Will Write for Experience

I just wrote a 2,200 word speech for less than I'd typically charge for a front-of-book magazine short, let alone a press release. That might seem crazy to many. Obviously I could have researched the market, determined how much such work "goes for," and then priced accordingly.

But I deliberately shunned the "smart" approach and charged a pittance. However, i did so for solid reasons. I knew the person and her likely available resources, so knew that charging more wouldn't work. She sent the payment ahead of delivery, so getting stiffed wouldn't be a problem. And, most importantly, I went through the value calculation.

Clients determine whether they are getting value for their money. Most work with budgets and have an idea of how much they're willing to pay for something, depending on the value to them. But the value has many components: specialized knowledge of the writer, ability to provide material in specific formats, time pressures, and so on.

Writers have to make a similar calculation. yes, money is important, but is there reference value to client, so getting work from others becomes easier because you have a marquee accomplishment? Do you learn a new skill or area that increases the value you can provide in the future to others? Are you getting a first chance to break into a new type of writing? Will you be paid faster than usual?

In my case, I was breaking into an area that I knew I could do, but where I had never done professional work. Saying, "Oh, I write plays and give public talks" doesn't necessarily translate into confidence that you will produce a decent speech. But now I can give a reference to a real client who needed to speak before a prestigious national legal conference.

That alone brings a lot of future value - potentially many times more than the money I didn't get, as speechwriting is usually a pretty well-paid type of work. Don't generally do cut-rate work, but consider it when the results are a solid investment in your business.