To Contract Or Not To Contract

TO CONTRACT OR NOT TO CONTRACT The Tale of the Instructional Design Warrior Who Battled the Non-Paying Dragon.

Gather round, fellow Instructional Designers, Learning Wizards, and Storyline Sorcerers. Let me tell you a tale from the Kingdom of L&D — a tale of courage, creativity, questionable contracts, and one very dishonest dragon.

I, an Instructional Designer armed with an EdD, a past life as an art teacher, and a passion for crafting learning experiences that sparkle with interactivity and accessibility, set out on what I believed would be a noble quest.

A company with “University” in its business name, but not a college or university, sought someone with my exact skill set. Curriculum design? Check. Module development? Check. Ability to make Storyline behave? Triple check. The stars aligned. The quest glimmered with promise.

And then… the twist.

“We’d love for you to create a training module,” they said.“Here’s a mandatory script,” they added.“Follow it exactly. Embed it in Storyline. And… It’s a fixed fee.”

Ah yes. The Fixed Fee Dragon. A creature known for its shiny promises and empty treasure chests.

But I, ever the hopeful warrior, accepted the quest. After all, my experience, networking, and portfolio pieces were all in place, what could possibly go wrong?

The Battle Begins

Here’s the thing about being a perfectionist ID: we don’t just “plug in a script.”We craft. We align. We trigger. We layer. We polish. 

We accessibility-check. We breathe life into learning.

So naturally, I dove in headfirst. Hours passed. Days passed. I spent so much time on this module, I could’ve crocheted a blanket! And I barely know how to crochet a small washcloth!

And when the dust settled? It looked like a standard compliance module.

You know the type. Click Next. Read text. Click Next again. Try not to fall asleep. Click Next anyway.

Not exactly the gamified, visually rich masterpiece I had envisioned, but I had to follow a script that was everlasting long. 

The Plot Twist No Warrior Wants

I won’t reveal the embarrassingly low amount I was supposed to be paid. Let’s just say it was… “intern-adjacent.”

But here’s the real dagger: I was never paid at all.

Not a coin. Not a crumb. Not even a “thank you for your service, noble ID.”

And yes — I had purchased Articulate 360 for this project. So not only did I slay the dragon, I paid for my own sword.

The Wisdom Gained (AKA: The Real Treasure)

After licking my wounds, I realized something important: I had entered the battlefield without armor.

Fixed-fee work can be great when the scope is clear, the expectations are realistic, and the client respects your time. But when the scope is foggy, the script is rigid, and the pay is fixed regardless of hours? That’s when the dragon wins.

As Victoria Addino wisely said:

“Do not constantly spend your time complaining about a problem… focus your time toward correcting the problem. Time is valuable.”

Well said, Victoria! Live and learn. 

The ID Warrior Code of Honor

Every Instructional Designer who ventures into the land of contract work should carry this code in their satchel:

• Thou shalt not work without a contract written in thine own words.
  Templates exist for a reason. Use them. Guard them. Cherish them.
• Thou shalt demand half the treasure upfront.
  A warrior must never enter battle unpaid.
• Thou shalt define the scope with the precision of a laser pointer.
  Screens, interactions, revisions, accessibility requirements — all of it.
• Thou shalt identify scope creep from a mile away.
  If the client says “just one more thing,” raise your shield.
• Thou shalt track thy time even when paid a flat fee.
  In the future, you will thank the present you.
• Thou shalt not sacrifice mental well-being for a compliance module.
  No module is worth your sanity.
• Thou shalt remember that being paid fairly is not optional.
  It is respect. It is dignity. It is non-negotiable.
• Thou shalt walk away from dragons who do not pay.
  A warrior’s energy is sacred.

Reporting the Dragon: Resources for Fellow IDs

If you ever find yourself battling a non-paying client, here are the scrolls of justice:

• Freelance Isn’t Free Act (NY)
  File a complaint and let the kingdom know the dragon’s name:https://dol.ny.gov/freelance-isnt-free-act (dol.ny.gov in Bing)
• Missouri Legislative Resource
  For those in my home state: https://senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=13468446 
• Freelance L&D Facebook Group
  A supportive guild of fellow IDs and L&D freelancers:https://www.facebook.com/groups/freelanceID/ 
• Legal action
  Suing is an option — but it is time-consuming and emotionally draining. Choose wisely.

The Aftermath: A Wiser Warrior Emerges

And - six months later, still unpaid, I had a choice, should I; Chase the dragon? 

Or reclaim my peace? I chose peace. 

I also chose to focus on adjunct teaching, where my instructional technology degree is respected, valued, and compensated like the professional I am. Don’t get me wrong, but teaching can be a bear as well. 

Would I take another contract gig someday? Maybe. But next time, I’ll enter the battlefield with the following in mind: 

• A contract I wrote
• Clear scope
• Milestones
• Upfront payment
• And armor strong enough to deflect any “exposure is your payment” nonsense

Because this warrior? She’s not easy prey anymore.

Final Reflection

So tell me, fellow Instructional Design warriors, would you take the deal? Or would you protect your time, your sanity, and your vacation hours? As for me, I march forward wiser, sharper, and ready to scope the heck out of any future instructional design quest.

Time is valuable.  And so are we.

To see the example compliance module I was never paid for, view the case study and video on my portfolio site…

Kitchen to table case study

More information about Kitchen to Table Case Study Executive Summary: To develop a learning module using the provided script to train CNAs on how to care for residents in the assisted living…

ANDREA LOVE-DOWNS ID PORTFOLIO

By Andrea Love-Downs Ed.D CPTD
Instructional Technology Professor, Instructional Designer and Developer

https://andrealove-downsidportfolio.weebly.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrealovedownsmissouri/recent-activity/all/