How much should I pay a writer?

Writers, like many artists often get screwed when it comes to pay. There are so many inexperienced writers willing to work for peanuts that it actually cheapens the industry and is damaging to the profession as a whole. Writers must have standards, and must believe in what they are worth - especially experienced writers. Writing is a special skill that takes talent and time. Not just anybody can be a writer, and how well you communicate as a company or a brand is one of the most important factors of success in today's economy.

Personally, I try to avoid hourly rates because not all projects and clients are equal. Sometimes I will work hourly if the client requests it, but more often than not I will quote on a project as a whole. This allows me to think through all of the variables of the project like how much research is required, do I need to conduct interviews, are there reports and papers to sift through, and how demanding is the client? Every project is unique. There are of course certain standards that I like to adhere to and I very much rely on those when quoting out a project. So far the best resource I have found on how much to pay writers is from the Professional Writers Association of Canada. They have published a comprehensive guide detailing different types of projects and what the going rates are for professional writers. It's a great starting point. Of course there is always room to negotiate and be flexible, but writers must be careful not to undersell themselves and accept work that either doesn't pay or pays poorly. Clients can use this resource too as a guage for e

Click here to review the PWAC's guidelines.