Long Term Writing Projects Discussion

Elizabeth Ann West · Post by **Elizabeth Ann West** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 9:12 am

Hi all,

I wanted to start a thread on the advantage/disadvantages/caveats of a long term writing project. I just recently started my first one (I mean really recent, I've only sold 2, and just finished my second package of articles). So I thought I would share what I've learned a little bit and open it up to other writers who more frequently do this type of work and see if they are willing to share any of their experiences.

So far I have learned:

Price negotiation is very important, and it is difficult to not sell yourself short. If you are pricing per article, I wouldn't recommend taking more than 10-15% off your normal price for content that is routine or single type articles. It is tempting to go really low, in hopes of keeping the writing job.

Alternatively, if you give a deeper discount, be sure to renegotiate if the scope of work changes to become more intense. When the nature of the work changed a little for me (adding links, and submitting multiple versions of the same content in different formats) I added a small flat fee for the increase in work. It was nominal, and about 15% of the agreed upon fee because I rationalized it was taking me about 15% more time to complete the work.

In the future, I will probably negotiate a small "first edition" price of the first 1-3 installments, so that the customer can see the quality of my work, and then seek a slightly higher commission once both of us have a better understanding and comfort level with the work project. Remember, many customers are completely ignorant of how much time and effort just the simplest writing assignment can take, so small increases in work to them might mean large amounts of time required by you. Plus, I think I would be in a stronger bargaining position once the quality of my work has spoken for itself, and the customer "wants" my work. It's alot harder to negotiate when you are an "unknown" to the customer.

Also, I find it easier to include the customer more on subject content than what I would for a normal one-off article request. By keeping constant communication back and forth, and encouraging the customer to give guidance and input into the content, you are including them in the creation process. I also hope this will limit any of my private requests languishing in the ready to buy category for very long. I always fear I will write something specialized, and then the private requester doesn't buy it, and it isn't really resellable.

Those are just a few of my thoughts so far on my experience working in a long term writing project set of parameters than just a one or two article request situation. I don't profess to be an expert, far, far from it. If any of you have experience in long term assignments, please let me know if your experience has differed, or if you have other caveats and experiences to share. Thanks!

J. A. Young · Post by **J. A. Young** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 9:49 am

I've had a long-term project going since late summer and I've thought long and hard about it too. Part of the criteria for getting the gig was a willingness to bargain with the price--offer a discount since he would be buying so many articles. Basically, I've only dropped the price by $5 to $10 per article. Having done MANY, I feel like it was a good deal for both of us. I'm guaranteed work and sales and it's not so much work that it distracts me from other projects.

But there are other factors to consider. For instance, when we go by a strict word count pricing strategy, we may forget how much time is spent researching a given topic. The research is essential and you really have to assess how much time will be swallowed up in that department. In my case, there is considerable research, but it's straight forward and the writing is not terrible difficult.

I've also considered the state of my life--difficult pregnancy and a regular job. For me, for the past several months, this particular job was all I could reasonably handle and still provide quality work. That means a lot when you're trying to keep your hand in and continue to sell.

I've asked myself, would I still want this project if my personal life was less chaotic. The answer is YES. If I were my old self, I'd whip these out and then some. It is nice to know that I should have no trouble meeting the payment threshold and the project is not overly difficult.

I think the key is just assessing all these factors. I have come across projects that simply weren't worth it to me given the payment and amount of time needed to do the work. Sometimes it's simply a matter of not liking the topic and not wanting to commit to the project.

Just remember you control your time and pricing. You don't HAVE to accept any project you don't want to. On the other hand, I've been very happy with all the private requests I've gotten and I've only turned down one (which proved to be dumb move on my part, but you learn as you go!). Good luck. Just weigh all the options/factors carefully and all should go well. JA

Ed · Post by Ed » Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:09 am

I'm really glad to see that this discussion as been started. This information is extremely useful to everyone, especially those just starting out.

Ed

Celeste Stewart · Post by **Celeste Stewart** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:39 am

You have to be careful when you price your private requests too low because as a private request, it needs to have priority over all else. If you're doing dozens of articles for a particular customer and have little time for other endeavors, it could end up costing you more profitable jobs in the long run.

This happened to a friend of mine. She was writing long articles that required a ton of research and was selling them for a ridiculous price. This same customer was paying me $60-$70 an article for the same type of assignments - she was charging him $20 and less. Needless to say, I stopped getting assignments and she got buried. Suddenly, she could no longer get anything else done and wasn't being rewarded for her hard work. She was making less than minimum wage and busting her butt after putting in a full 40 hour work week at her real job. I'd point out decent requests to her that she might try and she simply couldn't do it even though the requests were more profitable. The customer was getting a steal of a deal and she was getting burnt out and very little compensation for her time. (Plus, I lost a client that I enjoyed working with but c'est la vie).

Also, private requesters usually have already worked with you and have seen the quality of work. Occasionally, you might get a private request through an open call (first one gets the job type of thing) where you'll need to prove yourself but in most cases, the client has already purchased several of your articles and likes what they see. This gives you some bargaining power. Other times, a customer will tell you what they're willing to pay.

I have turned down requests because I couldn't afford to go as low as they needed me to go. I do have a bit of luxury there in that I have regular clients who keep me busy. I'm at the point where I can be more selective in what type of assignments I take.

Elizabeth Ann West · Post by **Elizabeth Ann West** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:12 pm

That's a good point JA. I would most definitely say to not price your work lower that one month's of work still won't qualify you for the monthly minimum. I kept that in mind too when I was pricing, except I was a little evil to myself. I priced the basic work just under the monthly minimum, so that I HAVE to sell at least one other outside article in addition to this gig in order to make the monthly minimum. Now that this requester has added additional work, that will keep me busy in addition to the one article or blog set per week, making the minimum threshold for payment shouldn't be a problem for me for awhile.

I priced mine in such a way to keep myself motivated to write articles that I enjoy. For me, writing is currently a lucrative hobby. I am working on making it my profession, but even then it will be a part-time endeavor because my family comes first, and thankfully we don't need me to work. I am looking to write about 3-4 days a week.

I think the hardest thing for me still is getting used to the gap between finishing an article and selling it. I know I don't need the money, it's just that I want the personal satisfaction that my hard work had value. As the time goes by, it's harder and harder for me not to impulsively lower the prices on the article. This is dangerous, because as time goes by, I forget how much time and effort went into certain articles, again selling myself short. Vain, I know, but it's me.

J. A. Young · Post by **J. A. Young** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 2:04 pm

I guess you just have to judge each project on its own merit. Celeste is right about rejecting low-paying projects that monopolize all your writing time. I would avoid these too. But many of the projects that come around are not so involved and can help you build up your stats, gain experience, and, hopefully, make decent money. There's "giving someone a deal" and then there's "getting taken." When negotiating money, I try to get right to the point. This isn't a flea market or garage sale so I'm only willing to bargain so much. It has to be a fair wage for a good work. I just tell the client what I'm willing to work for (in as diplomatic a way as I can) and then I just wait to see. If you go too low, you can wind up resenting the project and wishing yourself out of it. But, if you can work for a couple dollars cheaper per article, then you also have the knowledge that your work will be sold and you will earn decent money.

Celeste's point about a project taking up all your time is a big consideration though. You have to be compensated well enough that it won't matter whether or not you can work on other things.

Well, back to work! J

Cyndy Hardy · Post by **Cyndy Hardy** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:49 pm

I really appreciate this discussion because, while I am moderately successful outside the Internet, I haven't been able to break through online. It's a different animal and I keep wanting to write and price the way I do in my own market.

One thing I think I can add to this discussion regards making sure you get paid for your work. I'm sure you all know what a 'kill fee' is, yet I haven't seen it used much in the Internet market. I'm not sure it can be done in the current CC model, but I think it's worth considering for private requests.

When I negotiate a commissioned project, I always include a kill fee clause.
Once the client gives me the go-ahead the project is subject to a fee regardless whether he buys or not. If he cancels before I deliver the draft, I charge about 30 percent. If I deliver the draft and he cancels for any reason other than valid dissatisfaction, I charge my full fee.

I make the scope of work clear up front and include one rewrite. Any changes must be negotiated in addition to the original fee. Of course, I want my client to be satisfied so I am very flexible about the terms -- within reason.