Please, don't let this come across as trying to stir up trouble. I'm just really interested in what other writers have to say on this topic, and this seemed like the place to ask the question. (If you disagree, please be respectful in your comments.) As you'll see, I don't have a problem with it at all.


I have been really curious as to how people feel about the article section here at Work It, Mom!, as members are basically writing a lot of free content for the site. I've done it because it gives me sort of an outlet for fun writing or for things that I've already published on my blog and just wanted to share with more readers. It's also fun to get some feedback and to feel like an active part of the community. I can see how some people might think it is giving something for nothing, though, like what Jenorama suggests in another thread in this group.

What do you folks think?

i think, like everything else, it depends. i am hoping to write articles if i can ever get motivated to do so. but the key is that i have the opportunity to and i am not a writer. but it is kind of fun to indulge the fantasy that is 'the writer' that many of us wont ever have the opportunity to do otherwise. Plus there are no restrictions on using the content/links etc. on your own blog and vice versa. so from that aspect, they aren’t saying you can't get paid for it - just not gonna get paid by WIM for it

this site is mostly about sharing information between members. the articles are just another way to do that. maybe if enough people were submitting really good ones (and drawing ad clicks!) then they could start to offer payment. maybe it's just a down the road thing?

All good thoughts, Kate!

I agree with Kate...I'm a closet writer and have no intention of ever making money for it but there are things I can share with other members (like the mugging I wrote about and perhaps how to find the right yoga instructor for you and well, lots of things). Since joining this site I've had experiences that make me think "I should really write about this for the other moms." Of course I've only written once but it's nice to know that this spot it here!

There's also the fact that if you are a writer, or hope to be one, it adds to your portfolio and your profile to write articles here.

When I write here, my personal blog gets exposure. So it's win-win that way. It's even more win since, while I can't promote (or even link anymore) my personal blog at my paying site, I CAN do it here.

So, by putting up something I probably would have written anyway, I get fee advertising. And sometimes, I write something I might NOT have written anyway, and that's good too.

I've been one of the more prolific non-professional writers for this website (if I say so myself ), and at this point I don't know if it's ever going to become any more than that. But as Kimberly says, if it ever does, my articles here are good experience that enhances my (someday) portfolio and profile, and also gets my blog a little notice.

And perhaps Kate is right that one day, WIM might pay contributors. I would not object if that ever happens. But as she and Mandy note, the articles here are just one of the ways members can share info and communicate with each other, and that can be its own reward.

It's definitely good experience -- having to learn to submit an article perfectly (edit myself) has been a big task, since I can't go back in to fix typos after it's published, like I do on my personal blog!

I've referenced this site in cover letters as I sent out resumes (okay, one resume so far) hoping to gain freelance writing jobs/contacts.

And just think of all the "free" content out there these days -- blogs, wikis, etc -- it's the way the Internet has turned. I think this site has a real professional "look" to it and that gives it (and my non-compensated articles) a bit of an edge.