Comments on: Top Tips Writers Series #3: Paula Hendrickson

By: Jennifer Mattern

Jennifer Mattern — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 10:23:00 +0000

Great advice as always Paula! 🙂

By: Lori Widmer

Lori Widmer — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 20:37:10 +0000

Thank you again, Paula. I appreciate your wisdom here!

Cathy, I suffer similar anonymity (or relish it depending on the topic). :)

Julie, good for you! I've had that happen once. I do believe it's industry-dependent and definitely publication-specific. Paula's right -- rare is the publication that raises rates. I've worked with several that pay the same thing they did 15 years ago.

I like your suggestion of using the trades, Paula. That's my bread-and-butter area. They're always looking for good content, and very few writers seem to want to work for trades. Golden opportunity to make a name for yourself!

By: Paula

Paula — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 19:43:30 +0000

It's still a title people working in the industry recognize – by now I'm sure they recognize your byline as well.

By: Julie Cook Ramirez

Julie Cook Ramirez — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 19:38:23 +0000

I'm not sure if it is the TOP trade in that particular industry. There is a competitor that may have greater circulation.

By: Paula

Paula — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 19:36:22 +0000

If I'm thinking of the right client of yours, Julie — the top trade in its industry - that really underscores why feature writers should never overlook trade publications.

By: Julie Cook Ramirez

Julie Cook Ramirez — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 19:08:48 +0000

In response to your comment about few clients ever raising their rates, I'm pleased to say I've had one regular client since 1996 that has periodically raised my rate without me even asking. They started me off at $650 per feature. I now receive $1,300 per feature.

By: Paula

Paula — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 14:17:02 +0000

Thanks, Cathy.

I need the advice for ghostwriting. I'd love to do more of that, Cathy.

(Notice the one thing I didn't list about feature writing is how to find higher-paying clients, because few ever seem to raise their rates, and the higher the pay rate the harder they are to break into.)

By: Cathy Miller

Cathy Miller — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 13:09:27 +0000

Great advice, Paula, for article writing. I purposely did not go this route. 99.9% of my articles are ghostwritten with some other person's name on it.

So I can't speak to the topic but I know solid advice when I see it. :-)