How To Charge Like A Top 1% Writer – Write Your Story – November 27, 2024

Hey friends,

We have a lot of new subscribers tuning in for the first time this week, so a shout out goes to everyone who recently signed up! 

Can you take a second to do one thing for me?

Close your eyes and picture one friend you think would thrive as a freelance writer. Maybe they already are one. Maybe you know they’re good with words, but they aren’t freelancing yet. 

Will you share this newsletter with them? A simple forward could make their day! (It will definitely make mine 😄)

I want this newsletter to be an awesome resource for all freelance writers out there, so the more the merrier! 

(If a friend sent you this, they’re pretty cool! You can subscribe to the newsletter here to keep receiving it for free every Wednesday).

. . .

Okay, onto this week’s content. 

Are you selling yourself short when pitching clients? How about in negotiations? I’m willing to bet that you are. Why? Because I did it too… for. so. long. 

For some reason, us writers have a hard time asking people to pay for what we do. Some silly mental block says, “No, you can’t charge $500 for that article you wrote on the couch while petting the dog.” 

Spoiler alert: You can. (I did this morning… Dog for proof. Everyone say Hi, Margot!). 

Charging what you’re worth can be terrifying. But you should get paid well for the work you do. Contrary to what you may hear from AI fans and job posters on Upwork, not everyone can be a writer. If you’ve ever been on the hiring side, you know this is true. You need serious skills if you want to succeed, and it takes time to hone your craft. 

Ultimately, that’s what writing is—a craft. A profession. 

You wouldn’t dream of shortchanging a lawyer because “All they did was tell me about the law,” or a doctor because “All they did was write me a prescription.” 

So why shortchange yourself when “All you did was write a killer article that generated tangible value for your client because you are smart and know how to captivate an audience?” 

Don’t be afraid to charge what you’re worth. You owe it to yourself. 

This week’s edition has some resources to help you set your rates, negotiate better pricing packages, and position yourself for success in today’s competitive job market. Enjoy!

Best,

    🪶 Cody DeBos

P.S. Not sure what your ideal writing niche is? Try out our new smart niche finder quiz here and see where your skills could be utilized best! (And meet our new mascot, Ronnie Raven). 


Freelance Bites

  • Do you find yourself overthinking? We all know it isn’t great for our mental health. But we have to keep thinking to solve problems, right? Maybe it isn’t so simple, says Darius Foroux
  • The marketing world is changing faster than ever. Next year will be no different. With 2025 right around the corner, now is a great time to brush up on marketing trends and show off your knowledge when pitching potential clients (WordStream). 
  • Luck tends to play a bigger role in our lives than we give it credit for. We can’t control our luck, but what if we can make ourselves more lucky? How you can use repetition to give yourself better odds of success. (CollabFund)
  • Building a career as a writer isn’t easy. You won’t get rich quick, but you can build a lucrative career in the long-run. Adrian shares some great insights on what it means to be a creative professional (Literary Hub). 


Letters From My Desk

Beyond Word Count: Creative Pricing Models for Freelance Writers

The idea of getting paid for every word you write can be exhilarating. When I first started freelancing, I would pull up my calculator after practically each paragraph and type in the word count x the rate. Seeing money rolling in like magic was like a drug.

But while watching your keystrokes turn into dollars is fun, pay-per-word isn’t always the most effective way to set your rates. 

In fact, you could do yourself a disservice. If your writing includes tasks like interviewing, extensive research, or SEO work, charging for each word you write ignores the extra time you’re spending. Sure, you can simply increase your per-word rate to make up for it. However, many clients’ eyes go wide when your rate is suddenly double what they’re used to. 

So, how can you make sure you’re compensated for the time you spend? 

Change your pricing model. 

Here are a few creative ways I’ve used (or seen other writers use) when per-word rates simply aren’t cutting it. 

Why Hourly Rates Suck

Before we get to the good stuff, a quick note on why simply switching to an hourly rate isn’t the solution. Though hourly rates are common in basically every field, they aren’t friendly to freelancers. 

Picture this: You’ve been writing for a while and are good at what you do. You can crank out a 500-word article in 20 minutes. Your hourly rate is $50/hr. 

Would you rather make roughly $17 for that piece? Or would you rather make $100 with a flat rate? $50 with a $0.10/word rate? 

By limiting yourself to an hourly rate—even one as high as $100/hr—you’re limiting yourself to pocket change by being efficient. 

Efficient writers shouldn’t be punished. If you’re turning out high-quality work, it shouldn’t matter whether you take 20 minutes or three hours. 

I’ve advised many freelancers against using an hourly rate for this exact reason. Personally, I haven’t used one since the start of my career. I even turn down clients when they only want to work hourly—because my time is too valuable to be punished for efficiency. 

In truth, all the client cares about is getting the final deliverable—a great article—at a fair price.


Cody’s Top Picks

This is the part where I share some of the content I’ve been enjoying lately. Do we have a similar taste? Let me know! I’d love to hear what you’ve been into lately. 

Info: 

  • 📖 ReadSoulkeeper” by David Dalglish. I read this earlier this year and am recommending it now because I’m about to dive into book two. Soulkeeper follows a tricorn-hat wearing, magic pistol wielding warrior priest who must battle against ancient evil forces (and team up with friendly fire sprites) as arcane magic returns to the land. This is a great example of a male main character who is deeply in touch with his emotions and was a breath of fresh air in the fantasy genre. I’m really looking forward to book two and will keep you posted! (Disclosure: The link above is an affiliate link, so I’ll earn a small commission if you make a purchase).
  • 📺 Watch Our Oceans” on Netflix. My wife is a nature documentary enthusiast, and this one is a standout. Narrated by former president Barack Obama, it takes you around the globe ocean-by-ocean to explore some of the strangest and coolest creatures and natural phenomena around. 
  • 🎧 Listen toStudio Ghibli Jazz” a Spotify playlist by Slumbering Records. I adore Studio Ghibli movies (shoutout to my guy Calcifer!), and I adore this playlist almost as much. The vibes are cozy, warm, and perfect for getting some work done as the temperatures drop.  
  • 🧠 Remember (Quote): “Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.” – Carl Sandburg


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© DeBos Ventures LLC // Ravenwood Writing Academy 2024