How to Handle Writing Assignments that Contradict with Your Beliefs

As a freelance writer, it's only natural that you want to expand your client list and work with high profile clients. The more you are published, the more successful your writing career may feel. However, there is likely to be a time sooner, rather than later, when you are faced with an ethical dilemma when it comes to a writing assignment.

Whether it's your strong Christian faith or a deep belief in animal rights or a refusal to report in a biased way on a situation that you see objectively, it's important to stick to what you believe.

Recently, I submitted an article to a client. I first got a rewrite, because I dared to mention the ethical side to an unethical fluff story. I redid the entire thing. Yet, when I saw the published version, half of the article was omitted. It was an important part of the article that was cut out, making the article seem empty and incomplete. While it's a client that credits all its writers as a staff, with no personal credit or recognition, the extreme edit still stung. I felt responsible, as though I had irresponsibly reported on the story, because they cut out a vital part of the story.

So, the situation failed. Yet, it's through failure that we learn how to do things the right way. Here are some tips on how to handle an assignment that you do not want to complete for ethical reasons.

First, consider the client. If you have a personal relationship with the client or editor, you can express your feelings on the topic. However, you do risk offending the client who may feel insulted, but the reward would be that you would educate your client on something he may not have considered. Also, she will know your preferences going forward. Yet, if it's a strictly business relationship or one's that's conducted impersonally a website, you really can't reason your way out of it.

If you were successful in getting out of the article, try to pitch an alternative assignment that's in the same tone and mood of the original article. If it was an article on lies to say to impress someone, for example, pitch an alternate, even more fun topic on ethical dating.

If the idea of leveling with your boss or pitching alternatives has your heart pounding a mile a minute, you could bow out of the assignment, citing a logical excuse. You don't have to explain why, if you don't feel comfortable doing so. It's better to get out of writing an assignment than to try to mold what the client wants to what you could honestly deliver. Trust me. If you try to write around what is wanted, you'll end up with an unhappy client and published article that is opposite of what you tried to say.

Learn from your mistakes. If you are getting repeatedly troublesome assignments from a client, evaluate where you are in your writing career. Can you afford to lose the client? Can you replace the client with more work at another current client whose needs are more in line with your ethics? Try to plan ahead and get out of the situation as soon as possible. It will make for greater peace of mind within your daily writing routine.