by Bobbie Christmas
Q: How can I go from free to fee writing?
A: I could simply say to go from free to fee writing, get work from businesses that pay for writing, but it’s not that simple, as you have learned.
Many writers began by writing free articles, but successful writers did it with a purpose in mind. They used those early low-pay and free articles to grow their freelance business into a lucrative one, and I’ll tell you how to do the same.
First of all, never feel bad about writing for free or low pay; it’s your decision, not your fate. Once you build your reputation, you can turn down free or low-paying jobs if you want to, or you can accept them when you have the time and inclination. Like those accomplished writers did, you can accept free or low-pay work with a goal in mind. Handled correctly, those jobs not only help you give back to the community, but they also can lead to a well-paying freelance career or even, as was my case, a full-time job writing.
Here’s how to start:
regardless of whether you write things for free or low pay, retain a copy of everything that gets published, either in print or on the Internet. We call these published pieces “clips,” because originally they were clipped out of magazines, although now they may appear on the Internet. Those free and low-paying jobs not only gain valuable experience for you, but also allow you to build a solid portfolio of clips.
In my twenties, I began establishing myself as a writer by writing and editing newsletters for charitable and educational organizations to which I belonged. After I gathered enough clips for a portfolio, I used the portfolio to land a full-time job with a weekly newspaper, without revealing that I had previously written only for free. That fact was not important. The clips were the important thing. They demonstrated my ability to write a good article with a captivating lead, a strong middle, and a satisfying conclusion.
All the years I worked as a journalist at the newspaper and then at progressively better paying jobs, I continued to freelance on the side, using my growing portfolio of clips as proof of my ability to write compelling copy. In this way I used my free work to land a good-paying job and then continued to build a substantial freelance business on the side before I ever left my full-time job to freelance full-time.
When I first tried to land paying freelance jobs, I thought the way to do it was to query publishers with an idea, hoping they would buy it. I quickly learned a more successful method. I developed a personal motto: “I’ll write anything for money.” With that motto in mind I met with publishers, showed off my portfolio, and I expressed willingness to write on any subject the publisher wished to assign me. The publishers I worked with tended to have a ready list of articles they wanted to assign, so I often landed one or more assignments on the spot. As a result, I wrote on the widest variety of subjects that anyone could imagine, and I learned a great deal about each subject along the way. Forget about “write what you know” when it comes to nonfiction. I’ve now written about a wide range of subjects about which I knew nothing when I began. If you are willing to write on any subject, you can learn about the subject by researching it on the Internet and interviewing folks familiar with the topic. The Internet has made research much easier than when I began freelancing; I used to have to drive to a library to look up subjects assigned to me.
Although I have progressed into editing books and magazines and no longer seek freelance writing assignments, I still write a free article now and then as a way of giving back. Those early free articles led to a satisfying lifetime career, and I’ll never regret writing for free.
Getting back to that vital portfolio of clips, nowadays some publishers prefer to see portfolios online, so be sure to have a website that displays some of your best published works. No matter what, websites have become an essential tool for anyone in business, and trust me, freelance writing is a business, and a tough one. You must always treat it like a business. Don’t assume the website will generate business for you by itself, though. Use it instead as a web-based portfolio, a place where you can send publishers to view your published works.
When I left the corporate world to freelance full-time in 1992, I approached professional newsletter companies and trade magazine publishers with my portfolio and got work immediately from both. The trade magazines paid more per article, but the newsletter companies assigned more articles. The combination kept me fed and sheltered while I worked with the materials I loved the most: words.
Remember that as a freelance writer you must constantly market yourself, because almost no client lasts forever. Editors change, publications close down, and work dries up, so if you are not always looking for new clients, you will eventually find yourself out of work. To get leads, research the Internet for local opportunities, subscribe to newsletters that list markets, or view websites that list jobs for freelance writers. Some sites let you bid on jobs, but those sites lead to low-paying jobs. If you have an opening in your schedule, though, take those low-paying jobs until you get higher-paying ones.
Even though printed periodicals have dwindled in number, other opportunities have arisen. Companies need copy for their websites. (Learn about Search Engine Optimization—SEO—if you want to write web copy). Businesses and organizations need essays and blogs to post on their websites. Query all the websites, periodicals, and other paying markets that appeal to you. Never stop looking. If you hone your writing skills, remain flexible about the subject material, and approach publishers in a professional manner, you will soon go from free to fee.
An added piece of information
You may need to use your negotiating skills, especially with companies that do not already have a set price per word, hour, or piece. Going from free to fee is one thing, but getting paid a fee that’s worthy of your time is more important than merely getting paid. Fee negotiation is a detailed subject I may address in a future column.
Even when you are accustomed to getting paid for your work, though, you may find times when you want to charge less or work for free, perhaps to help a nonprofit that speaks to your heart. Don’t hesitate to charge less or work for free when you are following your passion and helping people and organizations that make the world a better place. Whenever we give, we receive more than we give. In the case of giving free articles to nonprofit groups, we gain more good clips for our portfolios. Everybody wins.
Bobbie Christmas, book editor, author of Write In Style: Use Your Computer to Improve Your Writing, and owner of Zebra Communications, will answer your questions, too. Send them to Bobbie@zebraeditor.com.