Comments on: Get Paid To Freelance http://www.getpaidtowriteonline.com/get-paid-to-freelance/ Straight Talk About Your Writing Career Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:46:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Sharon http://www.getpaidtowriteonline.com/get-paid-to-freelance/#comment-273 Sharon Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:50:28 +0000 http://getpaidtowriteonline.com/get-paid-to-freelance/#comment-273 That's really good going, Ellie. That’s really good going, Ellie.

]]> By: Ellie http://www.getpaidtowriteonline.com/get-paid-to-freelance/#comment-272 Ellie Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:14:56 +0000 http://getpaidtowriteonline.com/get-paid-to-freelance/#comment-272 I absolutely agree. Don't get ripped off. Why work for free? When I left a top London university with a good degree in English and some good student journalism experience, I was told I would have to work for free for a year if I wanted to get a paid job in journalism. Who can afford to do that? I just couldn't - and wouldn't - accept it. It's exploitation. Instead, I found a full-time job in social research, and work my nights as a freelance writer. It took a long time (and it's damn tiring), but I managed to get a shoe in writing for a regional in the Channel Islands. I earn about £75 per 500-1000 words. This works out at about £15 per hour. I'm only 21 years old, so I think that's really good. Some of my friends are still slogging away for free. I absolutely agree. Don’t get ripped off. Why work for free?

When I left a top London university with a good degree in English and some good student journalism experience, I was told I would have to work for free for a year if I wanted to get a paid job in journalism. Who can afford to do that? I just couldn’t – and wouldn’t – accept it. It’s exploitation.

Instead, I found a full-time job in social research, and work my nights as a freelance writer. It took a long time (and it’s damn tiring), but I managed to get a shoe in writing for a regional in the Channel Islands. I earn about £75 per 500-1000 words. This works out at about £15 per hour. I’m only 21 years old, so I think that’s really good.

Some of my friends are still slogging away for free.

]]> By: Delores http://www.getpaidtowriteonline.com/get-paid-to-freelance/#comment-271 Delores Sun, 05 Oct 2008 18:49:40 +0000 http://getpaidtowriteonline.com/get-paid-to-freelance/#comment-271 I have learned through some great mentors that working for free is like burning money. Basically if a business can afford to operate, then they can afford to pay for services. A for profit business gauging a freelance is not a good thing to get into. And a freelancer willing to work for free is a bigger problem because then that business will continue with manipulating for free or low cost work. If you have a rate, stick to it. They don't change their rates for their clients, so why should you? I have learned through some great mentors that working for free is like burning money. Basically if a business can afford to operate, then they can afford to pay for services. A for profit business gauging a freelance is not a good thing to get into. And a freelancer willing to work for free is a bigger problem because then that business will continue with manipulating for free or low cost work. If you have a rate, stick to it. They don’t change their rates for their clients, so why should you?

]]> By: Susan http://www.getpaidtowriteonline.com/get-paid-to-freelance/#comment-270 Susan Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:19:30 +0000 http://getpaidtowriteonline.com/get-paid-to-freelance/#comment-270 I spent the last 20-plus years writing commercially at advertising and public relations agencies. Having reached a fairly senior management level, I gained experience developing proposals with budgets. Now in the freelance realm, I'm appalled at the rates paid and at the levels writers bid. Compared to commercial entities, the rates we're discussing here connote a lack of professionalism. Say you're going to write a 500-word piece on a topic that's new to you. You'll probably spend 15 to 30 minutes researching the topic. You may need to spend 10 minutes or so familiarizing yourself with the writer's guidelines. Then, if you're good, you'll spend a bit of time thinking about the slant and structure of the piece--and your lead and title. Then you start writing. Proofing. Rewriting. At $30 an article, what are you making on an hourly basis? You'd be better off signing up as waitstaff at a local restaurant. I spent the last 20-plus years writing commercially at advertising and public relations agencies. Having reached a fairly senior management level, I gained experience developing proposals with budgets.

Now in the freelance realm, I’m appalled at the rates paid and at the levels writers bid. Compared to commercial entities, the rates we’re discussing here connote a lack of professionalism.

Say you’re going to write a 500-word piece on a topic that’s new to you. You’ll probably spend 15 to 30 minutes researching the topic. You may need to spend 10 minutes or so familiarizing yourself with the writer’s guidelines. Then, if you’re good, you’ll spend a bit of time thinking about the slant and structure of the piece–and your lead and title. Then you start writing. Proofing. Rewriting.

At $30 an article, what are you making on an hourly basis? You’d be better off signing up as waitstaff at a local restaurant.

]]> By: Sharon http://www.getpaidtowriteonline.com/get-paid-to-freelance/#comment-269 Sharon Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:43:10 +0000 http://getpaidtowriteonline.com/get-paid-to-freelance/#comment-269 Carrie, the rate depends on the project and the client's budget. If the client's budget is less than my usual rate, I might still do the project if it's interesting or provides something new for my resume. In all other cases, I try to work something out that we can both live with. Carrie, the rate depends on the project and the client’s budget. If the client’s budget is less than my usual rate, I might still do the project if it’s interesting or provides something new for my resume. In all other cases, I try to work something out that we can both live with.

]]> By: Carrie http://www.getpaidtowriteonline.com/get-paid-to-freelance/#comment-268 Carrie Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:11:05 +0000 http://getpaidtowriteonline.com/get-paid-to-freelance/#comment-268 These comments about rates for freelance are interesting. I have been freelancing full time for about 3 years now, but writing for a long time with many article clips. I recently moved to a new area (Bay Area, San Francisco), and so far am being paid a wide range of rates, including several hundred dollars for editing web site pages, $75 for an article for a large newspaper, and $200 for editing a brochure. I was just turned down for web site writing job that would have been at least $1000 for my hourly rate of $50 an hour. The client really liked my writing but couldn't afford the fee, but I felt felt it was quite fair given the huge project. I think this shows that much of it depends on the client. Is it OK to change your rates depending on the client? I would think one would have to in order to make a living. Do you always charge by hourly fee for a more project oriented assignment? Just wondering how other folks price things.... These comments about rates for freelance are interesting. I have been freelancing full time for about 3 years now, but writing for a long time with many article clips. I recently moved to a new area (Bay Area, San Francisco), and so far am being paid a wide range of rates, including several hundred dollars for editing web site pages, $75 for an article for a large newspaper, and $200 for editing a brochure. I was just turned down for web site writing job that would have been at least $1000 for my hourly rate of $50 an hour. The client really liked my writing but couldn’t afford the fee, but I felt felt it was quite fair given the huge project. I think this shows that much of it depends on the client. Is it OK to change your rates depending on the client? I would think one would have to in order to make a living. Do you always charge by hourly fee for a more project oriented assignment? Just wondering how other folks price things….

]]> By: Praval Singh http://www.getpaidtowriteonline.com/get-paid-to-freelance/#comment-267 Praval Singh Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:23:35 +0000 http://getpaidtowriteonline.com/get-paid-to-freelance/#comment-267 I belong to the Indian sub continent and considering the rates and currency conversion factor, I charge 15-20$ for a 500 word article. That's pretty decent I guess. I manage to earn well and have quite a few clients for me! My website says more about me and my clients! I belong to the Indian sub continent and considering the rates and currency conversion factor, I charge 15-20$ for a 500 word article. That’s pretty decent I guess. I manage to earn well and have quite a few clients for me! My website says more about me and my clients!

]]> By: rlharris9337 http://www.getpaidtowriteonline.com/get-paid-to-freelance/#comment-266 rlharris9337 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 03:25:50 +0000 http://getpaidtowriteonline.com/get-paid-to-freelance/#comment-266 $25 to 30 is on the low end when it comes to regular jobs IF you don't get a good number for projects a month. Freelance is somewhat of a gamble to me. That said I still take that risk because writing is fun. $25 to 30 is on the low end when it comes to regular jobs IF you don’t get a good number for projects a month. Freelance is somewhat of a gamble to me. That said I still take that risk because writing is fun.

]]> By: Sharon http://www.getpaidtowriteonline.com/get-paid-to-freelance/#comment-265 Sharon Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:34:06 +0000 http://getpaidtowriteonline.com/get-paid-to-freelance/#comment-265 Susan, I match my charges to the job. I think $25-30 for something that takes me half an hour is ok, but I use my hourly rate as a starting point. Some people who provide a lot of work get a long term rate, for example. Susan, I match my charges to the job. I think $25-30 for something that takes me half an hour is ok, but I use my hourly rate as a starting point. Some people who provide a lot of work get a long term rate, for example.

]]> By: Susan http://www.getpaidtowriteonline.com/get-paid-to-freelance/#comment-264 Susan Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:35:54 +0000 http://getpaidtowriteonline.com/get-paid-to-freelance/#comment-264 I was hoping to see some dollar figures on what writers are charging for their services vs. the $30 for the 500 word article mentioned in the post. I work from home writing web content, press releases and news articles for article submission sites/directories and news wires, and I'm currently charging $25 per hour. FYI. Anyone care to share what they are charging clients for their writing services? Thanks. Susan I was hoping to see some dollar figures on what writers are charging for their services vs. the $30 for the 500 word article mentioned in the post. I work from home writing web content, press releases and news articles for article submission sites/directories and news wires, and I’m currently charging $25 per hour. FYI. Anyone care to share what they are charging clients for their writing services? Thanks.

Susan

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