Someone I know is going to try and hook me up with a writing job for Discovery and she wants to know if I have a word or day rate. I've never really considered this before; is there a way to calculate either?
Thanks in advance.
Word rate/day rate.
Quote: Marooned @ January 27 2010, 10:56 AM GMTSomeone I know is going to try and hook me up with a writing job for Discovery and she wants to know if I have a word or day rate. I've never really considered this before; is there a way to calculate either?
Thanks in advance.
What sort of writing will it be? There's the Writer's Guild or the NUJ that can give you guidlines.
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ January 27 2010, 10:59 AM GMTWhat sort of writing will it be? There's the Writer's Guild or the NUJ that can give you guidlines.
She's trying to find a creative writing job for me so I imagine it will be of the factual sort (how much does Sir David Attenborough get paid? 
)
Dolly, thanks for the tip.
*beams Marc P Bat-Signal type thing*
I think you may have to join to get advice, but worth a look at the websites. I'm trying to remember but in print journalism a 500 word feature would get about £100 - £200 about 10 years ago.
Give her both?
Quote: Afinkawan @ January 27 2010, 11:39 AM GMTGive her both?
I'm not really with it today but - innuendo much?
Quote: Griff @ January 27 2010, 11:25 AM GMTI think publications like The Writers And Artists Yearbook and The Writers Handbook might give guidance on rates as well. It's difficult though, rates are so variable, and as a new writer there might be some sense in accepting a lower rate to build up your CV/portfolio.
Thanks Griff.
I've got W&A Yearbook 2007 and it tells you some rates (not all) for quite a lot of magazines. What is it for? 'Discovery' doesn't seem to be included; just the channel and the walking guide versions! (Unless it is one of them?)
Dan
An alternative to a word/day rate is to have a page rate - typically a page is double-spaced, Times New Roman/Courier 12-point font. Good if you're a fast writer (or translator). As for a word rate, everything depends on the client's budget and whether you're doing much research.
What's minimum wage for unskilled labor in the UK theseadays? About 10 quid an hour? Work out how much time you'll be spending writing/researching and make sure it works out to more than minimum wage. Unless, like Griff said, you're after experience more than making ends meet.
£10/hour?!!?
Dan
Quote: swerytd @ January 27 2010, 12:22 PM GMT£10/hour?!!?
Jings, I just Googled UK minimum wage rates!
* £5.80 per hour for workers aged 22 years and older
* a development rate of £4.83 per hour for workers aged 18-21 inclusive
* £3.57 per hour for all workers under the age of 18, who are no longer of compulsory school age
I was making more than that for fairly menial work involving booze deliveries in London 16 years ago.
EDIT (and back on topic) : So try to get a rate that works out to substantially more than £6/hour.
This might help.
Quote: swerytd @ January 27 2010, 12:19 PM GMTI've got W&A Yearbook 2007 and it tells you some rates (not all) for quite a lot of magazines. What is it for? 'Discovery' doesn't seem to be included; just the channel and the walking guide versions! (Unless it is one of them?)
Dan
It is for Discovery Networks (who own and manage the Discovery Channel). Does it say anything about them in the book?
Quote: Marooned @ January 27 2010, 1:13 PM GMTIt is for Discovery Networks (who own and manage the Discovery Channel). Does it say anything about them in the book?
What medium will it be in?
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ January 27 2010, 1:14 PM GMTWhat medium will it be in?
I'm waiting to hear back about that.