The debate is over what constitutes a “low-paying” writing assignment. Deb tries to weed out the low-ball offers, but the comments on her July 6 job listing point out how difficult it is for her to do that. Some freelancers say they can “bat out” four or five 400-500 word articles in an hour, and if they receive $10 per article they are doing pretty well. Other assignments require research, interviews, and thoughtful presentation of information, which in most cases could not be completed at the rate of four per hour.

 

I’ve come to realize now that some assignments are worth $10 each, and some freelance writers earn an honest living producing them. Doing so requires a different kind of skill – quickly digesting information, or dragging it out of your brain, and putting 400 to 500 words together within 15 minutes to express it. I’m not prepared to do that kind of work.

 

If the assignment requires the writer to find, understand, and relay information in a thoughtful manner, $10 per article is not enough to compensate for the effort. People who are looking for freelance writers to produce copy for them should not confuse the two kinds of assignments, and they should expect to pay more for articles tailored to their specific circumstances.

 

How much more? Therein lies the dilemma. The Editorial Freelancers Association says you should expect to pay $50 to $100 per hour or $1 to $2 per word. Many excellent, seasoned writers will perform some assignments for less, and most will negotiate.

 

How much are you willing to pay for thoughtful copy? Think about it before you post your writing gig.