Making the Project Management Switch

I wrote a review a while back on My Intervals, the project management system I had been using since the beginning of 2011.  In that review, I wrote about all the really, really great things about it (ease of use, charts & graphs galore, super organized) and some not so great things (inability to work with Paypal, invoicing sucks, lots of double entry).

The time has come that I decided that the issues that I didn’t like about Intervals was costing me too much money each month in lost invoices so I’ve made the switch to Mavenlink.

Technically I’m still switching, but I’ve made the decision and am slowly moving over existing clients and all new clients will start there.  Watch the blog in the next few weeks on my updates regarding Mavenlink and my entire switch over to Google Apps.

Have a great week!

Are You Ready to Delegate?

Never fear, the chicks are here!  Delegate everything that isn’t your “Unique Brilliance”!

75% of Agents Claim they are Buried Under Paperwork!

Learn how to dig yourself out from under and Ditch Your Desk!

 

Our Services

Real Estate Virtual Assistant Chick Services

Visit our new Services page which will walk you through most of the services that we offer.  Can’t decide or don’t see exactly what you’re looking for?  Contact April directly from the Work with Me page!

How to Tame Your Email

I get around 500 emails per day.  Some are from clients, some are from potential clients, VA’s who have questions, the VA’s who do work for me, various newsletters that I subscribe to, a bunch of spam and other “junk”.  I usually do a very good job of keeping it under control, and I’d like to teach you as well.

First of all, let me warn you that I am a Gmail snob.  Just like every Mac owner will tell you how special their “baby” is when given a chance, I’ll almost do the same with Gmail.  My husband still uses Outlook half the time (I’ve only been able to partially convert him) and I smack him around every chance I get.

Anyway, back to taming your Gmail inbox.  First thing you’ll want to do is enable Nested Labels under settings –> labs.  This is crucial, especially to those who are transitioning to Gmail from Outlook.  My main Labels are:

  • Clients
  • Inactive Clients
  • VA Work
  • Subcontractors
  • Vendors
  • Leads
  • My Mentors
  • Webinar Replays
  • Social Media
  1. Color-code each main label.  Clients are a deep red, Subcontractors are turquoise, leads are purple, vendors blue, etc.
  2. Make a nested label for each Active Client by name or even by property (but it’s easier by name).  So ALL of my active clients are the same deep red color.  When something pops up in my inbox, I know just by glancing that it’s from an active client and needs my attention.
  3. Once you’ve done this for all of your clients, leads, inactive clients, etc. create some filters.
  4. Start with your first client, select an email from her and click to create a filter.  For clients, I use these filters:  From, Star It, Apply the Label Clients/DougWathen, Always Mark it Important

Go through all of your clients, then inactive  clients, then leads, etc. in this fashion.

For Social Media, webinar replays and anything else I don’t want to see on a daily basis I use these filters:  From, Skip the Inbox, Apply the Label Social Media, Never Mark it Important

I am especially diligent at adding more than one label per email if necessary.  For example, if Dawn is designing a flyer for Doug, I will add labels for both Dawn and Doug to each email.  Sometimes it takes a little extra work, but it has saved me so many headaches when I need to go back and find something later on.

How do you tame your email?

 

Delegation Action Item #2 – Prospect Follow Up Printable

I’ll admit it:  I totally hate following up.  If you’ve ever called me about us working together you know just how true this is.  I don’t send thank-you cards, I won’t send you my brochure (and that’s because I don’t even have one), and even though I schedule a follow up in my calendar for 5 business days, I usually ignore that annoying little pop-up message 10 minutes before it starts.

Please don’t ask me why I’m like this, because I have no idea.  I just am, and I have to believe that there are others out there who are like me as well.

I did come up with something that works for me though.  I have a “Low Hanging Fruit” spreadsheet that I’ll pull out once a month where I add the leads that haven’t yet become clients.  I keep them all properly labeled in Gmail as prospects until the contract is signed, so all I have to do is open that file and copy/paste them to my Low Hanging Fruit spreadsheet.  Each month, I make sure that I contact the lead at least once, stopping at 3 times.  I also make sure that they get added to my newsletter list so that I can automatically follow up with them later on.

When I am ready to follow up, I will block off an hour or two and go down the list and follow up with each one either via phone or email.  Batching my time like this makes me more productive since I’m using the same tools for each call, my contracts are ready to go and I’m not bouncing from one task to another.

Is this perfect?  That’s a big NO, but it does work.  And for someone like me who can’t stand anything too repetitive, it works out just fine.  I’ve even heard from a few people that they were glad that I didn’t hound them like a desperate sales person ; )

I’m including 2 versions of this printable.  1 is the Excel spreadsheet that you can fill in on your computer, and the other is a pdf that you can post above your phone or computer and fill in when you need to.  Both are awesome.

Virtual Assistant Delegation Tip:  Have your VA schedule this in your shared calendar weekly, bi-monthly or monthly (whichever works best for you) and have them pull your leads and add them to the list for you.  If you have an email template set up for prospect follow up, your VA can email them out for you as well.

Low Hanging Fruit PDF

Low Hanging Fruit Excel Spreadsheet

*The editable version is not working properly; Email me at VAWork@VirtualAssistantChick.com and I’ll gladly email it to you.

As before, since I’m not asking for your email address in return for these printables, a nice “Thank You” in the comments below is appreciated!

Delegation Action Item #1 – Daily Activities Printable

At the end of the work day, most Real Estate professionals are exhausted.  Having driven all over town, meeting clients here and there, making what seems like a gazillion phone calls, trying to please everybody, etc. it’s no wonder you may feel like you’re spinning your wheels!

I speak with people who feel this way all the time.  By the time an agent calls me for help, they are already buried in paperwork, totally overwhelmed and it seems as though there is no end in sight.

They are so overwhelmed and overburdened at this point that they don’t know where to begin, and that NO ONE could possibly help them out of this mess that they’ve created.  Add to that every internet “Guru” out there telling you how much you *should* be making while living on a tropical island and never having to see clients.

{Sigh}.  It’s no wonder you called!

So, BEFORE it gets to this point for you too, I’ve put together a very simple printable for you to begin jotting down all of your daily activities on.  I always tell new clients to do this, but sometimes even the seemingly simple act of finding a place to write it all down is overwhelming.  Well I’ve just eliminated that excuse for you!

Simply download my Daily Activities fill-in sheet and keep it with you for 3 days.  Why 3 days?  Because everyday is different in Real Estate, and 4 is just too damn many.

Next, put a check in the $ column if it’s a money-generating activity and a check in the √ if you want to delegate it.  Hint:  You can have a check in both columns or neither column if you like.

Also, since I’m not requiring you to give up your email address for this, can you just leave a quick “Thanks” in the comments for me?  Thanks!

Daily Activities

New Delegation Series

I’ll be posting daily on my Facebook page every day on delegating and delegation techniques.  Tune in!  www.Facebook.com/REVAChick.  Come on by  and join in the conversation!

How Well Do You Maintain Balance?

work-life-balanceBefore I became the Virtual Assistant Chick, the name of this company was Balancing Act Business Solutions.  While the name didn’t grab your attention in quite the same way, the “balancing act” of work/life/family is where my core values still are.

If trying to maintain balance in your life makes you feel like a tightrope walker, you’re not alone. Most of us have so many demands on our time and energy, life can feel like a three-ring circus. Take this quiz to see how well you are meeting responsibilities, while also recognizing and fulfilling personal needs and wants.

True  False

1. The only way I can successfully manage my life is to take care of myself physically and emotionally.

2. Nurturing myself enlarges my capacity to help others.

3. I eat healthfully and exercise regularly.

4. I get check-ups, go to the dentist, and take preventative precautions.

5. I set aside personal, quiet time for myself, whether I’m meditating or simply letting my thoughts drift.

6. I experience the gifts of each season: ice skating, sledding, bundled-up beach walks; gardening, hiking, more time outside; camping, swimming, barbeques; harvesting the bounty, gathering wood, spending more time inside.

7. Creativity nurtures me, too. I do what I love, whether that’s cooking, drawing, painting, writing, dancing, singing or another creative pursuit.

8. Reaching out to others enriches my life. I spend quality time with family and friends.

9. Contributing to the world provides connection and purpose, so I give my time, energy and experience where it is most useful.

10. I notice and heed the emotional signals that tell me I’m out of balance: irritability, overwhelm, resentment.

11. If I feel that I’m catching a cold, I realize I may have stressed my immune system with overactivity, so I stop and take care of myself.

12. When I need or want to, I say no to requests for my time.

13. I listen to and honor the requests my body makes for such things as a nap, a walk, green vegetables, hot soup.

14. If I have something planned for myself, I don’t just toss that aside when someone makes a request of me.

15. I’m busy, but I find time to do the things I want to do.

16. I’m happy. I regularly experience well-being, contentment, even joy.

If you answered false more often than true, you may want to take a look at the questions to which you answered false and see if you can incorporate something of its message into your life.   Please don’t hesitate to call if you feel that working with a Virtual Assistant can help you to achieve greater work/life balance.

 

Average Rates for Various Freelance Services {Reblog}

We’ve been contacted more and more for website copy and other various writing projects.  While it doesn’t completely align with our core values or what we do, we contract from time to time with some very (VERY!) good freelance writers.  Their rates vary based on the project and their level of expertise, but this blog post that I’m reposting that was originally written by Lynn Wasnak and posted on the New Jersey Creatives Network here.  Our rates will generally fall in the average price range unless a particular freelancer charges more based on their experience.

ADVERTISING, COPYWRITING & PR

Copywriting $300/half day, $500/full day on-site in agency.

Advertising copywriting $120 high/hour, $33 low/hour, $66 average/hour; $750 high/project, $250 low/project, $525 average/project; $1.50/word.

Book jacket copywriting $100 high/hour, $30 low/hour, $65 average/hour; $500 high/project, $75 low/project, $300 average/project.

Campaign development or product launch $150 high/hour, $60 low/hour, $82 average/hour; $7,500 high/project, $1,500 low/project, $3,740 average/project.

Catalog copywriting $85 high/hour, $30 low/hour, $60 average/hour.

Copyediting for advertising $120 high/hour, $25 low/hour, $60 average/hour; $120/project for 1,000 words.

Direct-mail copywriting $150 high/hour, $35 low/hour, $78 average/hour; $15,000 high/project, $500 low/project, $5,000 average/product.

E-mail ad copywriting $100 high/hour, $35 low/hour, $70 average/hour; $2,500/project.

Event promotions/publicity $100 high/hour, $45 low/hour, $67 average/hour.

Fund-raising campaign brochure $75 high/hour, $23 low/hour, $58 average/hour; $2,000 high/project, $1,000 low/project, $1,500 average/project.

Political campaigns, public relations $75 high/hour, $23 low/hour, $49 average/hour.

Press kits $125 high/hour, $53 low/hour, $85 average/hour; $5,000 high/project, $1,000 low/project, $2,334 average/project.

Press/news release $100 high/hour, $23 low/hour, $62 average/hour; $1,000 high/project, $75 low/project, $305 average/project.

Public relations for businesses $115 high/hour, $25 low/hour, $76 average/hour.

Public relations for government $60 high/hour, $40 low/hour, $49 average/hour.

Public relations for organizations or nonprofits $95 high/hour, $25 low/hour, $56 average/hour.

Public relations for schools or libraries $75 high/hour, $50 low/hour, $65 average/hour.

Speechwriting/editing (general) $100 high/hour, $65 low/hour, $83 average/hour; $6,000 high/30-minute speech, $2,700 low/30-minute speech, $4,064 average/30-minute speech.

Speechwriting for government officials $90 high/hour, $30 low/hour, $52 average/hour.

Speechwriting for political candidates $60/hour.

AUDIOVISUALS & ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS

Copyediting audiovisual $85 high/hour, $40 low/hour, $58 average/hour.

Business film scripts (training and information) $125 high/hour, $40 low/hour, $82 average/hour; $500 high/run minute, $200 low/run minute, $325 average/run minute; $550 day rate (with discount up to 20% for multiple-day project); $3,500 high/project, $1,500 low/project, $2,500 average/project.

Educational/training film scripts $100 high/hour, $30 low/hour, $77 average/hour; $6,000 high/project, $1,500 low/project, $3,500 average/project; $500 high/run minute, $200 low/run minute, $325 average/run minute; $500 high day rate, $300 low day rate, $400 average day rate.

Corporate product film $100 high/hour, $30 low/hour, $70 average/hour; $500 high/run minute, $200 low/run minute, $325 average/run minute.

Movie novelization $10,000 high, $5,000 low, $7,000 average.

Options (feature films) First 180 days, 5% WGA minimum; 10% minimum each 180-day period thereafter.

Radio editorials $70 high/hour, $50 low/hour, $60 average/hour.

Radio interviews $1,500 high, $35 low, $100 average (rates depend on who you are and how badly the radio station wants you); $100 high/run minute (produced pieces over 2 minutes), $65 low/run minute (produced pieces over 2 minutes), $75 average/run minute (produced pieces over 2 minutes).

Radio commercials/PSAs $85 high/hour, $70 low/hour, $72 average/hour.

Script synopsis for business $70/hour; $20/news show.

Screenwriting (original screenplay) $91,495 high, $48,738 low, $70,117 average.

Script synopsis for agent or film producer $2,000 or $500/day.

Scripts for nontheatrical films for education, business, industry $100 high/hour, $55 low/hour, $80 average/hour; $500 high/run minute, $200 low/run minute, $325 average/run minute; $5,000/script (starting point).

TV news story/feature $100 high/hour, $70 low/hour, $90 average/hour.

TV scripts (nontheatrical) $150 high/hour, $70 low/hour, $100 average/hour; $1,000 high/day, $550 low/day, $800 average/day; $250/page; $1,200 (minimum)/project.

TV scripts (teleplay/MOW) $500 high/run minute, $200 low/run minute, $350 average/run minute; $6,567 story only (30 minutes or less); $19,699 (plus teleplay); $11,560 (story only); $28,974 (plus teleplay).

TV commercials/PSAs $85 high/hour, $60 low/hour, $73 average/hour.

BOOK PUBLISHING

Abstracting and abridging $35 high/hour, $30 low/hour, $33 average/hour.

Anthology editing $60 high/hour, $25 low/hour, $39 average/hour.

Book proposal consultation $60 high/hour, $35 low/hour, $48 average/hour; $500/project.

Book proposal writing $60 high/hour, $35 low/hour, $47 average/hour; $5,000 high/project, $500 low/project, $2,300 average/project.

Book query critique $55 high/hour, $45 low/hour, $51 average/hour; $30/page.

Book query writing $500 high/project, $120 low/project, $200 average/project.

Children’s book writing Advance against royalties $10,000 high, $200 low, $4,900 average.

Content editing (scholarly) $80 high/hour, $20 low/hour, $40 average/hour; $3-$5/page; $850-$2,000/project.

Content editing (textbook) $65 high/hour, $20 low/hour, $36 average/hour.

Content editing (trade) $75 high/hour, $20 low/hour, $46 average/hour.

Copyediting $75 high/hour, $17 low/hour, $38 average/hour; $3,000 high/project, $1,000 low/project, $1,875 average/project.

Fiction book writing (own) $7,500 advance against royalties.

Ghostwriting, as told to $55 high/hour, $25 low/hour, $40 average/hour; $55,000 (one report)/project.

Ghostwriting, no credit $80 high/hour, $25 low/hour, $55 average/hour; $20,000 (one report)/project.

Indexing $8 high/page, $2.35 low/page, $3.50 average/page.

Manuscript evaluation and critique $65 high/hour, $45 low/hour, $55 average/hour; $1,500 high/project, $350 low/project, $950 average/project.

Movie novelization $7,000.

Nonfiction book writing (own) Advance against royalties $150,000 high, $5,000 low, $25,500 average; (textbook) $60/hour.

Nonfiction books (collaborative) Advance against royalties $30,000 high, $5,000 low, $15,700 average; $65 high/hour, $35 low/hour, $50 average/hour.

Novel synopsis (general) $60 high/hour, $45 low/hour, $51 average/hour.

Proofreading $45 high/hour, $16 low/hour, $26 average/hour; $3 high/page, $1 low/page, $2 average/page.

Research for writers or book publishers $75 high/hour, $30 low/hour, $49 average/hour; $500/day.

Rewriting $75 high/hour, $30 low/hour, $46 average/hour.

Translation (fiction) 12¢ high/target word, 6¢ low/target word, 9¢ average/target word; $10,000 high/book, $7,000 low/book, $8,500 average/book; (nonfiction) 15¢ high/target word, 8¢ low/target word, 10¢ average/target word; (poetry) $15 high/page, $0 low/page, $7.50 average/page.

Work for hire (flat fee, no royalties) $10,000 high, $1,000 low, $2,484 average.

BUSINESS

Annual reports $150 high/hour, $40 low/hour, $65 average/hour; $15,000 high/project, $3,000 low/project, $8,334 average/project.

Associations and organizations (writing for) $100 high/hour, $25 low/hour, $62 average/hour; $20,000 high/project, $2,500 low/project, $7,500 average/project.

Brochures, fliers, booklets for business $150 high/hour, $28 low/hour, $75 average/hour; $100/page; $5,000 high/project, $500 low/project, $3,125 average/project.

Business editing (general) $100 high/hour, $35 low/hour, $57 average/hour.

Business letters $150 high/hour, $30 low/hour, $70 average/hour; $1,200 (minimum) high/project, $200 low/project, $500 average/project.

Business plan $150 high/hour, $35 low/hour, $80 average/hour.

Business writing seminars $200 high/hour, $65 low/hour, $83 average/hour; $3,500 high/project, $1,000 low/project, $2,250 average/project.

Catalogs for businesses $150 high/hour, $30 low/hour, $73 average/hour; $2,500 high/project, $2,000 low/project, $2,250 average/project.

Consultation on communications $150 high/hour, $28 low/hour, $84 average/hour; $500/half day; $1,200 (minimum)/project.

Copyediting for business $100 high/hour, $27 low/hour, $57 average/hour; $4/page.

Corporate histories $115 high/hour, $28 low/hour, $71 average/hour; $200/printed page.

Corporate periodicals, editing $100 high/hour, $27 low/hour, $56 average/hour.

Corporate periodicals, writing $125 high/hour, $40 low/hour, $72 average/hour; $2/word.

Corporate profile $115 high/hour, $80 low/hour, $98 average/hour; $350/project (200 words); $1.40/word.

Ghostwriting for business (usually trade magazine articles for business columns) $115 high/hour, $50 low/hour, $82 average/hour.

Government research $100 high/hour, $30 low/hour, $65 average/hour.

Government writing $100 high/hour, $30 low/hour, $64 average/hour.

Grant proposal writing for nonprofits $100 high/hour, $15 low/hour, $49 average/hour.

Newsletters, desktop publishing/production $100 high/hour, $23 low/hour, $54 average/hour; $3,800 high/project (4 pages), $1,000 low/project (4 pages), $2,520 average/project (4 pages); $750/page.

Newsletters, editing $100 high/hour, $25 low/hour, $53 average/hour.

Newsletters, writing $150 high/hour, $23 low/hour, $63 average/hour; $1 high/word, 30¢ low/word, 69¢ average/word.

Translation (commercial, for government agencies, technical) Rates for translating vary widely, from 12¢ to 20¢/target word, depending on language combination (source and target) and area of specialization. (Example Spanish is inexpensive, Chinese is expensive.) Also may charge by target line ($1.20 line) or $90-$120/1,000 words.

COMPUTER, SCIENTIFIC & TECHNICAL

Computer-related manual writing $125 high/hour, $40 low/hour, $75 average/hour.

Copyediting scientific journals $18/hour (one report).

E-mail copywriting $150 high/hour, $50 low/hour, $77 average/hour; $1,200/project (minimum).

Medical and science editing $100 high/hour, $16 low/hour, $54 average/hour.

Medical and science proofreading $75 high/hour, $16 low/hour, $35 average/hour.

Medical and science writing $200 high/hour, $40 low/hour, $86 average/hour; $5,000/project.

Online editing $120 high/hour, $28 low/hour, $58 average/hour.

Technical editing $100 high/hour, $25 low/hour, $51 average/hour.

Technical writing $110 high/hour, $40 low/hour, $66 average/hour.

Web page design $75 high/hour, $40 low/hour, $59 average/hour; $4,000 high/project, $500 low/project, $2,000 average/project.

Web page editing $120 high/hour, $35 low/hour, $65 average/hour.

Web page writing $120 high/hour, $25 low/hour, $75 average/hour; $1 high/word, 50¢ low/word, 69¢ average/word; $300 high/page, $50 low/page, $150 average/page.

White Papers $120 high/hour, $45 low/hour, $80 average/hour.

EDITORIAL/DESIGN PACKAGES

(Editor’s note For more information about photography rates, please see 2004 Photographer’s Market.)

Desktop publishing $150 high/hour, $25 low/hour, $61 average/hour.

Greeting card ideas $60/hour; $125 high/card, $25 low/card, $77 average/card.

Photo brochures $75 high/hour, $65 low/hour, $70 average/hour.

Photo research $75 high/hour, $60 low/hour, $69 average/hour.

Photography $125 high/hour, $60 low/hour, $83 average/hour; $100 high/photo, $10 low/photo, $35 average/photo.

Picture editing $150 high/hour, $40 low/hour, $60 average/hour.

EDUCATIONAL & LITERARY SERVICES

Educational consulting and designing courses for business or adult education $50 high/hour, $30 low/hour, $45 average/hour; $2,500 high/project, $600 low/project, $1,213 average/project.

Educational grant and proposal writing $50 high/hour, $35 low/hour, $43 average/hour; $2,500 high/project, $600 low/project, $1,550 average/project.

Manuscript evaluation for theses/dissertations $95 high/hour, $20 low/hour, $46 average/hour; $1550 high/project, $250 low/project, $700 average/project.

Poetry manuscript critique $200 high/hour, $75 low/hour, $100 average/hour.

Presentations at national conventions by well-known authors $30,000 high/event, $1,000 low/event, $5,000 average/event. (Note Celebrity authors may earn much higher rates. Some presentations are given for travel expenses only or honorarium.)

Presentations at regional writers’ conferences $10,000 high/event, $50 low/event (or expenses only), $1,180 average/event.

Presentations to local groups, librarians, or teachers $50/hour; $250 high/event, $35 low/event, $129 average/event.

Presentations to school classes $900/day; $500/half day; $3,400 high/five-day visiting artist program, $2,500 low/five-day visiting artist program, $2,750 average/five-day visiting artist program. (Note Some presentations to local groups and school classes given free or for a very nominal fee.)

Readings by poets, fiction writers $3,000 high/event, $50 low/event, $200 average/event (highest fees for celebrity writers).

Short story manuscript critique $200 high/hour, $53 low/hour, $75 average/hour; $5/page.

Teaching college course/seminar (includes adult education) $4,500 high/course, $500 low/course, $1,827 average/course.

Writer’s workshop $1,000 high/event, $100 low/event, $606 average/event.

Writing for scholarly journals 14¢/word (one report); $450/article. (Most scholarly writing is authored free as a “career enhancer.”)

MAGAZINES & TRADE JOURNALS

(Editor’s note For specific pay rate information for feature articles, columns/departments, fillers, etc., please see individual market listings.)

Article manuscript critique $35 high/hour, $25 low/hour, $30 average/hour.

Arts reviewing $300 high/project, $25 low/project, $125 average/project; $1.25 high/word, 25¢ low/word, 75¢ average/word.

Book reviews $650 high/project, $20 low/project, $150 average/project; $1 high/word, 5¢ low/word, 44¢ average/word.

Consultation on magazine editorial $200 high/hour, $35 low/hour, $95 average/hour.

Content editing $55 high/hour, $35 low/hour, $46 average/hour; $6,500 high/issue, $2,000 low/issue, $4,250 average/issue.

Copyediting $55 high/hour, $18 low/hour, $40 average/hour.

Fact checking $20 high/hour, $15 low/hour, $18 average/hour.

Ghostwriting articles (general) $100 high/hour, $55 low/hour, $77 average/hour; $3,500 high/project, $2,000 low/project, $2,750 average/project; $1.50 high/word, 75¢ low/word, $1.25 average/word.

City magazine, calendar of events column $150 high/column, $50 low/column, $75 average/column.

Consumer magazine column $575 high/project, $200 low/project, $350 average/project.

Consumer magazine feature articles $4 high/word, 30¢ low/word, $1.19 average/word; $3,000 high/project, $100 low/project, $822 average/project.

Magazine research $100 high/hour, $25 low/hour, $52 average/hour; $150 high/topic, $100 low/topic, $125 average/topic.

Proofreading $40 high/hour, $25 low/hour, $32 average/hour; $7/page.

Reprint fees $700 high/project, $20 low/project, $200 average/project.

Rewriting $50 high/hour, $35 low/hour, $45 average/hour.

Trade journal column $1 high/word, 50¢ low/word, 74¢ average/word; $550 high/column, $75 low/column, $219 average/column; $50/hour.

Trade journal feature article $1 high/word, 15¢ low/word, 61¢ average/word; $90 high/hour, $50 low/hour, $70 average/hour.

NEWSPAPERS

Arts reviewing 60¢ high/word, 10¢ low/word, 36¢ average/word; $200 high/review, $20 low/review, $80 average/review.

Book reviews 60¢ high/word, 25¢ low/word, 40¢ average/word; $250 high/review, $50 low/review, $100 average/review.

Column, local $175 high/column, $10 low/column, $100 average/column.

Copyediting $35 high/hour, $17.50 low/hour, $26 average/hour.

Editing/manuscript evaluation $35/hour.

Feature 50¢ high/word, 8¢ low/word, 22¢ average/word; $1,500 high/project, $50 low/project, $276 average/project.

Obituary copy $75 high/story, $35 low/story, $50 average/story.

Proofreading $22 high/hour, $18 low/hour, $20 average/hour.

Stringing $300 high/story, $150 low/story, $225 average/story.

Syndicated column, self-promoted (rate depends on circulation) $35 high/insertion; $4 low/insertion, $8 average/insertion.

MISCELLANEOUS

Comedy writing for nightclub entertainers $50 high/joke, $5 low/joke, $33 average/joke; $500/group of jokes.

Comic book or strip writing $35 for short back-up script.

Craft projects with instructions $350 high/project, $75 low/project, $212 average/project.

Encyclopedia articles $200 high/article, $50 low/article, $125 average/article; 30¢/word.

Family histories $80 high/hour, $30 low/hour, $65 average/hour; $20,000 high/project, $5,000 low/project, $9,500 average/project (plus expenses).

Gag writing for cartoonists $40/gag.

Institutional (church, school) history $125/printed page.

Manuscript typing $2.50 high/page, 95¢ low/page, $1.27 average/page.

Original prose story for comic book $200.

Playwriting for the stage 10% box office revenue (if any).

Published plays $100/10 minutes; $300/one-act; $400/three-act.

Re(c)sume(c)s $500 high/project, $200 low/project, $300 average/project.

Story set in publisher’s comic universe $500. (Some write for percentage of profit, which may be $0.)

Writing contest judging $250 high, $0 low, $50 average (includes some gift certificates or books. Judging of finalists may be duty included in speaker’s fee.).

Lynn Wasnak has experienced the highs and lows of full-time freelance writing for 25 years. She specializes in medical and business topics, and chases rainbows at every opportunity.