This is a post from a member of the Freelancers Union community. If you’re interested in sharing your expertise, your story, or some advice you think will help a fellow freelancer out, feel free to send your blog post to us here.

Graphic designers, electricians, voice-over artists, and financial consultants—creative people working independently anywhere from Chattanooga, TN to Oakland, CA. And me, a bookseller from New York, NY. We are all freelancers—and we have all been stiffed by our clients, owed anywhere from $50 to over $50,000.

Our stories are unique, but the problem remains the same: clients don’t pay, and we feel powerless to do anything about it. Three years ago, I related my non-payment story in a Forbes article called What To Do When A Client Doesn’t Pay and How to Avoid a Deadbeat Customer.

I was inspired by Freelancers Union campaigns "The World’s Longest Invoice" and #GetPaidNotPlayed, and have since been contacted by dozens of frustrated freelancers who have been navigating the minefield of non-payment alone.

Taking action against non-payment is overwhelming and intimidating, not to mention expensive and time consuming.

And while there are resources to help, what we really need are laws to protect us and strategies that are easier to initiate, ones that don’t waste more of our precious resources.

That’s why I will be attending the #FreelanceIsntFree Campaign kick-off this Monday September 21st.

Join us at this Brooklyn Town Hall Meeting to meet Brooklyn City Council members and get involved in a campaign by freelancers, for freelancers:

Monday, September 21st
6-8 PM
Brooklyn Borough Hall
209 Joralemon Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201

RSVP

I love the freedom and independence of being a freelancer, but I believe that we are more powerful when we work together to resolve common issues and problems. You are not alone—and together we can face our deadbeat clients, take action, and get paid!

Sunday is the owner of B & B Rare Books, a rare book shop in New York, NY. She specializes in 19th & 20th century English literature, first editions, and signed books. She is a writer and currently a Forbes contributor. Her favorite book is Mrs. Dalloway.