Does Setting Rates Stress You Out?

Last Tuesday, I watched a talented writer friend talk herself out of $2,000.

She'd crafted the perfect proposal for a dream client. The work was right in her wheelhouse. The client was excited. Then came the moment to share her rate, and I witnessed her familiar dance: "Well, normally I'd charge... but since this is... maybe we could..."

By the time she finished hedging and qualifying, she'd slashed her rate in half. Before the client even had a chance to blink.

Sound familiar?

I've had countless conversations with writers who can confidently craft compelling copy, manage complex projects, and transform business goals into brilliant content. Yet the moment money enters the chat, that confidence vanishes. We second-guess our worth, compare ourselves to random LinkedIn profiles, and worry that charging professional rates will somehow jinx our good fortune.

Today, we're tackling pricing stress head-on. Not with vague pep talks about "knowing your worth," but with practical strategies I've learned from watching (and making) just about every pricing mistake possible. Whether you're setting rates for the first time or trying to raise them with existing clients, you'll walk away with concrete steps to make pricing less painful. Let's start with a few must-reads that will help you set your rates.

Must Read

How to Price Your Writing: Breaking Down Rates and Packages

Ever wonder if you're pulling those freelance writing rates out of thin air? This no-fluff guide walks you through exactly how to price your work, from calculating your baseline to crafting retainer packages that clients actually want. Skip the generic advice and get real numbers, tested scripts, and practical strategies you can use today to price your writing with confidence.

The Freelancer's Guide to Giving Yourself a Raise

Looking for permission to raise your rates? You don't need it! This guide shows you exactly how to give yourself a well-deserved raise, from crafting the perfect "my rates are increasing" email to building the confidence to actually send it.

Freelance Writing Rates: How I Went From Earning $25 to $1,000 Per Article

Ever wonder how writers actually get to those premium rates? One writer shares her honest journey from $22.50 content mill articles to landing $1,000 assignments, including real rates, setbacks, and the exact steps she took to level up. No sugar-coating—just a realistic roadmap from someone who's been there.

Resource Roundup

The Cheat's Guide To Successful Email Marketing

Get 60 minutes worth of email marketing tips (affiliate link) from veteran six-figure email copywriter Steven Lewis. Worth every penny of the $49 (AUD) you'll pay.

The Mastering Content Strategy Bootcamp

This immersive five-day bootcamp gives you a deeper look at the foundational elements of content strategy. “Foundational” doesn’t mean basic. This bootcamp is packed with actionable strategies you can implement right away to transform your business. Complete with workshops, Q&A sessions, and a month of Strategy Bosses community access, the Mastering Content Strategy Bootcamp is available for just $97—a fraction of its true value. That's 5 days of 1-hour workshops, community access, daily activities, 2 any-question-goes Q&A sessions, and one month in the Strategy Bosses community (a $47 value). I'm serious when I say you are getting mega value for a small investment into your business.

What We're Loving

Planner Pad

One thing about being a freelancer that I don't always love is that I feel like I have a never-ending task list and so many balls in the air I can't keep track of them. I wanted a simple, clean planner I can leave on my desk so I can look to see what I have coming up in the next month. I asked one of my favorite freelancing groups about their favorite planners, and through their suggestions the Planner Pad (affiliate link) entered my life. I've been using the exclusive 3-tier funnel down approach for a couple of weeks now, and I love it! It helps you prioritize and organize all those task and projects so you can focus on what matters. If you're looking for a simple, but effective, planner to keep you on track for 2025 you need to check this out!

Panda Planner

Need something a bit more focused? My favorite planner for keeping on top of my business is the Panda Planner (affiliate link). It helps you stay on top of your goals, which is vital as a business owner. It's a weekly undated planner, designed to help you prioritize and focus week by week. It helps you map out your key goals and to-do lists with ease, assigning tasks to specific weeks for maximum productivity. And with the undated format of this weekly planner, there's no pressure. If you skip a week, simply pick up where you left off without feeling behind.

Wrap Up

There's something fitting about sharing these pricing resources today. Just yesterday, one of my coaching clients shared about landing her first $800 article. Last week, it was someone else celebrating their first four-figure project. Some days it feels like we're all just making this up as we go, but when I see those wins, I'm reminded that it's possible. Not easy, but possible.

Keep this newsletter handy. Pull up those articles the next time you're writing a proposal or crafting a rate increase email. And that writer who talked herself out of $2,000? I encouraged her to send a follow-up email. She did, quoted her full rate, and got the project. Sometimes we just need a little nudge to get out of our own way.

Please note that as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.  That means that if you click on one of our affiliate links (these are clearly identified) then we will receive a small commission, for which we thank you.  It helps us keep on providing informative posts that help you build your freelance writing career and business.