5 Freelancers Reveal the Truth About Working for Free

As a freelance writer, illustrator or creative type, there will be so many times where you will be asked to offer your services for free. There will be times where you’ll be torn and tempted. You know that your time is valuable, but it’s a respected publication and you could use the “exposure,” or maybe you don’t think your work is established enough to deserve payment. Your time and talents are worthwhile and valuable, so is there ever a situation where you should work for free? Do you really need to write for exposure, or should you just use social media? We asked five real-life badass lady freelancers in various industries, and this is what they said.

1. Gwendolyn Elliott, Freelance Journalist at ArtistDirect and No Depression: “I started blogging for free right out of college in the early 2000s, with no real-world writing experience. Obviously, I knew I wasn’t getting paid, but I looked at my first internet writing job as a kind of post-grad internship. I needed to learn the skills required so that eventually an outlet would pay for them.

I was writing about music, so there were perks like free tunes and free shows. I was also writing for a team I really liked, and had editors who were easy to reach and talk with. That, I learned, is incredibly important, because all professional writers need to know how to work with editors and senior writers, and it can be tricky at first learning how to negotiate edits to your work. As I kept freelancing over the years, through much persistence, I landed paid freelance work and various roles on staff at an alt-weekly. When I was starting out, I had a lot of enthusiasm, but my writing still needed work (it still does!).

Writing for free gave me the flexibility to work on my writing via a platform with a built-in readership, but without the pressure of knowing my editors might become unreasonably demanding with my time. It also gave me access to artists and sources that would have been difficult to reach if I had just been blogging for myself. But if you’re really serious about writing and continue to fine-tune your style and develop your voice (as well as your professional network), eventually you get to a place where paying outlets start paying attention (whether through your own relentless pitching, or other channels) and writing for free is no longer an option that makes sense.”

2. Anna Gragert, Writer at My Modern Met and HelloGiggles: I think you should work for free if you genuinely admire the publication you’re working with. Don’t write for them because everyone else seems to be writing for them or because you feel like you have to write for ALL THE PUBLICATIONS in order to get your name out there. (I made this mistake when I first started out and it was exhausting.) In other words, do your research. If you know the quality of the content they produce and feel connected to the publication as a whole, then go for it! (And definitely go with your gut! Bad vibes = bad news.)

When you’re doing your research, take a look at if the publication treats all their writers equally. If some writers get more attention than others (more promotion on social media, editors work harder to make their prose perfect, etc.) for no particular reason, then I would approach with caution.

If you’re working hard for free, you want to make sure that you’re being valued. You want to know that you’re in good hands and that you’re being treated the same as everyone else. Even if you’re not as experienced as other writers, that doesn’t mean you should be ignored or seen as ‘less than.’ No matter who you are, your words have value. If a publication doesn’t see it that way, then do not give them the time of day.”

3. Annie Moorehead, Watercolor Artist and Photographer:“I don’t recommend offering to do a project without establishing whether or not you’d like compensation. I made the mistake of doing this once; I offered to do a pen and ink piece for a retirement gift without setting a commission price. It was difficult when I realized that it needed to be a commission rather than a free gift, and setting the price and communicating it to the buyer was awkward. It turned out alright in the end, but would have been much easier and more professional to negotiate a price for the work at the beginning.

That being said, it can be difficult for creatives to price their work when just starting out. It may be beneficial for emerging creatives to do a few projects for free as experiments with time and effort and materials. Once you’re comfortable with the practicalities of creating for others, I’d say don’t take on work for free from that point forward.

However, you should consider working for free if it is for a cause that is meaningful to you, and would benefit your professional work. Say, for instance, an organization that you support is planning an auction of some kind, and you are asked or you volunteer to create a piece for it (or design some of their promotional materials). This is a smart move when you consider that your work will be visible to many people (free advertising!), and you communicate by your donation that you are not exclusively for personal gain.

I’d discourage working for free on projects that have no stated/agreed-upon boundaries. Or projects that are too loosely defined. I’ve read that it’s smart and professional to set a standard price for the time you give to a project, even if the work is rejected or needs significant alteration. A baseline, if you will — an agreement that you will be compensated to some degree regardless of the ultimate finished product. I think this encourages potential clients to respect you and see you as an equal professional.”

4. Eva Davis, Freelance Social Media Consultant: Working for free can be good if you have another job and you just want to try it out. For the most part, if they respect you enough to hire you for your work, they should respect you enough to pay you. Or at least barter services.

Unpaid freelance work makes me mad, because a lot of times, it’s creatives working with other creatives. So they should understand the hustle. I don’t like when creatives are exploited and taken advantage of because of the mentality of, ‘Well if you really love it, you would do it for free.’ If you’re in a situation where you have less experience at something, try offering a reduced rate.”

5. Lindsay Hood, Freelance Writer at Pitchfork, Deadspin: “This is a complicated question because most people would advise you not to [work for free] under any circumstances. However, I have worked for free and I don’t regret it. I would always evaluate the size of the publication’s audience and how much weight their name carried. These articles provided me with clips to send to other editors. Then, they’d know I had experience writing on deadline and had undergone the editing process.

But I upheld a personal policy: one free article per publication. I was happy to demonstrate my writing and editing skills and prove myself, but I never allowed myself to become a content farm. If the editors followed up and asked me to write more pieces, I would politely explain I’d love to work with them again, but I would need to be paid for my time. Some said, ‘Okay, no problem,’ and some never responded, but it was never left on bad terms.Writing for exposure is real, whether people want to admit it or not. But writing for exposure doesn’t mean you have to strip yourself buck naked. Evaluate and treat each situation separately.

And I’m still a fan of putting pieces on your blog when you’re making a name for yourself IF — and this is an important IF — you treat your blog as you do a publication. Research and fact check your posts. Do not send these links along as a potential clip if this is where you dump your random thoughts at 3am. You’re trying to prove you’re a professional, so use common sense. But if you feel the post is strong, then sure. I’d take it. I’ve occasionally sent editors some of my blog posts so they’ll have an idea of how my raw copy comes in. It’s a helpful trick when you’re trying to convince an editor to take a pitch. If they have an idea of how much editing you’ll need, it might make them more willing to take a chance.

Also, I have to give a special shout to female writers here. If you’re contemplating writing for free, this might be because YOU DO NOT PITCH ENOUGH. I struggled with this until I started working as an editor. I turned down pitch after crappy pitch from clueless dudes who didn’t understand I’d probably accept an idea or two if THEY SENT ME BETTER PITCHES. Meanwhile, my female writer friends would mention ideas to me in passing, ideas that I loved, and they never follow up with a formal pitch. So ladies, PITCH. This question will start to become obsolete if you’re more proactive about getting paid gigs.”

Would you be willing to work for free? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

(Photos via Getty)

Ever dream of globetrotting the world while getting paid? That's not a rhetorical question. Now you can turn your wanderlust into real cash with Ramada by Wyndham. The global hotel brand is on the hunt for its next "CEO," AKA Chief Eats Officer, a dream role for anyone who loves food and travel and well, a paycheck. One lucky adventurer will be paid $15,000 to travel to Ramada’s most coveted destinations, curate a list of must-eats, and share their travel highlights on social media. Learn how to enter below!

Decameron Club Caribbean Runaway Bay, Ramada Jamaica

From Thailand to Turkey and Seoul to Santa Barbara, the CEO trip will include up to seven global destinations in a three-week itinerary next spring. With hotels in 75 countries around the world, Ramada by Wyndham is perfect for travelers looking for that bucket-list experience!

Hunan, China, Ramada by Wyndham Chenzhou Dongjiang Lake

For a chance to be the next “CEO,” travel and food enthusiasts can visit Ramada.com/CEO by October 22 and submit a short, 1-3 minute video through TikTok (tag @RamadabyWyndham, #RamadaCEO) or email makemeceo@ramada.com that shows your passion for travel and discovering amazing eats.

Prize Details:

  • $15,000 reward, including a $10,000 travel stipend to cover airfare and travel expenses, plus $5,000 cash
  • Paid hotel accommodations for up to 21 nights at Ramada properties around the world
  • A Wyndham Rewards® Diamond membership for one year

Ramada Resort by Wyndham, Bodrum, Türkiye

How to Apply

To apply, post a public video on TikTok explaining why you are the best candidate for the job, tagging @RamadabyWyndham, using the hashtag #RamadaCEO, and following @RamadabyWyndham on TikTok.

Your TikTok account must be publicly viewable for the duration of the contest (through November 2024). Alternatively, you can email your video submission to makemeceo@ramada.com.

All video submissions must be between one and three minutes in length and should include your country of residence.

If applying via email, be sure to provide the handles for your active and public personal social media accounts.

All entries must be submitted and received by 11:59 p.m. ET on October 22, 2024.

Additional Qualifications Include:

  • Applicants must be a legal resident of the 50 United States or Canada (excluding Quebec).
  • Availability to travel for up to three weeks between April 1, 2025, and June 30, 2025.
  • Active and proficient on various social media platforms (TikTok and Instagram preferred).
  • At least 21 years old with a valid passport through December 2025.
  • Self-confessed travel lover and foodie.
  • Comfortable working remotely and on deadline.

Ramada by Wyndham will select the winning CEO on or around the week of November 14, 2024. No purchase is necessary to enter. For more details, including official rules, visit www.ramada.com/ceo. Good luck!

Subscribe to our newsletter for more travel inspiration!

No matter what kind of day you're having, Marissa Cooper's having a worse one. Mischa Barton's The O.C. character went through the ringer during the first three seasons of the teen drama (remember how she overdosed in Tijuana...and also saw her parents post-hookup after their divorce?).

And during her time on The O.C., Mischa Barton struggled with drug and alcohol abuse. She was arrested for a DUI in 2007 and eventually received involuntary psychiatric hospitalization in 2009 after allegedly threatening to end her own life. And in a new interview, Peter Gallagher (who played Sandy Cohen on the show) says he's "just so grateful" for "the fact that she’s still alive."

  • Mischa Barton starred alongside Peter Gallagher in The O.C. from 2003-2006.
  • The actress has revealed the "trauma" of being a star at that point in her life.
  • Peter recently opened up about how he's thankful "she’s still alive."


Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for FLC/John Lamparski/Getty Images

The O.C. follows Ryan Atwood, who moves in with the Cohens after getting kicked out of his mom's house, and starts a relationship with Marissa shortly after. While Peter Gallagher played Adam Brody's TV dad instead of Mischa's, Sandy was a definitely father figure for Marissa, and it seems like Peter felt that same responsibility off camera.

"I’ve always felt very protective of her," Peter told The Independent. "First fame is toxic. First fame can kill you. She was 16 years old when she started working with us, so just the fact that she’s still alive, I’m just so grateful."

“You can go to therapy every day for the rest of your life,” Mischa said in a 2023 interview with The Sunday Times. “There’s just a certain amount of trauma [from] all that I went through, particularly in my early twenties, that just doesn’t go away overnight.”

Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage revealed that season 1 overdose not only served as a cliffhanger, but gave “network executives an escape hatch on a performer they had been wary about” (via People). But Mischa Barton got her big break, becoming "how people knew the show," and (thankfully) Marissa recovered — only to die after a car crash in season 3.

As hard as that season 3 ending is to watch, Mischa did have the opportunity to watch it with Rachel Bilson and Melinda Clarke for the first time on their rewatch podcast. "It needed to be a thing, after everything she's been through, but if it's here I'll watch it with you," Mischa says.

"I couldn't do it, Mischa, I couldn't do it," Rachel adds. "But I'm going to do it if you're going to do it."

Mischa says even though being written off the show "was a little bit of a bummer," it wasn't necessarily a surprise. "The character was just doing too much," she told Vanity Fairin 2023. "And I think they ran out of places for her to go. It was not the best thing in the world, [but] there wasn’t much you could do at that point. It was whether she could sail off into the sunset, or die. At that point, I guess it’s better to have the more dramatic ending.”
What did you think of The O.C. season 3 finale? Let us know on Facebook!

In our Take 5 series, sponsored by Verizon, we ask women in business about unexpected challenges, their inspirations, recent wins, and how the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program has helped propel their business forward. Here, we meet Rita Suzanne, a marketing strategist for health and wellness businesses who learned to network, connect with other entrepreneurs, and build her business online and IRL.

What's an unexpected business challenge that you've had to face and how did you overcome it?

The hardest thing for me was my sister passed away and I ended up taking custody of my nieces. I ended up being a single mom of four kids. This is the thing that transitioned my whole entire life. I stopped doing web design and started my podcast Mom Owned and Operated. I wanted to reconnect with other moms and figure out how they were able to run their businesses and raise a family and take care of themselves because I wasn't able to do all three at the same time. Through that journey, I realized that I really needed to connect with other people and how important it was for my business. It helped me to create that community that I was yearning for that I didn't realize that I needed.

What's a recent small win for your business?

For me, the win was just pivoting back to something that I actually wanted to do. Also, I’ve started to say no to things that I no longer want to do.

Who is a woman in business that you look up to and why?

I have always admired and looked up to Amy Porterfield [author of Two Weeks Notice]. I listened to her all the time when I was starting out. I think that she's amazing and I love her stuff. She just seems like a very genuine person.

Is there a resource that has made an impact on you as an entrepreneur?

I listen to a lot of audio books. One of my favorites that has been huge for me is You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero. I was told when I first started my business, by a friend who was a business coach, that I have a mindset problem. Ten years ago, I had no idea even what “mindset” was. Sincero’s book helped me to see what she meant by “mindset” and helped me adjust that mindset and fix some of the things that I didn't realize were broken.

How has the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program helped propel your business forward?

There are a lot of things that I have loved about it. There are local networking and training opportunities, and that has been great, and the online training is very valuable. It's a great resource. I find that marketing needs a three-tiered approach, meaning you need to network it locally, socially, and then also have a very comprehensive online approach to your marketing. One of the Verizon Small Business trainings that I took was all about taking advantage of your local resources. I found that to be extremely valuable because often people think they need to just focus on social media. I don't think that people focus enough on their local community.

Learn more about the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program and Rita Suzanne.

Illustration by Daniela Jordan-Villaveces

Former Disney Channel star Dylan Sprouse and model Barbara Palvin are certainly living the sweet life after tying the knot in Palvin's native Hungary. The couple, who have been together for nearly five years, have always been pretty low-key — except for the occasional and undeniably adorable Instagram post (and a stunning wedding!). We are simply ~obsessed~ with this celebrity couple, especially after they pulled out all the stops for their couple's Halloween costume. Keep scrolling to see some of their best moments :').

See Dylan Sprouse & Barbara Palvin's Halloween Couple's Costume!

For Halloween Dylan Sprouse and Barbara Palvin stunned as the Phantom and Christine from Phantom of the Opera. Dylan wore a mask and a black cape, while Barbara wore a beautiful white dress. While the costume is obviously a nod to the musical, it also totally reminds us of their day as bride and groom.

"In Sleep He Sang to Me," Barbara said in a post, quoting the musical's titular number. "@dylansprouse my forever Phantom."

Who did Dylan Sprouse marry?

www.instagram.com

On the couple's wedding day (July 15, 2023), Barbara wore a Vivienne Westwood wedding gown to celebrate her Hungarian nuptials, bringing together their nearest and dearest for an intimate(-ish) celebration. Barbara and Dylan tied the knot on her parent's property, which conveniently doubles as an event venue, with plans to host an larger wedding in California in the fall.

"This past weekend was supposed to be an intimate event, but we ended up having 115 guests in the end because there are a lot of people we care about, and we wanted them all to be there," Barbara told Vogue.

When did Dylan Sprouse and Barbara Palvin get engaged?

www.instagram.com

Barbara Palvin on Instagram: "♥️"

After months of speculation surrounding the couple's engagement, Dylan and Barbara confirmed their engagement in conversation with Sprouse's twin brother, actor Cole Sprouse, for V Magazine in June, sharing that they got engaged last September.

"We didn't necessarily feel the need to be fully transparent with the public about that aspect of our engagement," Dylan said. "What we wanted to do with Stephen [Gan, V editor-in-chief] and the V team is make something that was kind of tongue-in-cheek about the nature of private versus public. We're playing with the idea of perception."

Barbara noted that the lovebirds wanted to announce the news "on our time," adding, "When some people leaked the information that we got engaged, our PR team was like, 'Hey, so you guys should do maybe a post about it or talk to this magazine or talk to that magazine…' That really annoyed me because I knew we were building this story up. So, I'm very happy that we ended up doing it our way."

When did Barbara Palvin and Dylan Sprouse start dating?

Sean Zanni / Stringer / Getty Images Entertainment

See Dylan Sprouse & Barbara Palvin's Dreamy Halloween Costume: "My Forever"

According to People, the couple met back in 2017 after a party when the Suite Life On Deck star slid into the model’s DMs (and as they say, the rest is history). The duo made their relationship Instagram official back in 2018 with Barbara’s sweet birthday tribute for Dylan’s 26th birthday.

Let’s be real here for a second though, we all knew they were endgame the minute Dylan went above and beyond to support Barbara at the Victoria Secret Fashion Show that same year (remember this viral video?). Three days after the fashion show, the Hungarian model told Vogue Australia that she hadn’t had a boyfriend in six years, but had now found “the perfect guy” in Dylan (we aren’t crying, you are).

How old are Barbara Palvin and Dylan Sprouse?

Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images

Barbara Palvin was born on October 8, 1993, making her 31 years old. Dylan Sprouse was born on August 4, 1992, meaning he's 32 years old. So there's only a one-year age gap between them!

Stay up to date with all of Brit + Co's favorite celebrity relationships. Let us know your thoughts on Twitter!

This post has been updated.

2017's The Beguiled gave us one of the best groups of people of all time: Elle Fanning, Nicole Kidman, Sofia Coppola, and Kirsten Dunst just to name a few. And we're finally getting an Elle and Nicole reunion thanks to Apple TV+! "THRILLED to bring @rufithorpe genius hysterical heart-wrenching heartwarming book to your TV screens alongside a dream group of people!" Elle says on Instagram. Rather than having to test the success of its pilot, the series has already been ordered — even though the book it's based on isn't even out yet! Here's everything you need to know about the series.

  • Dakota and Elle Fanning will produce the upcoming Apple TV+ show Margo's Got Money Troubles.
  • The series follows Margo, who signs up for OnlyFans after learning she's pregnant.
  • The cast includes Elle Fanning, Nicole Kidman, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Nick Offerman.

Who's in the Margo's Got Money Troubles cast?

Amy Sussman/Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Margo's Got Money Troubles Cast

We couldn't contain our excitement when we learned Margo's Got Money Troubles will star Nicole Kidman and Elle Fanning, but knowing Michelle Pfeiffer is also joining the cast is too much to bear! This is the first time the actress will collaborate with her husband, TV creator David E. Kelley, so we can't wait to see the magic they'll create (via Deadline).

Nick Offerman from The Last of Us and Parks and Rec will also star.

When is Margo's Got Money Troubles coming out?

Ron Lach/Pexels

Margo's Got Money Troubles Release Date

We don't have an official release date for Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman's TV show yet. I'm thinking if the TV show is in the early stages of planning, we could see it in 2025! Check out all of this year's best New TV Shows to hold you over until then.

What is Margo's Got Money Troubles about?

Amazon

Margo's Got Money Troubles Plot

Margo Millet is the daughter of a Hooter's waitress named Shyanne (Michelle Pfeiffer) and an ex-wrestler (via Deadline). She's always had to make it on her own, even though she's not sure how. When she enrolls in her local junior college, she's totally unprepared to get swept up into a torrid love affair with her English professor — or to get pregnant.

Now at 20 years old, Margo needs an income and fast. She decides to experiment with OnlyFans and ends up taking some of her estranged father's advice from the world of wrestling to create a character users will fall in love with. You can order the book now!

What is Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman's new TV show?

Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels

Margo's Got Money Troubles is coming soon to Apple TV+ thanks to a bunch of different producers. A24 is backing the film, as well as Elle and Dakota Fanning’s production company Lewellen Pictures and Nicole Kidman’s Blossom Films, to name a few.

What else has Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman starred in?

Focus Features

Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman starred in 2017's The Beguiled. The movie follows John McBurney, an injured Union soldier, who winds up at a female Southern boarding school after deserting the Civil War. But soon, as the women help him, tensions turn to rivalries and friends turn to enemies.

Are you excited for Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman's TV reunion? Let us know what other New TV Shows you're watching in the comments.

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

This post has been updated.