Comments on: The Writer’s Guide to Negotiating Like a Pro https://wordsonpageblog.com/2015/08/the-writers-guide-to-negotiating-like.html a freelance writing resource. Tue, 06 Mar 2018 14:13:59 +0000 hourly 1 By: Translation favorites (Sep 11-17) https://wordsonpageblog.com/2015/08/the-writers-guide-to-negotiating-like.html#comment-17286 Tue, 06 Mar 2018 14:13:59 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2015/08/the-writers-guide-to-negotiating-like.html/#comment-17286 […] Services Explained: How the Industry Thinks About Editing, and How You Should Think About It The Writer’s Guide to Negotiating Like a Pro 8 Traits of a Professional Freelance […]

]]> By: Lori Widmer https://wordsonpageblog.com/2015/08/the-writers-guide-to-negotiating-like.html#comment-14417 Tue, 25 Aug 2015 15:17:58 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2015/08/the-writers-guide-to-negotiating-like.html/#comment-14417 Diane, wonderful to see you here! I like what the poet did — good idea for us all!

Cathy, another excellent way to handle it. And that mindset does bring more peace — I agree.

Wow, Paula. They actually call that an offer? I wouldn't be too concerned about being polite to people who are devaluing your skills from the start. Moreover, I don't think I'd even waste a response on them.

]]> By: Paula Hendrickson https://wordsonpageblog.com/2015/08/the-writers-guide-to-negotiating-like.html#comment-14416 Tue, 25 Aug 2015 14:43:46 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2015/08/the-writers-guide-to-negotiating-like.html/#comment-14416 I needed to see this today, Lori. Last week I applied to a job listing seeking writers who are knitters. That's me. (And Nikki!) The don't pay well at all – $11/hour, and 10 hours per week – but I want to write a bit more about knitting because I want to start selling a few of my patterns soon, and I thought I could make $110 extra dollars per week by carving out some time in the evenings or weekends.

I wasn't surprised to hear back. They want pattern descriptions written, or re-written with more flare. Fine. Then the kicker: The guy said most of their writers are able to knock out a 75-word pattern description in about 6 minutes. Even I can to that math. They're offering $11 for 825 words. I just brought out the calculator for this part…. that's .01333333 cents per word. Thanks, but no thanks.

I've been trying to think of a polite way of rejecting the offer.

]]> By: Cathy Miller https://wordsonpageblog.com/2015/08/the-writers-guide-to-negotiating-like.html#comment-14415 Tue, 25 Aug 2015 12:55:35 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2015/08/the-writers-guide-to-negotiating-like.html/#comment-14415 Diane, I use a very similar approach. It's a hold-over from a class I took on negotiating a looong time ago.

I work on a project basis. I created a spreadsheet that calculates a total project fee based on my preferred rate and on my bottom line rate. Even my bottom line has built-in profit. I know anything in between is also acceptable.

Generally, there is enough of a range that the client also finds it acceptable. The other approach I often take is offering a couple of options. The lower-priced one offers fewer services but may still fit the needs of the client.

Lori, you are right. It takes a bit to get to the point where you are comfortable walking away. Funny as it may sound, that mindset brings me more peace. 😉

]]> By: Diane https://wordsonpageblog.com/2015/08/the-writers-guide-to-negotiating-like.html#comment-14414 Tue, 25 Aug 2015 11:04:39 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2015/08/the-writers-guide-to-negotiating-like.html/#comment-14414 My negotiations usually go very well and if they start to haggle downwards too much, they get the "thank you for thinking of me and good luck with the project". My (now) husband worked out my minimum hourly rate, including a profit margin. He worked out 3, actually – the bare, break even minimum; a 15% profit margin; and a %35 profit margin. I went down the middle. I never, ever quote the bare minimum any more and I usually quote the middle. But if I don't need the work, if I'm too busy but not too busy to say so, I'll go for the top end. If they're happy to pay that – and I find many are – then I go with that.

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