Don't Work For Pennies- Work For Free!
I really hate to see good (but new) writers working for pennies via online content generation sites (and I know that I'm not alone in that sentiment). But my alternative may surprise you.
Work for free.
What I really mean is volunteer. Find a great cause, find a great group, and offer your writing services. For example, right before I started this post I visited Volunteermatch.org, which allows users to search jobs by locale- or no location at all! Taking advantage of the "search for virtual opportunities" option with "writing" as the keyword yielded the following opportunities:
- A career training institute for disadvantaged youth in need of a grant writer.
- A human rights advocacy group looking for a writer to create their organizational materials such as brochures and press releases.
- An enviromental group who needs a newsletter writer.
One thing I notice about all of these opportunities is that there are companies, websites and even other non-profits who will pay for these exact same tasks. But, you won't get them to hire you without some kind of proof that you can turn out a polished final project. I hope you check it out.
Two distinct things bother me in this post. When you volunteer, that’s what it is. There is no such thing as work for free. If it is work, you get paid.
Volunteering to get creds is only for those first timers. Anything else, is selling your professionalism short.
Laura Bell
Ok, I can agree with your first point. It’s just a titling convention to get peeps to come and read.
But, the second thing? Oh, no no no. I have volunteered with the same group for many years.
It’s a message and a mission I believe in, and I view writing as a volunteer the exact same as doing anything else as a volunteer. I wouldn’t stop delivering Meals on Wheels or stop helping at my children’s school just because I did it, I got a recommendation, and now it’s time to move on. That’s not how volunteering works.
So, I don’t agree with that part, Laura, but you have reminded me to stress to my readers the part where I said “a GOOD cause, a GOOD group”- get with someone who you believe in and you might form a long-lasting, mutually beneficial relationship. Don’t go into it as “get what I can and get out.”
Allena, I believe your article is a real eye opener. Who among us will turn down a helping hand in a time of need? Volunteering will only further your writing career. Great job!
Paul
Here’s a question from a newbie like me. Let’s say I have written for free, and now have some pieces that were published in a local newspaper. I suppose it’s volunteering for my community.
How do I get those clips into a form that I can then use when I am trying to get someone to hire me?
Do I just photocopy the newspapers and send those in with a query? Do I keep them in a three ring binder and carry them with me at all times? Do I set up a website and put them on line? (and if I do, do I scan them, or can I just type them in?)
The writing thing I understand, the breaking in to the businesss, not so much. Have I just missed this basic information somewhere?
Hey WarriorGirl- first, those pix on your blog are gorgeous.
As for your Q- no, you didn’t miss the info, because you said it: scan them in and email them with your pitches (for magazine assignments) or your cover letters (for biz tech.webwriting jobs).
I have a scanner, but I don’t have Adobe (Yet) and Adobe is the only thing that makes PDFs (the accepted document that most editors will want to see your clips in). So, I either use my scanner to get JPEGS and then try to find a way to turn my JPEGS into PDFs (my web guy does it for me, or sometimes there’s online software that sometimes works) or . . .
Option #2 I go to Kinkos FedEx, use their scanner and Adobe, and get PDFs like that in less than 2 minutes costing me about $5. I save up my clips and do 2-3 at a time.
(option #3 I’m saving my pennies to buy Adobe!)
freelancewrite – there is a free app called “Cute PDF” that converts many formats into PDF files. You can find it with a Google search. Once installed, it becomes a printer option.
I don’t know about the Mac side, if that’s what you’re using. I’m saving my pennies – next computer will be a Mac. But I’m still on the Dark Side at this point.
Yes, CuteFTP will crank out a PDF for you. However, when I have something that is nicely formatted and edited in a magazne\paper already, then I just ask the editor to send me the PDF of the page.
I think people need to be careful here. Giving your time away is only advisable in a couple of situations -
1. The subject matter, company or organisation is something that matters to you. If it has a personal relevance that you can add value to, then go for it.
2. Writing for free will provide you with a new opportunity. It could be a great foot in the door or could connect you with an individual who you can then begin a conversation with.
When starting out people often think that they need to work for free, that they have to struggle or ‘pay their dues’. Not true, and thinking that way is about not placing enough value on your talent and value.
Hi.
I like the ideas presented here in this story very much. There are one or two charities that I have donated to over the years and I’d like to get more involved in which are related to issues I care about AND I want to write. Plus, most charities have print materials as well the net. I think this approach is much better than blogging, because what little I know of blogging is just a lot of bickering and discord or asserting opinions to people who may not have your values. You really have to put yourself out there to the WORLD and defend yourself and not all writers want to do that. Some just want to write, get some clips, and help a good cause. I plan to try it by contacting the organizations I like.
In addition, proofreading experience can come from nonprofit organizations and charities as well.
No more spam!! Anti Spam
No more spam!! Anti Spam
vrotmnenogi
How many times you eat during a normal … every day life?
are you the type of person who eats a bit and often?
or rarely and too much?
i usually have 3 and i’m the 2nd type of person (though it’s not that healthy)
8 am breakfast
3pm lunch
9pm a snack.