“On Spec”


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I had a question from a reader about something I mention in 10 Days to Paid: creating a portfolio of “spec work.” As I mention, if you don’t have any work to show, spec work can be a great way to show prospects what you can do.

I was asked how one should label the spec work. In my own initial portfolio, it simply said “spec ad” or “spec brochure.”

This is a little different from work created “On Spec” (which is common in ad agencies, but not for freelance writers. In the agency world, a potential client will often ask to see an example of what your agency can do for them. So the agency gets a team together and creates a campaign to pitch to the prospect.

This work is “on spec,” or, on the speculation that they will be paid for the work if they get the gig (and sometimes, even if they don’t).

As writers, such work would be silly, as you’d be giving the client your words and THEN letting him decide whether or not to pay.

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