How much shld I charge for freelance writing job (internet, magazine, newspaper)?
How much should I charge for freelance writing job (on the internet/newspaper/magazi... I'm trying to start a freelance writing job. But Im not sure how to charge them. Is it based on pages? or the length of the content? What should I expect from my client (information on what to write, recognition etc.)? Any suggestions? Thank you.
Media & Journalism - 3 Answers
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1 :
Well, legally I can't tell you what you should charge, because it'd be against anti-trust laws. Not even joking, people have gotten into federal trouble years later for that crap. However, freelance jobs are usually charged based on number of words (in increments of 100 words). You should expect from your client whatever you feel comfortable writing with. Tell them to provide you with as much information as they can, and let them know if they aren't satisfied with you extrapolating because they didn't elaborate, they still have to pay you. Figure out how much you're comfortable being paid an hour (and realize you'll probably have to be paid under min wage until you have references/testimonials), and then figure out how many 100 word increments you can do in an hour. Base your prices off that. Recognition is a must. If they want you to ghostwrite, charge them extra and sell them the rights or sign a work-for-hire contract (google work for hire or copyright transfer). GET A CONTRACT. Get everything written out, doesn't have to be legalese, but it has to be in no uncertain terms, on paper, with signatures, and a notary would be helpful.
2 :
Many publications set their own rates for free-lance work, and you as a free-lance writer can take it or leave it. For some publications, that means as little as $10 or $20 for an article. If you're invited to name your own price, charge by the word. Estimate how much time you'll spend researching, developing questions, interviewing, writing, and rewriting when you set your rates. As a new free-lancer, you won't make top dollar, but you can ask for $.20 to $.40 a word, depending on your local market and your expertise on the subject. Take a look at rates paid by major and minor periodicals by checking the publication listings in The Writers Market, available at bookstores and libraries. Budget carefully. There are a lot of people looking for free-lance work and not enough assignments to go around. You may get an assignment in June with a July deadline and an August or September publication date, with payment upon publication.
3 :
When it comes to charging for your freelance work the location you write for will make a big difference. If you write for a magazine or newspaper you normally won't get the chance to name your price as they will have a set rate normally per word. Internet writing is very different and this is where you will get the opportunity to charge your own price. Most people charge per 100 words and it is quite typical to see people charge as little as $5 per 300 word articles. It will also depend on the type of writing you are doing. Articles are generally the lowest paying whilst sales pages and press releases are the highest. You can charge as much as $200 for a press release and up to $2,000 for a sales letter. There is a great website that provides some excellent information on this topic http://www.ghostwritinguncovered.com , you should have a look here as I know there is a great article about how to price your work. Hope this helps
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