This has got to be the biggest controversy in the entire freelance writing industry. Many beginners think that they must acquire clips in order for an editor to take you seriously. Clips are excellent, but that doesn't mean you have to write for free. I learned the hard way from making the assumption that I needed to write for free to gain credibility. I sent an online magazine some essays I had already written.

The ''editor'' posted them to her site, promising future pay when she could afford it. After a ton of e-mails later, she sent me a message that said she was having problems with her web designer. She actually told me that she hadn't paid him, and as a result, he halted work. I couldn't believe what I was reading. I felt so insulted, and betrayed. Why was she paying her web designer, and not me?

Not only that, but she even told me that she stopped paying him! How could I trust her to pay me ''when she had the money''? I finally saw through her, and also halted work. I sent her a reply email telling her that I wasn't going to send her any other work until she could pay me. Not surprisingly, I never heard from her again. Luckily, the work I sent her were essays I had already written and I kept all rights. It could have been worse.

The Whole Picture:

I understand how it does not only affect my career, but every other writer's as well. If I don't value my work, who will? This is not a hobby for me, although it can feel like it sometimes. I have bills to pay and a family to feed.

If I could go back and do it again, I would have never even considered writing for free, unless it was for publicity. In my opinion, it is disrespectful to all writers, not just yourself. People who will attempt to get you to write for free will say anything to get you to do it. Well, that's my rant about writing for free.

Top 5 Excuses: Publications That Don't Pay:

1. When we have the money, we'll pay you (Don't count on it)2. I'll give you a byline (Yippee!3. We ''pay'' in complimentary copies (Pay?)4. It's a labor of love (We all love it, but that doesn't mean we should work for free)5. We're a small/start-up magazine (if you can't pay writers yet, don't ask for their services)

I could go on, but I think you get the point. People are relentless when it comes to getting anything for free. I know; I used to work a variety of customer service jobs. I've had people try to get a refund on a pizza when the entire pie was already eaten! I have a good laugh every time I come across writers guidelines that state that they don't pay their writers even though there are numerous advertisements all over the website and they're listed in top search engines.

I've seen one that makes money off of memberships that people pay big bucks to read the articles, go to conferences, parties, browse singles' ads, get professional resume writing, and who knows what else. They don't pay their writers! The unnamed company is far from the only one of its kind. It's not just wrong; it's unethical, unprofessional, and just plain selfish.

I must say that, yes, I wrote for free several times in the beginning, but I was really naive. I would never do it again, and I would advise all beginners to not even consider it. There are only two exceptions. And that's if you're going to volunteer your services for a nonprofit organization, or you will get publicity for your book or website. Writing for free undermines the entire profession; in fact it makes it seem like less of a profession every time someone writes for free.

Some alternatives to writing for free:

• Seek low-paying publications. That way you may not be intimidated by large publications, and still receive payment.
• Write articles on your own, and use them as samples to show to editors when appropriate.
• Self-publish an e-book, novel, or other type of book. There are websites that will place your self-published book for sale.
• Research publishers that hire authors to write about an already planned topic, and send in a proposal.
• Write your book now, and send proposals to publishers.
• Write marketing material for yourself such as brochures, website content, fliers, etc.
• Write essays, and send the full manuscript to paying publications.
• Write query letters and send them to paying publications.

I do believe that there are times when it's okay to write for free. Writing for non-profit organizations, and for publicity are honorable ways to write for free. If you really feel that you must give your work away, give it to a non-profit organization of your choice. If you have written books, write articles on topics relative to them, and let others reprint them. The bottom line is that, no, you do not have to write for free to break into freelance writing!