on spec
Without guaranteed sale
On spec means without a guarantee of payment or acceptance, done in hope of future reward.
A writer submits an article on spec, hoping an editor will buy it.
An architect might design a building on spec, gambling that a developer will want it.
The phrase comes from "on speculation"—investing effort before knowing whether it will pay off.
Not asked for
- uncommissionedNot formally assigned duties
- freelanceSelf-employed project work
- pitchFrequency of sound
- ventureRisky new undertaking
gamble · risk · chance · investment · prospective · entrepreneurial · unrequested · unprompted
Film's written blueprint
- scriptWritten words for performance
- manuscriptOriginal text before publication
- portfolioCollected works or assets
- demoShort trial presentation
sample · prototype · proposal · design · artwork · submission · query · draft
Not yet compensated
- gratisAt no expense
- freeWithout payment or restriction
- volunteerUnpaid willing participant
- unfundedLacking allocated resources
uncommissioned · uncompensated · pro bono · deferred · contingent · unreimbursed
unsolicited
Not asked for
- uncommissionedNot formally assigned duties
- freelanceSelf-employed project work
- pitchFrequency of sound
venture · gamble · risk · chance · investment · prospective · entrepreneurial · unrequested · unprompted · independent
screenplay
Film's written blueprint
- scriptWritten words for performance
- manuscriptOriginal text before publication
- portfolioCollected works or assets
demo · sample · prototype · proposal · design · artwork · submission · query · draft · mockup
unpaid
Not yet compensated
unfunded · uncommissioned · uncompensated · pro bono · deferred · contingent · unreimbursed
on speccommissioned
Formally assigned a task
under contract · contracted · made to order · to order · bespoke
on specguaranteed
Promised with certainty
pre-arranged · secured · risk-free · locked in · confirmed
spec, on, speculation, speculate, speculative, speculatively, speculator