BellaOnline Forums Career Nonfiction Writing Should Writers Write for FREE?

I AGREE WITH ALL OF THE POSTS!!!

writers, write!

it is not only a talent, it is a call of our souls to create. it becomes a 'must do'.

the times that writing is not flowing, it is brewing. like a cup of fine tea.

free is a form of thought. money is a form of payment. but life pays us back in many many different ways! like once was expressed to me: you cannot fool the universe.

c.l. mareydt
inspirational author
http://www.freewebs.com/clmareydt

Usually, no.

I write for both the enjoyment and the money. I'm currently writing (mainly travel) for online websites which don't pay very much and hoping to get into the better paying magazine and newpaper market.

I also write radio and tv scripts and collateral materials for my advertisisng clients and write my own weekly travel newsletter (PT travel agent, also.)

Here is a link to an article I wrote about a destination in California's Wine Country -

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/66868/why_visit_st_helena_in_the_california.html


L

Writing is a form of self-expression. We have to express ourselves whether we are paid or not.

I have a book of song lyrics out with PublishAmerica. It has sold 3 copies.

My second book will be essays or papers about my favorite subjects. I do not do this for money.

I've written free articles to get my website link out there and I've written internet articles for $30 each (that's practically free). It does get your name out there. I've been paid in copies also.

I think writing for free displays a writer's natural talent. It's also a good way of enhancing and exploring writing styles and approach. A writer, just like an artist shouldn't be afraid in exploring different niche of his craft, since sharing what you love to do is one way of stepping it up one level at a time through the experiences gained. But of course, there has to be one way or two how a writer is able to protect himself from possible claims and disadvantages in free writing.

This is a great/fun question.

Like many of you, I've been writing for a while (10 yrs.) and it's how I make my living. I think that writing for free is a personal choice and will not replace paid content in the long run.

I can't think of any instances where there isn't value in writing for free. (Unless it is for a greedy client.) But when I write for free it is in exchange for free advertising (byline or blurb), to gain name recognition in a new field, to help people, support a cause I feel strongly about, or to get feedback in a genre that's new to me. I strongly urge young writers NOT to write for free just to get clips. If they want it, trust me, they'll pay for it.

I just don't know how people can ONLY write for free. If you have a day job that pays the bills, then I can understand, but if you're a professional FT freelancer, you simply can't do that. So you have to find that balance between free and for a fee. One of the things journalism majors learn is to specialize--develop a niche. So, you do that, and become a member of the community you write about (finance, music, entertainment, politics) and get to know contacts and resources. You develop your craft and that makes your skills valuable. So, I don't think that free content or the person who only writers for free will ever replace paid content. It's like with any other profession...maybe I know something about computers, and I can fix minor problems for free, but if I did it full-time I'd have to start charging people because I have bills to pay.

Likewise, companies and websites can't survive on free content alone for many reasons that I won't ramble on about.

So, I think writing for free is a personal choice that depends on your goals and circumstances. But like with anything else in life, you gotta give a little bit. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I like to support the magazines and e zines of small press. I also donate stories to charity anthologies. I let my book sales pay me.

So many writers get their start with small press publications. My first publications were in semi pros and I got paid, but others get their start with donated work in "for the love of" magazines and e zines. It helps if these 'zines get donations from selling authors. Readers like to see a mixture of styles. Also they look for authors who have been published, so you're keeping the 'zine readership up when you donate.

These publications also need nonfiction, and may be on a tight budget. I write book reviews and do interviews for them to help out.

It all depends on the wants of the writer. If the writer wants pay, s/he'll find paying gigs. I want paying gigs, so I bypass the freebie sites. While I'd like all writers to fairly compensated for their works, what other writers do is their own business.