Writing for free

I used to write for free a lot. Back when I was trying to find my place, I took any assignment that was offered to me. Those free jobs gave me enough of a history to start getting paying jobs. Then about a year ago - maybe more - I decided that I was too busy to accept or even consider writing for free. Since then that's been my rule.

Then this week I found myself offering to write for free. A brewery in Ireland liked one of the recipes that I have on my About.com site. The webmaster emailed me and asked if they could use it on their site. I directed him to the page that explains About's reprint terms which include a fee. Then, because I've been looking for incoming links lately, I offered to rewrite the recipe for free. It's short, less than 300 words, and I figured that a link from a site with .ie at the end might help me a bit in the unending Google wars.

So, I did it. Less than ten minutes work and soon, if all goes as promised, I'll have that one more link. I guess that means it wasn't for free but you take my meaning.

Not sure why I'm sharing this. It just felt a little strange; I've been adamant about my little rule since I put it in place then all of a sudden I found myself offering to violate it.

Thoughts? Do you/Would you write for someone else at no charge after becoming established? Why?

Agreed, James. That's been my position. But then I found myself doing it for a reason that made sense to me. To take the business analogy, businessmen join and become active in the chamber of commerce; even though there is no direct profit from it they still see a benefit.

Besides, Dawnny, if I ever make it to County Down on an Irish beer tour - and I plan to someday - I've now made a friend of a brewery. No downside there!

Good point, HDB