Setting a Pay Rate for Non Fiction

A lot goes into that, and how much you want to make is a large factor. I did a post on my blog that might give you some general ideas...it details different tiers of work, and how much you can expect to get for each.

http://www.brickcommajason.com/2011/12/07/about-price/

I usually price out my writing per word based on the following criteria:

1) Complexity of the subject
2) Time frame for completion
3) Whether I have worked with the client before
4) The going rates for comparable projects (yes this does take a bit of research).
5) The desired length of the project

For example - a project consisting of a 500 word article about pet care that is due in a weeks time I would probably price out at between $0.03 per word ($15.00). If the same article needed to be done in 24 hours, I might bump the rate to either $0.035/word or even $0.04 per word.

If however the project is a 500 word article about how a jet propulsion engine would work complete with references due in a weeks time, my rate would probably be closer to around $0.15/word ($75.00) to start.

Basically my cost per word is directly proportional to the length, and complexity of the task, and inversely proportional to the expected time to completion. Additional factors may also include what a competitive rate would be in the current market, and whether or not I have a history with the client.

Does that make sense?

Laura