Comments on: Freelance Writing Rates: Holding steady since 1973 http://katiebailey.ca/2008/09/freelance-writing-rates-holding-steady-since-1973/ Everything you need to know about me, all on one website! (Okay, maybe not everything) Sun, 21 Mar 2010 22:12:45 -0400 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: sio http://katiebailey.ca/2008/09/freelance-writing-rates-holding-steady-since-1973/comment-page-1/#comment-47 sio Sat, 27 Sep 2008 17:19:11 +0000 http://katiesbailey.wordpress.com/?p=260#comment-47 This is so true! No wonder there is always talk of starting a freelance writers union. Beyond the paltry pay there is the reality that they don't have health coverage or insurance, and no sort of pension. I think charging by the word should be replaced with charging either by the hour (research, transcribing, writing) or a flat rate for the job. This is so true! No wonder there is always talk of starting a freelance writers union. Beyond the paltry pay there is the reality that they don’t have health coverage or insurance, and no sort of pension. I think charging by the word should be replaced with charging either by the hour (research, transcribing, writing) or a flat rate for the job.

]]> By: Ben Fong-Torres http://katiebailey.ca/2008/09/freelance-writing-rates-holding-steady-since-1973/comment-page-1/#comment-46 Ben Fong-Torres Wed, 24 Sep 2008 22:54:55 +0000 http://katiesbailey.wordpress.com/?p=260#comment-46 $1,000. We always paid what was promised. So, here's the reality: Cameron Crowe's first article for me & RS was on Poco, maybe 600 words, and he probably got $50-$75. That's how it was in '73 and, yes, sad to say, it hasn't changed a whole lot. Young Cameron did graduate to bigger stories--even a cover story within a year, and probably got to that $1000 figure, but it wasn't overnight, and he didn't fool me over the phone. We'd met at a Stones concert in LA weeks before, and again at a publicity firm's offices on Sunset. In broad daylight, he had nary a wrinkle, and my reporter's instincts told me he might be on the youthful side. And he still is. Crazy. --Ben Fong-Torres $1,000. We always paid what was promised. So, here’s the reality: Cameron Crowe’s first article for me & RS was on Poco, maybe 600 words, and he probably got $50-$75. That’s how it was in ’73 and, yes, sad to say, it hasn’t changed a whole lot. Young Cameron did graduate to bigger stories–even a cover story within a year, and probably got to that $1000 figure, but it wasn’t overnight, and he didn’t fool me over the phone. We’d met at a Stones concert in LA weeks before, and again at a publicity firm’s offices on Sunset. In broad daylight, he had nary a wrinkle, and my reporter’s instincts told me he might be on the youthful side.
And he still is.
Crazy.

–Ben Fong-Torres

]]> By: Matt http://katiebailey.ca/2008/09/freelance-writing-rates-holding-steady-since-1973/comment-page-1/#comment-45 Matt Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:14:48 +0000 http://katiesbailey.wordpress.com/?p=260#comment-45 Well put. I wonder what William got for his Stillwater cover story when it was published? Well put.

I wonder what William got for his Stillwater cover story when it was published?

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