The Surprising Reason I Choose to Write Without Getting Paid—And Why You Might Too
Ever wondered if writing for free is really the cardinal sin it’s made out to be? I used to swear by the mantra “Never write anything for free,” but experience — and a few surprising success stories — have nudged me to see things a bit differently. Sometimes, handing out your words without a paycheck can actually open doors you didn’t see coming, especially if you’re crystal clear about what you want in the long run. Take those literary magazines (litmags) that don’t offer a dime but do offer priceless prestige. Publishing there might not fill your bank account, but it can certainly boost your reputation and lead to paying gigs down the line. It’s a bit like planting seeds: not every sprout turns into a money tree, but some blossoms might. If you’re curious about when and how giving away your writing can pay off—without selling your soul—then let’s dive in. LEARN MORE
There are times when writing for free can be worth it — so long as you are clear about your end goal
‘Never write anything for free’ is an important mantra, and one as a rule I am happy to subscribe to. But in my experience there are times when writing for free can be worth it — so long as you are clear about your end goal.
Take the world of short stories, creative nonfiction, and essays. There are a great many litmags — many of them quite prestigious — that cannot afford to pay contributors in these areas. But getting published by one of them is a real feather in your cap that can lead to other opportunities of monetary value.
Monetising kudos
For example, my first collection of short stories, Hotel du Jack was a much easier sell, as my publisher later told me, for the fact that many of the stories had appeared in litmags already, almost always for free. Some of them had done well in competitions, for some of which I even had to pay an entry fee.
After the collection appeared, I got asked to write articles and give talks about the art of short story writing. I was interviewed for websites and podcasts, and asked to judge a fiction competition. I was asked to write blurbs for other people’s books, and to give my permission for stories of mine to feature in creative writing courses (something I’m very proud of). Some of these activities were paying, but even when not they all offered me further opportunities to promote the book and my work.
Nowadays, when I write a story, I’m always hoping eventually to publish it in paid book form. But I’m happy to publish initially free for the right venue. That early publication gives you validation and you learn a lot too: if you have trouble placing a story, chances are it needs more work.
Writing as promotion
Another area where writing for free may help is in PR and promotion to a relevant audience. If you…
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