Picking Writing Projects with Intention
Why being selective with assignments pays off
At the beginning of your professional writing journey, it may feel like you need to take on any and every opportunity that comes your way. That’s how it felt for me and still does sometimes, even after a year of consistent contracting. However, when you take on tasks you’ve never done, there is a greater chance of making mistakes. You can end up causing more harm than good to your career. Being picky about the types of projects you take on will help ensure that your ratings are consistently high and you get paid well for your work.
Make sure to research what the average rate is for your skillset. Think about what you provide with your experience and compile a list of your measurable accomplishments. These could be the number of projects you have worked on and their results. Are any of them well-known? If you make content for your clients, does it do well? Do you create content for your business? How many views do you get every month? These are selling points you can add to your profile and proposals.
Hourly vs. Flat-rate
Whenever you can, work for an hourly rate. Doing so will help ensure you are paid a decent wage and can also prevent scope creep. Clients who have to pay you for every hour you work on a project are less likely to add on extra tasks.
Flat-rate projects can be tricky to estimate unless you know how long the project will take. You can add a padding fee to ensure you’ll still get paid well if the project takes longer than expected. You can also ask the client for more details, like when they need the project completed, how long they predict it will take, and an example of what they’re looking for, which can help you get a better idea of what to charge.
Working Outside Your Skillset
Before taking on a project outside of your skillset, make sure to do some research. Recently, I took on a project that entailed looking up scholarships for universities and filling in data about them on a chart. Even though I hadn’t done a task like this before, I was sure I was capable of getting it done. What I underestimated was just how many scholarships there are out there.
A project that I thought would take no more than a day ended up taking three days. And I did not charge accordingly. Taking longer also meant that I was unable to complete the work by the deadline I specified, so I had to request an extension…twice. I felt pretty embarrassed and uncomfortable asking the client for more money. Thankfully, they were gracious enough to leave a generous tip, but I learned a valuable lesson.
Know what you’re getting yourself into before you set the price. Sticking to one or two skills will help prevent you from taking on tasks with which you have little experience. Try to stay inside your skillset for a while before branching out and trying something new. If you start a project and realize that you need more time, reach out to the client immediately and ask for an extension. It’s better than turning in the assignment late.
Partnering with Purpose
Being selective also enables you to weed out hard-to-please clients. News flash! You are allowed to turn clients away. If it seems like they’re asking for a lot but aren’t willing to pay a price that works for you, decline their offer, even if you’re low on funds. Demanding clients take more of your time, resources, and energy. They can also suck the joy out of your work and prevent you from taking on opportunities that are more aligned with your business.
Your time is a valuable, limited resource. Use it wisely by working on projects that excite you. That doesn’t mean there won’t be challenges and setbacks along the way. But when you choose your assignments carefully, you’re much less likely to experience dissatisfaction and resentment. Believe in the abundance of the Universe and your ability to find opportunities that are right for you.
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