Pricing Freelance Writing
If youre like me, potential freelance writing or editing work sometimes drops in unexpected. This morning I got an email from an old client asking if Id like to propose editing a new book of his. He attached the manuscript, which makes pricing a whole lot easier.
But, I still have a moment or two of what I call freelance panic when asked to price my work. You know, I want the job, but I also want to be paid what Im worth.
The only way I know to really get at the right number is to do a sample and time myself. So thats what I did. Using Words Track Changes tool, I went through 5 pages of a 70 page manuscript and did the actual editing his writing has improved tremendously and it only took me about 30 minutes. I quickly paged through the balance of the manuscript to be sure there were no surprises, like graphics I dont need to edit, or complex tables that will require lots of fiddling.
With that information its easy to figure out what to charge. I then drafted an email telling him what Id done, what Id charge, how I wanted to be paid, and how long it would take me to turn the project around.
In this case, I also offered to turn the final into a .pdf for an additional fee and suggested how he could get a Forward that, although not necessary, would be a nice touch.
Its interesting that, when I first just glanced at everything I made a guestimate my timed bid was actually about $30 less than my guess I debated rounding up, and decided not to in this case, although that would have made sense too.
Pricing is an art informed by knowing what were worth per hour and knowing how to generate an accurate estimate of that time. Plus a little mummy dust thrown in. Keep your fingers crossed, because I really like working with this guy.
Write well and often,
You might also want to read:
- How Much Should I Charge For My Freelance Writing?
- Maybe It’s Time to Increase Your Writing Fees
- Write Your Own Reality - Business Plans for Writers - A Guest Article by Devon Ellington
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