When you take on a freelance assignment, do you accept the first rate you’re offered?

If so, let the most recent time you did that be the last. You won’t get more money every time you ask, but you’ll never get more money if you don’t ask.

First, let’s look at why you should always ask for more on (almost) every assignment.

But before we get there: I'm putting together an anonymous database of rates freelancers have been paid recently. If you wanna throw in a rate or two you got recently, I would love for you to fill out this quick little survey! I'll publish a regularly updated database weekly so we can all get a little more insight into who pays what and what we should be asking for. Click here to share your money talk.

Now, if you’ve been to a FWT panel, you’ve surely heard me give this spiel, but let’s just get it on the record here: I think you should always ask for more on (almost) every assignment because there are literally only three outcomes: 1. You ask for more money, and you get it. Hooray! That money was on the table, and you got it. Great job! 2. You ask for more money, and you don’t get it. Not ideal, but hey, at least you asked (and you got some practice asking!). 3. The editor responds coldly, dismissively, or rudely. This is rare, but it occasionally happens. Yes, it feels terrible in the moment. But now you know that that editor is not an editor you want to work with, and you can tell all your freelance friends what happened so they can avoid him, too. Good editors want to pay you more and will do what they can to maximize the money you get for your work.