How to get paid: Dealing with delinquent clients

How to get paid: Dealing with delinquent clients

In December 2017, more than a dozen writers banded together to publicly air a common grievance. Nautilus magazine, they revealed in an open letter, collectively owed them $50,000; their paychecks were, in some cases, more than a year overdue. In an effort to collect on their debts, the writers filed a formal complaint with the National Writers Union, which ultimately reached a settlement with the magazine. Freelancers shouldn't have to go to such lengths simply to collect the money they're legally owed. But what's a writer to do when a client simply won't pay up? Short of an expensive lawsuit, what recourse do freelancers have? In this session, we'll introduce you to different strategies and resources for dealing with delinquent clients. Freelance writers and editors will be joined by a lawyer to talk about their experiences and offer advice on getting help from the National Writers Union, going to small claims court, and how to use the Freelance Isn't Free Act. We'll help you understand the pros and cons of each strategy, and freelancers who have successfully pursued these remedies will share the tips and tricks they've learned along the way. We'll also address some related questions, including: How do you know when it's time to escalate a dispute? Is there a benefit to naming and shaming, and what are the most effective ways to do that? Are there contractual ways that freelancers can protect themselves? Come with questions.

Social media hashtag: #howtogetpaid

Time:
Saturday, October 13th, 10:15 am to 11:45 am
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Location:
Marvin Center, Room 309
Speaker(s):
Adrienne Samuels Gibbs
  Writer/editor, Forbes, Pitchfork, Essence, American Craft, Chicago, Ill.
Yael Grauer
  Independent journalist, freelance, Phoenix, Ariz.
John Mason
  Owner of law firm Copyright Counselors, LLC, and literary agency Mason Literary, Board president of Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts, Washington, D.C.
Jessica Seigel
  Adjunct professor of journalism, New York University, New York, N.Y.
Organizer(s):
Emily Anthes
  Journalist and author, freelance, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Katherine Bourzac
  Freelance journalist, San Francisco, Calif.

Meeting schedule

Friday, Oct. 12

12:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Check-in
Marvin Center, Great Hall (street level)

1:00 pm to 5:00 pm

$ Getting Real: Science Writing in AR and VR
Marvin Center, Room 307
W SciWriUnited: A regional SciWri groups congress
Marvin Center, Continental Ballroom

3:00 pm to 5:00 pm

3:30 pm to 4:15 pm

F Butterfly CRISPR workshop at the GW Department of Biological Sciences
Science and Engineering Hall, 8th floor; check in at the SEH lobby infodesk at 3:15.
F Tour of the Harlan Greenhouse at the GW Department of Biological Sciences
Science and Engineering Hall, 8th floor; check in at the SEH infodesk at 3:15.

4:30 pm to 5:15 pm

F Butterfly CRISPR workshop at the GW Department of Biological Sciences
Science and Engineering Hall, 8th floor; check in at the SEH lobby infodesk at 4:15.
F Tour of the Harlan Greenhouse at the GW Department of Biological Sciences
Science and Engineering Hall, 8th floor; check in at the SEH lobby infodesk at 4:15.

5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

F Welcome reception
Science and Engineering Hall

8:00 pm to 11:00 pm

Diversity mixer
Stoney’s on L, 2101 L St. NW #103
Saturday, Oct. 13

7:30 am to 8:15 am

NASW membership meeting + light breakfast
Marvin Center, Grand Ballroom

8:00 am to 6:00 pm

Check-in
Marvin Center, Great Hall (street level)

8:30 am to 9:45 am

10:15 am to 11:45 am

W Congratulations, you're a manager! Now what?
Marvin Center, Grand Ballroom

11:45 am to 2:00 pm

W Lunch break
Visit your choice of multiple local establishments for good eats + good company

12:00 pm to 1:30 pm

12:45 pm to 1:45 pm

W #SciWriMentoring
Marvin Center, Continental Ballroom

2:00 pm to 3:15 pm

3:15 pm to 3:45 pm

W Afternoon Break
Marvin Center: Grand and Continental Ballrooms

3:45 pm to 5:00 pm

W So you think you want to edit?
Marvin Center, Continental Ballroom

5:15 pm to 6:30 pm

7:00 pm to 10:00 pm

F ScienceWriters Annual Awards Night
Washington Marriott Georgetown
Sunday, Oct. 14

7:45 am to 8:45 am

F Continental breakfast
Marvin Center Grand Ballroom and Continental Ballroom

7:45 am to 7:00 pm

F Exhibit Hall open
Marvin Center Grand Ballroom and Continental Ballroom

8:00 am to 11:00 am

F Check-in
Marvin Center Third Floor

8:45 am to 10:00 am

10:05 am to 11:05 am

11:05 am to 11:30 am

F Coffee break
Marvin Center Grand Ballroom and Continental Ballroom

11:30 am to 12:30 pm

12:30 pm to 2:30 pm

2:30 pm to 3:30 pm

3:30 pm to 4:00 pm

F Coffee break
Marvin Center Grand Ballroom and Continental Ballroom

4:00 pm to 5:00 pm

5:00 pm to 7:00 pm

F ScienceWriters reception
Marvin Center Grand Ballroom and Continental Ballroom
Monday, Oct. 15

7:45 am to 8:30 am

F Continental breakfast
Marvin Center Grand Ballroom and Continental Ballroom

7:45 am to 5:00 pm

F Exhibit Hall open
Marvin Center Grand Ballroom and Continental Ballroom

8:30 am to 9:30 am

9:00 am to 10:40 am

F Tour of GW Nanofabrication and Imaging Center with emphasis on biomedical microscopy
Science and Engineering Hall, check in at lobby infodesk

9:35 am to 10:35 am

10:35 am to 10:50 am

F Coffee break
Marvin Center Grand Ballroom and Continental Ballroom

10:50 am to 11:50 am

11:50 am to 1:00 pm

Lunch break
Visit your choice of multiple local establishments for good eats + good company

12:00 pm to 12:45 pm

F Lunchtime yoga
GW Milken Institute School of Public Health

12:15 pm to 2:00 pm

F Tour of GW Nanofabrication and Imaging Center with emphasis on nanofabrication techniques
Science and Engineering Hall, check in at lobby infodesk

1:00 pm to 2:00 pm

2:00 pm to 3:00 pm

3:00 pm to 3:15 pm

F Coffee break
Marvin Center Grand Ballroom and Continental Ballroom

3:00 pm to 4:45 pm

F Tour of GW Nanofabrication and Imaging Center with emphasis on biomedical microscopy
Science and Engineering Hall, check in at lobby infodesk

3:15 pm to 4:05 pm

F Climate science on trial
Lisner Auditorium

4:05 pm to 4:55 pm

Tuesday, Oct. 16

8:00 am to 12:30 pm

F USP field trip: The science of quality standards
Rockville, MD. Van will depart from/return to the Washington Marriott GeorgetownD

8:00 am to 5:00 pm

$ National Association of Science Writers Information Access Summit
Marvin Center (800 21st Street NW) Room 309

8:30 am to 12:30 pm

F MedImmune field trip: Beyond biotech
Gaithersburg, MD. Bus will depart from/return to the Washington Marriott Georgetown.

9:00 am to 12:00 pm

F Georgetown University Medical Center field trip: Just because we can, should we?
Washington, DC. Bus will depart from/return to the Washington Marriott Georgetown.
F University of Maryland: Next-generation engineering
College Park, MD. Bus will depart from/return to the Washington Marriott Georgetown.
F University of Maryland: Quantum computing
College Park, MD. Bus will depart from/return to the Washington Marriott Georgetown.
F University of Maryland: Virtual and augmented reality
College Park, Md. Bus will depart/return to the Washington Marriott Georgetown.

9:00 am to 4:00 pm

F National Institute of Standards and Technology field trip: Not your standard tour
Gaithersburg, MD. Bus will depart from/return to the Washington Marriott Georgetown.

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