Ghostwriting: Selling Yourself Short

By: Laura College
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:43:09
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Nothing angers me more than the slew of “writers” who have recently entered the stage, selling their work for pennies on the dollar and undermining the work that has taken other writers decades to perfect.

Writing is a craft, but it is also a business. Most writers have to pay the bills with the articles, stories, books and sales materials that they pen, and when other writers sell their work for $0.50 per page, it makes it difficult for anyone to put food on the table.

I have been ghostwriting for more than ten years, and although my prices are around 30% less than the industry standard, I base those fees on what I need to survive. I don’t overcharge just because clients enjoy my work, but I don’t undercharge just so I can get 20% more projects. There is something to be said for writers who refuse to sell themselves short.

When you’re preparing your price list and determining how much to quote prospective clients, don’t view the situation like a last-ditch effort to make some money. Believe it or not, clients will respect a writer who charges what she is worth more than a pseudo-writer who simply needs to get some work. If you don’t price your writing at a level competitive with the movers and shakers of ghostwriting and copywriting, you’ll never get ahead.

For example, take a look at the projects offered on the website getafreelancer.com. Most of the “clients” looking for writers are willing to pay around $3/article. That’s insane! I’m a fast writer, but it takes me an hour to write four 500-word articles. At $3/article, that’s $12/hour, which is unnaceptable for a professional writer. I charge at least $60/hour as an hourly rate, and at least $40/article.

It is time for writers everywhere who are good at what they do to step up to the plate. Take a long look at your career and ask yourself, “Am I a good writer?” If the answer is yes, then you need to charge customers what you’re worth.

Laura J. College is a professional ghostwriter with more than ten years' experience writing fiction and non-fiction manuscripts. Her work can be found all over the Internet, and she is currently accepting ghostwriting clients. Check out her website at http://www.laurajcollege.com

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