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How to Make Money Writing: Top Ways to Get Paid

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How to Make Money Writing Top Ways to Get Paid

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The Internet provides numerous opportunities to writers today which is why you have quite a few options to choose from when it comes to earning money with your writing. That being said, writing can also be quite competitive. So how do you find what pays? Without further ado, here’s how to make money writing and the top ways to get paid.

1. Blogging

One of the most obvious ways you can get paid for writing is by starting your own blog. If you have knowledge about a particular field, you can write about it in your blog and target people who are interested in the subject matter. Even if it is just a hobby, you can still write about it.

To make money off of your blog, you will have to monetize it and host ads on it. Alternatively, you can become an affiliate and earn money from commissions or create sponsored content. Also, you can start a blog on social media if you feel more comfortable blogging on Instagram, Facebook, or elsewhere.

2. Ghostwriting

Another option is ghostwriting. Essentially, you will be creating content for someone else, but you won’t be credited for it. In fact, the person you create the content for will likely use their own name for it. If being a ghostwriter doesn’t bother you, then you have quite a few options for the kinds of ghostwriting you can do.

For instance, ghostwriters are quite common in book writing, especially for memoirs. You can also ghostwrite scripts for videos, notes for podcasts, social media posts, and even resumes. Consider approaching local businesses and offering your ghostwriting services to help them fill out their blogs and get paid for it.

3. Self-Publishing

While traditional publishing is still going strong, more and more writers today choose self-publishing instead. There are platforms that offer all the tools necessary to publish your own books and earn money from them consistently.

You can write and self-publish fiction books (e.g. romance novels), non-fiction books (e.g. memoirs, cookbooks), and poetry. However, keep in mind that you will likely have to do the promotion yourself and it will take some time for you to start selling books consistently.

4. Copywriting

Make Money Writing Top Ways to Get Paid

Image by John Conde from Pixabay

Copywriting is where advertising and writing meet. To put it simply, you will be writing copy for ads and different types of marketing and promotional materials. Copywriting can be extremely lucrative, but it can also be quite competitive precisely because it is so lucrative.

You can either try copywriting as a freelancer or join an advertising and marketing agency. Working in a company like that will ensure that you are always getting paid for your copywriting work, but even as a freelance copywriter you can be earning a decent amount consistently.

5. Transcription

Writing is not always about creating a text from scratch. If you want to try something different, then you should definitely consider transcription. Transcribing videos can be a good option for those who can type quickly and know how to edit texts well.

You can start looking for transcribing gigs on different dedicated websites or even find an agency that specializes in transcription and apply to an open position. If you can’t type quickly yet, get some practice first and try to transcribe videos on YouTube or your favorite movies. Once you are able to type quickly, you can start looking for transcription opportunities.

Related: Top 10 Time Management Tools for Freelancers

6. Translation

Another option that is not about writing something from scratch is translation. If you know two or more languages, then you can become a translator and translate all kinds of writing. You can work either as a freelancer or find an agency to work for.

Moreover, you can work for yourself. If you have a blog, consider publishing content in different languages. You can hire a writer from a multi-purpose writing agency who will create content for you while you translate it into multiple languages and publish it on your blog.

7. Technical Writing

Technical writing is another in-demand type of writing. To put it simply, technical writing includes the creation of all kinds of technical texts such as manuals, guides, product descriptions, medical texts, and so on.

The only nuance is that technical writing requires a high level of expertise in your chosen field. If you have relevant medical education, you will be able to become a technical writer who specializes in medical writing. But if you don’t have such education, it will be very difficult for you to find gigs.

8. Submit to Magazines

If you want to be an independent writer (or if writing is your hobby or side gig), then you can consider submitting to magazines. There are different types of media outlets looking for contributors, so you will definitely be able to find the right ones for your experience and expertise.

What’s great about getting published in offline and online media outlets is that you will get credited for your work. You can then use these credits as proof of your competency and build your reputation over time. You can submit anything from personal essays and opinion pieces to reviews and interviews.

9. Songwriting

In case you have a particular interest in music, then you can try your hand at songwriting. If copywriting is where advertising and writing meet, then songwriting is where music and writing meet. It can be an ideal option for particularly creative people.

You can write songs and sell them or even get started as an independent singer yourself by distributing music through online platforms. Just like authors who want to self-publish, musicians who want to earn money independently have endless opportunities and tools available to them online.

10. Participate in Contests

Lastly, consider participating in different writing contests and competitions. Such contests usually offer a monetary prize, but the catch is that you can only rely on your own skill to win them.

On the other hand, even contests that don’t have a monetary prize could be useful to you because they could help you build connections and find opportunities. For example, if you win a short story contest, you could get noticed by a publisher who will ask you if you want to get your book published.

Wrapping Up

To sum up, there are many types of writing you can choose from, but you need to consider your own skills and aspirations for your career. Find which types of writing are the most interesting to you and start looking for ways to get paid for your work.

Also Read: How to Start Freelancing with No Experience

Frank Hamilton is a blogger and translator from Manchester. He is a professional writing expert in such topics as blogging, digital marketing and self-education. He also loves traveling and speaks Spanish, French, German and English. Meet him on Facebook.

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