DO NOT write before you sell.

I’d forgotten some freelance writers would even consider such a thing until recently.

The issue got stirred up because a newbie in a freelance group posted how brutal it was trying to find a buyer for her climate justice article and she was asking for advice to get the piece sold. She also wanted to know how freelance writers make it if process is so difficult and what advice the group could provide to her as she began her freelance career.

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She claimed to have spent a couple months on this article including multiple in-depth interviews with experts and academics. Not to mention it was co-authored.

Two people had this fully-written piece–all before having a single outlet interested.Good lord, I was thinking–so many mistakes for one piece of writing with such dim prospects.

Reality check

Let’s start with the time investment. Spending months on one article is almost guaranteed to be a loss. Freelance rates just aren’t built to support that kind of labor, and especially not for two people.

Now, in this chick’s defense, she said she and her co-author received a grant to do the work. And she said that grant paid decently. Although she didn’t specify how much they got, if that’s the case, fair enough.

Grants for niche topics like climate justice can offer thousands dollars. And if that’s the arrangement, great.

But grants don’t come around every day. And that’s not how the freelance market typically operates.

Best practice

If you’re pitching to publications, pitch the idea, not the finished product.

Here’s why:

• Editors rarely buy unsolicited articles. Most don’t have the time or desire to read random articles, and many actually HATE to receive unsolicited work.
• Even if they like your concept, they’ll want to shape the piece to fit their needs. Most editors are likely to want a different angle, different sources, different tone, etc. So even if they’re interested, you’ll need to rework something you consider finished.
• You can burn bridges with an item that ultimately won’t sell. Trying  to sell a fully shaped and completed article can give a bad impression, especially if it’s far from what a publication would normally publish. It can make you look like an amateur or like you didn’t research that outlet. And once an editor sours on you, many will never give you another shot.

SEE: 6 Reasons Editors Stop Working With Freelance Writers

If you write before you sell, chances are you’ll just end of with an unsold piece of writing collecting dust.

There are exceptions for writing without a sale lined up, like maybe you’re building a portfolio or have a personal channel where you can publish your piece l. That’s a different discussion for a different day.

But, in general, if your goal is to make a living as a freelance writer, writing first and selling later is a fast track to burnout and broke.

Wait until you get a green light before you write.

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