Free samples are a good idea with cookies… why not with writing?
If you’re a new writer, you probably don’t have clips posted to show potential publishers, you know, the people you consult so you can write for them and, you guessed it, get some clips posted. It is a vicious circle.
A natural impulse might be to offer to write for free (essentially writing just for the clip itself), but you should resist this impulse. This is why:
When you write for free, you degrade the value of your work. If someone offered you a free car, your first thought would probably be, “What’s wrong with that?” Writing is no different: when something of value is offered for nothing, it immediately becomes less valuable.
Furthermore, even in his own mind, the value of his work diminishes when he is willing to do it for free. And that can really undermine your confidence, even if you think you feel good about it.
Ultimately, when you write for free (or almost free), you ruin the market for other writers. Why should anyone be willing to pay them the going rate when you, like an eager beaver, are willing to do the work for free? Right now, there are undoubtedly dozens of ads on Elance and Craigslist offering rock-bottom rates like $2.50 for an 800-word article. Giving them credit by responding to them perpetuates them.
So you may reasonably ask yourself, what do you do when you’re a writer in need of clips? Here are three suggestions:
1. Write for free – for charity. This is an exception to the “never write for free” rule; consider it as a pro bono deed. Talk to a local nonprofit and offer them your writing services for a press release, newsletter article, or whatever they might need to help you too. Tell them the only thing you’d like in return (besides a signature, if applicable) is their permission to use the finished piece as a clip (and, ideally, someone from the organization for reference if they’re happy with your work). You get your clip, you’ve helped a good cause, and your karma is through the roof. win win
2. Delicacy in the definition of “clip”. Write something great and offer it to potential markets as “a recent sample of my writing.” This is true; you’re not saying it’s been published when it hasn’t. They will probably see through this tactic, but if the writing is strong enough, they won’t care. Everyone has a first job.
3. Write to spec. This is controversial and needs to be addressed on a case-by-case basis. Writing to spec means you don’t get paid unless your work is accepted for publication. Some writers use this tactic; others avoid it like the plague. You should trust your instincts here – it’s not a bad way to get in if you’re sure you can do the task well and there aren’t loads of other hopefuls writing their hearts out trying to get the same task.