Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How much writing experience do you have?

A. Smart question. Mastering a skill takes some practice and copywriting is no exception. An experienced copywriter with solid marketing experience will write stronger content for you, which means you’ll get better results. I started writing commericially in 1990 and have been honing my skills ever since.

Q. Can you write in the style I need?
A. That depends. If you need articles for a Hip Hop magazine, I’m a lousy choice. On the other hand, I excel at writing persuasive content such as marketing collateral, press releases, and newsletters. I also have a strong business administration background so I’m a good choice to write grants. I write audio-visual scripts, presentations and speeches. I also ghostwrite blog entries, essays, magazine articles and books, and love helping my clients get published. Check out my web portfolio for examples of the projects I’ve worked on and my success at matching my writing voice to my clients’ needs.

Q. Do you charge by the hour or by project?
A. By project whenever possible because 1) I want you you to know and be comfortable with my price before I start working for you, and 2) I don’t want to have to remember to charge you if I think of a good tagline for your business while I’m driving to the grocery store. Rarely, the nature of a project makes it impossible to work out a project price. Then I charge hourly.

Q. What are your rates?
A. How I wish there was an easy answer to this one. Basically, it comes down to my base rate, adjusted for the complexity of your project, adjusted again for any discounts I’m giving due to volume of work. However, I’m always happy to visit with you about your needs and estimates are free.

Q. How do your rates compare to other copywriters?
A. Generally, I’m around median rate for copywriters nationwide. Check out this rate survey published by the National Writer’s Union to get an idea about how much various projects cost. Please note the instructions to multiply these figures by $1.25 to adjust for inflation.

Q. So, if there are cheaper writers out there, why shouldn’t I hire one of them?
A. Thank you for asking! First of all, please don’t hire a writer by price alone. Unfortunately, there are Madison Avenue "pros" turning out worthless, expensive copy and cheap hacks abound, so price is not necessarily a good indicator of results.To get results, you need a writer who understands communication strategy. That is, they need to know how to write marketing collateral in a way that attracts potential buyers. Scripts and speeches require engaging writing that can be easily spoken. Articles must be well-organized and interesting. Press releases follow the inverted pyramid style of journalism and are best served hyperbole-free. Instead of price-shopping:

1. Look at the writer’s previous work. Is it of good quality? Does the writer’s style work well for your project? How much experience does the writer have with projects like yours?
2. Talk to the writer. Consider the writer’s personality? Will he or she be easy to work with or do you anticipate being annoyed all the way through your project?
3. Talk to the writer’s peers and clients. Checking references is a great way to find out if a writer is a good fit for your project and your company.

Q. How fast can you complete my project?
A. That depends. When we discuss your project, I’ll review my workload and give you a reasonable estimate of the time I need. If you need something written right away, I will do everything I can to accommodate you, but there will be a rush fee. One thing you can do to speed up the process is provide me with plenty of background material and work with me to create a mutually beneficial communication schedule.