Guest Post: Writers Worth Week Finale

I am honored to have Writers Worth Week complete its grand blog tour here. The creator of this event, Lori Widmer, is a true champion of freelance writers everywhere.

As fate would have it this Friday the 13th, Blogger is currently down. Be sure to check out Lori’s blog when it is back up to catch all of the week’s activity.

Please welcome Lori with some comment love.

Worthy Writer, Worthwhile Business

by Lori Widmer

This week marks the fourth anniversary of my organized spasm. Four years ago, I was a little tired of having to explain to job posters why I wouldn’t work for a dollar an article or worse. I was a little tired of hashing it out with other writers why we don’t deserve it. Actually, I was a lot tired. That exhaustion spawned the first Writers Worth Day, now Writers Worth Week. It’s an annual awareness campaign designed to help writers everywhere uncover their own value.

It’s a simple concept – inspire one more writer to accept no less than their full market value. To do that, show them what they’re worth.

You’re worth more than you think. Your skills are a commodity. People are willing to pay for those skills in order to accomplish their goals. But how often do we – or do prospective clients – sell short the value of our skills?

Here’s how to change that:

Think of your writing as a product. It is. You’re not selling your soul, and you’re not putting your prose out there to be judged like you were in all those English classes. You’re filling an order with the product requested – your writing. That product has a market value. And like most product providers, you’ll be the one setting the price.

Own your business. The biggest mistake I see writers making is they don’t think of their writing career as a business. You’re not just a writer trying to get an assignment. You’re a small business owner building a client base. You’re a professional business person who sets the parameters for his or her own business.

Set your own rates. When was the last time you went into any business and said, “You’re going to have to lower your prices or I won’t come back.” Try that at Wal-Mart and see where it gets you. Likewise your own prices. Letting strangers dictate your rates (saying things like “We’re paying only this, so adjust your bids or fees accordingly”) is as crazy as expecting the retail world to let you set the price you’ll pay for your goods and services.

Know your limits. Sure, negotiate with the client if you think it’s worth it. Just remember there’s a bottom line you shouldn’t go under. Set in your mind now what your minimum acceptable rate will be and stick to it like glue.

Say no to a deal that doesn’t fit. Don’t think that the deal in front of you is a must-accept deal on your part. If the workload, price, and expectations don’t sit well with you, walk away. Trust your instincts. If it feels wrong, it will be wrong.

Aim higher. If you’re sick of clients who argue every invoice or take months to pay a pittance, get a better class of clients. Do that by raising your rates and proactively searching for clients you’d rather be working for. You’ll be amazed how a raise in rates weeds out the tire kickers and reduces the amount of dickering you’ll be engaged in.

To build your business worth, start by shifting your perception and embracing your own worth as a writer. You’ll be making the smartest business decision of your career.

How do you build worth?

Lori Widmer is a veteran writer and editor with over 15 years of  experience in standing up for her business. The founder of Writers Worth Week, now in its fourth year, she helps writers understand their market value and take control of their businesses. Her e-book, The Worthy Writer’s Guide to Building a Better Business, is available on her weblog, Words on the Page.

BigStock Photo Credit