You're Worth It!

One of the laments I hear in the writer/communications circle is 'what do I charge?' It's a fine line to walk between getting paid what you're worth and pricing yourself out of the market. I have to say that I am open-minded and willing to negotiate, but a line does have to be drawn. When I was recently told that the going rate for a 500 word article, complete with SEO keyword adjustments, was $10 I almost fell off my chair. I put a lot of thought into my articles. I spend a great deal of effort reading and researching to understand the topic and thus be able to write intelligently about it. I do not cut and paste someone else's work. If $10 an hour is the case, I would then be making less money than minimum wage and forgive me, but writing is a profession requiring skill. I could make more money pouring coffee into a cup at Tim Horton's.

I'm not exactly insulted as this is a rate that some writers are willing to accept. I just don't see how the quality (and originality) of the work can prevail in this case. I have done enough work on- and off-line to know that the fair price I charge is valued for the professional product that it is. Feel free to check out some of my pieces at www.communicationartistry.ca and see what you think.