Honesty in writing is the best policy

I've had some very interesting experiences since beginning my new career as an equine freelance writer, and all of them have pointed to the importance of being upfront and honest with prospective and existing clients.

As a writer I want to establish a good reputation, which is hard to develop and very easy to lose. However tempting it may be to take on a project because it pays well, I've had to ask myself two vital questions:
1) Can I produce what the client wants, by the date I've committed to?
2) Do I believe in the product? (Will I be writing what I believe to be the truth?)

In one instance I declined a project because there was one part of it I was not able to complete. The result of my being honest about this is that I got the part of the project I was able to do, and subsequent articles. I was so pleased that I hadn't taken on the whole project and try to fudge it. It would have ended in disaster.

A second project involved copywriting. After being awarded the work, I was asked to add more than my conscience would allow. I explained my reservations to the client, then waited nervously for the irate reply!

Imagine how thrilled I was when the client responded with gratitude for my honesty, and proceeded to award me even more work!

I was also recently in need of some photos for a particular online article and copied some off a website. I sent an email to the website owner to let them know what I had done, with links to my articles, and promised that I would delete them if they so required. I had given full credit to the website under the photos, and hoped my using them would further their cause.

My admission of guilt paid off. I received a return email thanking me for letting them know and giving me permission to leave their photos in my article.

These experiences have encouraged me in my fledgling writing career. I shall continue to adopt the policy of honesty. That way I'll be at peace with my conscience and able to believe in what I'm writing.