Should I Write For Free?
If you're a newbie looking to build a reputation for yourself in content writing, the million-dollar question on your mind right now is how to begin developing a portfolio. Obtaining bylines—published works bearing your name—is crucial.?
For most beginners, this is a bottleneck as many employers in need of writers will ask to see a sample of your published work on any website. Seeing this requirement can be depressing each time you see a writing role that seems fitting. I still get that feeling. If it were merely sample works, it would be easy to compose something and send it in a PDF, but it isn’t that simple, unfortunately.
The nagging problem is; you want to do an actual job but can't seem to find one. Some beginners attempt to solve this problem by writing for free. You've thought about doing same as well. While some experienced writers might strongly disagree, and for good reasons, I have a somewhat different perspective.
However, It's equally important to note that even as a beginner, you shouldn't allow others to take advantage of your skill and time. Writing for free is a personal choice based on how pressed you are to take on a writing task and there's a right way to go about it. Here're some suggestions for writing for free and making it a win-win situation.
Unpaid Intern
Oops! Don’t go up in arms yet. Hear me out. For this to work perfectly, there has to be a symbiotic relationship that benefit all parties. Before accepting any unpaid writing work, consider the following questions.
Whatever intern role you choose, it must be a good fit for you. You don't want a job that takes up so much of your time while not allowing you to look out for other viable writing opportunities. It must be extremely helpful that you have it published in your name, as well as someone who can mentor and teach you professional writing practices. I speak from experience (now that feels good to say, I am growing old in this profession).
In my case, I wrote for an online finance media outlet for free. But here’s what I got in return. I worked under one of the finest editors in the whole wide world (no kidding). I learned a great deal in a short time.?
I saw considerable improvement in my writing. I also didn't have an outrageous target to meet; instead, I worked at my pace. If I had any concerns, I could speak to my editor. Even more, I got my works published in my name. What did my editor have to say about my progress? See the screenshot below.
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Write for yourself
I bet everyone would nod to this. This is one of the simplest ways to get started if taking an unpaid job doesn't appeal to you. Find a topic you love to write or read about and write away. I created a WordPress account where I published random things that came to mind.?
Other places where you can write and publish include Linkedin and Medium. If you have some money, get a website. One of my early works published on Brandloci’s site, got me my first international gig with a Russian tech firm. All thanks to my generous friend who made me use his platform.
Turn a free sample write-up into a published work.
When I was desperate for my first real job, I wrote large samples of roughly 1500 words a couple of times. Needless to say that this is time-wasting, but I found a way to make it count by publishing them after submitting them. If you are inclined to write free unpaid samples, consider doing this. Even experienced writers think so too.?
However, the best advice is never to write free samples that require you to write a complete piece of up to 500 words. At least that has been my rule, and it has worked so far.?
Write for a buddy
Yes, you can offer to write for a friend or family member. The real-world experience exposes you to what you can expect from future clients. It provides you with the technical know-how to handle projects competently. In my early days, I volunteered to write for free with two mentors. They, too, took the time to teach me and provided valuable advice. Of course, this wasn't to continue indefinitely. I now get paid job opportunities from them.
Charge something small
Because you are still in the early stages of your practice, you can make a little concession in exchange for your experience. Be generous with your discounts, but look out for a good deal that you can use to your advantage.
The best bargains allow you?to add works to your portfolio 0r/and provide you with testimonials. Before beginning work, these things need to be agreed upon to establish “rules of engagement”.
To summarize, you can write for free by writing and publishing on your social handles. However, make it a trade-off situation if you're offering free services or charging something small to potential clients.