Charging by the hour

Subject: Charging by the hour
From: Herman Holtz <holtz -at- PALTECH -dot- COM>
Date: Wed, 10 May 1995 14:53:28 -0400

>>Why do lawyers charge upwards of $100 an hour? Because they know they
>>have to spend the time---there is no way you can find a competing lawyer
>>who can write faster.

>Could you explain this a little better. I don't think competing writers can
>write any faster than I do, but I haven't figured out how to justify
>charging upwards of $100/hour. :-) ...RM

>Dr. Richard Mateosian Freelance Technical Writer srm -at- c2 -dot- org
>Review Editor, IEEE Micro Vice President, STC Berkeley Chapter

I think the answer to this dilemma is to be a consultant, not a writer.
Think up a suitable adjective (Documentation Consultant? Editorial
Consultant?) and insist that writing per se is incidental (it is), and the
real skills are in several other critical areas. I was able to bill
$1000/day as a proposal specialist in this manner some years ago.
***
Herman Holtz [holtz -at- paltech -dot- com] Marketing consultant, general and
technical writing services. Author 60+ books, including best-
selling How to Succeed as an Independent Consultant (John Wiley).
PO Box 1731, Wheaton, MD 20915. 301-649-2499; fax: 301-649-5745


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