Is it ever OK to write for free?
If you're a freelancer, or if you've thought about freelancing, this is almost certainly a question you've
come across.
Some writers argue, often with good reason, that it's a bad idea to write for free (even if you get other benefits like exposure to a large audience or a useful writing credit) – writers are doing a job and should be paid for it.
And if you feel that way, I respect
that.
The simple truth, though, is that plenty of writers write for free.
For instance, if you use Facebook or social media, you're almost certainly writing for free. Even if your tweet or post gets shared thousands of times and seen by millions of people ... you won't be paid for
it.
If you write fiction – like short stories or novels – you're probably also writing for free. You might well be hoping to get paid for your writing ... but in some cases (e.g. writing exercises, or taking a writing course), you're probably writing for practice rather than with any expectation of getting money for the specific piece you're working on.
With freelancing, though, it gets a bit trickier. You might write a piece "on spec" without payment and submit it to potential markets, hoping an editor will take it ... but you wouldn't be allowing that piece to be published for free.
Sometimes, though, it makes sense for freelancers to work for free. So when's it OK ... and when should you tread
carefully?
You Might Write For Free If...
You're just starting out as a freelancer. If you have no freelancing credits (published pieces) to your name, you'll probably need to write a small number for free, so you have something to show future clients. I do
mean a small number here: three pieces would be plenty, and one might well be enough.
You're supporting a charity or non-profit. I write occasional pieces for my church magazine, for instance, for free (frankly, it'd be a bit weird and rude to expect them to pay – it's a tiny free publication distributed by hand locally). I've also helped with website copy for occasional charities /
non-profits, like my kids' lovely pre-school.
You're getting significant benefits that make up for the lack of pay. Since my early days of blogging, I've written guest posts for other blogs for free. These have been a brilliant way to grow my own audience: without guest posting, I'd have had to pay for advertising or invest my time in some other form of
marketing.
You Should Think VERY Carefully About Writing For Free If...
You're asked to write "sample" pieces as part of a job application. If you're applying for a freelance gig, the editor/employer should be able to judge your writing quality from your existing
work. Asking for samples can be a sneaky way to get free work – without ever employing or paying you.
You know or suspect the publication pays some writers. Some blogs take free guest posts but also have paid posts from freelancers – and there may be little or no difference in quality. While you might have good reasons for writing for free (e.g. some blogs will only provide you with a link
back to your website on unpaid posts), you might well decide you prefer the money!
You've been approached out of the blue. If you've been emailed by someone asking you to write for them for free, particularly if they want a regular (e.g. monthly) commitment ... then it's unlikely to be a great opportunity. Sites that provide lots of useful benefits aren't generally having to go out and look
for writers – the writers come to them.
Ultimately, whether or not to write for free is up to you. Unless you have no freelancing clips, never feel that you "should" write for free: just because it's a family member, friend or non-profit asking, you don't have to give away valuable working time for nothing. (Of course, you might decide you have the time and inclination to help for free,
which is also fine.)
