Comments on: Should You Include a Rate Quote with Your Cover Letter?

By: Victoria

Victoria — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:40:57 +0000

I just recently found your blog and I am following it regularly. I just love all the advice you give. Much of it is very useful, well written and gives writers ways to strive to become better at what they do.

By: The Best of FWJ:15 Blog Posts About Rates : Freelance Writing Jobs

The Best of FWJ:15 Blog Posts About Rates : Freelance Writing Jobs — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 23:20:18 +0000

[...] Should You Include a Rate Quote with Your Cover Letter [...]

By: 02/07/2008 Freelance Bulletin — ¤ The Freelance Hub ¤

02/07/2008 Freelance Bulletin — ¤ The Freelance Hub ¤ — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 08:56:44 +0000

[...] Should You Include a Rate Quote with Your Cover Letter? [...]

By: No Tuesday’s Tools this week–instead, a discussion about quoting rates « A Like Affair With Words

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 15:31:57 +0000

[...] interesting and heated discussion raging over at Freelance Writing Jobs about whether one should include a rate quote with a cover letter when requested in a want ad. My position is no, no, [...]

By: Scribette

Scribette — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 17:12:44 +0000

Hi James – nice to meet a fellow Canadian!

By: Scribette

Scribette — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 17:03:10 +0000

Rachel – I totally agree with you!

To everyone else, happy writing!

By: Rachel

Rachel — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 16:41:34 +0000

Does anyone else think that the comments about how mean other commenters are being are more hurtful than the comments from people who respectfully disagree with the majority, yet are trying to be diplomatic about this?

I’m not liking the trend here to call any dissenters disrespectful and abrasive (and Erika, I’m not calling you out, just using your words as an EXAMPLE of what’s been going on in this thread).

Last, though I am sure by now it’s hopeless, one last attempt at changing the minds of the “include your rates” camp:

Would you storm into your first job interview, exclaiming “I want $35,000 a year to take this job, not a penny more, not a penny less!” Of course not. You’re going to go in with an idea of what you want and see how closely it meshes with the employer’s idea of your worth. If the numbers are too far off in either direction, you amiably part ways. Otherwise you find wiggle room.

Does that make sense? I’m going to be blogging about this in depth tomorrow (Tuesday) and welcome your thoughts.

By: James Chartrand - Web Content Writer Tips

James Chartrand - Web Content Writer Tips — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 10:55:55 +0000

@ Erika – Yes to everything you said. Thank you. Thank you for saying it. I am often ashamed that I end up reacting to comments in this forum – and it’s the only forum on the internet that does this to me. It’s a shame. Two things about me don’t help: I’m French-Canadian (that’s two, trust me.) As a Canadian, we’re used to very polite, calm debate. The debate that goes on in here is akin to an Amazonian war, and it’s always gotten my back up rather quickly. As a French person from Quebec, my culture tends to be one that has heated knee-jerk reactions to perceived threat. And I sure as hell feel threatened each time I post in here.

@ Saad – Man, you have *no* idea how much it’s taken me to hold back and try to be diplomatic. I had to walk away from the computer a few times. I personally don’t think I did a very good job of keeping my cool, so I appreciate that you noticed I was making an effort.

I’m sad to see that, asides my own comments, there have been two others in here (that I noticed) that mentioned people are afraid to comment on this blog. I’m even sadder to say that I don’t blame them. I’m a seasoned problogger and hell, I think twice before commenting.

By: RLD: Taekwondo Happiness

RLD: Taekwondo Happiness — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 08:30:52 +0000

I respectfully disagree. If one is to comment (or communicate), one must be understood. What’s the point of communicating if one doesn’t communicate effectively? In my opinion, we’re all communicators here – we communicate through our works. If we can’t figure out how to makes our exact thoughts known, then we aren’t very good at our jobs.

The linguist side of me wants to give a reminder that writing is more than the simple conventions that we all mastered in grade school. We SHOULD be at the level where we can communicate thoughts and tones effectively. If a simple statement of opinion is too difficult for us, we should practice our art more.

By: Scribette

Scribette — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 05:33:27 +0000

Erika – I gotcha and I am once again not assuming it is addressed to me alone.

True we should not be outwardly mean to each other … but everyone has a right to an opinion. (as long as it is not racist etc)

Thinking “too much” about what one is going to say is slightly stifling … and not good for a writer in my opinion.

I am not going to agree with everyone here … just for the sake of a “supportive” environment. And I don’t expect everyone to agree with me either.

Everyone has different way of doing things – and there sometimes is no “right” method … as I have mentioned in this thread before. (Yikes!)