NUJ Rate for the Job: Words, other / books

Rates archived as at 2025-07-09

These rates have been reported by members of the National Union of Journalists and others, and printed in the Freelance, newsletter of London Freelance Branch. They are sorted by publisher/publication, then by date (most recent first). TIP: Use the "Find in page" command under your browser's "Edit" or "Search" menu to be sure of finding all occurrences of a publication/publisher. AND do note the year in which the rate was reported! See also the Freelance Fees Guide, which gives general recommendations. And read the disclaimer and the key to exactly what the entries mean.

Words, other / books Words whose primary purpose is to appear in a book. We'll worry about how to tabulate royalty deals when you send some. These are archived rates. The current rates are here.
Tell us what you've been paid for Words, other / books		Freelance Fees Guide
Publication / Programme - details & terms	Group	Year		Total paid	GR	XXXX
1001 Horrid Facts writing (compiling) book of 1001 facts on specified topics all rights	_Quantum	2006		3000.00	GR
1001 Things to Do Before You Die three 300-word accounts (fee below for each) for hottest restaurants in Greece, photos optional, each (all rights)	_Quarto	2013		30.00		XX
Best Music Writing 2008 reuse of magazine feature non-exclusive, one use		2008		250.00
Current Law Statutes writing up the annotations to a new statute with introductory chapter of 50,000 words. , all rights	_Thomson	2008		250.00		XXX
National Geographic 400 words for glossy travel book		2009		40.00
Oxford Dictionary Of National Biography posthumous short biogs, starting at 600 words (more paid for more words)	_OUP	2013		100.00
Puzzle Books Writing an entire puzzle book or contributing to puzzle books as a joint author All rights of reproduction to Carlton - Basically, you have to give up all rights to your work and they constantly republish the puzzles. under other title names - even under	_Carlton	2004		7000.00	GR	XXXX
Rough Guide two months in France	_Pearson	1998		2000.00		X
Time Out Guides updating 32-page chapter of guidebook	_TOut	2005		500.00		X
Time Out Guides update sports chapter	_TOut	2008		200.00
A rock book 5000 word mag feature reproduced in book single use		2013		500.00		O
Book chapter (Routledge) 500-3000 words - offer of zero turned down	_Informa	2013		0.00		XX^9
Book, specialist leisure 35,000 words plus pre-production support Straight fee, no royalties, all rights (DIDN'T ACCEPT!)		2002		3000.00		XXXX
Campaigners book children's nonfiction publishers - planning contents, writing text, checking proofs all rights	_Hach	2007		1800.00	GR
Children's book Children's book, local history - text and 20 photos including hi res cover image, all rights		2011		500.00		XXXX
Children's book novelty format 32pp all rights assigned	_Quarto	2004		2700.00
Children's nonfiction book planning contents, writing text, picture list, one picture meeting, captions and proof checking, approx 20,000 words all rights	_Quarto	2007		3500.00	GR
Custom novel 85,000-word novel for private individual		2012		1300.00		??
Easyjet Destination Guides 620 words on destination - listings places to go etc. no expenses - they encourage you to ask for free meals at establishments to be listed!	_Ink	2006		110.00		XXXX
Education books plan and write 4 books lesson plans / experiments / photocopiable sheets 4 books, each 152 pages all rights		2007		6000.00
Education CD-Rom proofing & re-editing CD-Rom for schools, per hour		2007		26.00
Education CD-Rom (OUP) commissioning and editing school book texts, per hour	_OUP	2007		25.00		X
Educational books proofreading and re-editing school book texts, per hour	_Pearson	2007		18.00	GR	XX
Focus Guide Book 112 pages editorial, c500 words per page, plus flat-planning. offer refused world rights, non-exclusive after 6 months	_Future	2005		3500.00		XX
Franklin Watts Books 48-page children's book , all rights	_Hach	2009		1800.00		X
HarperCollins Education - two 250pp teacher's guides copy-edit 500pp of technical subject teacher's guide in 4 days for a set fee (job declined!)	_NI	2013		400.00		XXXX
Macmillan / Film 4 Books 1000 x 100 word film reviews for Film Four Guide to Film exclusive rights over the work	_Holtzb	2001		5000.00		XX
Need2Know books writing non fiction book 20,000 words royalties @ 10%	_FP	2010		500.00		X
Nursing textbook 5000 word chapter plus podcasts , terms not even discussed - rejected the job!		2008		50.00		XXXX
Oxford University Press Blackstone Series Writing 450-page book on fraud law for police: no fee, promise 5% royalty - maximum income will be £1000 and all rights assigned	_OUP	2008		0.00		X
Pen and Sword publishers researching and writing a 50,000 word book		2008		750.00		X
Popular science book research and write book of amazing science facts for children all rights		2007		3000.00	GR	XXX
Queen biography (the band) 25,000 words , book + 20% to go on web		2009		12000.00
Salairya 8000-word book chapter with illust.		1999		1500.00		X
Schoolbooks for Macmillan Africa 7 books of 48pp	_Holtzb	2006		3500.00		O
Sports books 24,000 words on premiership football teams, pic research, pre-productions support included all rights		2010		2000.00		XXXX
Time Out guidebook updating short chapter - 3000 words	_TOut	2008		300.00
Two humorous books (Chrysalis) 48pp each all rights assigned		2004		3000.00		X
Wayland books plan and write Key Stage 2 book, 32 pages	_Hach	2007		850.00		XX
Key to the rates, by column:
1 Publication / Programme, any details of work and licence
2 Owner at the time the rate was reported, where known	Group
3 The year in which the rate was reported		Year
4 Currency: either or or (US)
5 Amount paid (total of basic licence and extra licences for web use, database resale...)				Amount
7 "Going Rate" according to experienced NUJ members - do try to better it:					GR
or Minimum rate set out in NUJ House Agreement:					HA
8 Underpaid, in the fallible opinion of the Freelance editor:				50.00		X
or Just sometimes we're pleasantly surprised:				1500.00		O

Other rates:

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