Frequently Asked Questions for Clear-Writing

What are your rates?
I already have something written - can you just touch it up?
I needed this yesterday - can you help?
Does Dan do all the writing?
Do you have to learn about my business to write about it?
What if I don't like what you write? Will you rewrite it?
Do I need to pay a deposit? And do you take credit cards?
Someone else said they'll do my writing cheaper. Will you match their price?
How long do you take to do a project?
Are there any subjects you won't write about?
Are there any types of projects you don't take on?
Who owns the writing you do?
Do you make websites or do graphic design?
What hours do you work?

What are your rates?

Every job is unique. Thus, every price will be unique. Time spent, topic, research, the goal of the writing... these all factor in.

However, we do have very basic pricing information on some (but not all) of the individual services pages. Pricing press releases, for example, isn't very hard, so that page has some basic pricing info. This is so you can have a general idea of costs for common services, and it also cuts down on our "you mean it's not $10 a page" e-mail (which happens more than you think!)

We're also very flexible in terms of billing. While we typically bill by the project, we can also work out an hourly / contract rate if your situation calls for it.

I already have something written - can you just touch it up?

Sure! Many times we can take what you already have, add a little "clear-writing magic" to it, and turn it into something that really works for you.

I needed this yesterday - can you help?

It really depends on the project, the situation, and the client. If it's a true emergency for a good client, we almost always work it in. But please understand that we usually have two to four weeks worth of work booked up in advance. If you want your project done by a certain date, do not wait around - reach out to us and get on our schedule.

Does Dan do all the writing?

Yes. And no. Dan writes most of the projects himself from scratch. He also has several professional writers on call that help out from time to time when things get busy. Regardless, all projects, without exception, cross Dan's desk, and get an extended proofread / edit. The added help simply allows Clear-Writing to take on larger / more frequent projects, and offer the same high level of quality to all of them.

Do you have to learn about my business to write about it?

To start, we send you a custom questionnaire so we can learn a bit about you and your overall business. Depending on the project, we may ask for further information. If needed, we will research on our own to familiarize ourselves with your industry, your competition, and your customers. But we would rather not be an expert in your business. In the big scheme of things, we are writing for your readers, who likely know less than we do about your business.

What if I don't like what you write? Will you rewrite it?

Yes. Editing and rewriting is sometimes a normal part of the writing process. We expect feedback from you, and to possibly make a revision (and many times, we nail it on the first shot.)

Do I need to pay a deposit? And do you take credit cards?

We collect 50% of the estimated total (or a retainer if hourly) as a deposit. This is what gets you on our project calendar. For jobs $1,000 and under, we require pre-payment in full. We take credit cards online, so paying us is easy.

Someone else said they'll do my writing cheaper. Will you match their price?

No matter what your business is, someone else will always do it cheaper. Cheaper doesn't mean better. It just means "cheaper". We charge a professional, competitive rate for what is easily the best writing out there, and we're worth every penny.

That was obviously the long answer. The short answer is "sorry, but no, we won't".

How long do you take to do a project?

Most projects take one to three weeks to complete. But some (like a website of hundreds of pages) could take months. And others might take one afternoon.

We like to say your project will be done when we are both happy with it. Sometimes we nail it on the first draft. Sometimes we don't.

Are there any subjects you won't write about?

Not really. As long as what you want us to write is legal, we'll probably do it. We don't allow personal beliefs or agendas (if any) get in the way of our writing. However, we will draw the line at promoting hate or discrimination. This means we won't be writing the KKK's Christmas letter anytime soon.