Readers Asked Us: What Should a New Writer Charge?

Charge too little and you look inexperienced. Charge too much and clients ghost you.
Google it and you’ll get buried under American rates, Reddit arguments, and “six-figure freelancer” fantasy posts.

So let’s reset the entire conversation about how much to charge as a new writer in Australia.

Understand that pricing isn’t emotional — it’s practical

Writers often treat pricing like a personality test.

• Am I good enough to charge this?
• Will clients think I’m arrogant?
• Should I lower my fee so they like me?
• Should I charge peanuts because it’s my first job?

None of that belongs in your pricing.

Rates are not self-worth.
Rates are math mixed with industry standards.

Professionalism is not about perfection — it’s about clarity.

Use Australian benchmarks (ignore US pricing completely)

Repeat after me: US pricing does not apply to Australia.

We have:

• a smaller market
• smaller budgets
• fewer high-paying media outlets
• slower turnaround
• a different business culture

Our industry uses:

• ASA (Australian Society of Authors)
• MEAA
• Australian Freelance Rates Survey
• SPN (Small Press Network)

These give realistic expectations — not inflated fantasy numbers.

The realistic “New Writer Pricing Window” (Aussie edition)

Here’s what new writers are actually being hired at right now — drawn from real market data and more client conversations than I care to count.

Blogs / Articles: $80–$150 for 600–1000 words
(Beyond that, raise as you gain experience.)

Website Copy: $150–$300 for a single page, $450–$600+ for multi-page bundles

Social Media Content: $25–$60 per post
(Business clients usually value consistency over creativity.)

Proofreading: $25–$40 per 1,000 words
(Beginners sit at the lower end.)

Light Editing: $45–$65 per hour

Heavy Structural Editing: $65–$90 per hour

Case Studies / Profiles: $150–$350

Author / Business Bios: $60–$120

These are not ‘starter rates’. They are fair, sustainable entry points for new professionals.

Hourly vs project rates — how the pros decide

Here’s the golden rule that will save you from a dozen awkward conversations:

✔ Charge hourly for editing

✔ Charge project rates for writing

Why? Because editing time is unpredictable, writing outcomes are far simpler to price, clients prefer the certainty of fixed packages, and writers protect themselves from undercharging when a ‘quick edit’ turns into a major rewrite.

 Never cheapen yourself “to get experience”

The biggest trap new writers fall into is thinking they have to charge next to nothing until they “earn the right” to charge properly.

But here’s the truth: If you start at $20 for a blog, you won’t magically jump to $200 later. You’ll attract clients who expect you to stay at $20 forever.

Low rates don’t build confidence.
They build resentment.

Start where you want to grow from — not where you’re afraid to stand.

Quote like a professional: include scope, timeline, and price

A quote isn’t just a number. It’s a promise.

Every quote you send should include:

1. Scope:What you will deliver.
(E.g. “1,000-word blog + 2 revisions + source check.”)

2. Timeline:When you will deliver it.
(E.g. “Delivery within 5 business days.”)

3. Price:Clear and final.
(E.g. “$120 per blog, invoiced on delivery.”)

Clarity is the most attractive trait a writer can have in a client’s eyes. Search Scribbly’s free library for more on this subject.

When to raise your rates (hint: probably earlier than you think)

Here’s the progression that keeps your pricing healthy and sustainable:

✔ After your first 3 paying clients → raise 10%You’re no longer “new.”

✔ When clients start praising your work → raise another 10%Confidence backed by data.

✔ When you’re booked out, even slightly → raise againDemand is talking. Listen.

✔ When you feel fear around raising prices → raise just a littleFear often indicates growth.

 When a client says “That’s too expensive,” don’t drop your rate

This is where many new writers panic. Instead, keep your price but reduce the scope.A shorter word count, fewer revisions, one round of feedback instead of two, a simpler brief or one page instead of three.

Clients respect writers who hold their rate and negotiate the deliverables — not their worth.

Final takeaway

Pricing isn’t a mystical art. It’s a skill — one you get better at with practice.

Here’s what matters:

• You’re fair
• You’re clear
• You’re sustainable
• You don’t undercut your future self

You don’t price yourself according to fear. You price yourself according to industry, professionalism, and the long game you’re building.

Charge what allows you to keep writing — because writing careers aren’t built on bargains. They’re built on boundaries.