How to Make Money Writing: 15 Proven Ways to Earn from Your Writing
By TagTwist Editorial Team13 min readWriting Business
You can make money writing through freelance content writing ($25-100+ per hour), self-publishing books on Amazon KDP, copywriting for businesses ($50-150+ per hour), or creating content for blogs and websites. Most writers start with freelance platforms like Upwork or Fiverr, then build direct client relationships to increase their income to $50,000-100,000+ annually.
High-Paying Freelance Writing Opportunities
Copywriting
- Typical pay: $50-150+ per hour
- Projects: Sales pages, email campaigns, ads
- Skills needed: Persuasive writing, marketing psychology
- Getting started: Take copywriting courses, build portfolio
Technical Writing
- Typical pay: $40-100+ per hour
- Projects: Documentation, user guides, API docs
- Skills needed: Technical knowledge, clear explanations
- Getting started: Learn software/tech basics, create samples
Content Strategy
- Typical pay: $75-200+ per hour
- Projects: Content plans, editorial calendars
- Skills needed: SEO, analytics, strategy planning
- Getting started: Study successful content strategies
Ghostwriting
- Typical pay: $30-100+ per hour
- Projects: Books, articles, thought leadership
- Skills needed: Adaptable voice, research skills
- Getting started: Network with executives, agencies
Content Writing and Blogging
Blog Writing for Businesses
Typical Rates:
- Beginner: $0.05-0.15 per word ($25-75 for 500-word post)
- Intermediate: $0.15-0.50 per word ($75-250 per post)
- Expert: $0.50-1.00+ per word ($250-500+ per post)
- Retainer clients: $2,000-10,000+ per month
Finding Content Writing Clients
- Content agencies: Scripted, WriterAccess, Contently
- Job boards: ProBlogger, Mediabistro, Indeed
- Direct outreach: Contact businesses in your niche
- Networking: LinkedIn, industry events, referrals
- Content marketing: Write for free initially to build portfolio
Self-Publishing and Book Sales
Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)
Fiction Income Potential
- Indie authors: $500-5,000+ per month
- Successful series: $10,000-50,000+ per month
- Bestselling authors: $100,000+ per month
- Key factors: Genre, marketing, book quality
Non-Fiction Income
- How-to guides: $1,000-10,000+ per month
- Professional expertise: $500-5,000+ per month
- Course companions: $2,000-20,000+ per month
- Key factors: Authority, problem-solving value
Self-Publishing Success Strategies
- Choose profitable niches: Romance, thriller, business, self-help
- Write series: Keep readers coming back for more
- Professional editing: Invest in quality to build reputation
- Eye-catching covers: First impression matters on Amazon
- Launch strategy: Build email list, get reviews early
Online Writing Platforms
Medium Partner Program
- Pay model: Views and engagement
- Earnings: $100-2,000+ per month
- Requirements: 100 followers, quality content
- Best for: Thought leadership, storytelling
Substack Newsletters
- Pay model: Paid subscriptions
- Earnings: $500-50,000+ per month
- Requirements: Consistent posting, engaged audience
- Best for: Expertise sharing, community building
WordPress.com
- Pay model: WordAds revenue sharing
- Earnings: $50-500+ per month
- Requirements: High traffic, quality content
- Best for: Passive income, long-term building
Specialized Writing Niches
High-Demand Specializations
Email Marketing
- Pay range: $500-5,000+ per campaign
- Skills: Psychology, automation, analytics
- Clients: E-commerce, SaaS, coaches
- Portfolio: Create sample email sequences
Grant Writing
- Pay range: $40-100+ per hour
- Skills: Research, proposal writing, compliance
- Clients: Nonprofits, schools, businesses
- Portfolio: Study successful grant proposals
Building Your Writing Business
Creating a Writing Portfolio
- Professional website: Showcase your best work and testimonials
- Diverse samples: Show range across different styles and formats
- Case studies: Demonstrate results you've achieved for clients
- Clear specialization: Position yourself as an expert in specific niches
- Contact information: Make it easy for clients to reach you
Pricing Your Writing Services
Pricing Models:
- Hourly rates: Good for beginners, track time carefully
- Per-word rates: Common for blog posts and articles
- Project-based: Fixed price for entire deliverable
- Retainer agreements: Monthly fee for ongoing work
- Value-based pricing: Price based on results delivered
Freelance Platform Strategy
Getting Started Platforms
- Upwork: Largest marketplace, competitive
- Fiverr: Package-based services, marketing focus
- Freelancer.com: Global platform, budget projects
- Guru: Work rooms, escrow protection
Premium Platforms
- Contently: High-end content marketing
- WriterAccess: Vetted writers, better rates
- Scripted: Content agencies, steady work
- ClearVoice: Brand storytelling focus
Platform Success Tips
- Optimize your profile: Professional photo, compelling headline, detailed description
- Start with competitive rates: Build reviews and reputation first
- Write custom proposals: Address specific client needs, not generic templates
- Deliver exceptional work: Exceed expectations to get great reviews
- Gradually raise rates: Increase prices as you gain experience and reviews
Income Progression Timeline
Typical Writing Career Progression
Months 1-3: Learning Phase
$500-2,000/month - Building portfolio, learning platforms, low rates
Months 4-12: Growth Phase
$2,000-5,000/month - Regular clients, higher rates, specialization
Year 2+: Scaling Phase
$5,000-15,000+/month - Premium clients, expert positioning, multiple income streams
Tax and Business Considerations
- Track all income: Use tools like QuickBooks or FreshBooks
- Deductible expenses: Office supplies, software, education, networking
- Quarterly taxes: Set aside 25-30% of income for taxes
- Business structure: Consider LLC for liability protection
- Professional development: Courses and conferences are tax-deductible
Start Your Writing Income Journey
Making money from writing requires patience, persistence, and continuous improvement. Start with one income stream, master it, then diversify. Many successful writers combine multiple income sources—freelancing, self-publishing, courses, and passive income—to create a stable six-figure writing business.