Can you make money writing? I get asked this question a lot. The answer is yes. Of course. You can make money doing just about anything. Let’s go over some lucrative forms of writing.
- Grant Writing
- Copywriting
- Technical Writing
- Content Creation
- Blogging
- Ghostwriting
- Author
- Script Writing
- Journalism
- Courses/Classes
These are just some of the ways to make money writing. This list is not in order of how much you can make, however, grant writing, copywriting, technical writing, and content creation are likely the most lucrative forms of writing.
How do you get into the business of making money writing? Most of these options do not require a degree or training except journalism. There is such a thing as freelance journalism but even then some type of training or experience can help in credulity.
There are many companies out there that employ writers for all of these options. Many are remote. In my experience, they do require the writer to have prior experience in the field they’re employing. Internships are one great option to gain knowledge and experience in the field you want to write it. Additionally, there are courses you can buy for training in each field. If you are very determined to write in a chosen field this can be an option but look out for scammers and those who just want to take your money for no benefit to you. There is also free knowledge out there in each form of writing as well. Do lots of research. YouTube is another great place to gain information for free on your chosen field of writing.
Once you feel like you have enough experience and training, start looking for a position, a company seeking your field or start building your own freelance business offering the form of writing you prefer. The well-known job websites often have writer positions. There are also companies that will connect writers with businesses seeking their form of writing. Such as Scripted, ClearVoice, and WriterAccess.
I’ll have a future blog post on how to build your own business.
In the meantime, just keep writing, networking, marketing, and getting your name out there.
What if, like me, your preference is to write books or stories? One way to make money with creative writing is to enter contests. A friend of mine just won her 150th contest. You can write short stories, enter contests and win cash prizes.
Another form of writing that can be very profitable in the book category is non-fiction. The reason is because authors of non-fiction don’t just make money on book sales. They also make money by becoming “experts” in the field they’re writing about. With a non-fiction book you can branch out into teaching on the subject. This can include speaking, workbooks, classes, seminars, and more.
Ghostwriting can also be very profitable. I have had a handful of people over the years ask me to write their story for them. At the time, I wasn’t able to but now I kick myself for it. Let’s face it, if you love writing and have some skill at it, writing another person’s story can be a big gift for them and profitable for you as the writer. You do have to be ok with not getting any credit or acknowledgement for what you write. Which can also make getting your name out there a bit more challenging. However, ghostwriters can make between $10,000 – $50,000 per book. Even more with experience or working with the more elite.
Finally, if writing fiction is your true love how can you make money writing books? Romance is the top grosser in all genres. By far. There are many sub-genres of romance as well or you can just implement some romance into your genre. Such as Sci-Fi romance or Western romance.
Whatever route of writing you choose, there are ways to make money at it. A simple search of “how to make money [insert chosen form of writing]” into Google or AI chats can teach you a plethora of information. YouTube even more so.
The hard truth is, writing can be a difficult field to make money in. However, consistency, a thick skin, determination, and being confident in what you have to offer can get you far. Happy writing.
Let’s see what we learn next week. Thank you for reading.
The Sides to a Story 
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