Hatrack River Forum: How much to charge to write 50 pages

This is topic How much to charge to write 50 pages in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Jaiden (Member # 2099) on :

I know it's been a bit since I've talked to quite a bit of you... hope everybody is doing well [Wave]

I need some advice: I just got an email from an associate/peer asking me to write a 50 pages for a book on digestion and bacteria (areas I know quite a bit about). The person wants to know how much I'd charge and I am completely clueless! Has anybody done something like this before? Any ideas on how much to charge? Research would obviously be involved (pubmed and the like) and it is to be written so 12 year olds could read it. Beyond that I don't know much else. What questions should I be asking? [Eek!]

Posted by Flaming Toad on a Stick (Member # 9302) on :

I think it would be convenient to charge by your time. How long do you believe it will take you? How much do you believe that your time (as an expert in that field) is worth?

Posted by Nighthawk (Member # 4176) on :

One cent for the first page, two cents for the second page, four cents for the third, eight cents...

Maybe not.

I don't know about hardcore writing, but translations are usually charged per word. How many words is 50 pages?

Posted by EmpSquared (Member # 10890) on :

Also, how important is the book that this is for?

Posted by Dragon (Member # 3670) on :

Just out of curiosity, how many 12 year olds would read 50 pages about digestion and bacteria? That sounds like a lot to me. How long is the whole book? If you're writing a significant portion of it you should get some of the profit from sales as well.

Posted by Jaiden (Member # 2099) on :

I'm not sure how long it will take me- I've never done anything similar to this. (I've written academic papers but never for the "lay person").

This book is in an information book/textbook.

It's not -for- 12 year olds. The person mentioned that because I asked if it was for people in our field or layman. It's more meant that I need to use terms and vocabulary that a 12 year old -could- understand.

I'll have to find out how much of the book it will be.

Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :

All the market will bear, my dear. All the market will bear. [Smile]

I don't know what the going rate for science writers would be. Engineers make about $80 an hour contracting. Firms charge about $120 an hour for their services, and pay the engineers themselves about $80.