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How much should I charge?

Hi guys, I'm so sorry some of you are having trouble reading this. Here is the link: http://www.writersmarket.com/assets/pdf/How_Much_Should_I_Charge.pdf. It's a pdf, so if you're computer can't read a pdf that may explain your problem. Hope this helps! Amy

I've seen this circulating a few places and thought it might be helpful.
Published Wednesday, November 19, 2008 6:40 PM by AmyGreen

Comments

# re: How much should I charge?

Friday, November 21, 2008 10:55 AM by Eric Francis
This is fantastic! Just what I needed at just the right time. Thanks!

# re: How much should I charge?

Saturday, November 22, 2008 8:06 PM by Jim Brumm
How come I can read all the blog entries except this one?

Jim Brumm

# Re: How much should I charge?

Wednesday, November 26, 2008 11:38 PM by RuthTC
I'm not seeing the original message, either. Could it be reposted, please? Thanks!

Ruth E. "I can write about anything" TM Thaler-Carter
Author/publisher, "Get Paid to Write! Getting Started as a Freelance Writer"

# re: How much should I charge?

Monday, December 01, 2008 9:23 PM by RuthTC
While I'm still not seeing Amy's original message, I can offer these thoughts. One popular formula is to take your last or best salary, add in the dollar value of all benefits for a year, and divide by 1,950 (about the number of hours worked in a fulltime job) to come up with an hourly rate that reflects what you've earned to date, at least as a starting point.

You have to know about how long it takes you do do a story before you can assess what to charge. The next time you start an assignment, keep track of everything involved in it: interviewing and research time, writing time, rewriting/self-editing, and revision time required by the client, if any. Then you can start feeling your way toward a fee structure that covers your actual time on an average assignment.

If you charge by the hour, you'll get paid for all the time you spend on an assignment - but, if you're a fast worker, it might not work out to your advantage. If you charge by the project, be sure to limit revisions or you'll end up making pennies instead of dollars, because every revision will eat into the fee. If you charge by the word, don't pad the writing to get more money; the excess will just be edited out, and the client won't ask you for a second assignment.  

Ruth E. "I can write about anything" TM Thaler-Carter
Author/publisher, "Get Paid to Write! Getting Started as a Freelance Writer"

# re: How much should I charge?

Wednesday, December 03, 2008 12:37 PM by AmyGreen
Hi guys,

I tried posting this again. Please let me know if you still can't see it!

Amy Green
SPJ freelance committee chairwoman

# re: How much should I charge?

Wednesday, December 03, 2008 7:29 PM by RuthTC
Still not seeing anything ... Could paraphrase or provide a URL?
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