Commission Me
My base rate for a short poem starts at $50. This would include a sonnet, a ghazal of up to ten couplets, another formal metered poem of comparable length and complexity, or a free verse poem of under one page in length.
For a longer or more complex metered poem, or a free verse poem of greater than one page in length, my additional rates begin from a rough baseline of $1 per line beyond the $50 base rate. However, this is only an approximate rule of thumb; all prices for longer pieces beyond my base rate would be by negotiation.
For reference, one page of poetry is typically around 40 lines long. Therefore, two pages of free verse poetry would be about $90 ($50 for the base rate plus $40 for the additional lines), though it would depend on the complexity and exact specifics of form. Two paired sonnets (a total of 28 lines) would be around $64. A ghazal of twenty couplets (40 lines) would be around $70. Similar extrapolations may be made for other formal metered verse.
I am also open to writing more complex structured poems such as sestinas, villanelles, alliterative verses, or any other forms of interest to you. These would be by negotiation from the start, regardless of length. Prices would depend on complexity and my degree of comfort with the strictures required. The less easily adapted a verse form is to the English language, the more I am likely to ask of you.
I can also do limericks. They are very silly and short, and I will write one for you for $25, or a whole bunch by negotiation.
All commissioners would be entitled to a free consultation (which can be done by email, text chat, or video call), an initial review and revision after I have completed the first draft, and a final round of revision after I have completed my editing. Longer or more complex poems may require additional revision, by negotiation, which might merit an increase in price.
To request a commission, send an email to tchy@tchy.ca. Include the words “poetry commission” in the subject line, as well as a short description of the subject or purpose of your poem. Let me know what you’re interested in commissioning, about how long you’d like it to be, and how you’d prefer to have your consultation.
The above rates apply only to personal commissions. If you need someone to write a poem for something you’re intending to publish, sell, or advertise, I can do that too. My professional or commercial rates are by negotiation.
All my prices are in Canadian dollars. A deposit will be required up front.