This chapter looks at the many kinds of occasional writing that you, as a professional writer, may be asked to do. It is a varied list, but the writing remains the same. Economical writing, strong phrasing, action verbs, factual accuracy, careful editing; good writing is still good writing, even if it is for a neighborhood brochure.

Some of this writing will be for nonprofits, others for profit- making clients, and still others for small businesses with very limited budgets. Again, as a professional, you should never write for free— the exception being for a nonprofit organization. But with very small businesses you may want to modify your fee to match their budget— balanced by whatever goodwill you may obtain (for example, if you are asked by your favorite coffee joint to help it write a neighborhood flyer, you may want to take your payment out in free drinks).

It is also not recommended that you charge an hourly rate. People can look at a work of art— and because they can't draw themselves, it seems valuable. But everybody can write— though most can't do it very well— and so when they see your completed work they have a tendency to believe they could have done it by themselves, that it wasn't that difficult and as such they undervalue your work. Also, different writers work at different speeds, and many bad writers work much more slowly than good writers. So why charge by the hour? And why try to negotiate a fee after delivery?

Instead, charge by the project and agree upon the price up- front. If possible, also get paid half up front as well. Then, if your client decides that his teenaged daughter could have written that copy as well as you and refuses to pay for the finished writing, you at least have the equivalent of a kill fee in your pocket.

As for working with nonprofits, good for you for being a good neighbor and citizen. That said, nonprofits are in the business of getting good people with special skills to donate as much of their time as possible— and one of the skills they need most is writing.