You want to become a professional writer? Not a problem, and I’m serious about that. I’m not going to sit here and tell you that it’s easy, but it is achievable. There are lots of different ways to make money with your writing. You could easily make a little extra money on the side, and you just might be able to make it your full-time job.
The following nine things are a great way to get started making money as a writer.
Blog
All writers need to have their own blog. This is the best way for them to create an audience. There are also different ways that you can make money through your blog. This can be done through ads or a hire me link.
Guest Post
You’ve probably got a list of blogs that you like to read, why not try pitching them an article? There are a lot of blogs that will accept guest posts and will pay you for them. Make sure you familiarize yourself extremely well with the blog so that you can pitch something that they would actually want on their site.
Pitch Your Alma Mater
Your college’s alumni magazine has to have writers, and they really like having past students write for them. Read up on your Alma Mater’s pitch guidelines and then once you know what they want, pitch something to them. One great tip: if you are able to get an interview with an alumnus that is doing really well, you’ve got yourself a pitch.
Listicle and TopTenz
Sites like these will pay people for their most clever top ten lists. There are also other sites that like these pop-culture lists that are filled with GIFs. Try to find the ones that are hiring and pitch to them.
Self Publish
I’ve written a blog on this before. Publishing with Amazon couldn’t be any easier, and it’s a great way to get your writing out there. This way you don’t have to adhere to anybody’s rules but your own.
Sign with a Content Site
Content writers write things like how-to articles, and they even pretend to be invisible boyfriends. (It’s a thing, look it up.) Make sure you familiarize yourself with the website and that your writing is mistake free. You will have to take an entry test for some, so make sure that you are prepared to pass it before you start it. Some sites are better than others. These are great places to check out to make money as a freelance writer.
Copywrite
After you have learned how to write clean copy for websites, the next logical step is to become a copywriter. You can check out websites, such as Get a Copywriter, to find work.
Writing Contests
Contests don’t discriminate between beginners and experts. There are a lot of contests out there. Some are free and some require an entry fee.
Pitch for Jobs
This is probably obvious, but one of the first steps any beginner freelance writer can take is to submit some applications. Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to succeed as a freelance writer with base level skills and a willingness to work.
If you are serious about making money as a writer, try these nine tips. See which ones work the best for, and go from there. Above all else, don’t give up. Work hard, and you will succeed.
We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect. – Anais Nin
Pen to Paper 