Skip to content

Words on the Page

a freelance writing resource.

Menu
  • Blogs Worth Reading
  • Courses
  • Ebooks
  • Free Writers Worth eBook
  • Guest Posting Guidelines
  • Home
  • Marketing 365
  • Monthly Assessment
Menu

Author: lwidmer

Marketing Monday: Meeting Clients’ Needs

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m listening to: Rx (Medicate) by Theory of a Dead Man I had a great post for you last week for Marketing Monday. And somehow, I never posted it. I just put that sucker in the Drafts folder and quickly forgot about it. So here it is this week. I hope it was worth…

Read more

This Job, Not That Job

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m listening to: Die Like A Rich Boy by Frightened Rabbit It’s been a few months since we’ve done the This Job, Not That Job tribute to the worst jobs of the moment. It’s not for lack of material. Today’s candidate for the Worst Job on the Internet comes via Jenn Mattern. Jenn spied…

Read more

8 Ways to Bury Your Freelance Writing Image

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m listening to: Hanuman by Rodrigo y Gabriela I spent the last two days working like mad to get some client work finished – I wanted to head west and bring my mom back here for Easter. But she’s decided she’s staying put this year. She’s really struggling with getting back to a normal…

Read more

Free Advice Friday: The Words that Spell Doom to Your Freelance Writing Career

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m listening to: Ghost in the Machine by Our Last Night “Terms are terms. They aren’t good or bad until we add context.” That’s the argument I received after objecting to someone’s use of the term “liberal snowflakes” to describe my Facebook video of the recent snowstorm. It seems I made it political by…

Read more

Excuses that Kill Your Freelance Writing Career

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m listening to: Telescope by Starset Today, I call bullshit. For every writer out there with their own particular brand of excuse that explains why some of us make it as writers and they don’t, I’m calling your bluff. This particular head of steam started on a forum discussion. On it, the advice being…

Read more

Marketing Monday: Revamping Marketing Content

Posted on by lwidmer

Late post today — mostly because I’d thought I’d written one, but found it wasn’t quite finished and I’d left it in my Draft folder. Today is your new year. Tell that to yourself any time you think you need to restart, but are waiting for some magical date or time to do so. Today…

Read more

Purposeful Marketing for Freelance Writers

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m listening to: Airplane by j-hope For the first time in two years, I’m back to active marketing. I had a nice run. At the height of it, I had seven clients month over month. Yet all good things end. In a few cases, it was expected. My marketing these last two years has…

Read more

Marketing Monday: The Lemming-less Freelancer

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m listening to: Conductor by We Were Promised Jetpacks It’s not just Monday — it’s the Monday that brings We Were Promised Jetpacks to Philly. My tickets are bought and I’m ready. It’s also Marketing Monday. Sorry to miss the last few. Life (and death) got in the way, to say the least. But…

Read more

The Freelancer and The Ethical Boundary

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m listening to: Can’t Stop the Feeling! by Justin Timberlake A year or so ago, I had an unpleasant encounter with an editor that didn’t end well. Normally, I wouldn’t talk about such things openly, but there’s a lesson in here that all freelance writers should be learning. It’s about how much control clients…

Read more

A Freelancer’s Guide to Setting Your Damn Price Already

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m listening to: Closer by The Chainsmokers I was reading through some LinkedIn posts the other day when it dawned on me yet again: Freelance writers have no idea how to set rates. No, they really don’t know how to set rates. In a few cases, the questions revolved around “How much should I…

Read more
  • Previous
  • 1
  • …
  • 40
  • 41
  • 42
  • 43
  • 44
  • 45
  • 46
  • …
  • 267
  • Next
  1. Paula Hendrickson Avatar
    Paula Hendrickson

    Since the bulk of my work at the moment consists of article writing, the publications set their pay scales, but I won’t work for places that underpay writers, and I’m not shy about telling them why I won’t accept their low rates.

    For other things, I have an hourly rate in mind when setting project fees. Some things are so small—edit three executive bios for consistency, for example—that I’ve adopted Jenn Mattern’s idea of having a “get out of bed rate.” It’s ideal for those little things you might not really want to do, but could knock out quickly -if you’re so motivated. Charge enough and that motivation kicks right in.

    Reply
    1. lwidmer Avatar
      lwidmer

      Magazines are tougher, I agree. But their rates determine whether they’re your client, as you indicated, Paula.

      I’ve always liked the ‘get out of bed’ fee idea. I know my minimum, and it’s helped me avoid some nasty situations.

  2. Devon Ellington Avatar
    Devon Ellington

    You know when I started getting my rate? When I stuck by “no” for lower rates. When I give a quote and the person comes back with a much lower one, I say “no.” If I need to make up a loss of income, I do it by taking a job that’s in a different field. NOT BY LOWERING MY RATE.

    It was a hash lesson to learn, but vital where I live now, where locals want to pay content mill rates. So they don’t get ME. I have a handful of local clients who pay the agreed-upon rate, and the rest are remote.

    It’s a much better business model.

    Reply
    1. Devon Ellington Avatar
      Devon Ellington

      That should read “harsh” lesson, but I guess “hash” works, too.

    2. lwidmer Avatar
      lwidmer

      LOL Yes, both fit. 🙂

      No is tough to say at first, but my lord, it becomes so much easier with practice. 😉

  3. Anne Wayman Avatar
    Anne Wayman

    Love this Lori! Basically it took a decision. Of course, it took awhile to make the decision for the higher rate. The first time someone challenged me to double my rates I couldn’t do it. I did manage upping them 25 percent. Which helped.

    Love your analogy with Apple!

    Yes, we set our own rates. You’re so right… as you often are.

    Love you,

    A

    Reply
© 2026 Words on the Page | Powered by Minimalist Blog WordPress Theme