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Writing For Free: When & When Not to Do It!Yuwanda Black Right off the bat, I want to say that there is no right or wrong answer to this topic. A lot depends on your end goal — to get a job, garner publicity, build a portfolio, etc. However, there comes a time when every writer should say no to writing for free. Below are some issues that Ive been pondering about freelance writing. Issue 1: Content for websites. Content is king on the Internet and everyone wants something fresh and unique on a regular basis. If you are promoting a product/service and write articles to generate publicity, then by all means, give the content away. However, if what you are selling is your writing skill and are not promoting anything, then dont give it away. Youd be better off doing a direct mail campaign and spending your time creating pieces for your portfolio — even if they are only make-believe companies. One could argue that the reason good writing is taken for granted is so many give it away. I give a lot of content away, but only within the framework of WIIFM whats in it for me. Issue 2: Writing on spec: For those of you who dont know what this is, see this excellent primer article at http://inkwelleditorial.com/beginnersguideglatzer.htm. This established freelance writer explains spec writing brilliantly. The bottom line, once your portfolio is complete with good samples, stop this practice. The exception would be if its a credit from a noted source that you really want. After all, whos going to turn down Fortune However, I believe theres a big enough need for good writers that you dont have to sell your soul for one credit, even if it is a "biggie." How many samples should you have I advise between five and ten. Try to get them from different sources — eg, two newspaper, three websites, two brochure, one sales letter, etc. This will give your portfolio a range. Nonprofits, friends with small businesses, neighborhood shops — all are possible non-paid sources to build your writing credits. A tip: Choose a small business and do the brochure, sales letter, etc. first. Then, send it to your target and ask if they would mind if you included it in your portfolio. I dont know any small business that would refuse a well-written promotional piece that doesnt cost them a dime. Bang, a legitimate credit! Issue 3: Original Content & Rights: I dont believe in giving away original content — again, unless you are promoting a product/service or are just starting out. I am constantly amazed at the number of publications that want original content but dont want to pay for it. An example. I write a small business column. An editor saw it and approached me to be a regular contributor to their publication, which is quite noted in business circles. The kicker They didnt want my column but wanted me to contribute original content with no pay. I had to turn them down. I offered the column at no charge since I already write it, but explained that original content outside of this without payment was not possible. If you write, then you know its not easy coming up with original content on a regular basis. Some subjects are so covered that nine times out of ten, new ground is never being broken. We are usually just putting a new spin on it. This costs brain cells! And, trust me, not everybody can do it. So, the next time you put finger to keyboard, think about your objective. If we all stopped giving away our pearls of wisdom, then the pay level across the board would be raised.
| | | | RELATED ARTICLES What Dreams Will Come! As the pioneers of aviation took to the air not skies, in their human powered mechanical contraptions, what must have been said and thought Home Business Writing Made Simple Have you ever written a letter to a friend Ever written an outline for any project you were about to start What about a shopping list If you have, and I imagine most have, you can then write focused, brief, content articles for your online home business. How I Became a Syndicated Columnist -- And You Can Too! Real Estate has "Location, location, location," and writing has "Clips, clips, clips." The Pros and Cons of Print on Demand Publishing When I was five years old, my parents bought me a manual typewriter for a Christmas present. I practiced every day until I was able to type letters to my grandparents and other relatives. Although it is safe to say that I have been a writer since 1963, I didn’t start making money from my writing until I started Graphico Publishing in 1988. Making Freelance Writing Niche Types Fit Our Freelance Writing Needs Defined Cover Letters Cover Letters :: Are you telling them what they want to know The Top 10 Secrets of Successful Authors If you are not a successful author yet, incorporate the following 10Secrets: Promoting Your Online Writing Portfolio Dear Writing Reader, Titles and Subtitles Sell Books! Does a title really sell a book The short answer is, yes. If a book does not attract a reader initially, it will be overlooked and not purchased. The book title is the element that creates the initial attraction to the book. Seven Compelling Reasons to Get Your Name on a Book Cover Have you ever considered writing a book If so, maybe you’ve already established firmly in mind your exact purpose for becoming an author. Your reasons may match one or more of those below. Or perhaps you could add yours to the list. Nevertheless, with some 65,000 books being published in the United States yearly, there is overwhelming attraction to joining the ranks of authors. Whats in a Name Giving Birth to your Characters So you’ve got your plot outlined, a title lined up and the research is done. You’re ready to start writing your novel. But wait. Now comes the fun part: creating names for your characters. One of the best things about being a writer—besides the innate ability to create imaginary worlds—is giving birth to a character and then bestowing a name upon him or her. True, you didn’t carry the character in your womb for nine months especially if you’re male. But he or she could’ve been in your head for nine months…or nine years. So choosing a name for your characters seems almost as important as the one you would give your own child. You Can Be An Author “You should write a book.” For years, I had been hearing this comment. Writing an entire book seemed completely overwhelming, and so, for a long time, I contented myself with writing short articles. One day, inspiration for an article hit me and, as I started writing, paragraphs began flowing out at an enormous rate. Before I knew it, a rather lengthy piece was developing. It was too long to be an article, so, I decided it would not hurt to try self-publishing a little booklet. Was I ever surprised! The first printing of this 32-page black and white booklet sold out within a week. Why Write Articles to Promote your Book Reach 15,000to 100,000 targeted buyers every week Online. Thats the best reason I know to write and submit how-to articles to opt-in ezines and top web sites. get more book sales.Now, thats real exposure! And its totally targeted because these people visit sites andsubscribe to ezines who feature your topics of expertise. Your coach now has over 105 articles circulating and these have brought her over one-third her monthly income. Write a Better Technical Article in Half the Time Good technical articles are challenging to write. They’re time-consuming, demanding to research and hard to organize. But they’re valuable weapons in the PR and marketing arsenal, and you need them. The Top Five Mistakes That Companies Make with Regard to Technical Documentation I’ve seen it time and again. One of the most common weaknesses that I’ve seen in engineering companies—indeed, an almost universal fault—is the lack of proper technical documentation. Some would laugh this off as a minor detail; however, the repercussions are often severe. A company’s entire future can be made or lost based on the amount of attention they pay to this issue. Earn Money From Freelance Writing If your writing skills are not so good, or you’ve failed your English test on the high school, you may be feeling a little slighted about writing an article, report, sales copy or ebook. If it’s your case, there is a solution just for you. 7 Deadly Mistakes that Cost You Money and Assignments Sometimes, you just don’t get second chances. Freelance writing works a little that way. If you’ve offended an editor, it’s quite unlikely that she’s going to work with you again. If you don’t muster up the courage and ask for a higher payment rate, you won’t get that chance till the next acceptance. And if you sell all rights for less, you write away all future income from the sale of that piece. How to Have an Effective Writing Group The works you’ve written are numerous, ranging from short stories to even the novel, hidden in a storage bin under the bed collecting dust. But there comes a time when you must wipe away that dust, regain your pride, and prepare your babies for publication! But, how do you get such a critical, unbiased eye to analyze your works, offering both praise and criticism Article Writing Tips 3 Tips when Writing Articles Hooks, Lines & Sinkers Hands up if the title to this article made you think that youd strayed into a fishing feature |
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