We’ve all had our share of flaky clients. By flaky, I mean clients who: Disappear at payment time Reappear three months later to complain about quality (oddly about the same time you’ve threatened litigation/collection) Change the project parameters after you’ve done the work Revise more than twice (my record is 12 revisions) and get farther…
Category: Payment & Rates
Freelance Rates & Raises
Sometimes you go online and for some reason, you simply don’t expect to see the stupid shit people will say in public let alone the tangle that is their thought processes. I was on a writing forum yesterday when I saw what has to be some of the most absurd thinking I’ve seen in a…
Freelance Rates: Where Should Yours Be?
It’s 2023, writer: Do you know where your rate is? If it’s still at the same level it was a few days ago in 2022, you’re cheating yourself. I mentioned this several times over the last year: I spent 2021 undercharging (and overworking) and lost a shit-ton of money as a result. In fact, had…
How To Increase Freelance Article Rates
I love it when someone shines a light on a truth and your own lightbulb comes on. That’s how it was for me in 2013 when Walt Kania (whose blog is pretty fabulous, by the way) wrote this guest post for Writers Worth that still resonates. What you charge is determined by one person —…
The Freelance Writing Compromise You Shouldn’t Make
I remember when I was first starting my freelance writing business. I don’t always remember fondly, though. It was rough. Finding clients seemed like this secret step that only insiders who’d found clients could manage. Sort of like those job listings for entry-level positions, but you have to have a year or two of experience…
How to Earn More Freelancing (with one simple shift)
It’s been years since I’ve done it. That may surprise you. I advocate for it here quite often. And for some people, it still makes sense. But for freelance writers who have built a successful freelance writing career, it no longer does. I’m talking about charging by the hour. That’s right — I no longer…
The Great Freelance Rate Debate
There was another discussion on yesterday’s Twitter #FreelanceChat about rates. Ironic since the chat was about negotiation, but rates are indeed part of that. And not saying the rate discussion isn’t warranted — far too many writers don’t know what to charge for their services. What I am saying is the discussion isn’t needed. I…
Friday Frank Talk: The Myth of the Freelance “Going Rate”
Sharon Hurley Hall, who is one of the smartest freelancers I know, said something the other day that made me nod my head in agreement so much I thought I’d sprain my neck. It’s about this notion of a “going rate” in freelancing. This came up in a discussion on a private forum about yet…
Freelance Writing and Why Rate Isn’t Everything
Here’s a freelance fact that may be somewhat unpopular (though no less true): That’s right. I’m saying that while what you charge matters, it matters equal to what you’re getting out of that client relationship. Confused yet? Let me explain myself. Suppose your lowest-paying client funnels monthly projects to you. Let’s say they’re in the…
How to Drop Excuses Out of Your Freelancing
“Yes, the rates are low, but they’re better than content mills.” That was a response I got recently to pointing out that a job listing had abysmal rates. The person responding knew, as I did, that neither of us would ever be accepting the pitiful pay that was stated in the job listing. But where…