Question

Angela said:

I don't know if this is in the right spot or not, and I sincerely apologize if it isn't!

My question is about a pay rate. This may be a stupid question, but I'm new to this, so I don't really know. Is the amount of $30.00 to $50.00 for a 1000 - 2000 word chapter (contract work and writing on spec) a fair deal? It averages out to about .33 - .40 per word, so I was thinking that it was, but I thought that I'd ask others with a bit more experience first.

Thanks!!

Angi

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I'm not sure what you mean by "chapter," but even $50 for 1,000 words is only a nickel per word. Fifty bucks for 2,000 words is only two and a half cents per word. You'll have to decide for yourself what your time is worth, and some very small markets can't afford more than this. But that sure isn't a very high rate of pay.

Of course, how fast you can write matters, too. A nickel per word is very small pay, but if you can write and sell 2,000 words per hour, then your hourly wage is pretty good. But if you're a slow writer, and if you need to spend much time researching, rewriting, and editing, then hourly rate wage goes down considerably.

And if you can't sell these pieces very often, then weekly or monthly wage isn't going to be much at all.

On the other hand, it is money, it will give your experience, and maybe some decent credits.

I get the equivalent of $600 for a 1,000 word story from my highest-paying mags. and about $225 from the lowest-paying ones. The US may be different though.