Re: Going rate for Freelance Technical Editing

[Barry Campbell <barry -at- WEBVERANDA -dot- COM>]

At 10:28 PM 3/11/98 -0500, Judy wrote:

>I am wondering what Freelance Technical Editors are currently charging for
>their services.  Are clients typically charged by the project or by the hour?

Judy,

If you'll forgive me for saying so, you need to add a couple of
qualifications to your question:

-- In which market do you plan to work?  Rates in New York City, where
   I currently live, are easily twice to three times the going rates
   in North Carolina, where I used to live; the cost of living is also
   commensurately greater.

-- Which industry or industry segment(s) are you going to serve?  In my
   experience biotech (e.g., pharmaceuticals) pays more than the
   computer software industry, which in turn pays slightly more than
   hardware manufacturers.

Having said all this, I would like to direct you to the National Writers
Union Guide To Freelance Rates and Standard Practice (National Writers
Union, 1995): ISBN 0964420805.  $19.95 at your local bookstore, a little
cheaper through amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com.  It'll give you some
perspective on the range of rates and practices in use for many different
kinds of freelance writing and editing.

If you go with a per-project rate, make damn sure that you have *all*
deliverables and measurements of quality and satisfaction spelled out
*in detail* and agreed-to as a part of your contract.

(This is good advice generally, but absolutely crucial when you bid
a project at a flat rate.)

- barry
--
Barry Campbell               | Senior Technical Writer
barry -at- webveranda -dot- com         | Summit Systems, Inc.
   (personal/list mail)      | 22 Cordlandt Street, NY, NY 10006
barry_campbell -at- summithq -dot- com  | 212.896.3400
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