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Topic: Writing For Non-Paying Magazines
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| Author | Message |
| michelemilesbr | Posted – 8/4/2005 8:02:35 PM | show profile | email poster I have the feeling this isn't a new quandry, but I'm wondering if it's such a great idea to lend my writing services (hours and hours of interviewing, researching, writing and editing) to non-paying magazines. Initially, I was hoping to get experience and clips, but now I'm debating whether those are good enough reasons. I'd love to hear other opinions and - especially - experiences regarding this issue. |
| lenagrove | Posted – 8/4/2005 9:54:11 PM | show profile Well, it sucks not to get paid for hard work, but if you don't have any clips, it's hard to get paying work. I guess it just depends on how badly you need/want the clip. |
| inquisitive | Posted – 8/5/2005 10:19:55 AM | show profile I agree, it depends on your needs. Are you just starting out and really need the clips? Is it on a topic you really care about, or for a non-profit organization you'd really like to help? If so, then there may be value for you beyond a check. But if you don't <<need>> the work, just feel bad saying no, I wouldn't do it. Businesses generally don't give their services/product away for free or less than what it's really worth, and neither should we. What kind of magazine is this, anyway? It's hard to imagine how they'd expect people to work for them for free... |
| Lotus665 | Posted – 8/5/2005 10:57:53 AM | show profile There's no need to work for free to get clips, when there are plenty of outlets that will pay SOMETHING, even if that pay stinks -- at least you can buy some Ramen noodles and have the strength to keep writing! I got my first clips from a magazine internship that encouraged the interns to write and also paid their modest fee for anything you published. If you haven't done an internship, there are certainly ones out there that give you both experience and writing/clip making opportunities. I've said this on the board many times, that it's outrageous not to pay people when the people publishing the magazine are getting paid. The only time I'd recommend writing for free is for a charity or other nonprofit venture where no one, not even the editor, is getting money because there is none available and where you know your piece will have a positive impact by the info it imparts and the people it reaches. That's something you do not for your career but for personal passion. There are paying markets out there even for beginners. Try there first! ------ Lotus665 |
| Marie | Posted – 8/5/2005 11:24:26 AM | show profile There is no need to write for free, unless, of course, it's for a cause. And I'd question the quality of any publication that didn't pay writers...I don't believe such clips would even do you much good. Just craft a great pitch, study the appropriate markets and send it. It can work. Try some of the better-known Web sites (and they do pay--not much, but they pay). |
| clairezulkey | Posted – 8/5/2005 4:48:50 PM | show profile | email poster I can think of plenty of online publications where you would get quite nice clips...but you wouldn't get paid. I wouldn't have gotten paid if I didn't start out for free. I imagine there is a way to do it without starting ultra-cheap, but I don't know it. ------ Editor of MBToolBox |
| foodlit | Posted – 8/5/2005 5:39:22 PM | show profile You do not need to work for free. Ever. Just get creative in how you approach editors. I'd suggest starting with your local papers. I would also suggest writing a short spec piece, and including that with your query to the appropriate editor. That's how I started out in food writing. I did a short holiday piece on cookies, and wrote a query, and e-mailed it off to editors at The Boston Globe and Cape Cod Times. I also added a line saying if this didn't suit their needs, I'd be happy to do something else, and that I just wanted to include the spec piece as a writing sample. The Globe couldn't use the piece I sent, but asked me to work on something else, and the CCTimes bought it! And then asked me to do a feature piece for them, so I've been writing steadily every since. Good Luck! Pam |
| Marie | Posted – 8/5/2005 8:40:04 PM | show profile That's great news to hear. Local newspapers are an excellent place to start getting clips. |
| michelemilesbr | Posted – 8/5/2005 8:52:51 PM | show profile Thank you all for your helpful answers. I sincerely appreciate the advice. |
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