It happens to almost everyone: you have promised to get a certain freelance writing project done in time, but something has happened that will cause you to be late. While you can always email the client to let them know that you need a later deadline, there are some clients who are simply uncooperative. After all, you’re the one who said that you would have it done in time…

The only thing that you can think of doing without causing yourself to look bad is asking for the help of a fellow writer. Is it wrong to do this, however? Here are some of the things that you should think about prior to asking for other writers for help with the project that needs to be completed.

Has the Client Specifically Asked You Not to Do This?

If the client that you are working for has asked you at any point to ensure that the work you provide them is entirely your own, it may be a bad idea to ask another writer friend for help. On the other hand, how will your client ever know? By doing a bit of editing, you can help ensure that the articles will look a lot more like your own. If you were told that you should never provide work that was completely by a team of writers, it is best to avoid doing so, however.

Do You Actually Trust the Writer You’re Asking For Help?

Remember that there are measures that you can take to ensure that the work you are about to send one of your clients has not been plagiarized. You should not think about having to do this, however. It is important to think about how much you really trust the writer friend who you are asking for help. If you really feel that this writer will provide you with 100% honest and good work, then you should feel slightly better about asking for help.

Would You Think About Telling Your Client?

Some clients may be more open to the idea of multiple clients working on their projects than others would be. If you feel that your client is open to the idea, you may want to think about telling them. Simply let them know what the situation is, and tell them that you can still provide the same turnaround if they are okay with the idea of another writer completing some of the project. Your client may either reject the idea or they may extend the deadline so that you can finish it on your own, but there is a good chance that they will be appreciative of your honesty. Be sure to consider how long you have worked for the client, and the type of relationship that you have had with them so far before making the decision to ask them about this.

Many writers make the decision to ask for the help of their friends. The best thing that you can do is use your intuition. If the idea seems wrong even after you have given it much thought, then you may be better off trying to ask for an extension so that you can finish the project all on your own.

Here are some tips for managing your time as a freelance writer, to prevent yourself from getting into this situation in the first place.