Freelance Writing Agreement

Defines the article, blog post, copywriting, or content deliverables, including topic, format, word count, deadlines, and required client materials.

Sets the writing fee, payment schedule, invoicing requirements, late payment handling, and confirms that rights are not granted until full payment is received where applicable.

Requires the client to pay an agreed kill fee if the assignment is cancelled, unused, rejected for reasons outside the writer's breach, or not published after commissioning.

Specifies whether the writer retains copyright, grants publication rights, licenses usage, or assigns ownership, and limits use of drafts or unpaid work.

Addresses whether the writer receives author credit and whether the writer may reference or display the work in a portfolio after publication.

Protects confidential business, editorial, source, campaign, and pre-publication information shared during the writing engagement.

Explains how either party may end the agreement, what fees remain payable, how work-in-progress is handled, and the effect of termination on rights.

Includes writer originality warranties, client responsibility for instructions and factual approvals, liability limitations, governing law, and a process for resolving disputes.