Help for new contractor

[Scott McDaniel <mcdaniel -at- PIONEER -dot- USPTO -dot- GOV>]

Hi all,

   I've been lurking on the list, but this is my first post in
quite a while.  I've got what should probably go in a FAQ list if
there is one, but here we go...


   I'm a fairly new tech writer (less that one yr. experience),
and I'm about to take a freelance project outside of my normal,
full time job.  I've got two main concerns:

    1)  What are my tax responsibilities?  I've seen a recent
        thread on this that has answered a number of my
        questions, but I missed the name and number of the
        IRS document that spells out the difference between
        employees and independent contractors.

    2)  How can I keep from being underpaid?  I don't have any
        idea what the going rate is for a fairly new tech
        writer in the D.C. area.  Is an hourly charge better than
        a flat fee?  I will be developing on-line help for a
        fairly simple software product to be released in mid or
        late July.  I will not have to develop the help system,
        only the organization and the wording.


I would really appreciate any comments on this, as I will be dealing
with money matters this coming Thursday.

    Thanks,
              Scott McDaniel


--
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Stand hard-disk lame hers up lie.  |   Scott McDaniel
                                   |   Garcia Consulting, Inc.
Why walk onto the edge unless      |   (703) 412-3662
you're willing to step over?       |   mcdaniel -at- pioneer -dot- uspto -dot- gov