Freelance work -- what to charge?

I've got a friend who has a small advertising agency and wants me to do some freelance writing and editing for him.

Anyone know what the going rates are, both for writing and for editing?

 

Have no idea yet. It's being sent to me tomorrow.

I'm looking for ballpark figures on hourly rates.

 

Double what you get from newspapers for an ad agency.

They pay real money.

 

As opposed to the money newpapers provide us so we can pay for our gas and a quick trip to Wendy's -- but not enough for a Frosty.

 

Hey, you wanted a Frosty, you should have gone to law school, pal.

 

I write at $.40/word and edit at $30/hour.

I have no idea if this is good or bad.

 

UT,

That is VERY good. Other than maybe SI or other magazines of that caliber (and with deep pockets) I don't know anyone who pays that well. What you're saying is if someone asks you to do a 1,000-word story you are charging them $400? Having secured work for over 10 different outlets I can tell you that $200 for a 1,000-word story is considered more than fair, with $150 being the standard.

And yes, most freelance gigs pay per assignment, not per hour.

 

Sweet.

I've just gotten lucky. Too bad no one's paying me to write 1,000-word stories.

Anyhow, I didn't have any way to judge the market, because I don't do much writing. I do a fair bit of editing, but mostly I shoot.

 

Well, fuck. What would Dave Thomas do?

 

That's nothing if you ask Jones.

As I told Jones when he made that post, I just want to live in his world for awhile.

 

My stuff in the last year has ranged from roughly $.30 a word to $2 a word.

There's a ton of money to be made doing freelance writing, I'm telling you. Ad agencies, corporate brochures, web sites, annual publications, trade publications ... on and on and on.

It's just we get brainwashed working at newspapers, so we think we should be treated like the undead and paid accordingly.

 

Anyone who agrees to do a 1,000-word story for $150 or $200 is screwing themselves. That's poverty level. As someone who hires freelancers on a regular basis, I'd have writers hang up on me if I offered that kind of pay. No, let me correct that; I wouldn't offer that kind of payment in the first place.

Anyone who wants to write for me at those prices, by all means, let me know. You can have all the assignments you want and my Accounting folks will love me.