Love writing and want to turn your words into income? Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced writer, there are countless side hustles that allow you to make money online. Many writers earn $500–$5,000+ per month by leveraging their skills in freelancing, blogging, and self-publishing—and you can too!
Let’s dive into the best side hustles for writers and how to start making money with your words.
Step 1: Why Writing is One of the Best Side Hustles
🔹 Benefits of a Writing Side Hustle
✅ No Degree Required – You can start with just a laptop and creativity.
✅ Work from Anywhere – Perfect for remote work and digital nomads.
✅ Flexible Income – Start part-time, then scale up to full-time earnings.
✅ Multiple Income Streams – Combine freelancing, blogging, and digital products.
💡 Pro Tip: Writers who stack multiple income streams make $5,000+ per month faster!
Step 2: Best Side Hustles for Writers
🔹 1. Freelance Writing ($50–$500 per article)
Freelance writing is one of the fastest ways to make money as a writer. Companies, blogs, and businesses pay for high-quality content on topics like finance, health, business, and technology.
✅ Best Platforms to Find Freelance Writing Jobs:
- Upwork & Fiverr – Beginner-friendly freelance gigs.
- ProBlogger & BloggingPro – Job boards for blog writers.
- WriterAccess & iWriter – Paid per-word content writing jobs.
💡 Pro Tip: Specializing in high-paying niches like finance, tech, and SaaS can help you charge $0.10–$1 per word!
🔹 2. Blogging & Affiliate Marketing (Passive Income Potential: $1,000–$10,000+/month)
Blogging lets you build a personal brand and earn passive income through affiliate marketing and ads.
✅ How Bloggers Make Money:
- Google AdSense & Ezoic Ads – Earn per 1,000 views.
- Affiliate Marketing – Earn commissions promoting tools & courses.
- Sponsored Posts – Brands pay for featured content.
- Selling Digital Products – eBooks, templates, courses.
✅ Best Blogging Niches for Writers:
- Personal Finance & Investing – High ad rates & affiliate commissions.
- Self-Improvement & Productivity – Evergreen content.
- Writing & Freelancing Tips – Teach others how to write for money.
💡 Pro Tip: Monetized blogs can generate $5,000+/month in passive income within 12–24 months!
🔹 3. Self-Publishing eBooks ($100–$5,000+ per month)
Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) allows you to publish eBooks for free and earn passive royalties on every sale.
✅ Best Types of eBooks to Sell:
- Nonfiction “How-To” Guides – Self-help, side hustles, productivity.
- Fiction (Romance, Thriller, Fantasy) – Kindle Unlimited readers love fiction.
- Journals & Workbooks – Sell on Amazon KDP as printables.
✅ Where to Sell eBooks:
- Amazon KDP – Sell Kindle books & paperbacks.
- Gumroad & Payhip – Sell PDFs directly to readers.
- Your Own Website – Keep 100% of the profits.
💡 Pro Tip: Many self-published authors make $1,000+/month from just one good book!
🔹 4. Copywriting & Sales Writing ($500–$5,000+ per project)
Businesses pay big money for persuasive writing that helps them sell more products and services.
✅ Best High-Paying Copywriting Services:
- Email Marketing Sequences – $500–$2,000 per project.
- Sales Pages & Landing Pages – $1,000–$5,000 per page.
- Product Descriptions & Ad Copy – $50–$500 per ad campaign.
✅ Where to Learn Copywriting:
- Copyhackers Blog – Free copywriting training.
- Neville Medhora’s Copywriting Course – Great for beginners.
- AWAI (American Writers & Artists Institute) – High-level copywriting training.
💡 Pro Tip: Email copywriters make the most money because businesses rely on email marketing for sales!
🔹 5. Editing & Proofreading ($25–$100 per hour)
If you have a keen eye for grammar, editing and proofreading are easy ways to make money as a writer.
✅ Best Websites to Find Editing Jobs:
- Scribendi & ProofreadingPal – Professional editing jobs.
- Upwork & Fiverr – Offer freelance editing gigs.
- Reedsy & EditFast – Book editing for self-published authors.
💡 Pro Tip: Specializing in manuscript editing for self-published authors can help you charge premium rates!
Step 3: How to Land Your First Writing Clients
🔹 1. Set Up a Simple Portfolio
✅ Create a free blog or website – Use Medium, Wix, or WordPress.
✅ Write 3–5 sample articles on your niche.
✅ Showcase testimonials & past work (even if it’s free work).
🔹 2. Pitch Clients & Apply for Writing Gigs
✅ Send cold emails to businesses & bloggers who need content.
✅ Apply to at least 10 freelance writing jobs per week.
✅ Offer free guest posts on big blogs to gain visibility.
💡 Pro Tip: Many beginners land their first client by networking on LinkedIn or Facebook groups!
Step 4: Scale Your Writing Side Hustle to $5,000+/Month
🔹 How to Increase Your Writing Income
✅ Raise Your Rates – Increase prices as you gain experience.
✅ Offer Long-Term Packages – Charge retainer clients for steady income.
✅ Diversify Income Streams – Sell eBooks, courses, & templates.
✅ Outsource Small Tasks – Hire proofreaders & editors to scale your work.
🔹 Example Monthly Earnings Breakdown
| Income Stream | Potential Monthly Earnings |
|---|---|
| Freelance Writing (4 clients @ $750 each) | $3,000 |
| Blog Ad Revenue & Affiliate Sales | $1,000 |
| Self-Published eBook Sales (200 sales @ $10 each) | $2,000 |
| Copywriting Projects (2 projects @ $1,500 each) | $3,000 |
| Total Potential Earnings | $5,000 – $10,000+ |
💡 Pro Tip: Many full-time writers combine freelancing, blogging, and eBooks to reach $10K+/month!
Final Thoughts
Writing is one of the best side hustles for making money online. Whether you choose freelancing, blogging, self-publishing, or copywriting, you can turn your words into a profitable business.
🔥 Want step-by-step coaching? Check out our Freelance Writing Masterclass and start earning today! 🚀
