By Kelli Townsend
Keywords: writing for free, online freelance writing jobs, freelance writer
Though many experienced writers frown upon writing for free, if you are a freelance writer who is new to the field, you may wonder whether it makes sense. While paid jobs are preferred, writing for free can be a good option at times.
You can compete for the many online freelance writing jobs as a freelance writer on the Internet. Without published clips to your name, however, landing the higher paying jobs can be difficult.
With that in mind, writing for free can be a good way to build your resume. If there is a specific field of writing in which you wish to specialize, you can usually find a Web publication willing to publish your work. Even though these sites might not compensate you monetarily, you can improve your resume by writing for free.
For example, if you are a freelance writer who wants to specialize in sports, writing for a sports Web site free of charge is a good way to get your foot in the door. When paying sports-related online freelance writing jobs come along, you can apply for those jobs using your impressive resume. Additionally, many Web sites will grant a percentage of the ad revenue earned from your articles.
Online publications aren't the only places that a freelance writer can look to when writing for free. Many college students take internships to write for free and gain college credit. If you have experience with a student-run newspaper or a magazine while in school, your resume will look even better to prospective employers upon graduation. Some newspapers offer online freelance writing jobs on their Web site or blog.
If you decide that writing for free makes sense for you, it's important to find the right job. Try to find a job that prominently publishes your name on a Web site that receives a decent amount of traffic. Writing for a company or Web site with name recognition or one that has a reputation for offering online freelance writing jobs down the line is the preferred choice.
What you want to avoid is writing for free without getting proper recognition. For example, it never makes sense to be a ghostwriter if you aren't being compensated. You should also be aware of writing scams in which scammers take free work and then sell it under their own name. That's just one of the reasons why you should look for a reputable online publication that will accept your work.
Once you have your improved resume, you'll be ready to apply for and land the best online freelance writing jobs available.
.