Whether you are looking for a full-time career as a writer or you want to make some money on the side by writing, there are various ways in which you can get paid for your literary skills.
Here are four creative ways to make money as a writer that you will want to consider.
1. Self-publish a book
Do you dream of becoming an author? If so, it is easier today than ever before to self-publish a book. And if you write a winner, you could gain a passive income as your book goes to sell each month.
Whether you are interested in writing a nonfiction book, such as a DIY guide, or a work of fiction, such as a novel or children’s book, you have several options for self-publishing an ebook.
While many authors simply upload their ebooks to Amazon, if you do so, you will have to give away between 35% and 70% of your profits. But there are other options for selling an ebook online in which you can make a higher profit. And to reach a large audience, you will need to consider ways of marketing your ebook.
2. Become a copywriter
Copywriters are in high demand. If you are not aware, a copywriter is someone who writes clear and concise copy for advertisements, marketing materials, websites, and product descriptions.
As a copywriter, you could find yourself working in pretty much any industry. A good copywriter knows how to inspire action or make someone laugh, for example, within just a few words. Ultimately, copywriters write short content that persuades the reader.
You do not have to complete a course to become a copywriter. All you really need is an excellent command of the English language and the ability to write short, to-the-point copy.
You should seek out examples and then write your own. Once you are confident in writing copy, you can easily set yourself up as a freelancer on a platform like Guru or Upwork. Alternatively, you can seek employment with a company or organization.
3. Write content
Content writers write content for websites, blogs, brochures, magazines, and suchlike. They know how to craft engaging articles on a wide variety of topics. One day a content writer could be writing about motorcycle licenses. The next day, he or she could be writing about the best places to skydive around the world.
Content writing allows you to be more creative than working as a copywriter and you will often have varied and interesting work. Like copywriters, you could set yourself up as a freelancer or work directly for a company or organization.
The more experience you gain and the more you improve the quality of your writing, the more you will be able to command higher fees. Whether you want to pick up some side-hustle cash or embark on a full-time writing career, you can become very content working as a content writer.
4. Work as a freelance journalist
If you have a passion for journalism, you might want to follow the route of completing a degree so that you can learn the right skills and enter the profession more easily. But you also have the option to simply set yourself up as a freelance journalist and approach newspapers, magazines, and online sites with articles you have written.
As long as you hone your writing skills, pick topics that will grab readers’ attention, and pitch your articles to the right platforms, there is no reason why you cannot build up a successful career in journalism.
You also have the option of writing any kinds of articles and submitting them to magazines, online sites, and so on. For instance, you could write a travel article and approach a travel magazine or write a fun listicle for a trendy website.