.5 Notices. Written notice by email to the addresses in the table above counts.

7.6 Whole agreement. This document is the complete agreement. Changes must be in writing and accepted by both parties; email counts. If one part turns out to be unenforceable, the rest still applies.

Signatures