Writer for Hire!

Do you need something written?

I am a flexible writer; I can write nuts-and-bolts procedures and policies, eye-catching informative features, passionate persuasive speeches, pointed opinion pieces, and dramatic scenarios. I have done both short work and long form essays, both one-shot pieces and regular blog posts. I have a good sense for audiences and can adjust my style, word choice and tone as needed.

And, perhaps most importantly, I get work done on time and to your specifications. If I’m writing for you and for your audience, you will get want you want, not what I want. I have done this for a long time, and I know how to meet deadlines.

Types of Writing

What kinds of things do I write?

Much of my work for the last ten years has been writing feature stories and informative articles for a website aimed at college students. You can see a collection of this work (along with some of my earlier blogs) here.

I spent a decade writing speeches for others: You will find many of them here.

I have written handbooks and procedure & policy manuals for 20+ years:

Over the past couple of years, I have begun writing fiction again. You can find a sample of short stories here.

I have also written news and press releases, curriculum and training materials, user documentation, employee handbooks, and scripts for podcasts and short films.

My interests and expertise include higher education administration, college student development, sports, philosophy, political science and economics, theology and Christian life, storytelling, small business administration, architecture and the built environment, anime, manga, and comics. I am also a quick study and an experienced researcher, so even if I’m not familiar with it, I can most probably learn.

Rates for Writing

My rate is $42/hour.

Some beginners in this business charge by the word, and many of the longtime pros prefer to charge a flat per-project rate (for example, X amount for a blog post of this-many words, etc.). But I have found that a per-hour rate works best for me, primarily because it’s flexible.

How much research will I need to do on this piece; a lot, or maybe none at all? That will affect how much time goes into the piece. Will there be travel involved, or is it something I can knock off in an hour or two without ever leaving my desk? Even if there’s a set word-count to your project, the time involved is variable.

Pricing by the hour, therefore, rather than by the project, allows us that flexibility. And I think it’s fairer to both of us, to be honest; you don’t get overcharged for something that I worked through quickly, and I don’t get underpaid for something that took longer than we expected. I believe an hourly rate is more likely to result in a fair price; neither more nor less than appropriate.

Of course that doesn’t mean we start working together without an estimate of the final cost. Once we’re ready to do business, we can set down an estimated number of hours (or a range) before the work begins.

(Now, just for the sake of estimation, I typically turn out around 400 words of finished content in an hour…but again, that’s variable depending on research and familiarity with subject, particular nuances of audience, very specific and perhaps esoteric calls to action, etc. But that’s a ballpark figure.)

If you’re happy with work I’ve done for you and you have ongoing or recurring work for me, I am open to negotiating a retainer arrangement.