Member-only story
Should I Write for Free? Is There a Justification Why?
Being expected to create art or write for free to “get seen” is a slippery slope.
Many years ago, a local magazine in the town I worked in asked me to write an article for them.
Since I was looking for any opportunity to get published and get out there, I took it. I wrote the article, and the editor expressed her appreciation for my work.
What was I paid? Nothing. But seeing my work in print — at the time — was reward enough.
Then, she wanted another article. Traction is good, right? I wrote another article. Again, there it was in print — the pay was zero dollars.
One more article — this time, I was not just the writer, but a subject of the article (the business I worked for and some charitable work we were doing was the topic.) Not only was this the cover story — but I was literally in the picture on the cover.
This was a longer story. And it was the featured, cover story. Great exposure — and I appreciated that.
But I told the editor — that’s the last freebie. Going forward, want more articles from me? Please pay me.
Guess what? That was the last article I wrote for that magazine. This was not a surprise.
