Thinking About Freelance Writing Pricing
Freelance writers are always wondering about their pricing. We talk a lot about it on the forum. My pricing has come to my attention in a couple of ways.
The first is a ghostwriting project. The job came through a broker and, as a result, was less than I would have liked to charge. I like the client and there is probably more work coming from him. Besides, I tend to complete what I promise regardless of price.
Here’s the problem. He’s leaning on me to help him make self-publishing decisions. I haven’t self-published in quite awhile so although I can point him toward self-publishers I know and respect, the game has changed somewhat. To do a good job advising him, I’ve got to do some research and it’s turning into a time sink. My thinking at the moment is that future ghostwriting contracts will include an extra charge for all but the most general self-publishing advice.
The second is a friend who is venturing into her first ghostwriting project. She’s asked me for guidance. I sent her a sample contract and have answered several emails. She asked me to take a look at her proposal, which I did and sent her some comments. The last communication felt to me like she was going to hang her price on what I said.
I started to get uneasy. I can’t set your prices for you any more than you can set mine for me. If I use your price instead of developing my own, it’s just to easy to blame you if I either don’t get the contract or I end up feeling like I charged to little.
Pricing our work is weird and wonderful. There are no real standard fees in freelance writing. Oh, there are some guidelines, like Writers Digest which publishes ranges of prices for various writing jobs. But there are so many variables, from the writer’s experience to how much work they have at the moment to how broke they are feeling at the moment.
When it comes to pricing I tend to get quiet, go inside and see if there isn’t a price that feels right. It’s a gut feeling. I can’t back that up in a business way, but it works for me.
You may 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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POSTED IN: Business of Freelance Writing, Notes from a Writing Coach
3 opinions for Thinking About Freelance Writing Pricing
Lori
Mar 12, 2007 at 8:23 am
Anne, I agree 100 percent with everything you say here. There should be provisions in a contract that limit what we must do for the client - I don’t mind helping, but when it becomes more work than an occasional hand, then I should be compensated for it.
Regarding pricing - same thing. What I work for may not be what someone else will work for. I may be too high/low for another writer to judge based on my fee. I mentioned one of my fees to two writing friends recently (you were one, I think), and I was surprised when both suggested I might be too low. True enough, too. I hadn’t considered it.
It can help to know someone else’s pricing structure, but agree that basing your freelance existence on someone else’s fees is a recipe for resentment and discontent.
Star
Mar 12, 2007 at 9:26 am
Speaking of charging, what is up with these writers who are in a contest to see how many free articles they can write? Horrors!
Walter Burek
Mar 13, 2007 at 6:38 am
Anne,
This is good stuff, and valuable. Especially for the newbies. I’ve featured it my latest post.
WGB
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