I suppose it would be useful to have this, would it? Helpful to know if you wanted to work with Iain Hoey, writer / journalist / editor extraordinaire what it might cost you.
It’s been a fair few moons since my freelancing years, but here’s what some of the things I can do and what they are worth based on the current market, my experience et cetera et cetera…
Table of contents
- Day rate
- Hourly rate
- Feature writing
- Interviews
- Editing and rewriting
- Consultancy
- A few practical notes
Day rate
£400
A full day of work — writing, research, interviewing, editing or general editorial support.
Hourly rate
£50
Useful for shorter pieces of work, top-ups, or when the scope is still taking shape.
Feature writing
From £350–£450 for around 1,000–1,500 words
This covers research, writing and one or two interviews where needed. Longer or more complex pieces are quoted individually.
Interviews
Research, conducting the interview and writing it up – priced as a package or day rate (typically £500–£900 depending on depth and length).
Editing and rewriting
£45–£50 per hour, or the day rate for larger jobs
Particularly useful for technical or specialist material that needs to be clearer, tighter and more accurate without losing its substance.
Consultancy
£400 per day (or pro-rata for half days)
Editorial advice, content planning, helping shape a series or approach, or reviewing existing material and suggesting improvements. This is a good option if you want someone experienced to think alongside you rather than just produce copy.
A few practical notes
- Fees are exclusive of VAT
- Agreed expenses (travel, transcription etc.) are charged at cost
- If a commissioned piece is cancelled after substantial work has started, a 50% kill fee applies
- Rush jobs or particularly complex technical work may carry a small premium
I’m always open to a conversation about what would work best for your project.
Is there room for negotiation? Probably! Depends on what it is for. So if you’re sitting there still thinking I like the cut of this guys jib but not really sure what you’d like or if he can offer exactly what it is you want, just give me a shout and I’ll give it some thought and get back to you.