We’ve all had bad work experiences, whether as freelancers or during our time in the more traditional job arena. Ideally, freelancing would free us from shifty clients, rude employers, and projects that walk our ethical line, but in the real life world of the independent contractor, the ratio of good to bad is probably very close to that of the nine-to-fiver. One advantage we may have, however, is that if we stay in control and know what we’re willing and able to do, we can usually extricate ourselves from situations a little easier than our workplace-bound friends.

Feedback, Feedback, Feedback

Just like that overused, clichéd mantra of the real estate industry, we freelancers MUST rely on feedback if we’re working in any kind of venue that uses a rating system for it participants. Sites like Guru and Elance encourage both sides of every project to tell their colleagues all about their experience, and though it’s a given that employers should be given the chance to offer kudos or non-kudos for work they receive, it’s equally important for freelancers to share their input on the clients for whom they’re writing, editing, and assisting. Feedback isn’t always an official system of stars or thumbs up, though, and it’s crucial that even for the jobs we land that aren’t part of a system, we still need to keep our network of colleagues up-to-date on consistent non-paying clients, scams, and unethical projects making the rounds. We’re not really part of a career path full of regulations, so it’s up to us to watch each other’s backs so we can have a more complete picture of the clients we’re about to deal with.

Talk It Out

No matter how well you know your client—or how well you THINK you know the terms and details of your project—always lock in what you expect to be paid. You don’t have to always send formal contracts around for signing (though it can’t hurt), but you should always have an email or other written form of communication expressing payment terms (how much, when, what method, etc.). Just the other day, I accepted a job, did the assigned project, and had already spent an entire day working on my second assigned project when I was told the client had decided to go with another writer and that my work of two days was no more than sample work. I know better than to jump into a project without some sort of documentation—I’m a professional, right?—but I thought I had it. Never assume until you see the numbers.

Don’t Read Between the Lines

As freelancers living in this crazy age of InterWebbery, most of us conduct a majority of our conversations via email, Skype, online chats, and even social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. It’s all very convenient and can save all that time formerly spent on phone calls and meetings—but there’s something to be said for intonation. If we’re feeling a little off, or if we’re a little unclear of a client’s intentions, a simple email or message can be misconstrued into a crushing insult, leading to a retaliatory retort, leading to … a lost job. Whether you’ve been freelancing for 20 years or a few months, this is always going to be relevant—never reply in anger.

Remember—part of the joy of freelancing is that we tend to have a little more freedom when it comes to how we handle challenging situations. There’s no need to be a doormat, and if a client is impossible to work with, there are always ways to untangle yourself and get out mostly unscathed. The majority of these disputes, however, can be managed if you stay focused on the job at hand and keep in mind that ultimately, you’re in charge.