Doing a job without any guarantee of being paid, in the hope of winning future business.
Short for "on speculation." This refers to a manuscript written for an editor who has expressed interested in an idea or story, but who is unwilling to buy the piece sight-unseen. The editor doesn't promise to buy your manuscript, but does promise to give it a fair reading.
means the writer was not officially assigned the work by an editor. The editor is not obligated to publish the piece.
Short for "on speculation." Normally when a freelance writer pitches an idea to an editor at a magazine, she just gives the editor the story idea, but she doesn't actually write the story unless the editor gives her a contract under which to do so. (The contract will spell out the basic content of the story, the fee, and the deadline among other legal details.) The difference with "on spec" is that the editor agrees to read the entire story - not just the idea - without the promise of a contract or payment. Writing on spec has its good and bad aspects. Good because the editor is more likely to give you a chance, say, if you are a first-time writer to the magazine since she does not have any money at stake. And, you may do such a great job that she does in fact, give you a contract. But it's bad because you are writing an entire story, doing all the reporting, researching and writing, with the chance that you may never get paid for it. A lot of freelance writers start out offering to write "on spec" just to get their foot in the door. Once you are established, though, you really shouldn't write for anyone unless you get a contract up-front.
Editors will sometimes look at works "on speculation", meaning that they have some interest in the piece, but are under no obligation to buy.
Submitting a piece on the "speculation" that the editor will accept it, a practice more new free-lancers
A writer submits a piece speculatively; the editor is not obligated to publish the piece.
When an editor expresses interest in an article or idea proposed to them by an author, and agrees to consider the piece once it's finished.
When you write an article based on an editor's expressed interest in your idea. But since the editor has not assigned the piece to you, she is under no obligation to accept your final work.
Work done without a contract, in the hope that one will be forthcoming: "on speculation."
Abbreviation for "on speculation" - writing an article for free in hope that an editor will buy it.
To create a design or to write copy without being paid but with the intent to garner a contract for a particular job.