Poorly written copy for a leisure centre we use

Lapinou · Jun 3, 2011

My children go to hundreds (it seems!) of activities at our local leisure centre, but the leaflets we get from them, particularly about the swim-school, are written so awfully it's embarrassing. Loads of typos, misspellings and poor use of punctuation and grammar. I'm thinking of offering to write their leaflets for them and be paid for it, of course, but I'm new to freelancing and I'm not sure how to approach them - what would you suggest? I don't want to write 'Hey, your leaflets are shit, why don't you pay me to write them properly for you because I can write in English and you lot clearly can't!' Or maybe I could offer to do paid proof-reading for them at least?

Any thoughts?

Silver King · Jun 3, 2011

Lapinou said:
...I'm thinking of offering to write their leaflets for them and be paid for it, of course, but I'm new to freelancing and I'm not sure how to approach them - what would you suggest?

First I'd try to find out how much work, and the length of time involved, that the job requires; then I'd offer my services based on an hourly rate. You don't have to tell them what you charge per hour, but you'll want to have that amount fixed in your mind during negotiations.

For example, if you feel fifty dollars per hour is acceptable, and the job will take about four hours, then simply quote the full amount, two hundred dollars.

It might also help if you bring a copy of a leaflet that's riddled with errors and explain how your services will improve their announcements many times over.

Good luck.

Lapinou · Jun 4, 2011

Thanks, Silver King - that's really helpful

JoNightshade · Jun 4, 2011

Just be aware that you're probably going to come face to face with either:

1) An adorable little old lady who does all the leaflets yourself, and telling her she sucks is going to break her heart

-or-

2) A pimpled adolescent who doesn't give a sh*t and wouldn't pay you even if he could.

Okay, mostly tongue in cheek there. Go for it.

Lapinou · Jun 4, 2011

Haha, yes, I'm sure I am, but nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?

Debbie V · Jun 6, 2011

Often places like this have volunteers doing these jobs. Payment may not be in the budget. But it can't hurt to ask.

shadowwalker · Jun 6, 2011

Frankly, I'd volunteer to clean it up and use the before/after as an example of what I can do. Just from the pov of these types of places, it would seem rather cheeky to have someone offer to 'fix' something that seems to work fine for the limited purpose - and then want to be paid for it.

Jamesaritchie · Jun 6, 2011

Just ask. But if they're written so poorly, it's likely because they can't afford to pay anyone.

Lapinou · Jun 6, 2011

Yeah, I don't mind doing it for free. Picked up a load of leaflets to have a play with and send to them today.

Bartholomew · Jun 6, 2011

Lapinou said:
My children go to hundreds (it seems!) of activities at our local leisure centre, but the leaflets we get from them, particularly about the swim-school, are written so awfully it's embarrassing. Loads of typos, misspellings and poor use of punctuation and grammar. I'm thinking of offering to write their leaflets for them and be paid for it, of course, but I'm new to freelancing and I'm not sure how to approach them - what would you suggest? I don't want to write 'Hey, your leaflets are shit, why don't you pay me to write them properly for you because I can write in English and you lot clearly can't!' Or maybe I could offer to do paid proof-reading for them at least?

Any thoughts?

Honestly, I'd leave them alone and look for freelance work somewhere else. You will not be popular if you're the person who points out how bad the pamphlets are. Prescriptive grammarians are some of the least popular people on earth - they're called grammar nazis for a reason.

Bad writing exists. It's rarely an opportunity.

WriteMinded · Jul 4, 2011

Your children's friends are probably writing them.

Poorly written copy for a leisure centre we use

Lapinou

Silver King

Megalops Erectus

Lapinou

JoNightshade

has finally arrived

Lapinou

Debbie V

Mentoring Myself and Others

shadowwalker

empty-nester!

Jamesaritchie

Lapinou

Bartholomew

Comic guy

WriteMinded

Derailed