Question Of The Day: How Much Do Freelance Writers Make Per Article?
As the freelance writing profession grows with each passing year, we tend to hear a lot of people considering the field and wanting to know how much they can expect to make per article. There is no simple answer to this question since there are a number of different factors that go into the rate of pay for this specific style of writing. Here is what you need to know about the rate you can expect for this kind of work:
Your Income is Contingent on Experience
It goes without saying that a freelance writer with years’ of experience will be able land more contracts and expect a greater chunk of income doing this kind of work. Similarly a person with more experience will likely get paid more per project than a professional who is just getting started and seems in greater risk of producing low-quality work.
History of Quality Work Leads to Higher Pay
A positive work history – expressed through client comments, recommendations, and ratings – will lead to higher pay. On average a new writer can expect to be paid by the word for short articles and a standard flat fee for longer works. Contrarily a writer who communicates a history of high-quality work has greater wiggle room when it comes to negotiations and will likely earn twice as much as his counterpart.
Article Styles Will Affect Rate Even More
One of the reasons it’s so hard to simply state how much a freelance writer can expect to make per article is that there are several different styles that will affect the rate. For instance, an academic piece that requires research and resource information will take several hours to complete, regardless of the amount of words; while a short article on a DIY-topic, for instance, may require some research but can usually be pieced to together in an hour or two.
Single versus Ongoing Projects Play a Role
The type of project will also play a role in how much a freelance writer can expect to receive. Ongoing projects usually pay less per article because they are providing assignments in bulk – these will often be paid by the word from anywhere between $1.00 - $2.00 USD per 100/w. A single article project of about 1000 words, though, could fetch as much as $25.00 - $30.00 USD depending on the content and amount of time required to research. It’s best to take all of these points into consideration before deciding if this field is right for you.