Amy Derby’s last blog post..Word of the Day: proponent (pruh-POH-nuhnt)

And, actually, seriously, I DO have a novel I’d love to get published, but that really IS a discouraging process.

You’ve probably got a good idea by now as to how long it would take you to write a given project. I’ve just decided that you charge $50/hour on simple projects that involved little research and $75/hour for more complex tasks. You’re welcome.

But never give out your hourly rate! Do the math in your head and quote a project.

Back to your question: Anything you’ve put pen to paper for can go be a sample.

I would put up 1.) a press release, 2.) a brochure, 3.) a sales letter, and 4.) a link to some website. That’s probably a good starting point. Unless you’ve got experience, you probably don’t want to be chasing after annual reports or similar projects, and with a day job, you probably don’t want such complex jobs anyway.

And don’t get hung up on your samples being published. You’re not pitching a novel, you’re pitching your writing abilities, which you have in spades. Write a press release about your newly created writing services and put that up there.

John Roach’s last blog post..That which doesn’t restrict you makes you non-essential

What kind of information should I have on my Services page? What kind of samples?

Or should I just say something like, “Contact me if you’re interested in my services,” and quote rates on an individual basis?

And–what kind of writing samples would YOU offer, if you were me?

Keep the tips coming, folks…. Just remember, I’ve got a full-time job and that limits what I can do during traditional business hours.

Amy Derby’s last blog post..Fiction Friday: Stories & Markets

As to what to charge, if you apply for gigs listed on the various writing sites, you’ll find that many of them have an established price they will pay. If you read them regularly, you will start to get a feel for what’s typical (if such a thing exists). But you’ll see payment for blog posts fall into a range, SEO articles a range, etc. As a beginner, you may need to charge on the lower end of the scale (though not necessarily at the bottom). Apply for a few jobs and see what happens. You will get more familiar with the market, and you will hone your query skills.

Lillie Ammann’s last blog post..Change is afoot …

And, how DO you figure out what to charge? I’ve seen the formulas about figuring out what you need per month and dividing it by the number hours worked, or whatever, but I can’t figure that out. I don’t know how many hours I’ll have to spare yet (since I do have a full-time job, and I’m trying to help my Dad get his own business launched, too–(more computer stuff I don’t understand)–so the numbers are completely imaginary. And, um, “Ts and Cs?”

@Lillie–I’ve heard about the “write-for-charity” thing and understand why and how it’s a good thing, but honestly, don’t know any local charities to write for!

@Julie–Thanks!

And, folks, I’m trying very hard not to sound like I’m whining, here. I feel like I keep saying, “But, but, but!” It’s mostly because I’m overwhelmed and can’t figure out exactly what to do first, when my list of “Must Do First” has so many items on it. Not just for this, but for trying to help my Dad, and the computer-programming-website thing really bogs me down a LOT because, while I can figure certain things out, it takes me a while. (And, no, I really can’t afford to hire someone to do it for me, darn it.)

So, any responses that sound whiny–if any do–please forgive the tone. It’s not ingratitude you’re hearing, honest!

(Yeah, right, like THAT disclaimer really helped….)

–Deb’s last blog post..Soliciting Advice and Encouragement