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If you’re looking to make money as a freelance writer, you’re in for a real treat!
Gone are the days when writers were only seen as journalists or authors of fiction.
The world has evolved and the profession has branched out to include many facets of business and marketing.
For the ones looking to make money from freelance writing, let me tell you that the opportunities for writers today are endless. And I mean endless.
Having the skill in writing is what made me money, attracted loyal readers, and led me to create a blogging course to help beginners start a profitable blog! Writing has truly changed the trajectory of my life.
If starting a blog and writing your heart out piques your interest, then you can learn how I became a full-time blogger earning over six figures per year.
At the start of my blogging journey when I knew absolutely nothing about writing, I also tracked my progress from earning my first $100 blogging to making $20,000+ per month.
As you can see, just knowing how to write engaging content can land you a job digitally. You can even take the creator route as well wherein you’ll be your own boss!
But in this blog post, we’ll be discussing the different money-making opportunities you can take on when working as a freelance writer.
If you’re ready, then let’s get right to it!
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What Is A Freelance Writer?
Before I say any more, I think you might want to find out exactly what a freelance writer is and how they get paid to do this type of job.
Freelance writers get paid to write without being fully employed by a company or business. They work on a contractual basis, rather than being hired full-time.
They typically write to complete several projects and can choose the topics that interest them or that they are familiar with. For example, you might want to write only about travelling specifically in Japan because you know so much about different cities, and it just comes naturally when you write.
When the project is done, their association with the company ends. However, the contract can be extended if the employer and the writer agree to it.
Great freelance writers have an excellent command of grammar and can easily change writing tones when needed. They’re flexible with their writing style and can write on different topics with ease.
Writers are generally left alone to do their job making it perfect for introverts who want to work from home.
One of the interesting things about freelance writing is that you can also take it up as one of those best weekend jobs that help you earn a bit more on the side.
Writing is an in-demand skill. It’s a profession needed by almost every business. To find high-paying freelance jobs, continue reading the list below.
10 Ways To Make Money As A Freelance Writer
1. Blogging
This is one of my favorite ways to make money online because it allowed me to quit my boring office job and pursue my passion for helping others improve their personal finances.
I started blogging as a hobby and now I’m a full-time blogger earning over six figures per year with my blog (far more than my full-time job).
The interesting part about blogging is that you don’t need to be a great writer to grow an audience. As long as you can write decently and have a good understanding of the topic that you’re blogging about, you’ll be fine.
I make a lot of grammatical and spelling mistakes on my blog, but with writing tools like Grammarly, I’m able to clean up my posts and make them more presentable.
Blogging is very different from traditional writing where you can write informally and still get a lot of readers. In fact, some of the most successful bloggers write like they’re talking to their friends. This makes their content more personal and relatable.
You can make money blogging by displaying ads, promoting affiliate products, selling your own digital products, or even charging for sponsored posts.
Every blog monetizes differently, so it’s up to you to explore your options and find what works best for you.
When I started as a beginner, I learned how to use Pinterest to make money and get readers to my blog.
You can do the same with Google, YouTube, and even Twitter. It really depends on which platform you enjoy learning and using the most.
If you don’t know what to blog about, here are some popular niches for you to choose from:
- Food
- Beauty
- Fashion
- DIY Projects
- Lifestyle
- Relationships
- Travel
- Parenting
- Personal Finance
- Health and Fitness
- Technology
I’m a stronger believer in finding something you’re passionate about and writing about it instead of jumping on the bandwagon.
That way, you’ll be able to pour your heart into your content and create amazing blog posts for your readers.
If you’re interested in blogging but don’t know where to start, you can check out my FREE 7-day email course that will teach you how to start a successful blog.
From choosing a topic to setting up your blog and understanding the basics of monetizing it, this course has it all!
2. Book Writing
There are many people who want to write a book, but not everyone has the skills and patience to craft a book from start to finish. This is where freelance book writers come into the picture.
Writing a book as a freelancer is quite different from other kinds of freelance writing, mainly because it’s a much lengthier process. Due to the time it takes to develop a book, freelance book writers are often paid pretty handsomely.
According to Upwork, book writers typically charge around $18 to $40 per hour.
If you’re someone who wishes to write a book of their own someday, then getting into book writing as a freelancer will prepare you for the process in the future. Whether you’re writing a fictional story with complex characters and intricate plots, or a non-fiction book on an interesting subject, the journey can indeed be super fun.
There are also certain clients who pay book writers on a project basis. For example, if they’re looking for someone to write a 300-page eBook, they could offer to pay you $3,000 for the whole project.
Weigh all the pros and cons before deciding on whether you wish to be paid by the hour or per project.
Toni Morrison once said, “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” No matter what you write, attempt to create something that you yourself will enjoy reading.
3. Copywriting
When you browse online job boards for writing gigs, you will probably come across hundreds of copywriting job postings. Copywriting is the art of persuasive marketing where you must capture the attention of people through the words (copy) you write for your clients.
Remember those catchy tag lines by Nike? How about the well-thought-out descriptions by your favorite brands?
Those are products of excellent copywriting. If you have ever bought an item because what they said got to you, then you’ve experienced what great copy can do!
And that’s why copywriting jobs usually have high pay.
This is because businesses would pay good money to people who can get them more leads and profits. Not everyone can convert a prospect to a paying customer. So, when a business sees that you have the ability to do so, they’d do everything to hire you because it means more sales for them.
If you have no experience in this field but want to be great at it, there are lots of copywriting courses on Udemy that you can take.
Remember that experience is the best teacher. If you want to be a great copywriter, you need to be in the field. Take on every job you can get so you can polish your skills and keep growing.
4. Technical Writing
Technical writing involves converting processes into manuals, handbooks, or other forms of instructional materials and guides.
As a technical writer, you need to have excellent skills in converting complex processes into readable texts that can be easily understood. You are required to be focused on documenting systems and steps and understanding how each stage or process works.
Below are some of the other tasks and responsibilities of a technical writer:
- Collecting feedback from customers
- Creating easy-to-understand guides
- Writing down procedural documents
- Working with designers to create graphics
- Researching and using products to experience them firsthand
- Communicating with involved parties like directors, engineers, developers, and others
Keep in mind that technical writing is very different from business writing. Although both fields aim to educate their readers, technical writing is much more inclined towards the “technical” aspect of things.
You need to have a bit of working knowledge of your chosen niche so you can turn complex ideas and processes into simple guides and handbooks. To be a good technical writer, you need to have your audience in mind.
5. Article Writing
Almost all of us have imagined sitting at a desk and writing away like Carrie Bradshaw did in Sex and the City, right? Well, it may not always be as fun as sipping on cocktails in Manhattan, but article writing is still a very popular job in the world of freelance writing.
Some might believe that writing articles is the same as writing blogs, but that’s not the case at all. While blogs are informal and personal, articles are more formal and informative. You get to write up a detailed analysis of the given subject. It involves hours of research to come up with data that can support your statements.
If you love reading about new and upcoming gadget releases, you can write articles featuring the latest iPhone functions. Alternatively, if you have great tips to getting your 3-year-old from a full-blown meltdown mood to happily eating snacks, you could write about your secret parenting tips. There’s always demand for well-written and researched content.
Have you always wanted to have your name printed on a byline? If yes, then becoming an article writer will bring you immense joy and satisfaction.
6. Ghostwriting
Ghostwriters make money writing for someone else. There are a lot of website owners that are looking for such writers. If it doesn’t bother you that the published name isn’t yours, then this is the perfect job.
Ghostwriting has been in demand because business owners usually want to spend their time and focus on more important things in their company. They want to outsource the content creation to another writer but still stamp their name on it for credibility purposes.
Others hire ghostwriters because they have great ideas but they don’t have the skill to turn them into written content.
For the past years, ghostwriting has only been about long-form content. These would be your typical blog posts. But as social media became a must-have platform for entrepreneurs, ghostwriting short-form content gained popularity as well.
Creating LinkedIn and Facebook posts for someone’s community or clients has been an added opportunity for freelance ghostwriters. Even ghostwriting email newsletters and tweets are great ways to make money now.
These brands and businesses look for writers who can capture their tone and generate leads for them.
Ghostwriting is a world that has a ton of hidden opportunities for you.
7. Email Writing
Email writers are usually called email copywriters. These are writers who are skilled in creating emails that capture attention and bring value to the client’s list.
Most people claim that email is dead but statistics show us the opposite. In fact, a recent statistic shows that 37% of brands are increasing their email budget. So, don’t believe that email marketing is insignificant as it’s more relevant than ever.
To get hired as an email writer, you need to have the skills to write persuasive email copy. These are the types of emails that people would want to open and read. On top of that, you also need to identify a lot of factors about your client’s audience.
You need to understand their problems, issues in business, bottlenecks in their processes, and pain points.
You should then use the information on these things to make your emails more appealing for them to open. And of course, you can discuss how your client can be the solution to their problems.
The other metrics you need to perform well at are:
- Open rates
- Purchases
- Click through rates
These metrics would be determinants of how well you’ve written the email. Tons of creators can help you with this journey to improve at this craft.
8. Scriptwriting
The best and most engaging videos you see on the internet are not created on the fly. What you don’t see is the amount of brainstorming and preparation that happens behind the scenes to make it as perfect as it can be.
And for those creators to sound like what they’re saying is one thought after the after, a scriptwriter is needed. A scriptwriter, as you guessed, is a writer who writes scripts.
A lot of people can write, but not everyone can create structured content that engages and brings value to readers. In this field, you take your viewers on a journey using your writing and videos.
This means that what you write should coincide with what’s happening in the video. And there is an actual demand for this skill. If you can write compelling content that’s perfect for today’s video landscape, you’ll get rewarded handsomely with a high-paying job.
There are also work processes wherein the script is created first before the video. This gives the writer more freedom. Because when the video is created first, the writer is bound by the scenes in that video.
9. Course Writing
Online courses aren’t just focused on creating video content. Most of these educators have started creating written materials as well. They’ve realized that making two forms of content can enable them to reach a wider group of learners.
With this, you can present your writing skills to educate people. Some creators just want you to transcribe what was stated in the video. In contrast, some want you to write and explain it differently – but still discuss the points taught in the video lesson.
There are also writing jobs where your output won’t be presented to a company’s audience. Your work is only shown to internal parties. What you’ll write about can still be educational for different departments.
Let’s say you’ll be writing extra training materials for new hires. Your work will be read by new employees to make the onboarding process faster and smoother.
When writing within this niche, it’s important that you can simplify complex ideas to something easy to learn. Your aim isn’t to impress readers with your writing, but it’s about educating the people who’ll read your work.
10. Researching
Freelance researchers are not just great writers but they are also excellent analytical thinkers. As a researcher, you would be responsible for collecting and analyzing data for your client. You have to spot upcoming trends in your niche, which is why studying past trends is a must in this job.
On top of collecting data and spotting trends, you also need to find money-making opportunities. These are usually found by digging further into the pain points of your client’s customers. The comments and feedback you gather should be organized so they can be interpreted easily by your client.
Aside from writing, what other skills do you need to have for this job?
Analytical – You will be presented with a ton of data in this job. It is your duty to make sense of that information and turn it into words.
Asking questions – There are times when you will need to ask questions to different groups. These questions should be constructed in a way such that the answer is beneficial to your research.
Team player – To make the research process faster and more efficient, researchers usually work with a team to gather information and interpret it.
5 Tips To Help You Start A Freelance Writing Career
If you’re wondering how to be a freelance writer and make money, then here are some useful tips that could help you land a job in your chosen niche.
1. Build A Portfolio
Having a writing portfolio isn’t a necessity, but it surely helps you land a job in the freelancing space. Your portfolio should consist of your greatest works as a writer.
Attaching a portfolio to your application allows your client to immediately see what you’re capable of. It shows the style and tone you use in your writing. It eliminates the process of long interviews just to gauge your writing skills and what you’ve achieved.
You can also have different portfolios to match the client you’re applying to. You could have a portfolio for personal finance, the business niche, the marketing industry, and many more.
However, this only applies to writers who have written content for various niches. If you’ve only done work in one industry, that’s fine.
Think of your portfolio as a highlight reel. It’s a resource that can boost your application and make you stand out from the rest.
2. Create A Website
Your website is a great way to leave a mark online. It can be a go-to place for people in your niche who want actionable and high-quality content.
The work you post here could also be part of your portfolio. However, I believe the best way to leverage your website would be the metrics behind it.
If you rack in a significant number of visitors per month and you’re able to monetize your website, you can highlight that as you apply for a job position.
This is because your website is living proof that you’re more than capable as an applicant. It shows that your style of writing attracts visitors and brings value to readers.
If a client sees your website and loves what you have done, getting hired will be a breeze. Apart from helping with your application, your website can also act as a source of side income for you.
3. Set Your Rates
After you’ve talked to the client and impressed them, they will eventually ask for your rates. Two thoughts come to mind for most beginning freelancers:
- What’s the average rate for my skill?
- If I charge too high, I might lose the chance to land this client.
Having such thoughts is normal, which is why we’re discussing it right now so you won’t have to fret over it later on. You can simply Google the average salary of a freelance writer. Or you could browse platforms and websites to gauge how much clients are willing to pay for writers nowadays.
Once you’ve estimated the average rate, you’d want to charge slightly higher than it, right? I mean, who doesn’t want to have higher pay?
You need to be honest with yourself in this process. If you’re just starting out, you might have to work your way to your ideal salary. But if you think that your skills are worth the rate you’re asking for, then go for it by all means!
4. Add Additional Services
With several writers applying for the same position, it can be a very competitive scene out there. So, you need to add more services as you apply to even be considered.
This means going beyond just writing content for the client. Offer to write emails for them on top of creating a blog post. You could also offer to do social media writing and edit their previous content.
By offering more services you can justify your above-average salary rate as you’re bringing more value to the table. When a client sees that you’re offering more than what is expected of you, they’ll be inclined towards hiring you for the position.
To help you with your additional services, here are some activities you can consider:
- Transcription
- Guest posting
- Keyword research
- Writing newsletters
- Ghostwriting for client
- Editing and proofreading
- Write product descriptions
- Creating copy for landing pages
5. Continuous Learning
The will to constantly keep learning in this field does pay off. What worked a few years ago might not be applicable in today’s reading landscape.
There was a time when long-form texts were acceptable. It wasn’t deemed as tiring to read as it was the standard. But use that today and watch your reader count go down.
Seeing a wall of text does more harm than good.
It brings zero appeal to readers because simply the sight of it tires them. They want texts that are broken down with spaces and images. It gives a ‘mental break’ even if for a few seconds.
If you’re serious about being a writer, be a student of the game and never stop learning.
Be very observant of what’s happening in the industry – notice how your favorite writers and brands are structuring their content. Take note of the different ways that they’re capturing attention and how they’re retaining it.
In the world of writing, attention is currency. If you’re not able to get attention and hold it through your writing, you won’t be an effective writer in today’s time.
How Do Freelance Writers Get Paid?
Freelance writers get paid in various ways, depending on the agreements made with their clients. Payment methods include invoices sent to clients post-completion, with terms ranging from immediate payment to net 30, 60, or 90 days.
Some freelancers receive payment upfront, particularly for larger projects, securing a percentage before work begins. Others use payment platforms linked to freelance job sites, offering security and payment guarantees.
Common payment methods include bank transfers, PayPal, checks, and other online payment systems. Rates can be per word, per project, or hourly, and are negotiated before you start working.
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