As new freelancers, it's so easy to get sucked into taking low-wage gigs in our quest for clips. Sometimes newbies, and non-newbies alike, end up sticking with low wages for reasons beyond the clips. It's tempting to stay within our comfort zone. Low-wage jobs rarely have much editorial oversight, and they tend to be rather easy. We don't have to stretch our talents or risk rejection with these typs of assignments. I've discovered in my short time writing professionally that it feels so much better to write for my worth than to write for safety.
The subject must be on a lot of people's minds lately because I've seen blog posts about what kinds of wages freelancers should accept all over the internet lately. Deb Ng of Freelance Writing Jobs writes one of the best posts I've seen when she asks, "Who Sets Your Writing Rates?". Deb encourages us to set our own rates, within reason. We, of course, must consider what a company or individual is willing to pay. Small start-ups and individual operations won't be able to pay what the big guys can. We know that. But we also know what feels right. I've learned it's so important to go with your gut when deciding which jobs to accept.
It's scary to turn away jobs, and I know it can be overwhelming the first time you have to give someone your rate for a project. All the "what if's?" come into play. What if I bid too high, and they laugh at me? What if I bid too low, and I screw myself out of a decent wage? Do some research. There are sites online that can help. Freelance Switch has a rate calculator that takes into account things like time for marketing, health insurance costs, and the like. Also, check out Jennifer Mattern's article on setting your freelance rates. She lays it all out in an easy to understand way. I like that.
Setting rates for your writing is simply a step in the negotiation process. It's likely the prospective employer will be willing to discuss the possibilities with you. If it doesn't work out, you can at least feel good about getting your feet wet in the art of negotiation and knowing that you didn't accept less than you're comfortable with. Trust me, it's a good feeling.
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