The best advice I was given as a new writer

I struggled with it at first.

“I’ve worked out my hourly rate!”

I exclaimed to my boyfriend, who was on a Zoom call with his boss (oops).

When they wrapped up I excitedly talked him through my research and rationale. I'd trawled through forums, websites and social media to find this magic number.

This was a number I could hold myself to. A number I could value myself with. 

The number I could give potential clients without being riddled with anxiety they'd come back with: 'Are you out of your mind? No way'.

The number was AU $100. From what I could see online, it was on the lower end of what writers with my level of experience were charging. I felt good about it. I felt safe. It was far more than I’d been earning in my previous 9-5 job, and I was proud of myself for landing on it. 

But the pride came quickly crashing down when I shared it at an intimate dinner with some friends. 

A fellow guest who had been self-employed for far longer than me shook his head and said:

“You should aim to move away from charging for your t…