10 Red Flags When Seeking Freelance Writing Work

If you’ve been a freelance writer for any length of time, you’ve probably encountered gigs that sound too good to be true — because they are. Whether you’re new to freelancing or a seasoned pro, here are ten red flags that should make you run faster than a deadline you forgot about. 

1. The job posting looks suspiciously identical to another one — sometimes with a different company name in the body than in the title. 
2. They promise “competitive rates”… but compared to what, exactly? 
3. They take three weeks to reply, but now they need a fresh sample in less than 24 hours. 
4. They won’t sign a freelancer contract. 
5. The contract is 50 pages long, 95% of which explains how they can fine you hundreds if your work is plagiarized, AI-written, or even just smells funny. 
6. Their website looks like it was built in 1996 — or they have no website at all, just a LinkedIn profile with no avatar, and employees who also have no avatars. 
7. They claim their work has been featured in Forbes, The Times, and maybe the moon landing — but the only evidence is on their own site. 
8. The owner’s name is Galvatron1986. 
9. They have a website. They’re legit. They have real employees. But every article is just an excuse to rage about social media fan drama. 
10. They “hire” you without asking for a sample or interview, but need your SIN and credit card on file. Immediately. 

🚩 Been burned by a bad client? Share your red flag experiences in the comments — let’s help each other dodge the landmines.