Writing for free is a controversial subject among professional writers. Some believe writing for free encourages publishers to devalue our work. Some believe writing for free is part of "paying your dues" as you begin your writing journey. Others feel if writing is worth publishing, it's worth paying for. Really, this is a topic that can create some hot debate among professional writer. So where do I stand? I'm glad you asked.

I'm in the "if writing is worth publishing, it's worth paying for" camp. Does that mean I'm going to tell you not to ever write for free? Not exactly. There are a number of excellent reasons for writing without payment so let's look at a few:

2. Publication gives you more confidence when facing queries and cover letters. It's tough to submit to the "big guys" - the markets you've always wanted to be in but were never sure if you're good enough. And sometimes that fear can keep you from going for it. Having a few "credits" already behind you can give you the boost you need to make that next step up. So again - submitting to markets that respond quickly and publish quickly can help you gain the confidence to tackle those tough markets because it gives you credits to list in your contact letters.

3. Publication can change how you and your family see your writing. It's much easier to consider yourself a "writer" when you can answer the question of "what have you had published?" It's nice to be able to say, "Oh, I have a story coming out in Knowonder and an article in Stories for Children." And the less you apologize for your writing, the more creative energy will flow.

4. Publication helps your name recognition. If you're sending to a magazine that has a solid reputation like Skipping Stones or has a specific literacy push like Knowonder - your writing is going to come under the attention of teachers and parents who might remember your name when they someday see it on a book cover. One of the many things we're encouraged to do as children's writers is get out name out there. Choosing strong reputable places for our work helps build that name recognition.

5. Sometimes you just want to be part of something terrific. Some magazines that pay little or nothing grow out of under represented niche markets or they have a mission that you can really get behind. Sometimes I write for free as a way of giving to a specific community - for example, much of the writing about writing that I do doesn't pay me a thin dime, but I feel it's part of building up the profession that matters intensely to me.

6. Sometimes money comes from the oddest places. This year I got an email from a company that makes standardized testing materials for schools. They wanted to use a story that had run on an online market. I loved the little story but it had been passed over by the paying magazines where I had sent it so I decided that I didn't want to just forget it - I wanted kids to have a chance to read it. So I sent it to an online magazine run by someone I knew and I didn't worry a bit about money. Imagine my surprise when the testing company paid me a thousand dollars to use that little story! It went from being a story that couldn't make me money to one that made the most per word I'd ever gotten!