lwidmer | Words on the Page

Getting Beyond the Writing Sample Question

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What I’m listening to: The Lines of the Cars by The Airborne Toxic Event In just a week and a half, we start Writers Worth Month 2016! For one month, this blog space will be dedicated to helping writers at all career stages realize their value and learn to charge what they’re worth. Make sure…

One Marketing Strategy That Can Boost Your Writing Income

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What I’m listening to: Harvest Moon by Neil Young I was off most of last week (not totally unexpectedly), and fortunately, the work that came in could be moved to this week. My cousin was in town, and I was entertaining her until somewhere around 8-9 pm every day. I had some work that couldn’t…

9 Incoming-boosting Strategies for Freelance Writers

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What I’m listening to: Hands in the Air by Timbaland What a weekend. I’m nearly over whatever virus it was that whipped me all last week. Reluctantly, I agreed to go to the Tartan Day Parade in Manhattan on Saturday. It was a wet, cold day that I’d prepared for, but my hands were frozen…

Free Advice Friday: What Your Editor Wants

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What I’m listening to: Take Me Out by Franz Ferdinand There go my plans. Today I was supposed to be meeting Ms. Sharon Hurley Hall, who is the brains behind Get Paid to Write Online and one of my dear online friends. Howe ver, client work came up unexpectedly. So here I sit, working. Hopefully, she…

5 Ways to Prepare for Sickness

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What I’m listening to: Thirteen by Big Star This week, I’m the guest over on Jenn Mattern’s All Indie Writers podcast. This time around, we talk about media outlets not paying writers, among other things. Give it a listen! I’ve spent the last few days recovering from some gawd-awful virus that hit — naturally —…

7 Ways to Kill a Freelance Writing Career

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What I’m listening to: Christine’s Tune by The Flying Burrito Brothers I finished last week in an unusual position — I had no projects to work on. Given the huge amount of work I had to get done in March, I was actually happy about that. I had time to work on a website migration,…

Monthly Assessment: March 2016

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What I’m listening to: Interstate Love Song by Stone Temple Pilots After a month of nonstop work, it’s a bit hard to come to an abrupt halt. I finished every project in the queue and had time to breathe. I’m sure it won’t last long — I have revisions due back next week and two…

11 Fun, Free Things Writers Can Use Now

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What I’m reading: The Son by Jo Nesbø What I’m listening to: Love Test by The Growlers There’s nothing like starting the week with three things that have to be done on Monday. Yet there it was — my Monday in a nutshell. I was fortunate in that there were a lot of projects last…

Are You Confusing Your Freelance Writing Clients?

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What I’m listening to: Lola by The Kinks Man, it felt good to get through that unexpected pile of work on Wednesday. I finished the most pressing deadline just after lunch. I wanted to keep going as I have this one project due next week, but I was spent. So I treated myself to a…

The Thin Line Between Free and Professional

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What I’m listening to: No News by Lonestar What a week. I’ve chipped away at the latest workload, and I’m now down to two projects from the seven I’d started the week with. One is due today, the other on Monday. I’m in a good place with both, so I’m able to breathe a little…

Eileen

My very first work was bartered, not free: a brochure for a local children's consignment store in exchange for $25 in store credit. Timid little me couldn't bring myself to ask for more! But the store owner was thrilled, and I had a sample and gained the confidence that I could do this. It was a win-win. Until recently, in my 15 year career I'd NEVER done spec work. I turned down a number of "opportunities" because they required either a free sample or the entire project on spec.

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.

Paula Hendrickson

I don't think I've ever written for free, unless you count free resumes I've done for close friends and family – most of whom referred me to their friends who paid me to write their resumes.

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.

Lori Widmer

Eileen, I do know what you're talking about! Not surprised you didn't hear from them again. I think they weren't used to working with freelancers.

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.

Devon Ellington

I do some free writing for a small, local non-profit about whose mission I am passionate. Clips of that writing has landed me paid gigs with other organizations, so it (almost) evens out. I'm doing some volunteer writing on a campaign for someone I believe in, and we'll see where that goes. I've set some very strong boundaries.

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.

Dana Ford

I have one "free" gig. It's all about the perks that come with the job though, not the money, so in that sense it's not really free, just doesn't pay in cash. It's my opinion the only totally free job any of us should be giving out would only be for one trial piece for the potential customer to see first-hand what the writer can offer them. Other than that scenario, the writer is being exploited. Lori, I love how you pointed out about not being able to build a professional foundation on shaky, free jobs. Nailed it.

Lori Widmer

Dana thanks. I'd like to hear more about that free job you do — perks? I'm all for that!

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.

Lori Widmer

Sorry, Devon. Your comment somehow landed in the Spam folder.

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.