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My drug of choice is writing––writing, art, reading, inspiration, books, creativity, process, craft, blogging, grammar, linguistics, and did I mention writing?

Thursday, January 22, 2015

F.A.Q. Will I Do Freelance Work for You?


Question: Do I do freelance writing?/Will I do freelance writing/editing for you?


Short Answer

Yes, if you pay me enough. ($60+ USD/hr)

Longer Answer

You probably don't want me.

You want a professional freelance writer or a professional editor. Writers have overlapping skill sets but the places we are different matter greatly. If you're looking for someone to write a snarky writing advice listicle, I can't recommend me enough. Otherwise, I'm probably not the right tool for the right job. (I'm like using a crescent wrench to pound in screws.) If you've read this blog for any length of time, you know that I am the poster child for the difference between knowing a grammatical rule and being able to spot the error in flowing text. And while I can write freelance (and have), you'll get better, faster results, that are probably more like what you're imagining, from someone who does it every day.

The thing is, I still charge what I'm worth, even if you put me to work doing something I'm not that good at. I start at $60/hour for friends or very easy jobs and I go up from there. I've billed out as high as $85/hour (a miserable job doing the kind of writing I never want to have to do). So for a few dollars more (or maybe even less), you could get someone who is a much better fit for the kind of writing you want done.

The editing that I am good at is at the developmental and line editing levels. I will turn down copy editing work. I'm just not good at it. 

I will not work for free exposure. Never. Don't even ask.

If you are a tiny blog/artist/company/something that really can't pay and you want to collaborate for mutual exposure, I might be into that if you ask nice and don't assume I'm a gullible suckah who you can Pied Piper into free labor with the promise of ground floor opportunities and the magnanimous blessing of your approval and affectionate fee-fees. If you can't pay me in money, I work for Tim Tams, art exchanges, iStore credit, and Starship Reunion Tour tickets, just to name a few, so throw your pitch if you've got one. (I even worked for an exclusive steamy photo shoot set once.) But if I can tell you're just being cheap, there is no way. 

I may even write a blog entry about the breadth and scope of your suckatude. And I'm not afraid to name names. (After screenshotting for receipts, of course.)

I have written regularly for two blogs besides my own. One has given me a free t-shirt. The other, after fifteen or so articles, didn't even do that. (I got a coupon for $5 off a regularly priced t-shirt.) So I've got about all the "free exposure" I can handle afford. If I want to write for no money, I'll do it for myself.

Got that writing for nothing thing covered. Thanks.

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