Comments on: Fees – It Does Matter What Others Charge! A Guest Article

By: Damien Balderrama

Damien Balderrama — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:11:41 +0000

I believe at some point we have to think about our on self worth. Or as I like to call my philosophy of EQUITY and it simply says this: “I must first appraise my own self worth, before life will pay me any rightful dues”

Anne I Thank You for your work here, I would still be lost in my journey as an aspiring Writer had I not found Your website. At least now I have more knowledge into freelance writing. Hopefully soon I’ll get an actual gig to bring more experience. Despite what it pays, I just want my work published to get it out there.

Knowing what I’ve learned here though, I won’t sell myself short.

By: Anne

Anne — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:20:20 +0000

Well said, Karl. Totally off topic, I’ve sailed with Kiwis in the south pacific…

By: Anne

Anne — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:19:39 +0000

It’s true, and not just about novels either…

By: Debbi

Debbi — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:28:05 +0000

Just to add to Karl's last point, if you're writing novels, it's all the more important that you get used to rejections. Most novelists hear the word "no" many, many times before they hear the word "yes." You shouldn't beat yourself up over rejection, whether you're writing marketing material, articles or novels. It's nothing personal in any case. And you can't let it stop you. .-= Debbi´s last blog ..Quotation for the Week of July 5 =-.

By: Karl Rohde

Karl Rohde — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:34:29 +0000

Having been an ICT consultant for over 15 years, I recall a mentor giving me a piece of advice that has held true for many years.

Never charge for time. Charge what it is worth to the client. If it is not worth enough to the client to make it worth while for you, then don’t take the contract.

Now, as I start moving into freelance writing, I see no difference in this approach. Sure, you will be undercut many times. But it is a numbers game, the more people you talk to, the more you will likely get a contract at the rate you want.

Rejection is pretty irrelevant in business. Unless you are writing your own novel or similar to get published, you have no reason to take it personally or beat yourself up about it.

By: Benjamin Hunting

Benjamin Hunting — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:00:08 +0000

Anne - my mother tongue is English, but I am also extremely fluent in French. I am from Quebec, where 90 percent of the population speaks French as a first language, so Anglophones are in the minority. Most government services, etc are provided primarily in French. In addition to my freelance writing, I do a lot of translating work as a result of my fluency in both language. As someone who has worked in a second language for many years, I understand where Tini is coming from. Benjamin Hunting’s last blog post..How To Protect Your Car From Mice

By: admin

admin — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:36:56 +0000

Benjamin, now I’m curious… what’s your mother tongue and what’s your second language?

Tini, yes, the net is double edged, sometimes I think even triple or more edged. otoh, your in the Phillippines, I’m in the US (San Diego) and Benjamin’s site says he moves between Boston in the US and Montreal in Canada… without the ‘net I’d have never heard of either of you… my life is richer because we meet here.

By: Debbi

Debbi — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:33:32 +0000

That’s true about the Internet. But many of my latest clients either are people I’ve met or been referred by people I’ve met. I’ve also done business with people around the country (in my case, the U.S.) who I’ve never seen. But some of my best work has come from personal referrals.

So all is not lost for us here in the states.

Debbi’s last blog post..Quotation for the Week of March 15

By: Tini Abadicio

Tini Abadicio — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 10:54:29 +0000

You have a point. I guess in a country like the Philippines (where I am) where the dollar can buy more than if spent in the US, you can afford to lower your rates. But that’s competition, I guess, and lower price for comparable work quality will always have an edge. The Internet truly is a double-edged sword.

By: Benjamin Hunting

Benjamin Hunting — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 05:11:27 +0000

Tini - as someone who works in more than one language, I didn't mean to disparage non-native speakers. I am obviously only a native speaker in one of the languages I work in. I understand that quality work can be performed in a second or third language. My comment was connected to the pricing issue. A considerable portion of online writers live and work in countries where their cost of living is low enough to compete on price with writers who live in areas with a higher cost of living. As has been stated elsewhere in these posts, it is far better to establish what your own time is worth and compete on the value you can bring to a project, rather than just price alone. I myself grew up in a part of the world where my mother tongue was considerably in the minority, and I spoke a second language every day of my life for over 25 years - so please, don't think I was criticizing those who work in a second language. Benjamin Hunting’s last blog post..How To Protect Your Car From Mice