One of the questions I’m occasionally asked by prospective clients is whether I charge by the word. The short answer is no. Absolutely not.
While per-word pricing is common in parts of the content writing industry, it has never felt like the right approach for the way I work – particularly as a specialist health and medical content writer.
When you’re commissioning healthcare content, you’re not buying words. You’re investing in research, expertise, accuracy, strategy, and content that genuinely serves your audience. Word count is only one small part of that process.
Here’s why I choose not to charge per word, and why I believe it’s a better approach for everyone involved.
You’re Paying for Expertise, Not a Word Count
If I were writing about a favourite recipe or a holiday destination, the research process would look very different from writing about autoimmune conditions, prescription medicines, or complex medical procedures.
Health writing isn’t simply a case of sitting down and typing.
Before I write a single sentence, I often spend considerable time:
- Reviewing clinical guidelines
- Reading peer-reviewed research
- Checking NICE guidance or NHS recommendations
- Comparing evidence from multiple reputable sources
- Verifying medical terminology
- Ensuring information reflects current best practice
None of that work increases the word count.
Yet it’s arguably the most valuable part of the project.
A 1,000-word article supported by hours of evidence-based research delivers far more value than a quickly written 2,000-word article filled with assumptions or outdated information.
Good Health Content Is Often Shorter, Not Longer
One of the biggest misconceptions about content is that longer automatically means better.
In reality, the best health writing explains complicated information as simply as possible.
Patients aren’t looking to read an essay when they’re worried about a symptom or trying to understand a diagnosis. They want clear answers, reassuring language, and practical advice they can trust.
Sometimes that takes 600 carefully chosen words.
Sometimes it needs 2,500.
The ideal length should be determined by what the reader needs – not by what earns the writer the highest invoice.
Charging by the word can unintentionally encourage longer content, even when it doesn’t improve the reader’s understanding.
I’d much rather create content that’s concise, engaging, and genuinely useful.
Research Takes Time – Sometimes More Than Writing
Many people are surprised to learn that writing is often the quickest part of a health content project.
Research, planning, outlining, cross-checking sources, and fact verification frequently take longer than the drafting itself.
For example, imagine two articles:
- “Five Ways to Stay Hydrated in Summer”
- “Understanding the Different Types of Inflammatory Bowel Disease”
Both might end up being around 1,000 words.
But they require completely different levels of expertise and preparation.
The first may rely on well-established public health advice.
The second could involve reviewing clinical evidence, understanding disease mechanisms, checking medication information, considering patient sensitivities, and ensuring every statement is medically accurate.
A per-word model would value these two projects almost identically.
From my perspective, that simply doesn’t reflect the reality of the work involved.
You’re Paying for More Than the Draft
Writing the article is only one part of what clients receive.
Every project also includes work such as:
- Keyword research and SEO best practice
- Structuring content for readability
- Creating logical headings
- Writing in line with your brand voice
- Fact-checking every medical claim
- Editing and proofreading
- Formatting for your CMS or publication requirements
- Incorporating client feedback and revisions where agreed
These are all valuable parts of the service.
None of them are reflected in a simple per-word price.
When I quote for a project, I’m considering the entire scope – not just the final number of words.
Health Writing Isn’t a Commodity
Charging per word can unintentionally reduce writing to a simple commodity.
It suggests that one word has the same value as the next, regardless of the thinking behind it.
But specialist health writing is about much more than putting words on a page.
Clients are also paying for:
- Years of experience
- Industry knowledge
- Medical research skills
- Health literacy expertise
- Understanding of patient needs
- Awareness of regulatory considerations
- The ability to translate complex medical information into plain English
That’s difficult to measure by counting words alone.
What really matters is whether the content informs readers, builds trust, supports your business goals, and represents your organisation professionally.
Project Pricing Creates Better Partnerships
Rather than focusing on how many words I’ll produce, I prefer conversations about what the content actually needs to achieve.
Questions like:
- Who is the audience?
- What questions are they asking?
- What action should they take afterwards?
- What tone should the content have?
- How will success be measured?
Those discussions lead to much stronger content than deciding whether something should be 800 or 1,200 words.
Project pricing also gives clients certainty.
Instead of worrying whether an article ends up being 200 words longer than expected, you know exactly what’s included from the outset.
It shifts the conversation away from quantity and towards outcomes.
Better for Me, Better for My Clients
Ultimately, charging per project allows me to spend time where it matters most.
If an article needs another hour of research to ensure accuracy, I can do that without worrying about whether I’m being paid for every minute.
If removing 300 unnecessary words makes the content clearer, I can edit ruthlessly without reducing the value of my own work.
The goal isn’t to produce the most words.
It’s to produce the right words.
That benefits my clients, their readers, and ultimately the people relying on accurate health information to make informed decisions.
Final Thoughts
Every freelance writer has their own pricing model, and there’s no single right answer for every type of writing.
For general content, journalism, or high-volume production, a per-word rate may make perfect sense.
But for specialist health and medical writing, it doesn’t accurately reflect the work that happens behind the scenes.
When you work with me, you’re not paying for 1,000 words.
You’re paying for evidence-based research, careful fact-checking, strategic thinking, clear communication, and content that’s written with both your audience and your objectives in mind.
That’s something a simple word count can never fully capture.
Looking for health content that’s built around quality, not quantity?
Whether you need patient education materials, SEO-friendly healthcare blogs, website copy, or medically accurate wellness content, I’d love to help.
Get in touch to discuss your project, or book a free discovery call to see whether we’re the right fit.
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