| New freelance writers often wonder how to charge | | | | a working week on writing. That's more than 2,000 |
| for their writing. Writers want to make sure that they | | | | hours a year. However, take out all the time you spend |
| get paid fairly for the effort they have put in. In the | | | | making cups of coffee, filing, blogging as well as sick |
| short term, writers may work for very little while they | | | | days and holidays and there will probably be about |
| are getting established. But in the long term, writers | | | | 1800 hours left. |
| who don't earn a fair wage will not be able to | | | | Writers also need to think about the cost of |
| freelance for long. There are three questions that | | | | consumables. Pens, paper and print cartridges all cost |
| freelance writers should ask themselves when | | | | money and this should be added to what writers want |
| deciding what hourly rate they should set. | | | | to earn. |
| What Do I Want To Earn For Writing? | | | | What's My Hourly Rate? |
| Some writers write in their spare time and have full | | | | Once writers have calculated the number of hours |
| time jobs elsewhere. These writers may not need to | | | | they will work and the full amount they need to earn, |
| earn as much as those who rely on writing for their | | | | working out an hourly rate is simple. Just divide the |
| income. Whatever their situation, writers should | | | | amount you need to earn by the number of hours you |
| consider how much money they need to earn to eat, | | | | plan to work, and you've got a your hourly rate. Once |
| pay the bills and maybe have a little fun from time to | | | | writers have worked out what they need to earn, they |
| time. It's nice to think that you can catch a movie or go | | | | have a figure to aim for. |
| to a gig once in a while. | | | | One last thing. Even after setting an hourly rate, |
| Writers also need to think about the taxman. | | | | freelance writers need to be prepared to work for |
| Depending on where writers live, any where from 22% | | | | less occasionally. The freelance writing market is |
| to 35% or more (if you're really successful) will be | | | | competitive and sometimes it is better to eat than to |
| gobbled up by the government. For example, in the UK, | | | | stand on principle. Writers always have to decide |
| tax and National Insurance takes over 30% of your | | | | whether it is worth some short term swallowing of |
| income (after allowances). So writers need to add this | | | | pride for the long term gain of having a better portfolio. |
| figure to the amount they want to earn. | | | | Once writers have a good portfolio, they'll stand a |
| How Much Writing Will I Do? | | | | better chance of getting the hourly rate they deserve. |
| Full-time freelance writers will spend the equivalent of | | | | |