Hi, can anyone tell me how much to charge when writing freelance articles? I've just been offered a job writing PR stuff for a training company and they want to know my hourly rate....I don't want to set it too high nor do I wish to charge too little!! I've recently qualified as a journalist so this is all new to me :o)
Perhaps something like £15 an hour then, but with a final overall teeny 'welcome gift' of a 10% discount off the final bill, for your own comfort to start with, while earning a few brownie points at the same time? I arrived at £12.50-£15 by dowsing. It's what I do. If you were already thinking in that range, I'd go for it. Bring your courage to the sticking point. They can always try and haggle. Good luck with it - and congratulations on your new qualification. How exciting!
Thanks for your reply. I've just written a 500 word article which took five hours to do...it wasn't in one hit though, as I worked on it when I had the time. The other is a press release of just under 300 words. I had thought of £15 per hour so to hear someone else mention it does help!
I wouldn't even know what to charge as a fixed price as the rates from the guide I've seen from the NUJ, courtesy of my course tutor, look quite steep and I don't want to be too bold!
Do you know the size of the job? If so, you could offer a fixed price for the work as an alternative. My neighbour currently pays her cleaner £10 an hour if that's any help ( in a suburban area this is, not Kensington Palace :) )You are qualified, but new. Charge too low, your credibility suffers and you will end up feeling rather cross. I would have thought between £12.50 and £15.00 per hour to start.
Someone else here will be better qualified to comment. You mention you have recently qualified as a journalist. What would a helpful course tutor suggest? or the NUJ if there still is such a thing?