Re: How do freelance technical writers deal with the thorny issue of payment?

[Stuart Burnfield <slb -at- westnet -dot- com -dot- au>]

It's also worth pointing out to the client that the margin is there to 
cover things you don't know yet. (The "known unknowns" and the "unknown 
unknowns," as Donald Rumsfeld would say.)

Once you've had an opportunity to look at the product, read the project 
docs, talk to the players, etc, you'll be able to eliminate a lot of the 
unknowns and so give a firmer estimate. This second bid is based on 
information. The first, padded, bid was based on lack of information. 
Most reasonable clients should see the sense in this.

Stuart


Will Husa said:
 > However, a first time client usually wants a project bid.
 > With a project bid, figure out how long you think it's
 > going to take, then add a margin to that figure.
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