When you’re first starting out as a freelance writer, any gig is exciting (even the ones that don’t pay). But your time and talent are valuable, and sometimes, you will need to take a pass on what may seem like a plum assignment.
Case in point: Earlier today, I was contacted by the editorial director for an ad agency in New York about writing a round-up piece on 12 epic getaways near Dallas that would be published to the Web. She sent me a link to a similar piece for Los Angeles, which was formatted as a slideshow with about 150 words of text for each destination. She emphasized that I would have to do a lot of research, because they wanted places off the beaten path. The pay was $300.
Doing the math based on word count alone, $300 for 1800 words of text is about $0.17/word — a fraction of my standard rate. Still, I was intrigued, and I imagine that someone trying to break into the field of freelancing would be even more so. I sent a note back to the editor asking whether I would need to provide the photos, or those would be arranged on their side.
She noted that I not only would have to take the pictures of each location myself (and, mind you, we’re talking about a dozen day trips — each of them at least an hour outside of the city), but that I would have to get explicit written permission from the venue to use the images online. With 12 destinations and a $300 budget, the rate works out to $25 per location. For this small fee, the editor wants someone to drive at least 2 hours round trip, write 1800 words of exceptional copy, take high quality photos, and get management permission to post them on the Web.
Not only was the pay laughable, but you could very well end up spending the entire stipend in gas money!
So, yes, sometimes it’s smart to turn down an assignment. If you want to put in 30+ hours of work to earn $300, you could do that working at Starbucks (and you’d have benefits, to boot). As a freelance writer, you need to recognize the value of your unique talent and draw a line in the sand on matters of income. Sure, you may start out writing a few blog posts or marketing brochures for free to build your portfolio, but as you continue in your freelance career, don’t accept slave wages to make your clients look like royalty!
Have you ever turned down a writing assignment, or taken on an assignment you later regretted? Please share your experiences! Drop a line using the online contact form, and let me know the challenges that you’ve faced as a freelance writer.