Should You Write for Free?

Is Free Writing Worth It in the End?

by Deborah Owen

Writing for Free Leads to Money

I can almost hear you say, “You want me to write free of charge? Are you nuts?” Bear with me. There’s a method to my madness. Write for free, so you can get paid.

This is a controversial subject, but the fact is, this is how most writers get their start. If it will help you break into the writing market, why wouldn’t you?

Question

Why do you want to be published? To fill a void in your life? To teach others from your experience? To leave your mark on the earth? There’s nothing wrong with any of those things. You have important things to say—so say them, but first you have to break into the market so people can read your articles/stories.

An editor’s first question will be, “Where have you been published?” And you should have a list as long as your arm. So where do you get that experience? We’re back to writing for free.

Where to Begin

• Write for ezines that pay in subscriptions (some will pay $5)
• Write for your church bulletin
• Write for newsletters at work
• Volunteer work for a nonprofit charity
• Ask your local newspaper if they need someone to cover sports and/or political     meetings. (These are hard jobs to fill, and almost every paper has such a position.)
• Write an article on odd things you see in the community, and sell them to the local paper. (Always take a picture. You’ll get $10 for the article and $5 more for  a pic.)
• Write for Associated Content or eHow

As your articles are printed, be sure to clip, date, and save them in a photo album. These are called “clippings”. (If you take writing courses and receive a Certificate of Completion, you may want to keep them in the same album.)

When you move up the ladder, editors will ask to see samples of your work. That’s when you copy your clippings and send them for inspection. When sending your first piece to a magazine don’t say, “My teacher liked this piece,” or “I’ve never been published before, but I work hard,” or “I belong to a writer’s club and this article was voted best of the month.” These are amateur remarks and editors will recognize them as such.

You may be asking, “But when I send clippings from bulletins, newsletters, and charities, won’t the editor know I’ve been writing for little or nothing?” Yes they will, but they won’t care. They’ll know you were learning the market, and you must have some talent or no one would’ve published your work.

If you don’t have publication credits, avoid the subject altogether, but send a short cover letter with your submission. Give a very short story on how you started writing and what your goals are. Don’t forget to thank the editor for his or her time.

In Conclusion

• Writing for free is a great way to establish credentials
• Keep dated clippings in a photo album
• Present yourself professionally

You make your own chances in this business, and writing for free is part of the learning curve. What about you? Have you tried writing for free? Did you find it profitable? Click on the title to leave a comment, and don’t forget to “like” us! Thanks.

Go to www.CreativeWritingInstitute.com to get a personal tutor in your writing course. How many schools offer that?