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How Writing Gets Me Paychecks (And You Can Get Them, Too)
Have you ever wondered why so many people are interested in turning writing into a career?
They want to make money. They don’t want a boss hanging over their head. They don’t like office hours. When they have to do something for a living, they want it to be something they love.
That was me.
Let me clarify one thing: it’s an INFJ talking here. A socially anxious one, on top of everything. The thought of an office job with a boss, regular paychecks, a desk, and the constant fear of being called into the manager’s office gives me the chills. Been there, done that.
Writing, on the other hand, works for me. I’m alone with my thoughts. I can work on any kind of project I like. And I’m getting paid.
Most people are interested in the money part. Can you really make money writing? Will it grant a comfortable lifestyle? Will it make you bored? Yes, yes, and no… if you play your cards well.
Turning Writing into a Profitable Business
The traditional ways of relying on your writing skills to make money are straightforward:
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Join a freelancing site such as Upwork, Freelancer, or Listiller, and start applying to projects. It’s important to define your niche. If you’re not that good at writing marketing content, then don’t apply for such projects.
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Work for some assignment writing services. This is a specific kind of writing, but if you become good at it, payments could be pretty impressive. Besides, there is always demand in this field.
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Start your own blog. Do you know how many mediocre blogs you’ll find in Google’s results when searching for any topic? Too many. You won’t trust them. You’ll run straight towards the impressive ones. That’s the level you want to achieve. A successful blog will bring you money through ads and affiliate links. You can also use it to sell eBooks and different types of products, depending on your niche.
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You can start forming nonprofit partnerships. Where’s the profit in that? Well, you won’t get paid when you engage in a nonprofit project. However, you’ll get to write for a cause you care about. These projects show your passion as a writer. When added to your portfolio, you’ll gain momentum as a writer. Clients will want to hire you and more people will start reading your blog. That will certainly lead to profit.
Need Proof?
Are you a skeptic? I know I was. I decided to try writing only when I got confident it would make me some money.
I have some proof for you.
Contently gives us data from an annual survey that shows how well freelance writers, editors, and content marketers are doing.
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55% of them feel like their lives as freelancers improved through the past year.
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Around 8% of full-time freelancers make over $100K. Only 6.6% of the U.S. labor force got there.
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46% of freelancers made less than $10K in a year. However, we have to keep in mind that 41% of all survey respondents were engaged only part-time.
Whatever You Do, Don’t Be Boring!
I like ghostwriting, copywriting, academic writing, blogging, and eBook writing. The choice of topics I can work on is immense.
The money is there. If you want to enjoy this career, however, you have to spice it up a bit.
Explore different niches. Learn more. Write better! That’s the only way to start getting both paychecks and satisfaction from writing.
November 24, 2018 @ 4:56 pm
These are some good suggestions on how to get started. I’ve been thinking about writing for a nonprofit to build a copywriting portfolio. I think I will give it a shot. Just the thought of working for a boss scares me lol. I like the freedom of only answering to myself.
November 26, 2018 @ 5:57 pm
Hi Barbara, I love that point you make – don’t be boring! I so agree. I think by adding creative images and storytelling one can keep it interesting. Sometimes videos if done right can also be a great asset to a blog post. Thanks for sharing your tips here and encouragement.
November 26, 2018 @ 6:12 pm
Pretty interesting stats there, especially the percentage of freelancers who make over 100k.
While i tend to stick to a small pool of topics, I had explored a million of them over the years and learned what works for me. These days i hardly ever write anymore, but the subjects i normally explore are both quite fun and profitable all at once 🙂
Thanks for posting this!
Elvis
November 26, 2018 @ 8:36 pm
Nice piece, Barbara.
Writing has really changed my life. I started writing as a mere passion but today, I have been able to build it into a full-time business. Like I have always told people, writing is an amazing skill.
With this anyone can rise to any length he or she.
Emenike
December 1, 2018 @ 2:55 pm
I’ve had a period in my life when I was doing freelance article writing. It was nice but the only problem I had was if I stopped writing, I won’t anymore make money. This is the real tax that comes along with freelance work.
Instead, I thought like why not writing for myself on my blog. And take in chances like affiliate marketing to make money. After a few months, it did pay off. I still can make some money while not writing at the same exact money.
What I wanted to say is that writing and creating content is a great skill. You should be investing it the perfect way in your own business.
Thanks a lot for sharing.
That was a very nice post. Thank you!
December 7, 2018 @ 3:41 pm
I hear you on that one!
I’m not a huge fan of active work / active income, so I published a series of books on Kindle / Nook several years ago, which are still providing me with a monthly check.
Writing for me is fun, but i struggle with keeping a client long-term. I tend to quit them like my life depended on it.
Long story short: I prefer to create income streams.
Elvis
December 19, 2018 @ 2:16 pm
This is a very insightful read Barbara. I like the fact that you have a “proof” section at the end for the sceptics. I too quit my job exactly a year ago and have been making a living off writing so it’s definitely possible.
P. S
I got a long term project that made it possible thanks to Listiller.
January 25, 2019 @ 2:15 am
Writing can be very powerful.
As it’s said “a pen is greater than a sword”.
Writing has been the weapon with which individuals sell themselves, their ideas and their expertise.
Writing can surely improve a person’s life. Not being able to write can be a great handicap.
As you’ve listed Barbara, there are so many ways to monetize one’s writing skill and make money through it, writing also brings influence to the writer and impact to the world.
So by all means, we should write.
January 26, 2019 @ 11:12 pm
Hello Barbara,
Great article it is helpful to learn a lot for writing. Thanks for sharing keep sharing.