Freelancing commssion rates

[therecanonlybe1]

Does anyone know what a typical rate of pay is expected to have someone write a story for you? Freelance commissions are not that common, I guess, but it might be nice to get a customised story written sometime instead of waiting for a coincidence for someone to write your whole idea out word for word

 

[HeyAll]

What kind of story is it?

 

[lovecraft68]

YOu could post your idea in story ideas forum and see if anyone picks it up there ans you wouldn't have to pay

 

[therecanonlybe1]

well Ive tried that story suggestion thing in the past, the best reply I got was "sounds good, you should write it yourself" I was kinda thinking of more extreme stuff in chapter by chapter requests anway.

Let me put it this was...if somene wanted a specific story for you to write, what would be worth your time

 

[lovecraft68]

well Ive tried that story suggestion thing in the past, the best reply I got was "sounds good, you should write it yourself" I was kinda thinking of more extreme stuff in chapter by chapter requests anway.

Let me put it this was...if somene wanted a specific story for you to write, what would be worth your time

Pm me the details and we can discuss it.

 

[loquere]

Well I'm curious too, but let's keep this transparent. Share your idea please.

 

[sr71plt]

It's a sliding scale, depending on who is asking and for what. A bag of chips and a beer should do it--max--for an erotica story being posted to a story web site. To be included in an e-book anthology, $20 through Paypal should do it for a short story of around 5,000 words. I've done a few (not volunteering to do them) and haven't charged--have just established that they are my stories then to do with as I like. I post them here after including them in e-book anthologies of my own.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

In the olden days, writers were paid by the word...around $0.10 per word in he 40's and 50's. Those were for submission to magazines and periodicals. A lot of the greats got their start writing for Analog and Sci-Fi publication of the time.

Translate what 10 cents is worth in todays money from 1940 and you will have a per word cost of you story.

 

[lovecraft68]

well Ive tried that story suggestion thing in the past, the best reply I got was "sounds good, you should write it yourself" I was kinda thinking of more extreme stuff in chapter by chapter requests anway.

Let me put it this was...if somene wanted a specific story for you to write, what would be worth your time

It's a sliding scale, depending on who is asking and for what. A bag of chips and a beer should do it--max--for an erotica story being posted to a story web site. To be included in an e-book anthology, $20 through Paypal should do it for a short story of around 5,000 words. I've done a few (not volunteering to do them) and haven't charged--have just established that they are my stories then to do with as I like. I post them here after including them in e-book anthologies of my own.

So you waved $20 upfront so you could own the story based on another person's idea and make royalties on it for years to come. How magnamimous of you.

I charge more than $20 but the stories are far longer than 5k and the person who paid me to make their fantasy a reality now owns it . Guess I don't feel the need to screw peopla or have to take other people's ideas and pretend they were mine.

 

[lovecraft68]

Well I'm curious too, but let's keep this transparent. Share your idea please.

He claims he did at one point. He would get more attention if he did here as well. I asked for a pm because I don't feel like having my side of the conversation broadcast. My ideas are not always for free consumption

 

[loquere]

He claims he did at one point. He would get more attention if he did here as well. I asked for a pm because I don't feel like having my side of the conversation broadcast. My ideas are not always for free consumption

Fair enough. It is your way of making an income.

 

[TxRad]

In the olden days, writers were paid by the word...around $0.10 per word in he 40's and 50's. Those were for submission to magazines and periodicals. A lot of the greats got their start writing for Analog and Sci-Fi publication of the time.

Translate what 10 cents is worth in todays money from 1940 and you will have a per word cost of you story.

In 1940 it was more like one to two cents a word according to some of the stuff I've read.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

In 1940 it was more like one to two cents a word according to some of the stuff I've read.

You may be right. In 1939 Robert A. Heinlein sold his first short story to Astounding magazine for $70...that $1,085 in 2008 dollars. And even though the short story is over 6,000 words, back in '39, $70 was a lot of money.

He is quoted as saying, "I may never look for honest work again."