Contract of Service – Ghostwriting

Effective Date: 2025-09-02

These terms and conditions ensure clarity and mutual respect in our work together. By confirming a project in writing, you agree to these terms. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me so that I can provide clarity and reassurance.

1. Overview

1.1 These terms apply to all ghostwriting work provided by Judith Arnold/WordServings (“I”, “me”) to you, the Client.
1.2 Work will be carried out independently, using my own equipment, at times and places of my choosing.
1.3 I personally complete all projects and will not subcontract without your written consent.
1.4 I am self-employed, responsible for my own taxes, and not your employee.

2. Project Terms

2.1 Before work begins, we will agree in writing (including email):

  • The project scope and deliverables (e.g., chapters, word count, style).
  • Any research responsibilities (mine, yours, or shared).
  • The delivery format (Word, PDF, etc.).
  • The milestone schedule for drafts and revisions.
  • The agreed fee and payment schedule.
  • Any additional expenses (e.g., travel, research fees).
  • The start date and delivery date(s).

2.2 If your requirements change significantly from the agreed scope, I may renegotiate the fee, timeline, or both.

3. Project Quotations

3.1 Quotes are based on a review of your brief, any existing materials, and discussion of your needs.
3.2 Once agreed, the fee is fixed unless you request additional work or changes to the scope.
3.3 Quotes are given per project or per milestone
3.4 Fees may be quoted in CAD, USD, or GBP at the Client’s request. The Client is responsible for any bank or conversion charges.

4. Payments & Booking Fees

4.1 All booking fees are non-refundable.
4.2 For projects under $150 USD (or equivalent): full payment is due up front within three (3) days of agreeing the fee.
4.3 For projects $150 USD or more (or equivalent): a 50% booking fee is due within three (3) days of agreeing the fee. This secures your place in my schedule.
4.4 Milestone payments: For projects over $1,000 USD (or equivalent), the balance will be divided into milestone payments tied to agreed deliverables. Each milestone payment must be received before delivery of that stage’s material.
4.5 Final payment and delivery: The final balance must be paid before delivery of the final completed manuscript. Once full payment is received, the completed files will be released by the agreed delivery method.
4.6 Invoices are payable within the timeframe stated on the invoice. Late payments may incur interest as allowed by law.

5. Fees & Taxes

5.1 All fees are quoted in CAD, USD, or GBP as agreed. Clients are responsible for any bank or currency conversion fees.
5.2 As a Canadian sole proprietor, I am not currently required to collect HST/GST. Should this change in the future, applicable taxes will be added to invoices as required by law.

6. Cancellation Policy

6.1 Either party may cancel at any time for a serious breach of contract; notice must be in writing and acknowledged.
6.2 All booking fees are non-refundable.
6.3 Small Projects (< $150 USD): If you cancel before or after work begins, no refund is issued.
6.4 Larger projects – If you cancel before work begins, the booking fee is retained. If you cancel after work begins, the booking fee is retained and:
• You will be invoiced for the proportion of work completed, up to 100% of the total fee.
• If cancelling mid-project, a kill fee of at least 25% of the remaining balance will apply in addition to payment for completed work.
6.5 Extraordinary Circumstances: If illness, family crisis, or other serious events affect you or me, we will discuss options fairly. If I must cancel, I will refund all payments made, including the booking fee if work has not begun.
6.6 Project Start Reminders: I will confirm two weeks before the scheduled start date.
6.7 Client Delays: If you delay providing materials, interviews, or approvals beyond the agreed schedule, I may need to reschedule your project. If the delay exceeds 30 days, your booking may be released and a new booking fee required to restart the project.

7. Confidentiality

7.1 All content, research, and project details are treated as confidential.
7.2 I will not disclose your authorship or project details without your written consent.
7.3 Files will not be uploaded to third-party sites without your consent, except secure storage systems (e.g., onedrive, dropbox, google) as per my Privacy Policy.
7.4 Portfolio Use: I may refer to anonymized details of your project (e.g., “memoir ghostwriting,” “business book, 60k words”) in my portfolio or case studies. Your name, title, and identifying details will never be shared without your written consent. You may opt out of all portfolio references at any time.

8. Copyright and Authorship

8.1 All copyright for the completed manuscript transfers to you only after full payment is received.
8.2 Until full payment is received, I retain full copyright and may withhold permission for its use.
8.3 You may publish the work under your own name, a pseudonym, or anonymously.
8.4 Moral Rights Waiver: Upon full payment, I waive any moral rights in the work so that you may adapt, modify, or publish it freely.

9. Revisions

Each milestone includes one round of reasonable revisions (based on the agreed brief). Additional revisions or major rewrites will be treated as new work and billed separately.

10. Client Responsibilities

11.1 I may, at times, use professional AI-assisted tools (for example, to check consistency, flag patterns, or generate alternatives) to support the ghostwriting process. These tools are always used under my direct supervision, and all final writing decisions are made by me.
11.2 AI is never used as a replacement for my professional judgment or for your unique voice.
11.3 Your manuscript remains confidential, and I do not share your work with unsecured systems.

12. Force Majeure

Neither party will be liable for delays or failure to perform obligations if caused by events beyond reasonable control, including natural disasters, power outages, technical failures, strikes, illness, government restrictions, or similar circumstances. In such cases, both parties will make reasonable efforts to agree on a revised schedule.

13. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

This agreement is governed by the laws of Canada and the province of Prince Edward Island. Both parties agree to attempt in good faith to resolve disputes through mediation before pursuing court action. Disputes that cannot be resolved by mediation will be handled in the courts of Prince Edward Island and nowhere else.

14. Contact

For questions, contact:
hello@wordservings.com
https://wordservings.com