NUJ Rate for the Job: Words, other / books

Updated: 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. If you are interested, the archived 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
Lonely Planet online travel service piece (via #FreelancerPayGap)		2020		290.00
AC/DC and Queen rock biog (Voyageur Books, US) update chapters, add 1500-2000 words		2014		1000.00
Academic reference annual publications regular writing and copyediting of material for publication in academic reference titles and online; payment per hour	_Informa	2022		18.50		XX
Art book two artist profiles - reported on Twitter		2023		1200.00
Book authorship writing 15,000 word book, all rights (copyright assigned)		2019		1500.00		X
Book for young readers 3000 words, royalty advance	_NI	2016		850.00		XX
Carlton Books: History of Music synopsis for 192-page book + 3 presentation spreads		2017		150.00		XXX
Chicago Review Press usual fee for re-use of a musician interview in a book		2025		100.00
Chicago Review Press exceptional fee for re-use of a musician interview in a book		2025		1000.00
Chicago Review Press re-use in book of 1986 Joni Mitchell feature licensed for this book only		2017		400.00
Dorling Kindersley offered for text for highly-illustrated Knowledge Encyclopedia - had difficulty finding a freelance at this rate - per spread		2023		200.00
Industry-specific Guide Book (How to...) researching and writing 50,000 word book, including about 20 original interviews, about 4 weeks full time and 4 months part time. - exclusive license for 5 years, then copyright reverts to author		2018		5000.00
Medicine & Health Science books Writing 7 * 200 word sections, briefing artist on each all rights		2015		140.00		XX
Nirvana rock biog reproduce transcript of interview from 1993		2014		250.00
Nonfiction publisher 50,000 words, took up to 200 hours (in 2015): all rights; had a bestseller clause but threshold not reached		2022		5000.00
Pen and Sword books royalty on UK hardback sales - percent of net		2024		10.00		XX
Pen and Sword books 70,000 words plus 16 or 32 images that the author sources - advance , terms - stated on website		2024		1250.00
Pen and Sword books royalty on non-UK and paperback sales - percent of net		2024		7.50
Pen and Sword books royalty on digital sales - percent of net		2024		15.00
Penguin Books essay from a fanzine used in a book without author permission - negotiated up from £150		2022		250.00
Penguin nonfiction writing, per day: "they keep changing the spec" so it's working out at less than	_PRH	2018		100.00		XXX
Philosophy book writing: £50 per page, 250 words plus planning and proof checking	_DK	2023		50.00		XXX
Russian book publisher licensing Russian translation of a book on music - up to		2021		2000.00
Russian book publisher licensing Russian translation of a book on music - (not clear whether this involved sub-licensing photos etc)		2021		800.00
Updating career resources Small Publishing company: research, updating text, checking websites, replacing some material 35 hours		2014		600.00
Updating career resources Small Publishing company: research, updating text, checking websites, replacing some material 35 hours		2014		600.00
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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