I've been offered a commission... And I'm completely befuddled... Help!

[FreyaGersemi]

Someone messaged me to write a story for them. It's fairly specific, but nothing I can't handle (in other words, no subject matter that I would be opposed to, personally -- it sounds like a sweet romance/hook-up between two people on vacation). I would have to do some research because they want some specifics (places, mannerisms, etcetera), but they said they would read my first draft and help with that.

Of course, I'm wary about strangers on the internet and I've never done a commission piece before. I usually just get hired to do my thing or to share my knowledge/experience, so I have no idea how to proceed with this.

I am waiting for a response on word length and compensation (and I understand that I would make more money working at the local supermarket).

So, what do I need to know? Thank you!!!

 

[SimonDoom]

I don't think you need to know much. I've written a few stories (not for money) at the request of Literotica members, and I enjoyed it. The two keys, I think, were that their interests dovetailed with mine, and I made it very clear from the outset that although I would gladly take specific information from them the story would be mine: I would write it my way. I think this is important, because it's much easer to write a story if you are personally invested in it than if you feel like you are writing somebody else's kink. Work things out with them so you have as much creative freedom as possible.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Some things to establish:

- Who owns the finished work? (in terms of rights to post it elsewhere, make money off it etc.)
- How much do they get in terms of change requests? You don't want to put time into writing a draft and then have them drag things out forever with "just one more thing".
- What are the timelines?

Most graphic artists I know who do commissions have a process something like:
- customer describes what they want, artist does some quick sketches, customer gives feedback on what they want
- artist and customer agree to a deal
- artist produces first draft, customer pays half the total amount, and gets to make one set of change requests based on that draft
- artist completes work based on change requests, customer pays the remainder.

Large change requests might cost extra. Every stage after "artist and customer agree to a deal" has a timeline - first draft to be produced in X time, customer to pay within Y weeks of receiving first draft, etc.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Someone messaged me to write a story for them. It's fairly specific, but nothing I can't handle (in other words, no subject matter that I would be opposed to, personally -- it sounds like a sweet romance/hook-up between two people on vacation). I would have to do some research because they want some specifics (places, mannerisms, etcetera), but they said they would read my first draft and help with that.

Of course, I'm wary about strangers on the internet and I've never done a commission piece before. I usually just get hired to do my thing or to share my knowledge/experience, so I have no idea how to proceed with this.

I am waiting for a response on word length and compensation (and I understand that I would make more money working at the local supermarket).

So, what do I need to know? Thank you!!!

Make sure you sort out exactly how you'll get paid, and don't release the final version until you get money in your account. I'd suggest PayPal as the money cutout, because all your buyer sees is an e-mail address, and PayPal connects with your bank, but that's between PayPal (which is a legally registered financial institution and therefore governed by law), you, and your bank. The third party never knows your identity.

 

[AchtungNight]

I don't think you need to know much. I've written a few stories (not for money) at the request of Literotica members, and I enjoyed it. The two keys, I think, were that their interests dovetailed with mine, and I made it very clear from the outset that although I would gladly take specific information from them the story would be mine: I would write it my way. I think this is important, because it's much easer to write a story if you are personally invested in it than if you feel like you are writing somebody else's kink. Work things out with them so you have as much creative freedom as possible.

This. I’ve done requests but not commissions. My East Enders cab ride sex story and my Eva Mendes story were requested (A Request for Help, Desert Angel). I’ve gotten a few other requests but nothing has captured my interest. Kinks I didn’t want to write, vague explanations of what they wanted, overly complicated plotting… if your commission has none of that, good. Write with your usual quality and it should be fine, don’t focus on the money. Feedback is the more lasting reward anyway. If you want a beta reader, drop me a line.

 

[FreyaGersemi]

I would write it my way.

Yes. They said that they liked my writing style, so I would be writing in my style. I'm not sure I could write any other way!

 

[FreyaGersemi]

- Who owns the finished work? (in terms of rights to post it elsewhere, make money off it etc.)
- How much do they get in terms of change requests? You don't want to put time into writing a draft and then have them drag things out forever with "just one more thing".
- What are the timelines?

Most graphic artists I know who do commissions have a process something like:
- customer describes what they want, artist does some quick sketches, customer gives feedback on what they want
- artist and customer agree to a deal
- artist produces first draft, customer pays half the total amount, and gets to make one set of change requests based on that draft
- artist completes work based on change requests, customer pays the remainder.

Large change requests might cost extra. Every stage after "artist and customer agree to a deal" has a timeline - first draft to be produced in X time, customer to pay within Y weeks of receiving first draft, etc.

All excellent points! Thank you!!

 

[FreyaGersemi]

Make sure you sort out exactly how you'll get paid, and don't release the final version until you get money in your account. I'd suggest PayPal as the money cutout, because all your buyer sees is an e-mail address, and PayPal connects with your bank, but that's between PayPal (which is a legally registered financial institution and therefore governed by law), you, and your bank. The third party never knows your identity.

I was thinking PayPal. Thank you!!

 

[FreyaGersemi]

They think 15-20K words, but they also said that if I feel it works a little shorter or longer, then I'm the author and should go with that.

So, what is a price range for this? Assuming that I retain sole ownership of the work?

 

[alohadave]

I was thinking PayPal. Thank you!!

Make sure that there is no mention of anything sexual related in the payment. PayPal is skittish around SOB payments and may cancel the payment if they figure out that you are using it for that, so be vague.

 

[StillStunned]

Congratulations! I have to admit, I'm rather jealous.

 

[FreyaGersemi]

Congratulations! I have to admit, I'm rather jealous.

Thank you. Don't be too jealous. I got the strong vibe that I wasn't the first person asked. I think I was just the first person to say yes.

 

[AchtungNight]

They think 15-20K words, but they also said that if I feel it works a little shorter or longer, then I'm the author and should go with that.

So, what is a price range for this? Assuming that I retain sole ownership of the work?

I’ve never been paid in money for writing anything. If they’re letting you set the price, I’d say go big or go home, but that might not come across well. Maybe just accept a “pay what you want” option. And ignore the low amount you get in response.

 

[ElectricBlue]

They think 15-20K words, but they also said that if I feel it works a little shorter or longer, then I'm the author and should go with that.

So, what is a price range for this? Assuming that I retain sole ownership of the work?

@MillieDynamite might be able to give you a market rate. From what I've seen folk report here, I vaguely recall $10 a thousand, something like that. But I could be out by an order of magnitude.

EDIT: I was out by an order of magnitude, there's current advice further down.

 

[VallesMarineris]

Someone messaged me to write a story for them.

Congrats! This is how Anais Nin got her start.

 

[Bazzle]

I think I know this request...I couldn't dare touch it.

 

[FreyaGersemi]

OP, If you're using PayPal, make sure your email isn't composed of your real name.

It is not. Thank you!

 

[AwkwardlySet]

@MillieDynamite might be able to give you a market rate. From what I've seen folk report here, I vaguely recall $10 a thousand, something like that. But I could be out by an order of magnitude.

Wow, I really hope those aren't the going rates. Ten bucks for a thousand words - which should take 2 hours at least for anything of value, and that's without the editing and corrections that come after. I don't understand the author who would do such a thing as it's a private request and thus unlikely to bring much exposure to them. I agree that 50$/1000 words should be the minimum for a purely commercially motivated commission.
Honestly, I understand that the OP is flattered by this commission and that she feels enthusiastic about it, but if the rates are 10$/1000 words, I would rather do it for free and thus retain complete freedom in the creative process, but also in the publishing and the ownership of the story. Being forced to comply with someone's requests about the plot and story directions and working a couple of days on it at least for a mere 100-150$ feels absolutely ridiculous to me.

I am not trying to be negative, I am just being honest here, OP. Best of luck with the story

 

[THBGato]

I used to get 10 pence a word, but that was back in 2006... no idea what going rates are these days.

Good luck with it!

 

[StillStunned]

Translators of my acquaintance would probably charge anywhere from 15 to 25 eurocents a word. I'd personally be hapoy with that range for writing.

 

[MillieDynamite]

@Tlan, 0.10 to 0.20 is a normal per-word range for beginners. I get 0.30 per finished word, not per written word. That's whatever I end up handing over to them. You might have some luck with that $200. But you best write well to $0.20 per word starting out.

$10? Even if you can write a thousand words an hour, which is unlikely, it still falls below the minimum wage. That's without taking into account the time needed for editing and revisions. At this pace, compromising on quality is inevitable. As I see it, anything less than $50 per thousand words is a ripoff. Personally, I wouldn't consider anything less than $200 per thousand, and only if I'm starving.

OP, If you're using PayPal, make sure your email isn't composed of your real name.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

Make sure you sort out exactly how you'll get paid, and don't release the final version until you get money in your account. I'd suggest PayPal as the money cutout, because all your buyer sees is an e-mail address, and PayPal connects with your bank, but that's between PayPal (which is a legally registered financial institution and therefore governed by law), you, and your bank. The third party never knows your identity.

I'm pretty sure that PayPal will refuse a transaction that openly involves erotic material. This is why you can never pay for a porn site subscription using them, or so I've been told.

Just keep the details of the transaction minimal and it should be fine.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Not written erotica that is within their boundaries. I'm paid through PayPal for most of my writing. Of course, most of my work published under my pen name comes from the publisher through Paypal, but I think the lion's share of that they collect by PayPal. Everything other than perhaps Amazon.

Edit: If you use PayPal as your payment for Ghostwriting, then PayPal has no way of knowing what that work consists of. Only that your client paid you for services rendered. In theory, you might operate as a hitman and use Paypal as your preferred vehicle for receiving cash. Probably not the smartest way, but you know, it's a way.

I'm pretty sure that PayPal will refuse a transaction that openly involves erotic material. This is why you can never pay for a porn site subscription using them, or so I've been told.

Just keep the details of the transaction minimal and it should be fine.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Ghostworker never belongs to the writer; it is always the property of the commissioner. Not getting credit for your work is the only painful part of the job. Well, unless, that is, you hate what you are writing or have to do a ton of research for a blog poster, or a podcaster hasn't a clue about the subject he's supposed to be covering. Believe me, it happens.

$200 per thousand words equals $0.20 per word.

Regardless, I don't write for money. If ever I find myself desperate enough to do so, I'll ensure it's worth it. However, for the fee I ask, I'll hand over the full rights to the commissioner.

 

[ElectricBlue]

2019 science fiction writers minimum rate:

https://www.sfwa.org/2019/01/16/sfwa-raising-pro-rate-for-short-fiction-to-eight-cents-per-word/

@FreyaGersemi