Re: Freelance rates (Was: writers block)

Subject: Re: Freelance rates (Was: writers block)
From: Dan Azlin <dazlin -at- SHORE -dot- NET>
Date: Mon, 20 Jan 1997 01:32:55 -0500

The National Writers Union Guide to Freelance Rates & Standard Practice
devotes
13 pages out of 200 to Technical Writing. They offer some good but simplistic
tips and very little in the way of hard information toward deciding how and
what
to charge. The biggest flaw in this material is the lack of a specific
breakdown
of activities and charges. Thing like file conversions, creating or
translating
illustrations, editing vs researching vs writing vs page/document design vs
et al.
There is no consideration of how to deal with projects created from scratch
vs
revisions vs technical translations vs electronic and/or hardcopy
deliverables.
Too much effort is spent in looking at the pros and cons of agencies vs
contracting.

The rate information only addresses charging by the hour and isn't broken
down by
region. The subject matter issue is only addressed by inference from the
industry
categories selected for presentation.

In short, go to a good book store with a pad and pen, get the book, and
take ten
minutes to read it right there and take notes. The $19.95 price tag is more
than
the information content is worth.

IMHO.

Dan Azlin

At 18:42 1-18-97 -0500, Jean Weber wrote:
>The National Writers Union Guide to Freelance Rates & Standard Practice is
>available for $19.95 (plus $2 shipping & handling, + 8.25% NY residents
>sales tax, if applicable) ) to non-members, from National Writers Union,
>113 University Place, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10003. ($13.95+$2 for NWU
>members.)
>
>Their blurb says:
>"It's the first professional writer's guide based on an independent survey
>of working writers, as well as interviews with agents, publishing lawyers,
>editors, and publishers. The NWU Guide offers a comprehensive, real-life
>look at fees, contracts, and working conditions, alongside fair and clear
>recommendations tailored to six major freelance markets: journalism, books,
>corporate/nonprofit communications, technical writing, small press/literary
>magazines, academic writing. The book also explores such issues as
>copyright in the electronic future, the politics of writing, and the
>Union's history and current benefits and activism."
>
>Although I am a member of the NWU, I have not seen a copy of this book, so
>I cannot comment on its value.
>
>Jean Weber
>
> TECHWR-L (Technical Communication) List Information: To send a message
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> to LISTSERV -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU (e.g. HELP or SIGNOFF TECHWR-L).
> Search the archives at http://www.documentation.com/ or search and
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>
>
Dan Azlin ** WORD ENGINEERS, Technical Writing & Publishing **
dazlin -at- shore -dot- net 7 Myrtle Street
ph/fax 508-921-8908 Beverly, MA 01915-3315

TECHWR-L (Technical Communication) List Information: To send a message
to 2500+ readers, e-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot- Send commands
to LISTSERV -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU (e.g. HELP or SIGNOFF TECHWR-L).
Search the archives at http://www.documentation.com/ or search and
browse the archives at http://listserv.okstate.edu/archives/techwr-l.html


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