Comments on: Finally Getting Paid What You’re Worth…And Not Being Intimidated By It

By: holli jo

holli jo — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 01:43:37 +0000

I also struggle with intimidation and fears that my work won’t be good enough. I think most writers have the same problem, which helps me realize that I shouldn’t listen to the fear! I just wrote a blog post about this very thing.

By: How To Bring In More Money From Writing

How To Bring In More Money From Writing — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 10:04:36 +0000

[...] Parent talks about how not to be intimidated by getting paid what you’re worth: Most good freelance writers I know consider themselves worth every penny of $50 an hour. Many of [...]

By: Lisa

Lisa — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 18:12:34 +0000

I’ve been a freelance non-profit grant writer for 11 years with an excellent funding record, and every grant proposal causes me “little demons” – how am I going to finish in time? What if we don’t get funded? will the client be happy with my work?

Sorry I can’t tell you the demons go away, but they do get easier to ignore : )

By: Allena

Allena — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:09:40 +0000

I have a client that I adore- I adore the work. It’s editorial, not writing, but I kept wondering why he paid so well for something I felt was simple. Later, he told me that some of the errors I caught had already went through 3 people in his company!

You have to remember that different people are good at different things. Your last paragraph about the mechanic hits it on the head.

By: Tamara Berry

Tamara Berry — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 05:40:39 +0000

First of all, thanks to everyone for their support on this issue. In my past experience with these types of blogs (the ones that slap my emotions up for everyone to see), our readers have been great, and you haven’t let me down this time!

I’m starting to wonder how much of these feelings arise out of becoming specialists at what we do. Writing comes pretty naturally to me, and even though I work hard to maintain high quality standards, many of my gigs are pretty easy.

I forget sometimes that this isn’t so for non-writers. I think to myself, “why would he pay me $100 for something I can do with my eyes closed?” All the while he thinks, “I can’t believe she’ll write all this for only $100.”

I shell out hundreds of dollars to car mechanics to look at my engine. To them, it’s practically nothing; to me, it might as well be orthopedic surgery. But I pay it because it’s worth it to me. I have to remember that. I’m worth it to my clients.

By: Annette

Annette — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 03:27:00 +0000

Ha! What a joy, sorry, to hear that I’m not alone in my occasionally feeling like a fraud even though I have wonderful high paying clients who send many referrals my way. I think it is the psyche of the freelance writer/designer/self employed. We have a thin line to walk with our egos. Too big an ego and our work really does suffer, as does our customer service, too little ego and we end up working for peanuts. I think the mid-line, the ideal tension on the tightrope, may just be that awful gut wrenching feeling we have as we hit send.

By: Lis Garrett ~ a writer's woolgatherings

Lis Garrett ~ a writer's woolgatherings — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:01:12 +0000

I feel this, too. I think a lot of people do, not just writers. In fact, a few of my designer friends still get nervous whenever anyone purchases a product of theirs. They always wonder if the person who bought it will find a flaw. I think it’s human nature to wonder if you’re really good enough.

By: Genesis

Genesis — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 23:11:28 +0000

I go through this all the time! My husband has to keep reminding me that even when I´m worried and certain the client will hate my work, they always come back with rave reviews. You just have to push forward and get it done. It´s hard, but afterwards you will be very glad you did.

By: Deb

Deb — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 20:58:00 +0000

I don’t think it has that much to do with age or experience either. It’s impossible to totally eliminate those because age and experience because even where no other factors are in play those have some effect.

I think the biggest issue is the double-edged sword of culture. We are indoctrinated that the individual is the highest unit and totally responsible but this nagging puritanical thread whispered that we’re flawed and can’t do anything right. That message is slightly stronger for women outside the traditional home arts but men are not exempt from a form of the message.

By: Brian

Brian — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 19:48:30 +0000

I don’t think it has anything to do with being female. I’m male and my partner and I started freelancing at the start of December.

Despite years of experience and many delivered and successful projects for both of us pre-freelancing, I still worry each time we deliver a project or even just send a quote.

Thanks for a great blog, it’s great to see someone in a different industry (we are Java programmers) going through similar issues.

By: Lorna Doone Brewer

Lorna Doone Brewer — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 18:48:44 +0000

Thanks, Joanna. I’ll check that out, as we haven’t changed anything on our end.

By: Joanna Young

Joanna Young — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 18:45:53 +0000

No magic answers to this one I’m afraid (though I do think it’s a common problem) – just wanted to let you know I couldn’t read any of the text from my feedreader (bloglines), only the headline.

I know headlines are a good attraction strategy and all that…:-) but you might need to check your feed

Joanna