Flat rate, hourly, per word, per page…Options abound when contracting for writing or editing services.

Writers and editors may charge for their services as follows:

• By project
• By the hour
• Per word
• Per page
• On retainer
• Some amalgamation of the above

I will be happy to provide a fee estimate after reviewing your project. Fees typically charged by writers and editors are listed in the Editorial Freelancers Association rate chart and the Bay Area Editors’ Forum rate survey.

Generally, I will request an advance on fees before commencing work, and I will also document your project’s specifics with a writing or editing agreement (or, for less complex projects or returning clients, an informal exchange of e-mails).

Note that expenses related to your project such as postage and printing will be submitted to you for reimbursement. I will alert you to significant expenses before incurring them.

Please feel free to contact me to get a complimentary, no-obligation estimate on your project. This estimate may be calculated per hour, per word/page, or per project, depending on the nature of the work as well as your preferences.

2001-2008, Catherine Viel, WriteCat Communications, Santa Barbara, CA, writecat@cox.net