Reasons to Write Articles for Free
Five Incentives to Submit Work to Non-Paying Markets
Jun 10, 2008
Freelance writing can be a difficult job, especially with pools of talented of writers in the market and low pay rates. The last thing you would want to do would be to write for free. This would in fact violate your work - pay trade-off. Here are a few reasons to consider writng for free.
Increase Your Writing Portfolio
To sell your services, you will need a substansive writing portfolio. In order to build a portfolio quickly, consider writing for free. You would be able to add publications to your resume even if you were not paid for them. Once you have an impressive resume, you would be able to start applying for writing opportunities that pay well.
Even if you are an established writer, you should continue to write for free as and when time permits as this will continue to boost your writing portfolio.
Increase Your Exposure in Print and Online Publications
When you first start freelance writing, it can be difficult to jump into paying markets right away. Many publications want to see writing samples, something that may not be available at the time if you have not written before.
Taking time to write for free for print or online media will allow you to increase your exposure in the market and sell your name. This way you would be able to provide a range of writing samples to prospective paying markets.
Building your name is important to demonstrate your expertise and market leadership in your writing segment.
Increase Your Experience and Research Capabilities
There is nothing like learning something new. Writing articles for free will help you do that as you would have to do a lot of reading and research in order to come up with an article. Learning how to perform research in order to shape an article is an important learning experience.
Once you get the hang of collecting information for your articles, you will be able to complete assignments more effectively and efficiently. This gives you a headstart once you are in the paying markets.
Build Networks with Editors and Other Writers
Networking is invaluable for a freelance writer and is part and parcel of writing for free. Just getting to know other editors, can open doors to more lucrative writing opportunities. Editors are happy to recommend their valuable writers (paid or unpaid) to their colleagues in the industry -- creating new opportunity for emgering writers.
Non-paying markets often provide a free copy or copies of their publication to their contributors. Take the opportunity to look up names of other writers and their contact details and get acquainted with writing prospects in the industry. Getting to know other writers is a positive step in nuturing a writing career.
Support Charitable Causes
Many magazines or online media that do not pay are charitable publications. Writing for them will be a charitable or philantropic act on the part of the writer. This allows one to give back to society through the use of a valuable expertise - writing. Consider it a good deed to write an article without being financially compensated.
