Freelance writers often begin their journeys intimidated. Where do they find clients? Where do they collect those first all-important samples to show future clients? But mostly, they wonder what to charge. Charge too much, and they lose the client. Charge too little, and they jeopardize not only their livelihood but also their reputation. The question used to be “what do I charge?” Today, it’s as much the way you charge and why you charge as it is how much.
The old school method involved deciding what you wish to earn annually, add for taxes, insurance, retirement, and administrative duties, then divide it by the number of hours you work. Voilà. There’s your hourly rate. While you need a good feel for a minimum hourly rate, changing times call for flexibility. Writers have more expertise, clients have more diverse needs, and writing has become more than writing a piece of
