The blogging world is abuzz with posts about whether it’s right for writers to write (hey, aren’t I poetic!) for free and/or paltry pay. And though everybody has to start somewhere, we want to make sure new and new-ish writers understand that not all clips are created equal, and neither are all paychecks.
So you’re starting without a clip to your name, and you want to get some published work under your belt before you approach national magazines. What to do, what to do? With the explosion of sites out there that promise to publish your work–and sometimes, even pay you for it, if people click through or if you mention certain products in your posts–it might seem like a great place to get your start.
But will editors take a clip from one of these sites seriously? I wouldn’t count on it.
First of all, unless you’re hoping to make a career as an essayist (all articles written from your personal point of view instead of investigative or how-to articles, often called “service journalism”), magazine and newspaper writing and sometimes pro-blogging writing is about more than, well, just writing. You also have to have reporting skills, the ability to understand editing suggestions and a temperament that will allow you to work closely with an editor without flying off the handle if they cut out even your most precious phrases. If you’re trying to pitch a long, research-heavy feature to a major magazine, they probably aren’t going to be impressed by a clip on a “content provider” site (for more info about these sites and why they aren’t a good idea for writers, read this fabulous post) that’s never been vetted by an editor, was written entirely from your own point of view, cites no research and quotes no sources. Of course, you could produce a really well-written, intensively-reported article for one of these sites, but…why would you? If you’re willing to put in time and work for free or cheap in the hopes the article gets published, it would make more sense to pitch the idea to a small, but respected online publication–you know, one where you actually work with an editor and they care about the quality of the work–small local newspaper, or regional parenting magazine while you learn the ropes. This kind of market is often willing to take a chance on a new writer, but you have to leave your comfort zone long enough to put yourself out there–and face possible rejection, which can be a scary thing.
There’s nothing wrong with writing for any outlet as long as you get really clear about your eventual goals for your work. On this site, we focus on magazine/newspaper journalism, but there’s also professional blogging. But that requires a pro-active approach, too–you can’t just wait to be discovered. And some of the websites that newbie writers flock to because they see it as a chance to get published really aren’t doing them any favors. Yes, it’s possible an editor could be impressed by a really well-written blog post or article on a content-provider site. And certainly there are plenty of people who write solely for the love of it, and getting paid for it would just be gravy. But if you want to make a living in freelancing, it just doesn’t make sense to linger long in the writing-for-pennies-or-less ghetto.
So this Tuesday’s tip? Put one foot in front of the other. If you’re writing for no or low pay, aim higher. Research a writer you admire and reflect how they got to where they are. Is the kind of writing you’re doing now going to impress an editor enough to take you to the next level? And are those clips going to impress the next editor? And so on, until you land a great assignment with Much-Admired Market? If not, how can you get from here…to there?
Know where you’re going and make a plan. Everybody has to start somewhere, but that doesn’t necessarily have to mean writing for peanuts or less. And even if you’ve chosen to do just that, you don’t have to stay there for long.
Happy writing!
–Meagan
If an editor you are dying to work with Googled your name right now, would you be proud of what they’d find?
When people write for pennies on the dollar, it screws things up for everyone. Writing for no pay is something I’ve had to do (at the beginning) but only once or twice to get those clips.
Associated content is a bunch of crap. I’ve read those articles and am like “WHAT?” And, I swear, these people call themselves journalists.
If someone is getting started and wants to write about say, the environment, I can think of some pretty decent mags that look nice, read well but just don’t pay money. Do one or two for them and then move on to the paying markets.