How Much is Your Writing Worth? (Hint: It Sure Ain't Worth Nothing!)

Recently an ex-colleague who had gone on to set up his own freelance writing business texted me, asking whether I would be interested in contributing paid articles for an online magazine that his company was about to launch.

Our exchange went well; the magazine's angle sounded appealing, the rates offered were pretty decent, and we came into agreement on copyright issues. Just as everything was seemingly done and dusted came this deal breaker in his next text message:

If you don't mind, we would like you to write us a sample article of about 300 words on an assigned topic. To see if your style suits our magazine and vice versa. You ok with that?

Not one of those again, I thought. I wasn't about to write a customised article simply for a shot at getting a freelance assignment, and nothing more.

I politely turned down his request, and suggested that I send him a portfolio of my previous works instead for him to decide if I was suitable. Somewhat unsurprisingly, I never heard from him on this again, which put an abrupt end to the project before it even began. Was it one that slipped away? I didn't think so, because I knew my worth, and it sure wasn't worth nothing.

Writing for Free?

This is not simply a matter of pride. It's a case of protecting our own interests as writers, and from a wider point of view, looking out for the interests of the industry. Every now and then we come across news about people having to work below minimum wage levels to keep their jobs, or fresh graduates working for free in order to get one. That makes the news because it is an outrage. Yet how many times have we come across magazines or editors soliciting sample articles on specific topics of their choosing without offering a single cent, and how many writers have complied as if it was the norm to do so?

Perhaps some writers will reason that writing for free has its merits. Let’s examine four commonly-heard arguments, and allow me to put them into perspective.

1) It’s worth it if I can secure the writing job.

Think about it. You are probably not the only one being approached for writing samples. If an editor had found 20 trialists to write in for free, you can be sure that the majority would not be selected to become paid contributors, hence essentially flushing their efforts down the drain. You could very well be one of them.

Sure, you may be confident that your writing quality stands out above the rest, placing you in a better position to get the assignment. But how do you know if the editor isn’t just collecting painstakingly-researched articles at no cost, and doing some re-wording before publishing them to dodge claims of copyright? It happens.

2) Money should not be a motivation for writing.

I whole-heartedly agree. Writing for the money, but without passion, is barely sustainable. Not writing purely for money doesn't mean being taken advantage of though. You should not be doing charity for publishers, because they are ultimately receiving earnings out of their content and articles, be it in subscription fees or advertising revenue. It is only right that you are rewarded for your input.

At the end of the day, you can't be submitting free articles to apply for future writing assignments that pay you nothing upon being selected, right?

3) Lots of people write articles for free anyway; just look at the Internet.

You might be referring to blogs, forum postings, or free article syndication sites where writers seemingly spend hours crafting articles without receiving a cent for their contributions. I have to acknowledge that the notion of "free" content on the Internet has led many to expect—demand even—writers to also provide samples at no cost.

Without digressing into this huge subject on the "free" Internet, suffice to say that there are usually certain gains for people who write for free on these mediums. The mechanics might differ from one site or platform to another, but the returns boil down to the same things: exposure, recognition, reputation or authority in a particular field. Eventually, these may lead to more tangible rewards. In other words, it is a win-win situation for both content creators and content syndicators.

On the other hand, when it comes to writing free customised sample articles for the sole consumption of publishers, consider which party stands to gain more from this lop-sided arrangement.

4) I don’t have a portfolio, so I have to start somewhere.
Start not by offering unpaid labour to publishers. If you aren't able to find anyone willing to pay for your work yet due to your lack of a portfolio, start by taking up the many other writing options available to you as mentioned in the previous point.

A plethora of sites offers platforms to build up writing portfolios.

There are dozens of article syndication sites out there catering to all kinds of topics, from general to niche. Look for those whose featured topics are aligned with your interests, and whose submission guidelines and terms of usage are fair to you. Blog posts are also a good way to showcase your writing abilities to potential paying publishers. The choice should be yours.

End the Exploitation
It is time for writers, seasoned or green, to resist succumbing to the exploitative practice of writing free customised articles when applying for writing assignments. Requesting customised writing samples is usually not what established publishers will do, but something you'll find with many small-time magazines, papers, or sites that either do not know better or are out to get a no-cost solution to their content needs.

Discerning editors should be able to pick out a good writer in a couple of paragraphs. So if you must, a sample of two paragraphs is sufficient to convince a publisher if you are a fit. After all, if the first two paragraphs fail to capture the attention of an editor, the rest of your article is irrelevant anyway!

Your writing is worth something for all the effort you have put into it. Don't give it away for nothing.