Comments on: Ebook Writing Fees – Rewriting vs. Original Writing

By: Pura Bianchin

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By: Private Label Rights

Private Label Rights — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 05:13:51 +0000

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By: Gloria

Gloria — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:31:54 +0000

This advice is really going to help, thanks.

By: Tina

Tina — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 13:31:51 +0000

@Christie, KGW, Trish, Diane and Jan – Sounds like I struck a cord with you guys! It is a bit of a rant, I know…but the non-writers who hire writers sometimes need to hear an explanation. I remember way back when…I was selling tombstones at the family biz. And a customer asked me if I would give a discount if he bought two (don’t ask) and I looked at him and told him that two stones were double the work. There was no automation, there was no cookie cutter rubber stamp to crank out multiple headstones…each and every headstone is a custom job.

Now, that’s not to say you shouldn’t give repeat customers/clients a break, or you shouldn’t EVER discount your prices…but I think for some folks they assume that if they order more, or order “differently” they should get some sort of break – and they do it as if they are providing YOU the favor when it is in fact more work.

Just sayin’…

@Tracey – You’ve got a healthy rate to begin with…so a little play might work for you and I’m hearing you on the copywriting thing of already having “something” to work with. I would say, though, in many other forms of writing (say, ebooks) the client is just looking for a writer to “spin it” or just say the same stuff, only different (diff tone, diff angle, diff style). And they assume it’s very easy…but it’s not. Or, rewriting a client’s article while trying to keep the same voice can be very restricting and require more intensive thought and consideration than just cranking out an article. That’s where the “I charge the same for rewriting” thing comes in to play.

By: Tracey "Word Doc" Dooley

Tracey "Word Doc" Dooley — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 18:03:23 +0000

Ooops! Didn’t mean to put advertise my rates with my post — I was actually working on a proposal for a rewrite when I got distracted by Twitter alerting me to this post.

Sorry for any inconvenience there.

Tracey

By: Tracey "Word Doc" Dooley

Tracey "Word Doc" Dooley — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 18:01:47 +0000

You’re going to hate me, but I am one of those who DO charge less for rewriting — in *general*.

However, I don’t underquote, here, and I reserve the right to charge my full “from scratch” rate.

For eg, if the copy needs to be rewritten but I deem the scope to be significantly different or larger than a typical rewrite, then my “from scratch” fee applies.

But other than that, if it’s a standard rewrite, I’ll charge my “cheaper” rewrite rate.

For me, copywriting is working out WHAT to say, and then figuring out HOW to say it. I find the first part the hardest or at least it take up a good chunk of my time. If a client presents me with something that needs to be rewritten, they have largely done the first part for me. Because of this, and the fact that I find the “HOW” part usually the easiest, I have fees for writing “from scratch” and others for rewriting existing copy.

Tracey

My “from scratch” fee is $2.50 per word. If copy is available and just needs to be rewritten, it’s $1.50 per word.

By: Jan Verhoeff

Jan Verhoeff — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 15:46:02 +0000

This is so true. I tire rather quickly of those who think I should write for FREE just because I’m a writer. Or those who think since I’m a writer, I should give them a discount on their written works. Ummmm does that same discount apply in reverse? Say you hire a contractor to redo your kitchen, will he give you a discount because he’s a contractor?

Good rant day – the wind is blowing here.

Jan

By: Diane Eble

Diane Eble — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 15:45:14 +0000

You are so right about rewriting! Also, books written in collaboration are more difficult for similar reasons. My MotherStyles book, written with Janet Penley, took me much longer than it would have if I wrote it all myself. Twice as much work, actually--and then you have to split the proceeds. But it's hard to get non-writers to understand this....

By: Trish Lambert

Trish Lambert — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 15:42:53 +0000

Hear Hear!!! (or should that be Here! Here! … laugh)

Rewrites are easily as labor intensive as creating from scratch, and, as you point out, often MORE so.

Thanks for raising this item to consciousness!

Trish

By: KGW

KGW — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 15:42:48 +0000

I completely agree. Rewriting can be a complete nightmare depending on who you’re working with. It’s definitely not easier, and you should definitely not get paid less for it.