Re: How do freelance technical writers deal with the thorny issue of payment?

[Writers Book Mall <steve -at- writersbookmall -dot- com>]

A book written some years ago by Peter Kent ("Making
Money in Technical Writing") describes the difference
between contracting and consulting (at least in the
US). Contract writers here typically bill by the hour,
and contracts can last over a year.

Consultants - and this is how he says you can make
bigger money, once you know how fast you can work -
define the deliverables with the client up front (e.g.
write a manual for a specific product) for a fixed
price with payments by milestone.

Whether market conditions are different for you in the
UK, I can't say.

Good luck as you start your new business!

--- Pippa Cohen <cohenpippa -at- googlemail -dot- com> wrote:

> I would really appreciate some advice from any
> freelance technical writers
> on the list.
> 
> After quite a few years working as a permanent
> technical writer in the UK, I
> am about to embark on a freelancing career. I have a
> couple of potential
> clients in the pipeline and I'd like some advice
> about how other freelance
> technical writers approach payment terms -
> specifically:
> 
>    - How do you decide whether to quote a fixed
> price, or a daily rate
>    for projects?
> 
> 
>    - For a large project that could span two or
> three months, is it
>    reasonable to ask for a percentage of the final
> payment 'up front' ? I've
>    looked at various websites and opinions vary from
> none, right up to 50%.
> 
> 
>    - Again, for long projects, is it the norm to
> stagger payments across
>    agreed milestones?
> 
> Thanks in advance.
> 
> Pippa.

___________________________________________________________________
Finally, a web host who will help you build and run a site: The Hosting Team - http://www.thehostingteam.com
Books for writers at http://www.writersbookmall.com
Tech writing jobs at http://www.techwritingjobs.com
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or 
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007 
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- 

To unsubscribe send a blank email to 
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40web.techwr-l.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.