Wise Advice
Veteran authors share their experience
with Andrea King Collier, Sam Greengard, Florence Isaacs, Russell Wild and Minda Zetlin

Q: I want to break into a new area of freelancing but don't know how to charge. We have quite a few members who do this type of writing, and I'm wondering: Is it okay for me to just write to them and ask them if they'd share with me how they charge? If they were my friends, I'd certainly ask, but because we don't know each other, I'm not sure what the etiquette is here. Money can be such a sticky topic."

Minda Zetlin
The whole purpose of ASJA is to exchange this type of information, so I think you should feel free to ask. I really like the way you phrased it as if they'd "share with" you how they charge. That gives them more of an option to say no gracefully, and your use of the word "share" acknowledges they'd be providing something of value. That said, different ASJA members may have different attitudes about sharing information and about our organization, so don't be offended if some respond in the negative, or don't respond at all.

If it were me, though, there are a couple of steps I would try first—only because they might be quicker and easier. First, I'd do a search on the type of work you're considering in our Paycheck database. That's information our members already have shared and you might get an answer right away. Second, I'd post my question to the ASJA Forum. Since many members do this work, there's a good chance some are regular forum users who would be happy to answer. You also could get the benefit of a fuller discussion among several members who know this market.

Russell Wild
Yes, it is okay to write them to ask ...by all means. Or you can post this very same question on the ASJA forum, and see who responds. Reaching out to your fellow members of ASJA with questions about pay rates or similar matters is, well, largely what ASJA is all about. I would not hesitate to ask.

I only have two caveats: Don't ever reveal to an editor that "So-and-so, a fellow member of ASJA, informs me that you pay $X per word" or any such thing. Consider the information you get from fellow writers confidential.

And don't ask a fellow member if you can use his or her name to make an introduction unless you know that said member is familiar with your work. Unless he or she has such familiarity, a request for a professional referral isn't kosher.

Sam Greengard
It never hurts to check with others and get a good idea about prevailing rates. I think this is one of the big benefits of belonging to a group like ASJA. By assisting each other, we all come out ahead. Over the years, I've found that most members are extremely helpful. Besides, what's the harm in asking? If a colleague refuses, you've lost nothing. Just be sure you repay the debt when another ASJA member comes knocking at your door. It's a two-way street. You have to earn karma points, too.

But there are a couple of other issues here. First, how much money do you want to earn per year, and what would you need to charge in order to meet your income goals? Second, what can you expect to be paid based on your experience and stature? In reality, often there's a broad range of fees that professionals, including writers, charge. You don't want to undersell your talents, but you also don't want to price yourself out of the marketplace.

The upshot? Some up front thinking—and time spent doing the math—will pay big dividends down the line.

Florence Isaacs
ASJA is about helping each other, and the ability to pick colleagues' brains is one of the benefits of membership in this organization. Too many members worry too much about "bothering" people or offending them in some way. First of all, anyone who does not want to talk to you will tell you that—though I've been a member for decades and never have been turned down. I've found members are incredibly generous, even when they're direct competitors. Another issue is the wording of your request. I would broaden it and start off with something like, "I want to break into this and wonder whether you can give me an idea of the range of fees charged." As the person discusses fees in general, you can ask, "What do you usually charge?" He/she can then always reply, "It depends," or "I don't want to share that information." Keep in mind that, as a novice, in this area, you're unlikely to command the same fee as a veteran. The range of going rates, as well as any tips the person can offer, really is all you need.

Andrea King Collier
This is a great time to move beyond your freelance comfort zone and the best way to get the information is to ask. So the first thing I would do is to post the question of who would be willing to talk to you offline. You can post this on the ASJA forum. People in ASJA are very giving. I am sure that several people will offer themselves up. And if the people you want to talk to haven't been looking at the forum, send them a private email asking your questions.

I get questions about some aspects of work I do with non-profits. I always am happy to share. There is the question of what I make with non-profits and what someone just starting out should be asking for. I give them a range and an idea of whether it is better to bundle the work and come up with a project rate or an hourly rate. If you have more questions, you may want to ask whether you can contact them again.

One of the reasons to belong to an organization like ASJA is to be able to share information. Just remember when it's your turn, happily pay it forward.

Andrea King Collier, Sam Greengard, Florence Isaacs, Russell Wild, and Minda Zetlin are long-time ASJA members. Learn more about them in the members' directory at www.asja.org/memdb