Rake in the Benefits
of Writing for Free
By Grace V. Planas
Having some of your articles published for free as a beginner in the world of
Internet writing has its own experiential rewards.
Not every article you write will be a masterpiece in the eyes of every editor.
One editor may see a specific work of yours not worth publishing while another
may see it from a different light and will be enthusiastic about buying it for
their site.
At times when you just need to write out emotions, opinions, and experiences and
want to share them with a specific type of audience or you just want to write
about an issue that deeply interests you so e-zine readers may reap your unique
little lessons and get a fresh point of view, trustworthy non-paying
publications can give you the chance to do so.
The World Wide Web is an ever-growing venue where demand for well-written
articles is increasing, more publications are being developed, and more writers
are coming out of their shell and going online each day. Competition is
tight, and yet opportunities for writers have probably never been this good.
Different writers have varied reasons and have seen different advantages in
writing for free. You will only benefit under the assumption that you
really, really want to develop and progress as a writer. The following are just
a few of the benefits you can have when writing for free:
1. Expression is its own reward. The freedom to unload and
reach out through writing when the need to be heard and appreciated arises is in
itself gratifying and heartening. And knowing that there is a ready
reputable non-paying market willing to appreciate and give you the chance to
publish your work provides a shimmer of light to a sometimes daunted writer’s
spirit, brought about by the long wait and sometimes repeated rejections when
submitting to some paying online publications.
Writing for the love of it is in the heart of almost every writer. And to
tuck your heart’s contents away in your files without seeing the light of day
is a disservice to those who will gain from your creative visions.
2. Clips. You create a showcase of your work that speaks of
what you can do and reveals your writing aptitude, approach and expertise. A
portfolio of your articles becomes available upon request by paying writing
markets.
3. Practice. Once you see your works online, complete with
bio and promotion, you are motivated more to keep on. The writing habit
helps you develop the discipline required to handle your writing life, just as
if a mentor is watching. Non-paying publications become your training ground for
writing often and for evolving. You hone your grammar, techniques, and
research methods. You learn to establish self-imposed schedules and deadlines.
4. Flexibility. There is no limit to what genre you can try
and get published. Wide-ranging topics are tackled in the Internet and
always there is a captured audience to value what you have to say. The
time when to write the piece, whether prose or poetry, short story or
non-fiction, is flexible. Writing can be fun and experimental.
5. Learn. Critiques and writing tips from fellow online
writers or editors are a couple of your tools for honing your writing skills.
You educate yourself through the works, feedback, and experiences of other
writers. You acquire your own effective time management rituals, expand
your knowledge through research and readings, and become acquainted
with the fundamentals of publication policies and procedures. You
also learn more about your literary or journalistic flaws and strengths.
You get the ‘feel’ of what it is like to go through the motion of becoming
an author prior to getting into the more challenging arena of paying
publications.
5. No idle time. You look forward to utilizing your free time
to inspiringly write about something that you know will have a chance to land
online.
6. Exposure/build a reputation. As readers, writers, and
editors become familiar with your name and writing competence, you elevate your
recognition and prospects for future paid assignments. A glimpse of your writing
flair brings you closer without spending a penny.
7. Discipline. Performing a task with dedication, under no
supervision and for no pay, requires courage and self-regulation. It is an
ultimate test of your love for your craft. It reflects your determination
to achieve. The whole exercise trains you how to plan, accomplish and
behave as a professional writer even when no one is monitoring.
9. Mental exercise. Non-stressful writing, reading and creative
thinking stimulate brain activity and prevent mental laziness. And like any
other muscle in our body, the brain needs mental workouts to keep fit.
10. Confidence buildup. Your little successes at being published in the
world of Internet writing nourish your self-esteem and belief in your gift.
You become conditioned for bigger assignments. No longer will you feel as
intimidated, strange, embarrassed or uninformed as before. You can shine in the
writing field at your own pace.
When you put ink on paper, shape your thoughts into words, with the intention of
being published, you make history. Write well. Writing well means doing a
little serious research, checking your piece/article construction (grammar,
format, and all), and working on your format, style, editing, etc. Make
sure your article gives your personality and talent justice, credibility, and
the professional touch.
Reputable non-paying sites are not curators for haphazardly written articles.
Despite these sites’ welcoming attitude, they do reject sloppy submissions.
Even famous published writers indulge every now and then in sharing free
contents in the Internet.
As long as you take your writing seriously, whether you get paid or not, you
rake in advantages. It can give beginning writers a ‘push’ closer to the
sought-after battleground of reputable paying online markets.
However, writing for free should be done with caution and must never supersede
writing for a fee. Having your contents published in top non-paying publications
is an option. It can boost your integrity as an emerging writer or even as
an established author.
Grace V. Planas, Filipino Chinese, living in Quezon City, Philippines, is a homemaker
and part time writer. Formerly a contributing writer for Working Woman
Magazine-Philippines, she writes poetry, self-help/psychology pieces,
inspirational articles, and personal essays. Many of her works have been
published in various websites and she still submits online. Her published
magazine articles are posted at: www.geocities.com/my_hearts_haven.
