Mar
15
I’ve received a few emails this week with a common theme: “I’ve never had anything published. How do I get clips?” and “What’s your opinion on writing for free to get experience?”
I’m a big believer in writing for non-profits. Want to write for free to get clips? Write for a charity. Non-profit organizations are in desperate need of volunteers, and they can usually always use a good writer regardless of experience level. Whether it’s website or print copy, a blog, press release writing, grant writing, journalism or business writing, if you’re skilled, you could put your talents to good use for an organization that needs a hand.
Writing for charity looks good on your portfolio/resume, and doing this will keep you from being tempted to succumb to the temptation to write for unknown start-up sites only looking to take advantage of writers. So, how can you get non-profit writing jobs?
Ask around locally or search online. Kids’ schools and activities might be a good place to start. If you’re involved in religious organizations, ask around there. If you know of a good local charity, call them up, or go on their website and email them. Many charities have a volunteer coordinator, and that person can guide you. If you can’t find anything locally or want to branch out more, and you have something specific in mine, try googling around a bit. Search for the type of charity you want, scan the website for the volunteer section and get in touch.
VolunteerMatch.org is a good place to start your search if you don’t have a charity in mind to pitch your services to. Start at http://www.volunteermatch.org/results/ and in the “distance” dropdown list scroll to “virtual.” Or if you want to work on-site locally, there’s that option too. Play around with the keywords. I’ve found plenty of web writing and blogging gigs, although the majority of requests there do tend to be on the grant writing side.
If your searches fail, ask me. I do a good amount of charitable writing work, and I usually know people who are looking. If you’re new but talented, the American Foundation for Children with AIDS probably wouldn’t turn you away, especially if you’re a web writer or a blogger. Their executive director Tanya is one of the nicest people I’ve ever worked for. If you want other ideas, let me know (here in the comments, or by email).
For those of you who have written for non-profits, do you have any words of wisdom to share? Has writing for charity helped boost your freelance writing career?
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7 Responses to “Need Clips? Write for Charity”
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About Amy Derby
Formerly a corporate paralegal, I ditched the pantyhose to begin freelancing in 2004. I enjoy long walks to the coffee maker, never setting an alarm clock, and not wearing a bra to the (home) office. I can be reached at amy.derby (at) gmail.com.
I am a huge supporter of this idea! I haven’t submitted anything to charity organizations on an official level, but I do write about animal welfare. I just sort of do it on my own, promoting the cause
Melissa Donovan
That’s a good idea too. That’s sort of what my foodsnark.com blog is — although it’s more just my ranting than anything, not really clip material. But for writers looking for clips for blogging jobs, I think blogging for a good cause is a great idea. Do you have a blog or website about animal welfare, or how do you write about it on your own? I’d love to read it. It’s a cause I support too. I’ll reserve my big animal rant though. No one really wants to see me get started on that I’m sure.
Blogging for me is a form of theropy.I can went and I can share my thoughts,especially when leaving comments on the blogs that I visit.
Hi Mike. Blogging can be good therapy. That’s what I use my personal blog for, in a way, I suppose.
What is that in your new blogger photo?
nice:)
This is so true and applies to more than writing. I started freelance marketing and web development through my volunteer work.
And if you have anyone that is in the Houston area that wants to volunteer to write, I have several nonprofits they could help.
Carla Alvarez’s last blog post..Get Extra Marketing Mileage from Charitable Donations
Yes, I agree with this advice as well. I have had a long love affair with non-profits. I currently write about them for various publications; but I started out editing a newsletter for a local non-profit as a volunteer. I was making a creer change back into journalism and needed a break. I have had no regrets every since. Non-profits are the new career track for many people so the opportunities are endless to what you can do.