What Is Your Writing Worth?

marybabysteps — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 14:42:38 -0700

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.

What Should Freelancers Be Paid?

marybabysteps — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 13:33:03 -0800

Short answer - I don't know. Sorry, I just don't. There are so many different kinds of freelance writing; each one demands different skills and effort, thus each one commands a different level of payment. What I do know is that there are a lot of people out there ready to suck writers dry and to take advantage of them, and it's imp;ortant that you don't fall prey to such scammers.

Decide what's right for you.

This may be based on your enjoyment of the material you're writing or the time involved. You may be shooting for a particular amount of money per hour. There are lots of factors to consider here. Lisa from Work at Home Mom Revolution wrote a great post on this matter and provides a link to a resource from Freelance Switch that can help you to calculate your ideal rate. The bottom line is not to accept a position that's going to make you feel burnt out or resentful in terms of what you're being paid.

I just had a discussion with a blogging pal who asked me if she was being offered enough for a particular job. After hearing the offer, I hesitated to tell her that I thought it wasn't enough. Each person has to decide this for themselves, but I did feel what was being asked of her was not nearly enough for the compensation being offered. I told her this as well as letting her know that her talents are beyond that. I also gave her some information on how I've gotten paid blogging jobs as a starting point.

Evaluate Your Situation

While I'm not currently making the money I'd like to be, I am confident that I'm building bridges that will lead me to more paid writing opportunities. I've struggled with whether I'm making the right decisions for my career, and I've had to reassess my plans a few times already. Because I have three children, I know my writing time is limited. I'm now focusing on realistic goals and writing pursuits that are less time consuming than full-length magazine features.

I'm not saying limit yourself, and I'd never advise anyone not to follow their dreams. For me, however, it makes sense to tailor my writing to a smaller scale for now. I still have long-term goals set and feel good about the path I'm taking to reach them. That's something I'd say is most important of all when deciding the types of writing and rates of pay you'll accept. Does it fit into your lifestyle and does it mesh with your goals?

For More Information

You'll want to read what Deb Ng has to say at Freelance Writing Jobs on the subject of low-paying writing jobs. She gives some wonderful advice on the subject. She also explains why some folks pay writers so very little and how this affects the rest of us. Be sure to read the comments at this post for valuable insight from other writers. You're sure to learn a lot.

I wish I had a definitive answer to give. I just don't. Follow your gut. Cliche as it may sound, sometime it's the best advice there is. What are your thoughts and experiences? Please let me know!

Adventures In Freelancing

What Is Your Writing Worth?

What Should Freelancers Be Paid?