Should you write for free?
How do you get noticed if you want to write for a magazine or website?
A few thoughts right here…
I had two driving instructors before I finally passed my driving test.
Perfectly efficient, job done.
The second, though, showed me more.
That lots of people have the talent to write, but struggle to break through and sell their work.
Thats what Im going to try and address in this piece.
I dont proclaim to be an expert, and people know more about this than me.
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The catalyst is a colleague of mine.
Shes built up a really good writing career, and landed a full-time writing position 18 months ago.
Shes worked bloody hard for it, and Im genuinely thrilled for her.
Almost as a default position.
Furthermore, this isnt just to small publications, where its easier to reconcile.
I think people need to go into this with their eyes open.
Lets do cards on the table, as theres an element of double standards here.
I write for a few places for free still, and have done many times across my career.
Theres an element of the reformed sinner here, and its right I acknowledge that.
If you want to write for a living, thats your trade.
A car manufacturer doesnt give away cars for nothing in return, and nor should you.
And one day, that could be you.
It means that you know what you are getting in return.
What should you ask for?
Id do it again, in truth.
But conversely, Id want more for it.
Thus, if you have a blog, ask for a link back to that.
Ask that you get due credit, and perhaps even a callout on social media.
Could you get some work experience in their office, if indeed they have one?
Also: if youre posting your words for free, why not put them on your own blog?
People do read them, perhaps more than you may think.
Paradoxically, its my belief that the barriers to getting your work published have never been lower.
But the barriers to getting paid for it have never been higher.
One more thing, while Ive got you.
Dont worry about CVs.
Very few people read CVs.
I cant remember the last one I read in truth.
Instead, treasure the thing that you have that nobody else does: your brain.
Pitch ideas, and make that the thrust of any initial correspondence.
Thats what editors crave.
Note that ten people a week are already pitching 10 reasons thatBatman V Supermanwill be awesome/will suck.
Have a think: whatsyourangle on it?
What canyoubring to it that others cant?
Once youve worked that out, pitch that.
Prepare to be ignored.
Bear with me on this, because however it feels, its not as harsh as it seems.
This is common across many outlets, and the reason why most pitches dont get replied to.
Dont take this personally, however much it hurts.
Then the week after.
Then the week after.
You may try hundreds of places, or hundreds of pitches, before you get a break.
Most people give up.
If you genuinely believe in yourself, be the one who keeps going.
If you do get a commission from an editor, do it well, and dont cut corners.
If you have a deadline, keep it.
If you get a brief, follow it.
Send in picture suggestions, because lots of people dont do that.
Proof read your work.
Make it easier for someone to think of you when the next writing assignment comes up.
But, in my experience, 90% of people dont do this.
The actual answer you should be getting is weve spent the budget, or weve allocated the budget elsewhere.
Remember: your words, your thoughts, and your work are exclusive to you.
They are absolutely worth something.
And so are you.
