Webinar: Is Your LinkedIn Profile Working?
As the social media landscape continues to evolve, the CFG and many of our members are shifting focus away from more contentious sites like Meta/Facebook and Twitter/X, while increasing their activity on LinkedIn, the business-friendly platform now owned and operated by Microsoft.
While LinkedIn shares many of the features of other social platforms, it has some characteristics of its own. Knowing about those differences and similarities can help make your LinkedIn profile stand out from the crowd.
Our Presenters
- Sandy Yong, Personal Finance Writer
- Vanessa Chiasson, Travel Writer
- donalee Moulton, Business Writer/Author
Our panelists are avid LinkedIn users, and they’re ready to share their DOs and DONTs with you.
CFG Experts Panel – 10 Ways to Protect Yourself from Generative AI
- Online: Thursday, May 29, 2025
- 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time
- $10 for CFG members and partner organizations; $15 for affiliate organizations; $25 for members of the general public
You can register for this webinar right here.
Learn more about the cost and benefits of membership in the CFG on this webpage.
The link to the Zoom webinar will be sent to you via email about half an hour before the start time.
Please check your spam or junk folders if you can’t find the email, and contact organizer@canadianfreelanceguild.ca if you haven’t received the link 10 minutes before the scheduled start time. This webinar will be recorded and posted to the CFG Video-On-Demand site. Once posted, all paid registrants will receive a link and instructions on how to view.
AI and the freelance writer in 2025
In 2025, artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a looming force on the horizon. It’s here, embedded in the everyday work of many freelance writers.
From content ideation to editing and even pitching, AI is changing how creative professionals work. For freelance writers across Canada, the challenge for most isn’t avoiding AI but learning how to co-exist while navigating the nuanced moral and ethical implications.
Opportunities, risks, and strategies freelance writers can use to navigate the AI landscape
AI-powered writing tools like ChatGPT, Jasper and Copy.ai are becoming standard features in many freelancer’s digital toolboxes. According to a 2024 freelancing in Canada report, more than 60 per cent of freelance writers now incorporate some form of AI into their work. These tools can quickly generate outlines, summarize complex texts or repurpose content in different tones and formats.
Although many people view AI as a possible threat to their career, AI is opening new doors for writers willing to evolve. Here’s how:
- Increased efficiency. AI can help generate first drafts or research summaries, leaving writers more time to focus on creative structure, storytelling and polishing
- Expanded offers. Writers can pivot into roles that complement AI such as content strategists, brand voice consultants or editors
- Competitive edge. Freelancers who integrate AI effectively can offer faster turnaround times, better keyword optimization and broader content services
In many ways, AI can be a multiplier. It has the potential to boost productivity and open new streams of revenue, especially for freelancers who understand the tools and context in which they’re used.
Of course, the growing role of AI in content creation can also bring challenges. Here are a few:
- Commoditization. Some clients may undervalue original writing, expecting faster results at lower rates. Writers must push back by showcasing their unique skills including tone, judgment, voice and experience
- Ethics. How can we justify all of the original work these models were trained on without credit or payment to the authors? Where do we draw the line between using AI for support and passing off its output as original work? Transparency with clients and audiences is key
- Job displacement. There’s a real risk of losing lower-tier writing jobs (product descriptions, SEO blog posts, FAQ content) to automated systems. Writers must differentiate themselves and increase their skill sets
Understanding where AI excels and human input is irreplaceable is essential for carving out a long-term career as a freelance writer
How can Canadian writers future-proof their freelance careers? Here are some strategies:
Develop your unique voice
AI lacks personal experience, cultural sensitivity and emotional depth. Sharing your perspective and creative intuition is key. Make sure your writing reflects this special sauce.
Upskill and adapt
Understanding how to collaborate with AI can set you apart from others in your niche. Find ways to stay current on AI tools.
Diversify income streams
Combine writing with teaching, consulting or creating offers and resources that reflect your unique expertise.
Emphasize transparency and trust
Make it clear when and how you use AI in your writing. You’ll develop trust while at the same time positioning yourself as a thoughtful guide.
The freelance writing world is always changing, and in 2025 AI is one of the biggest drivers. Viewing AI as the beginning of a new chapter may be easier than bemoaning the end of creative writing altogether. For writers who lean into their uniqueness, sharpen their skills and lead with ethics, AI may turn out to be a partner rather than a competitor.
Other AI-related articles on Story Board
- What does AI development mean for journalists?
- The future of AI
- AI innovation and education: how to navigate learning and teaching
How to avoid bad clients: 8 tips for self-employed workers
This article with tips to avoid bad clients is by Julie Barlow and Jean-Benoît Nadeau, authors of GOING SOLO: Everything You Need to Start Your Business and Succeed as Your Own Boss.
Every freelancer has clients who don’t pay on time or don’t pay at all. They cook up stories about invoices blowing off their desks or getting lost. They ghost you when you insist on being paid.
The best way to deal with these clients is to avoid them in the first place. Bad clients may be a fact of life for self-employed workers but spotting them quickly will save you a lot of headaches.
Here are eight ways to do avoid bad clients
Prevention is the best medicine
You can usually detect an unreliable client early on. Start by asking basic questions about the job. Does the client really know what they want? Are their expectations realistic? Is the deadline do-able? Do they agree to pay you on delivery, or agree to a payment schedule? If the client gives vague answers, or is evasive, that’s a red flag. If they say, “let’s see how things go,” before they agree to a fee or conditions, you should reconsider working for them. They are not going to be reliable or keep their word.
Beware of fancy talk
When potential clients use grandiose and unnecessary terminology, or speak in monologues that sounds rehearsed, beware. Fancy speeches are designed to intimidate you and/or hide the fact that a client doesn’t know what they want. If you keep negotiating, be firm, use short, clear sentences, and expect your client to do the same. Don’t leave things up in the air. Clients must commit to specific assignments.
Don’t believe anyone who flatters you
This is especially key for self-employed workers in creative fields. When a client says you are a “natural,” they are probably trying to get you to lower your price. If they say that your work must be “effortless” or that “you must really enjoy what you do,” they are trying to get you to work for less, or for free. Stay away from them. Working creatively is neither effortless nor natural. It’s work.
Take the time you need
A client might have a good reason for wanting to get things done quickly, but that’s not your problem. Always take your time when you are negotiating, especially if your client is in a rush. Rushing you to start work before the terms of a contract have been agreed on puts you in a weak position. Clients who do this may spring new conditions on you when work is underway. Beware of anyone who says, “it shouldn’t take you long.” It almost always does.
Get it in writing
It’s the Golden Rule for self-employed workers: always try to have a signed contract before you start working on a project. But emails with information about fees and conditions also prove the existence of an agreement. It’s tempting to trust people but if they are trustworthy, they will understand that you need your fee and conditions in writing before you start working.
Keep it professional
Working for friends can be a trap. Sometimes your friend is not the person who makes decisions. That can lead to nasty surprises along the road. Or, if things get complicated, your friend might use their relationship with you to get concessions. If you work for a friend, keep it professional and remember the Golden Rule: get it in writing. Explain that their friendship is valuable, but the deal could fall through if they change jobs. If they are actually a friend, they will understand.
Never turn the other cheek
When you are self-employed, your client is not your boss. They are your customer. And no, the customer is not always right. You don’t gain anything by letting a client take advantage of you. Your job is to deliver a good or a service, and theirs is to support you while in your work, and to pay you. There is no justification for late payments, so never start a second contract with a client—especially a new one—until you have been paid for the first job.
Act on it
When clients who don’t pay, the first instinct of self-employed workers is to take legal action or threaten to. In most cases, legal action costs more than it’s worth, not to mention the stress and time it requires. But that doesn’t mean you should do nothing. Start by sending your client a simple written reminder. This often does the trick, but if not, follow up by sending a formal notice by registered mail, instructing them to pay you what they owe. Just lay out the facts: you delivered the product or service, you haven’t been paid, your customer owes you X amount, and the deadline is Y. If nothing else, you send the message that you really mean business and are getting prepared to take the next steps, if necessary.
Avoiding bad clients starts with listening to your gut. When problems happen, you almost always think back to a red flag you ignored. Thinking preventively might require a little extra work, but any successful self-employed worker will agree: it always pays off to save your energy for the best clients.
Also on Story Board from Julie Barlow and Jean-Benoît Nadeau
- Eight ways to keep things simple for freelance writers
- 16 ways to say no as a freelance writer (and why you would need to)
- 8 strategic tips for taking time off as a solopreneur
Webinar: 10 Ways to Protect Yourself from Generative AI
Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) continues to spread into our daily lives. Some love it, some hate it, and some feel both emotions depending on the time of day.
Back in the fall of 2022 shortly after the release of ChatGPT, the fear running rampant through the creative class was that AI was going to take our work and our clients. We’ve since learned it’s not as simple as that.
But someone who’s taken the time to harness the power of Gen AI could make our fear of replacement come true.
That’s not the only concern we’ve had as Gen AI changes and spreads further into our work and play.
Our Presenters
- Dr. Nadine Robinson
- George Butters
Dr. Nadine Robinson and George Butters are back with another session to help you defend yourself and your freelance business against the threats Gen AI continues to pose. Their goal is to set you up for safe, ethical, and practical use of these increasingly common tools.
CFG Experts Panel – 10 Ways to Protect Yourself from Generative AI
- Online: Thursday, May 15, 2025
- 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time
- $10 for CFG members and partner organizations; $15 for affiliate organizations; $25 for members of the general public
You can register for this webinar right here.
Learn more about the cost and benefits of membership in the CFG on this webpage.
The link to the Zoom webinar will be sent to you via email about half an hour before the start time.
Please check your spam or junk folders if you can’t find the email, and contact organizer@canadianfreelanceguild.ca if you haven’t received the link 10 minutes before the scheduled start time. This webinar will be recorded and posted to the CFG Video-On-Demand site. Once posted, all paid registrants will receive a link and instructions on how to view.
Off the Wire: April 2025
We’re revitalizing our series, Off the Wire. Here, we gather stories about the media business, journalism, writing, communications, and freelancing—with a Canadian focus. Who needs a water cooler?
As the election unfolds, so too does the landscape of freelance and media work in Canada. This month, we’re tracking major developments that impact independent workers—from sweeping tax reporting changes and new gig economy legislation to media layoffs and the closure of community newspapers.
With freelance participation on the rise and regulations tightening, it’s more important than ever to stay informed. Here are the latest stories shaping the future of freelancing and media in Canada.
Freelancing stories from around the web
- Nearly 700,000 Canadians engage in gig work through digital platforms in 2024 [News Minimalist]
- Canada’s gig economy: How some workers are responding to stricter tax requirements [CP24]
- How to Start Freelancing Trends in Canada 2025: A Look into the Future of WorkFreelancing in Canada: Detailed Guide on Steps & Legal Requirements [Freel]
- Bell Media eliminates 98 jobs, mostly in ‘service and corporate departments’ [Canadian Press]
- 3 Metro Vancouver community news outlets to close as parent company cites ‘financial challenges’ [CBC]
Recently published on Story Board
- Eight ways to keep things simple for freelance writers by Julie Barlow: Over three decades as self-employed writers, we have realized that simplifying things is key to keeping our business running smoothly. These eight ideas will help you avoid headaches and keep on top of your ever-growing list of tasks.
Spot a story you think we should include in next week’s Off the Wire? Email the link to robyn@robynroste.com.
Eight ways to keep things simple for freelance writers
This article about keeping things simple for freelance writers is by Julie Barlow and Jean-Benoît Nadeau, the authors of Going Solo: Everything You Need to Start Your Business and Succeed as Your Own Boss. Prize-winning authors and journalists, the pair have been running a freelance writing business for over three decades.
Managing a small business means wearing many professional hats. In addition to writing, you are your own sales manager, publicist, contract negotiator, accounts receivable manager, bookkeeper, accountant, president, IT department and more.
Multitasking can become overwhelming. But while some of the challenges writers face—like writer’s block and tough editors—are unique, self-employed writers grapple with many of the same problems common to all freelance workers.
Eight ways to keep things simple for freelance writers
Over three decades as self-employed writers, we have realized that simplifying things is key to keeping our business running smoothly. These eight ideas will help you avoid headaches and keep on top of your ever-growing list of tasks.
Shut the door
It’s amazing how many self-employed workers work in areas of heavy traffic at home. During the pandemic we watched in horror as our editors set up shop on kitchen tables. Self-employed writers need a room with a door that they can shut. It’s more important than having a fancy office, and the only way to make your home office peaceful and productive.
Use folders
We’re not talking about paper folders (although we still do use those). Folders can be digital or physical. We all need these “boxes” to store things, not just bills and receipts, but ideas, reflections, and resources. In our business of creating ideas, we use folders to store newspaper articles, notes about books we want to read, notes on books we have read, but also people we want to meet, events and workshops we want to attend, notes from meetings, and more. Folders make information handy and easy to locate.
File every day
Whether notes or bills or receipts, freelancers should always take a little time out of their day to file. Self-employed workers who don’t do this feel the pain when tax time rolls around. Filing is a fundamental freelance skill, the key to having peace of mind and being productive. To avoid a messy mountain of receipts, bills and deductible expenses, make filing part of your routine and do a little every day.
Clean out your client list
For most small businesses, finding new clients is the name of the game. But for writers, dispensing with bad clients can be just as important. Does a client take you for granted? Ask for special favours, “as a friend”? Pay too slowly? Every small business owner should do some occasional house clearing and purge customers who make life complicated or don’t deserve your business.
Pick one social media platform
There is no easier way to fritter away valuable time than by going down too many social media rabbit holes. With newer, sharper, more interesting platforms popping up all the time, it’s tempting to jump on board. Most social media experts today recommend you concentrate on one (or two) platforms that work.
Hire a freelance IT specialist
If there’s one person who truly helps us breath easier, it’s our computer technician (who is also self-employed). He is the IT department we don’t get as self-employed workers. He assesses our IT needs, recommends tools, delivers hardware to our door, and is on call when our computers break down—or are stolen. When that happened recently, he helped find a replacement and untangle the mess of lost passwords for us in a snap. We don’t need him every day, but he’s always there when disaster strikes.
Get an external webmaster
There is nothing more terrifying and potentially disastrous than a website hack. We pay a modest monthly fee to a skilled and reliable webmaster who solves glitches and answers questions in a snap. He costs less than a housekeeper and helps us avoid serious headaches in the complex world of computer security. Google and YouTube are no substitute for an experienced security professional.
Don’t forget your purpose
This might be the most crucial advice of all. In the thousands of decisions that you make as a small business owner, staying focused on what you really want to do is the most important. Having a clear purpose—defining your goals and interests—is like a compass that guides your decisions and makes managing your business much so much simpler.
Off the Wire: March 2025
We’re revitalizing our series, Off the Wire. Here, we gather stories about the media business, journalism, writing, communications, and freelancing—with a Canadian focus. Who needs a water cooler?
New regulations and industry shifts in Canada are shaping how independent workers operate. From tax reporting changes affecting gig workers to emerging trends in freelance work, staying informed is essential to business success. This month, we’ve rounded up key articles that highlight the latest developments, including new tax rules for digital platform workers, insights into how Canadian gig workers are responding to these changes, and what the future holds for freelancers in 2025.
Freelancing stories from around the web
- How Canada’s Gig Worker Law Is Reshaping Business Compliance [People2.0]
- Canada: Job Gains Fizzle Ahead of Tariff Troubles [Desjardins]
- Around a third (30%) of Canadian gig workers didn’t plan to report all gig income this tax season; 71% had change-of-heart upon learning about new rules mandating gig platforms to share users’ earnings with CRA, reveals new H&R Block Canada survey [Cision]
- Latest Freelance Statistics 2025 – Industry Size & Trends [DemandSage]
Recently published on Story Board
- 16 ways to say no as a freelance writer (and why you would need to) by Julie Barlow: All successful self-employed creators know: sometimes you have push back. It’s a big ask for beginners trying to build a client list. But if the price is wrong, conditions are less than ideal, or timing is off, saying “no” to an assignment or contract can make a sale—on your terms
Spot a story you think we should include in next week’s Off the Wire? Email the link to robyn@robynroste.com.
Navigating the Contract Maze: Expert Strategies for Freelance Success
“The Devil is in the details!” That describes the importance that successful negotiations play in getting contracts that are comprehensible, unambiguous, and mutually beneficial.
That’s the ideal. Reality is often far off the mark.
In March 2025, the Canadian Freelance Guild hosted a webinar on Contracts and Negotiations for Freelancers featuring expert panelists Don Genova, donalee Moulton and Paul McLaughlin. They have been negotiating and focusing on the fine print for decades. A summary of this discussion is below. To view the webinar, you can access it here.
Three veteran freelancers share battle-tested advice on negotiating better deals, spotting red flags, and maintaining professional relationships while still getting paid what you’re worth
When it comes to freelancing, your creative skills might get you in the door—but it’s your contract savvy that determines whether you’ll thrive or merely survive. In a recent Canadian Freelance Guild panel on contracts and negotiations, three seasoned experts shared insights from their decades in the trenches, revealing both practical tactics and psychological strategies for navigating what many freelancers find to be the most intimidating aspect of their careers.
The panel, moderated by CFG President George Butters, featured Donna Lee Moulton, an award-winning journalist and corporate communications specialist from Halifax; Paul McLaughlin, a Toronto-based writer, broadcaster and author with more than four decades of experience; and Don Genova, a longtime food and travel journalist from Victoria who has helped freelancers interpret and negotiate contracts for many years.
Their message was clear: understanding contracts isn’t just important—it’s essential to your freelance survival.
The Freelancer’s Mindset: Business Owner First, Creative Second
An audience poll at the start of the session revealed what many might expect—most freelancers feel uncertain about their contract and negotiation skills, with many specifically identifying “fear of talking about money” as a major obstacle.
“I can appreciate the trepidation that we often have when it comes to talking about money,” acknowledged Moulton. “As freelancers and as business people, we want to establish a relationship with our clients, with our editors. And somehow when money gets involved in that process, we worry that it will in some way affect that relationship.”
McLaughlin cut to the heart of the issue: “If you’re going to be a freelancer, you’re a business owner, a small business owner. And you have to understand your business, and you have to learn how to price, and you have to learn how to make a profit.”
He illustrated this with a simple example: “The same way that if you start a painting company, you go door to door and say, ‘I’d like to offer my services.’ And they say, ‘Well, how much?’ You don’t say, ‘Well, I don’t know. What do you want to pay?'”
This mental shift—from thinking of yourself primarily as a creative person to recognizing yourself as the owner of a business—forms the foundation for successful negotiation. As Moulton noted, it requires “wearing the two hats, wearing the hat as writer and what I want to do as a writer and how I want to tell the story as a writer. But then the business hat has to come out.”
The Rate Paradox: Why Today’s Writers Are Making 1970s Money
One of the most eye-opening moments came when the panel discussed the stagnation—or even decline—in freelance writing rates over the decades.
“I started writing for magazines in the late 1970s and I was making a dollar a word,” McLaughlin revealed. “I was also being assigned four and five thousand word articles. That was 45 years ago.”
Genova added: “At one point, you could start at a dollar a word, and now, if you get a dollar a word, that’s still considered to be a good rate if you’re writing for a magazine.”
Butters shared an even more stark example: “My experience with the dollar a word, early, very early 80s to 2010. Same magazine. The father to the son, literally a father was the editor, then the son in the ladder. Same rates. The same rate, exactly the same. And I don’t think it’s changed today.”
The panel attributed this partly to the flood of aspiring writers willing to work for exposure rather than fair compensation. As Genova recounted from a conversation with a magazine editor who was asked why they pay writers so little: “His answer is very simple, because we can. Everybody wants to be in print. They want to see their name on an article, and they’re willing to do almost anything for almost nothing to do it.”
This reality led to unanimous advice: freelancers should look beyond traditional publishing toward corporate clients who often offer more respectful compensation. “The magazine world isn’t [respectful of what you need to earn]. And the newspaper world doesn’t even think about it,” McLaughlin noted. “I really think they’re doing, they think they’re doing you a favor by publishing you.”
The Three Numbers Strategy: Know Your Worth Before You Talk
One of the most practical takeaways came from Genova’s “three numbers” approach to negotiation:
“The first number is the one that’s something you’d really like to make for this. That’s kind of like, you know, almost ridiculous, right? The second number is what you can say is considered to be, well, it’s a fair price. I would make a reasonable profit on it. And the third number is your bottom line. You won’t, you don’t want to go under that, because then you’re in a losing proposition.”
This strategy provides both psychological preparation and practical boundaries. McLaughlin emphasized that knowing your bottom line helps project confidence—a critical element in successful negotiation.
“People kind of smell each other, you know, and sense each other. So if you’re there and you have no idea what you’re going to do, you’re just desperate for the work or desperate for the money… Desperation is one of the least attractive qualities a human being can ever have,” he explained.
“If you can appear at least to be confident, to be self-assured, even if you have to kind of put it on at first, you’ll eventually, I think, take it on.”
Value-Add Strategies: Getting Paid More Without Working More
Rather than simply asking for higher rates, the panel suggested looking for creative ways to add value that costs you little but justifies higher compensation.
Genova shared a personal example: “When I was doing items for CBC… I wanted to negotiate above the minimum, and they didn’t want to do that. And I said, ‘Well, listen, how about if I provide you every Monday night a promo that you can use on Tuesday morning before I come in?’ And then maybe pay me two extra minutes.”
This arrangement meant he earned about $100 more per column for work that only took him 10-15 minutes to complete—a win-win situation.
Similarly, if you have a substantial social media following that could help promote published work, that’s a negotiating point worth mentioning. While this might seem like giving away more of your labor, the panel emphasized that strategic value-adds can lead to better long-term relationships and compensation.
Corporate vs. Media: A Tale of Two Worlds
A recurring theme throughout the discussion was the stark contrast between negotiating with traditional media outlets versus corporate clients.
McLaughlin didn’t mince words: “With corporate people, I find it’s a very professional, healthy experience… they expect you to charge them professional rates and then produce, of course, professional product.” By contrast, he described dealing with magazine editors “who try to make you feel that every penny they’re giving you is coming out of their children’s educational fund.”
Moulton noted that in the corporate and government world, the negotiation process itself is often more structured: “A lot of corporate work you have to bid on or government work you have to bid on… Well, then you set your own rate. You say this is what I would do the work for. Here’s the work that I would do and you either win the contract or you don’t.”
This approach eliminates some of the uncomfortable back-and-forth that many freelancers dread. However, she cautioned that corporate and government contracts often have inflexible elements beyond just pricing: “You might be able to negotiate your rate… But there are things like hotels. You don’t get to upgrade your hotel, right? Because there’s a list of hotels and you have to pick from the list of hotels.”
Red Flags That Should Send You Running
All three panelists had encountered problematic contract clauses that freelancers should watch for—with several unanimous “deal-breakers” identified:
Payment on publication topped the list. “You just don’t sign that because if they don’t publish it, you don’t get paid or if they wait two or three years, or if the editors change,” McLaughlin warned. Genova agreed, noting that if a magazine goes under before publishing your piece, writers are “very low on the list of payees that deserve to get paid in a bankruptcy.”
Moral rights clauses were another universal concern. As McLaughlin explained: “If you sign away your moral rights, they can do anything they want with what you wrote. If you are like anti-Trump in your writing, you could become pro-Trump if they change it. They can change, they can put someone else’s name on it. They can do anything they want.”
Genova shared a powerful example: “Anne Douglas, who is a longtime PWAC and CFG member, she actually quit the Toronto Star rather than give up her moral rights because she wrote parenting columns. And she was concerned that suddenly her parenting columns could have been reworded to put her in favor of some sort of parenting style that she was not in favor of.”
Indemnity clauses were flagged by Genova as particularly dangerous: “Basically you’re saying, if I do anything wrong, it’s all on me. And I will pay all the damages that you may negotiate.” He warned these clauses often ask writers to guarantee things they can’t possibly verify, especially regarding third-party rights like photos.
Inadequate kill fees also made the list. “They’re saying that, well, at some point we may kill the story. We don’t want to publish it anymore. And we’ll give you 25%,” Genova explained. “Excuse me, I did all the work.” His rule of thumb: if all the work has been done, you should get 100%; if you’re halfway through, you should get 50%.
Book Contracts: A Special Case
When audience member Sharon Bird asked about book publisher agreements, the panel offered specific insights for authors navigating this distinct territory.
McLaughlin described his “protracted negotiations” with Dundurn Press: “First of all, they didn’t want to give me an advance. And I just refused. I said, I’m not doing it if you don’t give me an advance…Then they said, well, we’re going to dole it out in three payments. The third one after the book is published. No, not doing it. It’s not fair.”
He encouraged authors to review contracts line by line: “I think I got 10, 15% of the clauses removed.” However, he advised strategic flexibility: “If you’re in a protracted negotiation, you’ve got to give them something. I think maybe if you want to win eight, you’ve got to lose two.”
Moulton pointed out the different approaches required for fiction versus nonfiction: “If you’re writing fiction, you write the manuscript before you get the publisher… You’re just waiting now for Steven Spielberg to come along and turn it into a movie.” By contrast, “nonfiction is a little different because you tend to sell the idea, you submit a proposal and then you write the book.”
She also highlighted a valuable resource for Canadian authors: “There’s an organization in Halifax and it may exist in other provinces as well called ALICE. And it’s a legal clinic…that will actually take your contract and read it and come back to you and say, ‘Donalee, I think these clauses are just fine. You’re giving a little here, you’re getting a little there. These are the three we think you can’t live with.'”
The Impact of AI: The New Frontier
When Butters raised the topic of artificial intelligence in contracts, the panel acknowledged this emerging area.
Genova noted that while he hadn’t yet seen specific AI clauses in contracts he’s reviewed, “most contracts traditionally say that this must be your work, your creation.” He predicted: “I suspect that it will be coming… to say, it will mention AI, that your content should not be generated by artificial intelligence in any way, shape, or form.”
Moulton had already encountered these clauses in her fiction work: “The AI clause is in all of it… And it’s like the floodgates open. So it wasn’t there on Monday. And on Tuesday, everybody and their dog was including it.” However, she noted these clauses often lack clarity: “There’s no attempt to explain what AI generated means, or why it can’t be AI generated, or if my grammar check is a form of AI.”
McLaughlin approached the issue from an educator’s perspective: “My university writing students, I have a clause in the syllabus, where they have to tell me if they’ve used AI, and for what a part of their work, because there’s no way around the fact that people are going to use it, including freelance writers.”
Butters, who serves on an AI committee with the News Guild-CWA in the U.S., observed that major publishers are “being particularly vague about their use of AI” while creators are pushing for “protectionist clauses” to safeguard their work from being replicated or repurposed through AI.
The Power of “No” and When to Use It
Perhaps the most empowering message throughout the session was the importance of being willing to walk away when terms aren’t acceptable.
As Butters noted in his closing remarks: “You said the magic word for freelancers. No. It’s the most powerful word you have—use it carefully. But sometimes you’ve just got to say no.”
This sentiment was echoed by McLaughlin’s experience: “We went through every single clause. And I think I got 10, 15% of the clauses removed. And the person I dealt with was very professional, very polite, very difficult. But I won most.”
Genova referenced a Canadian Media Guild freelance branch brochure titled “Draw Your Line in the Sand,” emphasizing: “At a certain point, you have to, you say, I can’t sign this. It’s not going to work for me the way it is.”
While this may seem intimidating, especially for freelancers worried about losing opportunities, McLaughlin offered an encouraging counterpoint: “Over the many, many decades, when I’ve asked for more money, I’ve almost always got it. Not every time, but almost always.”
The key, according to Moulton, is understanding that professional negotiations are “not going to affect your relationship with 99% of the people you work with, they are going to see this as routine and ordinary and to be expected. And so don’t feel like you’re jeopardizing your livelihood. In fact, you’re doing just the reverse.”
Practical Steps You Can Take Today
Throughout the discussion, several actionable tips emerged for freelancers looking to strengthen their negotiation skills:
-
- Know your three numbers before any negotiation: dream rate, fair rate, and absolute minimum
- Create your own simple contract when none is offered. As Moulton suggested: “The onus is on us almost to create the contract, to say, you know, ‘My rate is 50 cents a word, and I sell only these rights.'”
- Use the phrase “what is your proposed rate?” McLaughlin recommended this specific wording because “that word ‘proposed’ opens the door to negotiation.”
- Look for creative value-adds that cost you little time but justify higher compensation
- Read contracts thoroughly, especially before final signing. As Butters cautioned: “Look for the stuff that’s changed. Because there are people that will do that to you. And the thicker the contract, the more likely that is to happen”
- Remember that informal agreements are still contracts. Emails and text messages where you agree to terms constitute legally binding agreements
- Consider the book angle. As McLaughlin noted, “My first [book] that I wrote—it was published in 1986—has made me a huge amount of money from everything but the royalties.” Being published enhances your credibility and can lead to speaking engagements, training opportunities, and higher-paying client work
For freelancers navigating the often-murky waters of contracts and negotiations, the panel offered both tactical advice and psychological reassurance. Perhaps most importantly, they emphasized that advocating for fair compensation and terms isn’t just about the immediate transaction—it’s about building a sustainable career that allows you to continue doing the creative work you love.
As McLaughlin pointed out from his teaching experience, when editors visited his class, they consistently said they valued the freelancer who “delivers what they said they were going to deliver and delivers it on time. And if they do that, they’re gold.” The quality of writing, while important, often came secondary to reliability and professionalism—exactly the qualities that successful contract negotiation demonstrates.
16 ways to say no as a freelance writer (and why you would need to)
This article about ways to say no is by Julie Barlow and Jean-Benoît Nadeau, authors of Going Solo: Everything You Need to Start Your Business and Succeed as Your Own Boss.
Why would any freelancer ever want to say “no”?
All successful self-employed creators know: sometimes you have push back. It’s a big ask for beginners trying to build a client list. But if the price is wrong, conditions are less than ideal, or timing is off, saying “no” to an assignment or contract can make a sale—on your terms.
As self-employed writers who have been negotiating contracts for over three decades, we have come up with 16 ways to say no without closing the door.
16 ways to say no
- I don’t have time
- This is not my specialty/I don’t do this type of work
- I don’t understand the order
- The order is not realistic
- The project is not interesting enough/I’m not interested
- The deadline is too short
- The deadline is too long
- The job doesn’t pay enough
- The job involves more work than I’m being paid for
- The terms are not good
- There were problems with the last order
- My partner won’t let me work at that price
- The expenses are too high for me
- I know of three other buyers/sellers who would be interested
- I can’t start working on it until next month
- And, finally, the bomb: I don’t like the way you are treating me
You’ll notice each “no” on the list invites a counteroffer. You are not closing the door, just asking for a higher fee or better conditions.
But before you decide which No to use, there are a few things to consider.
Be ready to explain why you’re saying no
No matter how you say no, you must be able to back it up. The more specific you are, the better. For example, we explain to some clients that we have minimum rates and won’t take on any work for less.
Make sure it’s the right no
If the previous job for a client didn’t go well or a customer isn’t paying enough, it won’t help to say their order is too small, or you don’t have time. You might end up with a bigger order that you have to deliver to an unreliable customer. It’s better to be honest from the outset.
Expand if there are several nos
There could be more than one problem with an offer from a client. If that’s the case, make sure you spell them all out from the outset. If you keep coming up with new reasons to say No as negotiations go along, you will lose credibility.
Make sure the conditions are right for you
Sometimes the conditions for saying no are just not there. If you are financially tight or don’t have much work, you might not be able to turn down a specific project. If you are just starting out in your field, you may not have the reputation you need to do the kind of work you want. So be realistic in your negotiations. Just don’t shy away from having frank discussions with clients and pushing back. This will let you figure out how much the client is willing to buy, how much they are willing to pay, what their other options are and how quickly they need your project or service—all factors that could push up your price.
Stick to your guns
Jean-Benoît once refused a writing project with a friend because the conditions were all wrong: the idea wasn’t very good, and the deadline was impossible. The friend responded by pushing Jean-Benoît even harder, saying “I’ll be stuck if you don’t do it,” and “you’re the only person who can do it.” Jean-Benoît relented. He regretted it. Everything went wrong and the project ended up taking too much of his valuable time. Jean-Benoît should have heeded his instinct and stuck to his hard no.
Sometimes the answer is “yes”
When you start out, you will probably end up saying yes to terms that you know are not ideal. That’s normal. There’s a price to pay for building your reputation. But you shouldn’t say “yes” without at trying to turn things to your advantage first. Go back through the list of “nos” and see if there’s one that fits the circumstances. And don’t forget, there are better offers out there, things will get easier, and knowing your nos will make you a better negotiator.
Off the Wire: February 2025
We’re revitalizing our series, Off the Wire. Here, we gather stories about the media business, journalism, writing, communications, and freelancing—with a Canadian focus. Who needs a water cooler?
Freelancing stories from around the web
- Canadian news publishers sue OpenAI over alleged copyright infringement [AP]
- Freelance Trends 2025 [Freelancer Club]
- These Writing Trends Are Reshaping Freelance Success [Freelance Writing Canada]
- The Rise of Gig Economy Work in Canada | Freelance & Contract Jobs [Kassen Recruitment]
- Freelancing Trends, Market Size & Statistics for 2025 [ClientManager]
- The Future of Freelancing: Trends to Watch in 2025 [Freelance.ca]
Recently published on Story Board
- 4 Pitch Templates for Freelance Writers by Robyn Roste: Learn what makes a good pitch, how to pitch, and grab four pitch templates to get started
- Forget time, try these 3 tips for working on energy management by Suzanne Bowness: With New Year’s Resolutions solidly in the rear-view mirror, consider adding “energy management” to your goals list instead
Spot a story you think we should include in next week’s Off the Wire? Email the link to robyn@robynroste.com.
