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Best Side Hustles for Writers (Make $2000+/Month)

Don't Work Another Day is reader-supported. We may receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own.
  By Forrest McCall | Last Updated:  December 5, 2022

Are you a writer looking to make some extra cash?

Whether you want to make an extra few hundred dollars or even $2000 a month – there are plenty of great side hustles for writers looking to make extra money.

So if you're looking for a writing side hustle, give these ideas a try today!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Some of the best writing side jobs include:
  • Start a blog or niche site
  • Become a freelance writer
  • Work as a proofreader or editor
  • Become an author

1. Blogging

Blogging is one of the most obvious side hustle for writers to make some extra money.

Because you already love to write, starting a blog makes sense and can be a tremendous way to make passive income online from your efforts.

With blogging, you'll write articles and monetize them through your preferred method.

Anyone can become a blogger, whether you're a traditional journalist or a stay at home mom looking to make extra cash. As long as you have an internet connection and a computer – you can start making money online through blogging.

Before starting, there are a few things you'll want to keep in mind.

First, you'll need to decide on a topic or niche of your blog.

This can be anything from a home improvement site to a personal finance blog like this one. Ultimately, you'll want to select a topic that you're interested in and have a passion for. This will help you to stay motivated when times get tough.

Once you've determined the topic of your site, you can choose a domain name. You can use a registrar like Namecheap to secure your domain name for around $15.

Next, you'll need to purchase hosting. My favorite host is SiteGround because of how affordable and reliable they are. This will cost around $10 per month.

After securing hosting. you can install a content management system like WordPress to make adding posts to your blog easy. You can select a theme for your website to get the look and feel you want.

Finally, you can begin to put together a content calendar and decide what articles to write.

Once you've started creating content, your job doesn't end. You'll need to promote it online in order to gain readers.

Blogging isn't an easy side hustle, but it can be extremely profitable.

My blogs make over $10k a month and it's become a full time job.

2021 Website Income

There are several ways you can make money blogging including display ads, affiliate marketing, selling sponsored posts, and more.

As your blog starts to grow, you can even hire freelance writers of your own so you don't have to do as much writing yourself.

Blogging can take years to become profitable, so you need to be dedicated and have plenty of patience so you don't burn out.

If you want to work from home, have an unlimited income potential, and you enjoy writing, starting your own blog is a great choice.

SiteGround is my favorite hosting platform to easily start a blog. They have top-notch customer service and prices starting as low as $7 per month. Sign-up below!
Get Started!
Learn How to Start a Blog
Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

2. Start a Niche Site

Niche sites are very similar, if not the same, as blogging.

The main difference is that niche websites mainly focus on Google traffic instead of using other traffic sources like social media, email, or other mediums in order to grow their site.

The steps to start a niche website are exactly the same as starting a blog. You'll need a domain name, hosting, and a content management system to get started.

Just as with blogging, it's critical to pick a topic that you have some interest in.

With a niche site, having some SEO knowledge can be critical. You can use tools like ahrefs, Moz, or other tools to make researching topics simple.

Niche websites can make an extraordinary amount of money depending on your website traffic.

Mike explains his journey to $100k a month on Twitter below!

Just like with blogging, you can certainly make $4,000 a month or more from your site if you put in the work.

3. Freelance Writing

Freelance writing is another easy way to get paid to write on the side.

Talented writers can earn a tremendous income with this side hustle making it a great option.

There are many different kinds of freelance writing. For example, you can work as a technical writer, direct response copywriter, or a ghost writer.

Each type of writing can be a great option depending on your skills. Some writers can command over $1 per word for their skills.

For example, a 500-word article could net you $500 at this rate!

Now, this won't be for every writer. Beginner writers can start by earning closer to $.05 or $.10 per word.

It can take some time to grow your client base, but once you have some reliable clients you can earn money consistently and even replace your full time job.

That said, one of the more difficult parts of starting a freelance writing business is finding clients. There are several different ways you can go about it, but some of the most effective options I've found include:

  • Browsing freelance writing gigs on Upwork and Fiverr (usually lower paying)

  • Networking with bloggers and online publishers

  • Networking with other freelance writers (they often have full schedules and can hand you clients)

  • Browsing job boards

Check out some of these writers on Upwork charging over $100 an hour!

Freelance Writing Hourly Rate

Before you start trying to land clients it's important to have a writing sample or portfolio of your work available for potential clients to see. If you don't currently have a portfolio, you might be forced to work for cheap (if not free) to get your work published. When you start writing and get more and more experienced, you can increase your rates to make more money.

Working as a freelance writer can be one of the best writing jobs you can find because of the flexibility, income potential, and the ability to work from anywhere.

QUICK TIP: Avoid content mills at all costs. These services pay writers very little to submit articles and they can be stressful and pushy. There are plenty of other freelance writing opportunities that pay much more.

4. Become an Author

If you're looking for a fun side hustle, becoming an author might be the perfect gig for you!

Whether you want to become a novelist or write non-fiction books, becoming an author can be a lucrative side hustle to earn passive income.

Some of the richest authors are worth billions of dollars, so if you have the writing skills – why not get paid for them?!

And it's never been easier to become an author thanks to self publishing platforms like Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing.

This has a few advantages over the traditional publishing method. Namely, it's faster, cheaper, and more widely available to new authors.

That said, going the traditional publishing route is still worth considering for top tier writers.

While there's no guarantee that your book will be successful and provide a steady stream of income, if you're a good writer and can construct an intriguing book you can make a sizable amount of money.

If you self publish a book, you'll need to think about how you will market and sell your book as this is something a traditional publisher will help with.

5. Write Resumes and Cover Letters

Resumes are an essential asset for employees looking for a new job.

Concocting a meticulous resume can be what separates you from other candidates and help you land a new job.

Some writers specialize in resume writing and can charge large sums for their work.

It's possible to charge over $200 per resume you write, which can amount to a decent size income considering the amount of time it takes to get the job done.

You can find work on freelance sites like Fiverr or Upwork or you can promote your offerings on social media sites like LinkedIn.

6. Write for Medium

Medium Writing

Medium is an online platform that pays writers to post unique articles.

Depending on then number of views your article gets, you can make decent money for your work.

You'll first need to join the partner program here to get started and monetize your writing.

Once you're approved, you can start publishing your working and getting paid.

While Medium can be a tough cookie to crack, if you're capable of figuring out what content does well you can make a serious income from the platform.

7. Start an Email Newsletter

Emails can seem annoying and useless, but some writers can turn an email newsletter into a full time income if done correctly.

If you can create quality content that people enjoy, newsletters can be extremely profitable and a great option to earn money on the side.

For example, The Hustle, now owned by Hubspot was a popular finance newsletter started by Sam Parr. Sam eventually sold his company to Hubspot for over $15 million.

The Hustle Newsletter

So how do newsletters make money?

There's several different methods but some of the most common include sponsored content and affiliate marketing.

Building an email newsletter is no simple task, however. You'll need to decide how you will acquire subscribers and grow your following.

If you're ready to get started, you can use a platform like Substack, Mailerlite, or Mailchimp. Each of these has pros and cons, but they will all get the job done.

Depending on your capabilities as a writer and marketer, it's possible to make over $3000 a month with this side gig.

8. Work as a Proofreader or Editor

As a writer, you probably have some superior proofreading and editing skills, so it makes sense you turn your skills into money on the side.

There are tons of freelance jobs for proofreaders and editors so you can easily make extra money on the side.

This is one of the best side hustles for writers for a few reasons.

First, you can work from anywhere with a laptop and internet connection. Second, it's a flexible and rather low stress job. Lastly, you can make a great income with this side job.

Ready to start a proofreading business and make 6-figures? Check out the Proofread Anywhere program to learn how to land high paying clients and much more!

9. Sell Online Writing Courses

Online courses can be cash cows for creators looking to make passive income and creating a course teaching people how to become stronger writers is a great option.

While creating an online course isn't easy, it can be very lucrative.

You can start by planning out the content and curriculum of your course. Depending on the content of your course, this could take some time to complete.

Next, you can start putting together your course. You can use a mix of video, audio, and written content to provide a steady flow and pace for your course.

Platforms like Podia and Teachable make hosting your course simple. Just upload your files, arrange them however you want, and list your course for sale. It's that easy.

When it comes to selling online courses, you'll need to think about your target audience, their goals and aspirations, and how you can help them.

Writing courses can sell for hundreds. Take a look at the Come Write With Us course. It's priced at $197. Some courses will also offer monthly membership groups so you can make even more money.

Come Write With Us Course

Overall, if you have the skills and want to earn money passively, creating and selling an online course is a tremendous idea.

10. Write Short Stories

Did you know there are writing gigs that pay you to write short stories?

Yep!

If you have a passion for writing stories you can get paid through writing platforms like Duotrope, Submittable, or The New Yorker.

While the pay for these platforms is up in the air, it can be a fun writing side hustle worth considering.

11. Write Movie Reviews

Everyone wants to be a movie critic, right?

As a writer, you already have the skills to write reviews for movies and television shows so it makes sense to earn money on the side from your writing.

There are several online platforms that pay you to write reviews like ScreenRant or even Bustle.

The pay for this type of writing can be a mixed bag. Some of the top movie critics can make great money while the lesser known people can make much less.

12. Start a Writing Youtube Channel

There's no shortage of aspiring writers which means there's a tremendous opportunity to make money by helping them reach their goals.

Starting a YouTube channel can be a unique way to make money and you can make thousands each month from your effort.

With this side job, you won't have to do a ton of actual writing which some writers might enjoy.

There are tons of video ideas you could shoot such as :

  • How to land your first freelance writing client

  • How to create content people love

  • How to befriend your editor

  • How to avoid content mills

To make money from your channel, you'll need to reach 1,000 subscribers and have an approved channel, and have over 4,000 watch hours on your videos.

While these requirements can seem daunting at first, you'll be surprised how fast you can get there by consistently publishing new videos.

I know some YouTubers who make $20k a month from their channels so it's certainly worth trying!

13. Take Online Surveys

Online surveys aren't going to make you rich, but they can be an easy way to make some quick money.

By using platforms like Rakuten Insight, Survey Junkie, or InboxDollars you can make $10 a day online or more just by spending a few minutes a day with these side hustle apps.

Want to Make $150 With Paid Focus Groups? 💵
Survey Junkie is a great option to get paid to take surveys online and complete paid focus groups. You can make over $150 on qualifying focus groups you complete.
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Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you register through my link.

14. Work as a Social Media Marketer

If you can write compelling copy, working as a social media marketer can be a great side job for writers.

With this gig, you'll get paid to write social media posts and you can take money many clients to reach your goals.

You'll need to be a creative writer with some marketing knowledge to be successful in this role but if you have the skills, this can be a profitable side job for any writer.

15. Start a Flipping Side Hustle

If you've been writing all day at your day job, sometimes it can be nice o have a change of pace and do something other than writing.

That's where flipping comes in.

Flipping things can be a profitable and fun way to make some extra cash on the side.

With this side gig you'll make money by finding items at a discount and selling them for a profit.

This can be anything from furniture to sneakers, or even sports cards.

You can browse platforms like Facebook Marketplace, eBay, or Craigslist to find items you can flip.

16. Pet Sitting

If you write from home, pet sitting can be an excellent way to make money while writing.

By using a platform like Rover you can earn over $30 per day by pet sitting animals and you don't have to do much work. Some people consider this a passive income side hustle because you can do it while also doing other things at the same time.

Start Pet Sitting!

17. Delivery Driver

Looking for another way to make extra cash without having to write? Starting a delivery side hustle could be a perfect option.

By using a platform like Doordash you can set your own schedule and work as many hours as you'd like.

For example, if you need a short break from writing, just flip the switch on Doordash to start accepting orders and delivering them.

You can earn over $20 per hour in most locations and you can earn additional tips making this a worthwhile venture.

With Doordash you can set your own schedule and work when you want. Earn over $20 per hour today!
Sign Up Now!
Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

18. Work as a Virtual Assistant

Another great side job worth considering is working as a virtual assistant.

With this job, you'll get paid to complete a variety of tasks ranging from formatting content to publish online to posting on social media and more.

The pay for this job can vary widely depending on your skills but it's possible to earn over $30 per hour with this gig. 

Final Thoughts on Side Hustles for Writers

There are plenty of great side hustles for writers looking to make extra money.

Whether you're skilled at technical writing, content writing, or another form of writing – there are so many options to earn extra cash in your free time.

Between starting a niche website to self publishing a book, or picking up a few freelance writing gigs – there's money to be made. The sooner you get started, the sooner you start earning. So what're you waiting for!?

Forrest is a personal finance, entrepreneurship, and investing expert dedicated to helping others obtain life long wealth. He has a Bachelor's degree in business and has been featured in many popular publications including Forbes, Business Insider, Bankrate, CNET Money, and many others. To learn more about Forrest, visit the About Us Page for more info.
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