Freelance Writing Rates: When to Charge Additional Fees

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Before you send your client an independent contractor’s agreement or freelance writing contract, make sure to make it’s clear there are circumstances where you may have to tack additional fees to your original quote. While you want to be reasonable, you also want to make sure you’re adequately compensated for your work. Additional work requires additional pay. Here are some situations requiring a rate adjustment: Rush Jobs – If you’re expected to turn in a job overnight or quicker than normal, it’s appropriate to add a rush fee. This is especially necessary if you’ll have to backburner another project or [Read more…]

60 Tips for Getting Started in Your Freelance Writing Career

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Every day new freelance writers visit FWJ seeking tips for getting started. We hope to answer them all, but we can’t always respond. Instead, I enlisted the help of some friends and compiled the best tips for beginning freelance writers. Feel free to add yours in the comments. 60 Tips for Getting Started in Your Freelance Writing Career Research the types of freelance writing jobs: It’s important to learn about the different types of writing and think about the tasks that suit you best. For instance, there are different writing styles applied to web content, blogs, copywriting, newspapers and magazines. [Read more…]

Web Content Sites vs. Private Clients

Hat Tip: The inspiration for this post stemmed from a discussion at the WAHMs Who Write forum. Several of the WAHMs in that discussion raised some good points which I outlined here today. Have you ever sat down and thought about the types of writing you do and the reasons behind your preference? Have you thought about switching from writing for various content mills in favor of private clients? Maybe you’d like to supplement your private client income with web content writing? Each have their pros and cons and there are terrific reasons for working for both. If you’re considering [Read more…]

5 Forms of Passive Income for Freelance Writers

Freelance writers have other options besides writing for clients. Thanks to the internet, writing for ourselves has become easier and more profitable. Ten or twenty years ago, we wouldn’t have had the same success trying to earn a passive income as a freelance writer as we do today. Check out these options for working smarter, not harder: Ebooks -My ebook didn’t sell a million copies out of the gate, but it does sell a few copies a month. It’s already paid for the time spent writing it and more. With another ebook on the way, my earning potential will only [Read more…]

Is Old School a Bad Thing?

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I keep thinking back to last week’s cross blog and forum discussion regarding residual websites. When I suggested freelancers make sure the end justifies the means when writing for a living, I was written off by another community as being “old school”. It’s suggested that I don’t know a thing about the way web writing works now. I thought about this for some time. Could it be true? I’m no spring chicken, though I’m not an old lady either. Does my middle agery make me unqualified to make informed decision as to what makes a good writing opportunity?  Does my [Read more…]

Who Sets Your Freelance Writing Rates?

Sweatshop: Chicago 1803

Did you know many freelance writers won’t give a rate quote to a client and would rather the client set the rate? There are many reasons for this: The freelance writer doesn’t know what to charge The freelance writer is afraid of bidding too low The freelance writer is afraid of bidding too high The freelance writer is unsure of the “going rate” The freelancer lacks to confidence to request what he deserves To me, this can be a big mistake, especially for freelancers who wish to break out of the low paying rut. Even if you don’t mind writing [Read more…]

8 Types of Freelance Writing Pitches or Why You Didn’t Get the Job

Over the weekend I announced a new opening at the Freelance Writing Jobs network of blogs.  As you can imagine, we received a variety of applications. I haven’t gone through half of them yet, but to say some of them are disappointing is an understatement. The folks applying to be a blogger here threw out pitches ranging from arrogant to sad to remarkable. Though I’m still accepting applications, I can tell you that it’s going to be a hard decision choosing from the best applicants. However, the decision of who not to hire has so far been an easy one. [Read more…]

Is Freelance Writing Only a Work From Home Job?

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My friend Anne Wayman at About Freelance Writing only posts what she calls the “true” freelance writing jobs. Anne feels that if you can’t do it in your bunny slippers, it’s just not freelance. As much as I respect Anne and what she does, I have to beg to differ. I feel a freelancer is someone who isn’t tied down to one job or employer, it doesn’t matter if one works at home, on site, in the park or at the local coffee shop.  The dictionary agrees: Also, freelancer. a person who works as a writer, designer, performer, or the [Read more…]

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