are you a freelance English language teaching materials writer or editor?
YOU’RE PRETTY GOOD AT WHAT YOU DO, BUT FED UP WITH BEING UNDERPAID AND GENERALLY TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF?
HERE’S EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW to change that…
We mean business: getting visible, pricing, negotiating and getting paid.
ELT freelance editors and writers are some of the most skilled and efficient professionals I’ve worked with in my long English Language Teaching career.
They’re also nearly always massively overworked and underpaid.
Whether you’ve been in the business a long time, or you’re just starting out, I can help you start earning consistently more.
How?
Here’s what we’ll cover in the programme:
– Develop a clear pricing strategy, and feel confident about estimating a fee
– Uncover and dig out those money mindset blocks which have been holding you back (we all have them)
– Know what to look out for in contracts, and how to address it if you spot a red flag
– Learn how to negotiate effectively, confidently, and without losing clients or damaging relationships
– Understand, spot, and counter negotiation strategies being used on you
– Get better at defining and holding to your boundaries, so you don’t get taken advantage of
– Make sure you always get paid promptly, and know exactly what to do if this doesn’t happen
– Get more widely known for what you do, giving you more choice of projects and an edge when it comes to negotiation
And, as a result, start consistently earning more!
Hi, I’m Rachael.
Let me tell you about my first fully freelance writing project, writing practice test materials. It was an exam I was familiar with, and it looked pretty straightforward… so how did I end up working out that my average pay for the project was around £5 an hour? (And, no, I am NOT exaggerating).
I had no idea how many other skills, and how much ‘insider’ knowledge I would have to gain along the way if I was going to make a real success of freelancing- both making it financially rewarding, and not having to work all the hours in order to scrape by.
Making freelancing truly work for you is about a lot more than being good at writing or editing.
If you’ve ever had a sinking feeling about a project you’ve taken on, ended up working far more hours than you anticipated, been manipulated into agreeing to something you wouldn’t normally have agreed to in a million years…
…or just generally felt you should be earning more for the freelance work you’re doing…
I’ve created this course to help you learn all the things I’ve learnt over 15 years as an ELT freelance writer, as a trained coach and counsellor, and as a business coach, so you can get more confident about charging what your experience and expertise is worth.
And learn how never again to make the kind of expensive and stressful mistakes we’ve all made at some point.
HOW DOES THE PROGRAMME WORK?
I’ve been running training and coaching programmes for language teaching related freelancers more more than 5 years now, and what I’ve learnt is that there are huge benefits to working alongside your peers in a supportive group.
However, with the best will in the world, when deadlines are looming, it can be hard to set aside the time for training and CPD, and even though you know the training could lead to greater earnings and satisfaction, you put it off, just like those awkward little jobs that need doing around the house that you walk past every day.
Knowing this, I’ve made it super easy for you to fit this in, and start making those changes you KNOW could make a huge difference to your life and finances.
The programme has two main elements:
Firstly, the recorded material. There are 5 different modules, each with 3-5 sessions, covering everything you need to know to up-level your business as a business (no more, ‘I’m just a freelancer’).
Module 1: Changing how you think about money so you can stop getting in your own way.
Module 2: Learning how to price well, and make the right choices when it comes to fees, royalties and more.
Module 3: Understanding contracts and everything else you need to get in place before you start.
Module 4: Negotiating effectively, without damaging relationships.
Module 5: Building your profile in the industry, and opening up your options as a result.
I know you’re busy, so these sessions are short and sweet (on average 20-30 minutes) and you can work through them at your own pace, and access them any time you want, for as long as you want.
But I also want you to benefit from the camaraderie, motivation and accountability of being part of a group. So, the second element is that, once a year, I’m also going to offer a live coaching version. We’ll still use the recorded materials, but we’ll work through it together in a guided way over a 5 week period, with weekly tasks to complete, and a weekly live 90 minute group coaching session.
You can join this live coaching round every year from now on if you like, and give yourself an annual kick up the bum to ask for (and get) more. The Facebook group will remain open, so it’s always there if you have questions before or after the live round, or even just want to feel less alone, and blow off a bit of steam.
The next live coaching round starts w/b 11th November, with live coaching sessions over 5 Wednesdays at 9.30-11.00am UK time.
More details on exactly what’s in the recorded programme
1.1 Introduction
The impact of seeing yourself as a business owner and prioritising working on your business as well as in your business.
1.2 What is money mindset, and why does it matter?
If you sometimes question the worth of your service, find it hard or impossible to push back, worry about what people will think of you if you ask for more, avoid negotiating like the plague… your money mindset is getting in the way. In this session I’ll look at why so many of us struggle with this, and how we can start to make some shifts.
1.3 How can you change your money mindset?
In this second session on money mindset I’m going to focus more on some practical exercises and strategies you can use to change your beliefs and habits, get ready to make more money (and feel good about it)
2.1 The basis of effective pricing
Plucking a figure out of the air, or working for whatever you can get aren’t sustainable strategies. In this lesson we’ll go through a three step process to work out your (private) hourly rate, the keystone of everything which follows
2.2 Your hourly rate
While having a private hourly rate, just for you can help with pricing effectively, is it generally a good idea to charge by the hour?
In this session we look at the pros and cons, and answer the frequently asked question of whether you should put your rates on your website.
2.3 Estimating a fee
How can you know whether the fee you’re being offered actually reflects the amount of work involved?
In this session I’ll share some (very hard-won) tips to help you get better at calculating this, and talk about what you can do if it turns out you didn’t get it quite right, or the goal posts move.
2.4 Royalties
Royalties are not offered very frequently these days, but if you are offered royalties, you need to know how to work out if this is a good deal, or something to avoid.
I’ll share my experience with both fees and royalties, and discuss the factors to consider if you’re given the choice.
3.1 Managing boundaries
As a trained counsellor and recovering people pleaser, I know that poor boundaries and unassertive behaviour are two of the key reasons why ELT freelancers earn so little and work so hard. It won’t solve everything of course, but I can assure you that starting as you mean to go on, can make a huge difference.
And it doesn’t have to mean becoming a nasty aggressive person at all. In fact, people usually LIKE it when they know where you stand, because it removes all kinds of unspoken awkwardnesses.
3.2 Before you start work
What are the things you need to ensure are in place before you start work on project? We’ll look at writing samples, briefs, letters of agreement, contracts and more.
Honestly, skim over a publishing contract at your peril.
While the people employing you may be lovely, these contracts are written by hard-boiled lawyers, and there are plenty of traps for the unwary. I’ll guide you through what to watch out for.
3.3 Getting paid
You can ensure you get things clear from the start, but even then, how often have you had to chase for payment? It’s infuriating and such a waste of your precious time.
In this session I’ll share some tips and suggestions firstly to anticipate and stop this happening, and explain what you can do if the money is not forthcoming when it should be.
3.4 Working with packagers
A lot of writing and editing work these days comes through packagers. But what exactly IS a packager, and are there different sorts? How is working with a packager different from working directly for a publisher? What are the potential advantages, and the things to watch out for?
4.1 Your negotiating self
I’ve now removed the negotiation content from my group programme, Designed to Flourish, because the majority of participants work B2C and don’t really need it. But for every writer and editor that has worked with me, learning about negotiation has been a complete game-changer.
If you hate negotiating, and avoid it as much as possible, this is probably a key reason why you’re overworked and underpaid.
In this session I’m going to start off by helping you understand your negotiating self- your strengths and your weakness- so you can maximise your chances of a successful outcome.
4.2 What and when to negotiate
It’s often said (not usually by ELT freelancers, but hey, ) that EVERYTHING is negotiable.
In this second session I’m going to look at everything you could be negotiating, how to bundle elements together, and the best times to negotiate.
Negotiating is an essential skill for freelancers these days, and can make a huge difference to both your income and your satisfaction with your work.
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4.3 Negotiation tips, techniques and strategies
And in the final session in this module, we’ve going to learn all about the fascinating process of negotiation. What to do to prepare for a negotiation, techniques you can use to ensure a better outcome, and some sneaky techniques that may well be used against you.
Publishers tend to get taught this stuff, freelancers usually don’t, putting us at a huge disadvantage in the negotiating game. Let’s at least level the playing field.
5.1 Personal branding
While marketing is not a core part of this programme (I can help you with this on my group programme), it’s vital to understand just how good personal branding can help strengthen your hand, and give you more options, and more ability to walk away from a poor deal.
5.2 Creating a killer LinkedIn profile
LinkedIn is a key way that publishers and packagers find freelance publishing professionals, and yet I still often see unclear and neglected profiles.
In this session I will walk you through exactly what you need to do to upgrade your LinkedIn profile, and stand out for all the right reasons.
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5.3 Diversifying your offer
Finally, we’ll look at some ways you might be able to smooth out your peaks and troughs, and make yourself less reliant on other businesses, through diversifying your offer.
In May 2024 I ran a live beta version of the programme. Here’s what some participants thought:
I had already covered some of the content on your group programme, but obviously haven’t acted on it all, and it was very useful to have it all put down again in such a clear and well-defined way. The negotiating module in particular, will be what pays for the course for me. There were lots of things I hadn’t covered in that – with the grid model of negotiating my biggest takeaway.
The other takeaway is perhaps in the format. I had come to the course thinking I preferred live input, but actually the video about negotiating was really expertly done, with the pauses for reflection, and was the module that I got the most from.
I would recommend the programme. Even if you’re more experienced and have quite a few negotiations under your belt, there is always more to learn and you will also come away with an expert overview and summary of the points that you already knew or thought you knew but didn’t in entirety as well – all in one place.
It may seem obvious, but perhaps the main shift I’ve experienced as a result of doing the programme is but seeing myself as a business owner. Once you acknowledge that, everything else falls into place – like what to include in your fee. Another eye-opening point was how not to be part of a crowd but to stand out.
If you’re considering taking this programme, go for it! In no time at all you’ll see your money returned – and more besides. You’ll feel a sense of confidence and know how in running your own business.
I found the input brilliant!
My biggest takeaway is really ‘getting’ that all contracts can be negotiated AND I can do it!
I’m already celebrating success. I’ve already turned down a contract (I didn’t even bother negotiating and walked away) and I negotiated better conditions and a max. time frame on another. I feel really empowered, thank you!
Prior to doing the course, I felt that I lacked confidence when negotiating and would spend way too much time stressing about emails I’d sent and whether I had done the right thing. Contracts were also a source of worry for me, as I am often guilty of not reading the small print and signing in a hurry. Plus, I was painfully aware that my LinkedIn profile needed attention.
Every session was carefully thought through in order to best exploit the topic, and ensure we had the time and space to digest it in a manageable way.
The point-by-point checklist of what to know / resolve before you sign a contract was particularly helpful. Plus acknowledging that you are in a position of power and don’t have to accept the offer on the table.
The first module that explored our relationship with money was a revelation to me. I had never taken the time to question my motivation or assess my desires / future expectations in this way. Once I’d answered a few key questions, it was crystal clear that I needed to invest more of my money and prioritise a work-life balance over earning £x per annum.
The biggest impact is that I now feel emboldened to ask for more in negotiations and know my worth. This is invaluable.
I would recommend it whole-heartedly to anyone who has any doubts (which is most of us!) about whether they are earning enough and living their best freelance life.
Although I’m fairly happy about the state of my ‘money mindset’, this course has reminded me that I’m not yet there. I would have once taken on extra work to ensure I had sufficient money coming in, but having spent most of my professional life working 6 days a week and much of that time working 2-3 jobs, I now don’t wish to do that, but still do from time to time – usually out of panic. As an ESP author, I know its unrealistic for me to think I can make an entire living out of producing books for the healthcare market, even with the expansion of OET. However, I now realise I can make a difference by negotiating better fees for future projects.
I love the idea of there being a chance to meet up for discussion going forward. Participants will really appreciate this bonus to the course. I know I really miss this when I’ve doing an online course, however good the course materials are.
As ever Rachael is extremely supportive and encourages a supportive environment within the group. She also provides advice that is targeted and ‘actionable’. Certainly as an author, I feel this course is aimed directly at me and focuses on my needs. I feel very lucky to have had the chance to participate in it. Thank you!
Some of the key things I’ve learnt: There’s always an opportunity to negotiate and we are expected to do so by the publishers. I hadn’t thought about other things (apart from money) that are negotiable. It was also really interesting to think about different negotiating styles and to become aware of the ‘being difficult’ taboo.
Writers and editors can greatly benefit from this programme as most of us are probably lacking a business background. We negotiate all sorts of things on a daily basis, but we shy away from it when it comes to work. The nature of our work is so varied so it makes sense to negotiate fees and terms every single time.
I decided to do the programme in order to improve my negotiation skills and to get a clearer picture of what is possible in terms of negotiation.
Some of my biggest takeaways were understanding the need to put yourself in a “category of one” – what I do is fairly niche but I don’t know that it’s clear enough, so that’s something for me to work on. There are more things to be negotiated than just money. “Undercharging is giving money away!” I also found hearing other people’s experiences extremely valuable – what they felt were fair or unfair fees, or fair or unfair treatment, and the sorts of things that publishers are offering and that have been negotiated. The course provided a safe space for people to discuss money quite openly.
I already did negotiate but I think not hard enough, so going forward I will aim to do it more. It’s also encouraged me to think more about my relationship with money and work more generally, and reflect on why I am often so happy to trade all my time for extra work.
If you’re worried that negotiating means talking yourself out of a job, take this course.
Is this programme suitable for me?
If you’re just starting out as a freelancer, this programme can help you understand the landscape better, and begin as you mean to go on. You’ll be able to avoid a lot of the traps I fell into when I started, and have the confidence to hit the ground running.
If you’ve been a freelancer for quite a while, take a look at the testimonials above from some VERY experienced and successful freelancers- there is always more to learn, and I can guarantee you if you put your learnings into action, you will quickly get back your investment.
I DON'T THINK I HAVE TIME TO DO THIS RIGHT NOW
The sooner you learn these things, the less money you’re going to miss out on as a result.
Even if you’re busy at the moment, or you already know you can’t make the next live round, I recommend investing in the programme rightaway.
At the very least you can always fit in 20 minutes here and there to watch the recordings, and then join the next live round to consolidate your learnings.
IT SEEMS LIKE QUITE A LOT OF MONEY
How much money have you invested in learning how to get good at what you do- writing, editing, project managing?
You almost certainly recognise the importance of investing in yourself as a specialist, but you also need to invest in yourself as a business owner.
Otherwise, all those writing and editing skills are going to stay undervalued and underpaid.
I recently successfully negotiated a 36.6% increase on a fee offer, representing quite a few thousand pounds. How long would it take you to earn back £397 if you could do the same? (And how much more would you earn next year if you did that on all your projects?)