I have to agree with you on local work. For some reason, one freebie for a local group does tend to turn into expectations that they'll never need to pay. Good for you for nipping that in the bud early.

Agreed with the editing clients, too. I take on individuals, but the money does have to be up front first, and I won't block off time. I work it into the schedule. Like you, I've been caught in that same situation where the author just doesn't have time to meet deadlines.

I'm not so sure on the trial piece. I've been burned in the past with those ("sample" chapters, articles, blog posts, lists, etc.), so now I send them my existing samples. That should be enough. If not, it's not for me.

When I first moved to the Cape, I did a couple of articles for a local publication for free to get my name out and about in the area. That did NOT lead to paying gigs — one of the problems in this area is that people don't want to pay writers. At this point, if you don't pay me, I don't work for you. Not around here.

I'll do a freebie guest post if it's someone I know, like, and respect. I'll do a freebie guest post if it's focused on a new release of one of my books.

I've restructured my freelance business lately to only accept manuscript editing from publishing houses rather than individual authors, because: 1) most authors don't want to pay a fair rate for line editing; 2) most of the material takes MUCH more work than what I can give them for their budget; 3) individual authors are notorious for booking time and then not delivering the manuscript because they "didn't have time" to finish it, leaving me with lost income. Even a deposit on booking didn't solve that. So I don't do it anymore.

I'm focusing on marketing writing and script writing, both of which pay better and tend to have a more reliable client base.

I like your point about bartering — I've done that, too. I exchanged web content for web design once. It was a perfect trade, too. And your point about providing free work as a test from your side is a good one. Agreed that limiting that is a good idea, and I would add offering it only to those clients who show they're serious (this one agreed to your rate).

You're right, Paula. Chances are most of the clips won't be useful. That's why I think it's important to put limits around how much freebies you'll give.

But in speaking with beginning freelancers, I usually tell them if they think it's a smart move, it's okay to write one or two pieces for no (or very low) pay, but only if they're doing in on their own terms. They need to be clear they're just gaining clips and moving on to paying markets. In essence, they're using the "client" as much as the client is using them. Perhaps more.

Chances are most clips gained from non-paying markets aren't going to be good enough to impress paying clients anyway.

Then last month I did a free video script for the potential of ongoing work. I believed him to be on the up and up even though he seemed not to have worked with writers before. (You'll know who I'm talking about, Lori.) Plus, it was an opportunity for me to see if I could handle a new subject matter for me. The prospect loved the sample, agreed to my price, and said we'd start 1 March. Then they wanted me to invoice them at the end of every months' worth of work, with payment terms of 45 days. I said no, and gave them my terms: 50% deposit on the first months' work, invoice every 2 weeks. I never heard from them again.

And here's the thing: I don't regret the free sample. (For one thing, I told them they don't have permission to use it unless they pay for it.) It showed me I can handle a subject matter that's totally new to me. And it also showed me that a long-term relationship with this client would be a big mistake.

I'll never say never, because there is a time for strategic free samples or spec work. But it's not often, that's for sure.