For What It’s Worth

Although I have learned that I do have a gift for writing, I still have moments of doubting my skills and ability, especially when I catch silly grammar or spelling mistakes after the fact. I have struggled with grasping a realistic assessment of myself over the years, from my appearance to my characteristics to everything about me.

I would think it was absurd to charge a certain amount of money for a short blog post, article, or other entry, especially when I was already familiar with the topic. I could whip things like that out in hardly any time at all, therefore it didn’t feel right to charge a lot.

Recently, I’ve come to understand these things differently. For example, a simple blog post that I write for a company may not take me a long time to write, but that’s because it’s taken me years of honing my skills and expertise in how to arrange the words, what words to use that people are searching for, and how to persuade a reader to do what the company wants, whether it’s click a link, purchase a product/program, respond, etc.

In addition to the years of experience I have, it’s also a marketing tool for companies. Blog posts and articles stay online forever…which means that advertising nugget is always out there, just waiting to be found by your next customer. Marketing is (usually) a built in cost companies budget for. Marketing is not cheap. Writing is not a skill everyone possesses. All of this means that what I offer is valuable, and it’s okay to charge what I’m worth.

I’m still getting comfortable charging adequate fees for my work. I’ve been doing a lot of research to see what others with my skill levels, below, and surpassing mine are charging. I had no idea just how short I’ve been selling myself and my work (truly in life, relationships, work, and everything in between).

Another skill I have is that I can write about almost anything. I love writing in a casual, storytelling way that works for fiction, non-fiction, and marketing (in most cases). My least favorite is technical guides and such. I can, but it takes me far longer than I’d like and it’s just not my passion or expertise, therefore I stay away from that now.

This has allowed me to branch out and write for a variety of clients, which helps me to keep from getting bored. The praise and gratitude I’ve received (as well as seeing the results) has definitely helped me gain more confidence and be more open to sharing some of my work in my own name.

For example, my first fiction novel, The Rideshare Chronicles: Volume I. I would have never had the confidence to share that publicly if it weren’t for the baby steps in my career, self-confidence, and the support I’ve received from family and friends.

As a matter of fact, I recently posted a meme about one day becoming someone’s favorite author. My best friend responded that I’m already hers. My aunt has my book on her shelf among some greats including Stephen King and Dean Koontz. That kind of support is truly priceless.

I’ve recently given myself permission to charge more because I see the value in my work, and in my time. What I used to think of as absurd fees are now my normal. That doesn’t mean I’m better or worse than anyone else, just that I see the value in what I provide and I’m willing to value myself enough to charge that. The companies and individuals I write for make a lot of money off of sales that come from my particular arrangement of words, so why shouldn’t I charge my worth?

I hope you see the value in what you provide and your time, as well. And I hope the value you see in yourself continues to increase as your knowledge, experience, and expertise increases!