I am often asked whether I accept rush writing jobs.
My answer to that question is: Yes!! Sometimes. . .
I will take on rush work when I can complete it without affecting other project deadlines.
You see, as a professional, I know that your deadlines are important. When I agree to take on your project you can rest assured that I will do everything in my power to meet your deadline.
That means that I will not put your project aside for last minute work even if that work pays more. I will fit a rush job into my schedule only if it will not negatively impact projects that I have already committed to.
However, if I can safely fit your rush job into my schedule, I will.
What is a Rush Job?
That is an excellent question and I’m glad that you asked.
Like most writers, I plan my schedule at least a week in advance. The earlier that you give me notice of your project; the better I will be able to fit it into my schedule.
People tend to think that a rush job is always work that is due the next day. That is not necessarily the case. What is considered a rush job varies depending on the scope of work and amount of effort required as well as the project due date.
On the one hand, if you contact me today about a project that requires forty hours of effort and is due in five business days I would consider that a rush job even though it is not due for a week because it is a large effort.
On the other hand, if you contact me today about a project that requires five hours of effort and it is due in five business days I would not consider that a rush job.
A handy rule thumb: it is easier for me to fit smaller jobs into my schedule than larger jobs.
Do You Charge Extra For Rush Job?
In general, I charge extra for rush jobs. However, a few people think that by paying extra money they can get me to push other client’s deadlines back. I assure you that will not happen.
If I can’t fit a rush job in to my schedule and still honor my commitment to other clients, I won’t accept it and no amount of money will change that. Period.
I Have a Rush Job Right Now, What Should I Do?
Contact me with your rush project information. I’ll review your information within forty-eight business hours (often sooner) and let you know if I can fit your project into my schedule.
If I can get your work done according to your time frame, you will be provided with a free custom project cost estimate. If I cannot complete your work within your specified time frame, I may suggest writing colleagues for you to contact.
For a reasonable fee, I may also offer to select and supervise qualified writers for your project.
Contents (c) Copyright 2008, Laura Spencer. All rights reserved
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11 responses so far ↓
1 Lillie Ammann // Jul 12, 2008 at
Laura,
A lot of my work requires turnaround of a day or less, primarily because my major client is a business owner who has work for me every day. However, since I expect to have rush work for her that requires anywhere from 10 to 40 hours a week, I schedule other jobs so I can meet deadlines in the time I’m not working on my major client’s projects.
2 Laura Spencer // Jul 12, 2008 at
Thanks for your input Lillie! I think the fact that you expect makes it not so much a rush.
What do you do if you’ve allowed time for your rush work and it doesn’t materialize? (Maybe that never happens to you.)
3 Vivienne Quek // Jul 12, 2008 at
This is so true, “People tend to think that a rush job is always work that is due the next day. That is not necessarily the case.” People forgot the behind the scene homework we got to work before we can actually commence.
4 Jeanne Dininni // Jul 13, 2008 at
Laura,
I agree that pushing aside the work of other clients to take on a rush job wouldn’t be right. And the question of a rush rate is an interesting one. On the one hand, if the rush job can easily fit into your schedule, it almost seems unfair to charge more; yet, when a writer is required to work longer hours than usual or during hours he or she wouldn’t normally work in order to complete a rush job, a little extra compensation seems reasonable.
While I’ve never specifically called it a rush charge up to this point, I’ll often just quote a price I believe to be fair based on the factors I’ve mentioned above. Clients generally understand that they might need to pay a little more when they need the work completed “yesterday.” If I’m not very busy, though, I don’t mind at all charging a lower rate–even when the work is needed right away.
Thanks for sharing your policy for rush jobs. I’m sure many other writers will benefit from it!
Jeanne
5 Monday Reading Roundup Take #7 // Jul 14, 2008 at
[…] Laura Spencer of Business and Blogging identified 10 capital offenses when it comes to blogging. Are you committing any of them? On her other blog, WritingThoughts, she explained, through a Q&A approach, the basics of rush jobs. […]
6 Laura Spencer // Jul 14, 2008 at
Thanks Vivienne and Jeanne!
I needed to put this on my site somewhere – if it helps others that’s even better.
Jeanne – I totally understand your position. My experience is that charging such a fee gives a few clients a sense of entitlement to demand more.
If I can’t take a project, I can’t take it – no matter how much money is thrown at it. If I can, then I do.
Maybe that’s just my experience though.
7 Jeanne Dininni // Jul 15, 2008 at
I agree, Laura. That makes total sense. After all, we wouldn’t want to make certain clients any more demanding than they already are. 😉
Jeanne
8 Laura Spencer // Jul 18, 2008 at
Hi Jeanne!
Well, it’s more about what’s possible and what isn’t possible.
Sometimes it’s just not possible to squeeze a rush job in.
9 Amy Derby // Jul 18, 2008 at
Laura — I think it’s great that you work that way, not sacrificing your clients for a rush job if you don’t have the time. I am the same way. I also like what you said about no amount of money… because I frequently have folks who think if they pay me enough, I’ll do anything. Conference calls at midnight, travel to the west coast on a weekly basis, do unethical SEO tactics, the list goes on and on. Doesn’t work that way for me either!! I do have a rush fee, but not to push aside my other work. That’s there because I feel it encourages better planning next time. Otherwise, I’ll have chronic rushers. Lawyers are like that anyway. Trouble is, many like to try to pay me to rush all the time. So really, you can’t win — fee or not. 🙂
10 Cmdweb // Jul 22, 2008 at
Rush jobs are a mixed blessing. While they give you pain and stress in trying to meet the deadline, they can mark you out as a dependable supplier, someone to be trusted, leading to more frequent and varied work. Unfortunately, it can also lead to you being the ‘firefighter’, always getting the rush job because no one else can do it in the time available.
11 Tyrone Campbell // Aug 4, 2008 at
rush jobs will always be one of my fav things, i tend to wrtie articles on products for clients and i do, as cmd says act as a kind of fire fighter only getting the rush jobs but my rush job is usually 15 articles at 500 words each in for about 12 hours which is fine since im a fulent writer, however i do prefer a couple of my new clients who give me a week to complete the writing and if i choose to complete it early then i get the next set early, my wage is dependant on my speed.