The internet is filled with all kinds of side hustle opportunities for talented writers. With just a simple internet connection and a laptop, writing jobs can help you earn extra cash — or they can become a full-time gig.
If you enjoy writing and have the skills, a writing side hustle can help you:
- Earn a steady stream of income by working from home (and get rid of that unbearable commute)
- Earn a passive income
- Grow an online freelance writing business
Here are some of the best side hustles for writers that you’ll find online.
Online Jobs
1. Start Your Own Blog for Passive Income
From my own personal experience, I can confidently tell you that blogging is one of the best side hustles for writers to make a lucrative income. Blogging isn’t easy and writing a blog post does take time and skill, but if you find the right niche it can be a path to making good money online.
Where to find jobs?
You can start your own blog or write a blog post for others. If you want to start your own blog, I recommend my free IGNITION mini course to help.
To find blogging jobs, the ProBlogger job board is one of the most well-known and respected sites in the blogging world.
ACHS – American College of Healthcare Science looks for posts related to holistic health and wellness topics. Length is 600-1,000 words and the rate is $50 per post.
Income Diary – This blog about making money online pays $50-$200 per post.
Great Escape Publishing – Depending on the type of assignment, this outlet pays $50-$200 per travel article.
iWorkWell – As a subject matter expert, you can earn up to $200 per post.
How much money can you make?
There are a lot of variables that influence how much money you can make blogging — including the size of your audience and the types of blog monetization methods you are using.
Starting out on your own blog, you will likely earn just a few dollars per month. But, a blog can be built to earn passive income. Many bloggers who run their own site average anywhere from $500 to $5,000+ per month from their blog.
When working for someone else, a common blog rate is .04 – .06 per word. According to Glassdoor, the average blogger earns an average salary of around $33,000 per year.
Resource to learn more
If you want to learn how to start a blog and become your own boss, here’s how to do it in 10 easy steps. If you’d rather get a free email course that walks you through the process step-by-step, click here and enroll in my IGNITION course.
2. Write Articles on Medium
Medium is a popular platform that is essentially YouTube for writers — it connects avid readers with talented writers. The site pays based on the number of views that a story receives. So if yours is popular, there is potential to earn good money.
This platform can be a great writing side hustle for extra cash, and if you prefer, you can start your own publication. Getting started is free and easy. But to make money, you will need to sign up for the Partner Program. Once you are accepted, you can start earning money on Medium.
Where to find jobs?
You post your own stories and articles to Medium, so there are no job postings. To get started as a creator on Medium, click here.
How much money can you make?
The top writers on the site earn $5,000 – $10,000 per month — but this is rare. A good writer can expect to earn $1000+ per month.
Resource to learn more
How to Make Money Writing on Medium
3. Write Articles on Textbroker
One of the easiest side hustles for writers to start from home is writing articles on Textbroker. When you apply to be a freelance writer on the site, you will have to submit a sample article to show your writing skills.
If your sample passes their test, you’ll get an email with a star rating between 2 and 5 stars. Each higher rank pays more per word and gives access to more orders for you to choose from.
Where to find jobs?
Once you receive a rating, you can find the list of current orders available to you on the Textbroker site.
How much money can you make?
The pay rate on Textbroker is between 1.1 and 5.5 cents per word. Freelancers earn an average of $1,000 per month.
Resource to learn more
4. Find Writing Gigs on iWriter
Similar to Textbroker, iWriter is a place for freelancers to build a client base and write about topics that match your background. You can write as much or as little as you want every day. And, when you are promoted up the ranks, your rate will go up. The highest-paid writers on the site earn as much as $80 per 500 words. However, freelance writers on iWriter only receive 65 percent of the price of each article.
Where to find jobs?
Become an iWriter to find jobs on the site.
How much money can you make?
The rates that you earn on iWriter depend on your tier. You need 25 ratings to become a Premium writer, and 30 ratings to become an Elite writer. With great reviews, you can easily move from one tier to the next.
Standard Writer rates are $3.30 for 500 words and $8.25 for 1,000 words. Premium Writers have a rate of $5 for 500 words and $11.50 for 1,000 words.
Elite Writers earn even more, with a 500 word rate of $11.00 and a 1,000 word rate of $20.25. The Elite Plus tier has a rate of $39 for 500 words and $72 for 1,000.
Resource to learn more
How much does iWriter pay? What you can really earn on iWriter
5. Find Writing Gigs on Upwork
Where to find jobs?
Freelance writers of all types can make extra money by finding gigs on Upwork. From copywriting to translating to essay writer, there are numerous jobs available on this popular site.
Once you start getting assignments, Upwork will put together a profile for you based on your work. Then, they will connect you with companies and organizations who are looking for a writer with your skill set.
How much money can you make?
What you earn with a side hustle on UpWork depends on your skillset and the demand for your services. A reasonable expectation is that you can earn anywhere between $10 to $100 per hour.
Resource to learn more
Explore remote writing & translation jobs on Upwork
6. Find Writing Gigs on FlexJobs
FlexJobs is all about remote work side hustles, so there are freelance writing jobs available on the site. You can make money on this site from anywhere in the world, as long as you have an internet connection.
Once you set up your account, you can apply for any job that is posted. You can choose from one-time gigs or full-time jobs, and each listing is curated to make sure the best clients have live listings.
You must purchase a plan when setting up a FlexJobs account, which ranges in price from $1 per week to $9.95 per week.
Where to find jobs?
How much money can you make?
What you earn with a side hustle on FlexJobs depends on how many jobs you book and your rate. The average hourly pay on FlexJobs is $21/hour.
Resource to learn more
Writing Jobs – Remote Work From Home & Flexible
7. Ghostwriting Services
If you don’t mind someone else getting credit for your work, consider this side hustle for writers. Not everyone has good writing skills — not even experts in other fields. As a ghostwriter, you take someone else’s expertise and pair it with your writing talent to create something that is both interesting and readable.
This is a very popular online job for inexperienced writers because your clients won’t always require reputation or experience.
Where to find jobs?
A good place to get started as a ghostwriter and find job postings is at Guru.com or LinkedIn.
How much money can you make?
Beginning book ghostwriters can expect to earn between $1,000 – $10,000 per book. As you gain more experience, your rates can rise as high as $50,000 per book or more.
For articles or blogs, the rate will vary based on the industry. You can often expect somewhere between $100 – $300 per article, depending on word count.
Resource to learn more
To learn more about being a ghostwriter, check out this great resource from Indeed.
8. Copywriting Services
Copywriting can be a great way for writers to earn extra cash. This writing side hustle is all about creating interesting copy for businesses to use in their marketing efforts. It usually involves things like website content, email campaigns, advertisements, sales letters, and brochures.
Copywriters should be able to write clear and concisely, in the voice of the client and their brand. They should have strong writing skills, and understand search engine optimization (SEO) and digital marketing.
Where to find jobs?
Regular job boards like ZipRecruiter, Indeed, and GlassDoor regularly post copywriting jobs.
How much money can you make?
The average copywriter makes $35 per hour.
Resource to learn more
11 Best Copywriting Learning Resources and Tutorials
9. Technical Writing Services
If you’re a writer with knowledge or skills in a specific niche or industry, you could find many freelance writing opportunities as a technical writer. The most common areas for technical writing are in science and technology, but there are jobs available in other areas.
Technical writing services require a lot of niche knowledge and excellent research skills. It is less creative, but more precise and detailed. The biggest part of the job is breaking down complicated instructions and language to make them easy to read and understand.
Where to find jobs?
Job postings for technical writers can be found on common online job boards like Indeed, Zip Recruiter, and Glassdoor.
How much money can you make?
This is a high-paying writing niche. On average, technical writers make $70,000-$80,000 per year.
Resource to learn more
Occupational Outlook Handbook — How to Become a Technical Writer
10. Use Craigslist to Find Gigs
Yes, you can find writing gigs on Craigslist. Actually, it’s quite a good resource for finding unique freelance jobs in your region and remote jobs from around the country. Search for opportunities in your own city, or search other major cities in different states.
If the job listing requires you to pay money up front, then it’s a SCAM. Check the title of the ad, make sure it describes the position available, details the job duties, gives a summary of who you would be working for, and lists compensation.
If the ad promises to pay you “$1,000 per day” to work from home, or includes vague descriptions like “looking for freelance writers for full-time work,” don’t be fooled. These are also likely to be scams.
Where to find jobs?
In the “gigs” section for each city and geographic location, click on “writing.”
How much money can you make?
Your pay is negotiable, based on subject, skill, and word count.
Resource to learn more
How I Found $500 Writing Gigs on Craigslist
How Do I Land Writing Gigs on Craigslist?
11. Become a Writer for an Online Magazine
Many popular print publications have made a complete transition to the internet, which means there are a number of opportunities for online magazine writers. These sites need a lot of content just about every day, and they hire both staff writers and freelance writers.
Once you get your first opportunity writing for an online magazine and get your foot in the door, it can turn into some big opportunities and decent wages.
Where to find jobs?
Job posting for online magazine writers are on all the usual job boards — Indeed, GlassDoor, LinkedIn,
How much money can you make?
Starting out, you can expect to earn around 5 cents per word while you are building your portfolio. As you improve, that rate can increase to as much as 10 cents per word. If you get a job with a large media company, that rate can go as high as 20 cents per word.
Resource to learn more
15 Great Places to Find Online Magazine Writing Jobs in 2023
12. Work as a Transcriptionist
Transcriptionists listen to audio and transcribe what they hear it into the written word. For example, you can turn a podcast into a blog or write closed captioning for movies and TV shows.
For this kind of writing job, you should have a typing speed of at least 60 words per minute. Transcribers must type every word as they hear it, so the typing skills should be in sync with the listening skills.
Where to find jobs?
You can find transcriptionist jobs on sites like Upwork, Indeed, and FlexJobs.
How much money can you make?
$15-$30 per hour
Resource to learn more
How to Become a Transcriptionist
13. Work as a Proofreader
Proofreaders are similar to editors, but there are some different skills involved. Editors are usually involved in a writing project with the author, and will provide notes and make changes to things like the plot. Proofreaders, meanwhile, focus on spelling and grammar of a finished, edited piece.
If you have skills like attention to detail, scanning text quickly, and catching small errors, a side hustle as a proofreader could be a great fit.
Where to find jobs?
Proofreader job listings can be found on sites like Upwork, Fiverr, Indeed, LinkedIn, and Glassdoor.
How much money can you make?
The average rate for proofreaders is $15 to $30 per hour.
Resource to learn more
31 Best Online Proofreading Jobs For Beginners (Earn $50/hr)
14. Write Scripts
Script writer jobs are on the rise thanks to social media. If you love creative writing, you can start a side hustle writing scripts for anyone from YouTubers to advertisers. This is the kind of gig where you would freelance instead of being a staff writer.
Where to find jobs?
Job boards like ZipRecruiter, Indeed, and FlexJobs are great for finding script writing jobs. Also, if you have a favorite YouTuber or social media influencer, consider reaching out to them and asking if they need someone to help with their scripts.
How much money can you make?
You can get paid for scripts in different ways. The average hourly rate is $30/hour and up, the finished per minute rate average is $50 per minute of video, a per word rate is around 7 cents a word.
Resource to learn more
Make Money Writing YouTube Scripts
YouTube Scripts as an Income Stream for Freelance Writers
15. Write Social Media Posts
It should come as no surprise that there are side hustles for writers where you exclusively write social media content. More and more companies are hiring writers to write things like Facebook group posts, Instagram captions, Tweets, and LinkedIn posts.
This is not an easy job, though. You will usually have strict character limits and posts must be relevant and timely. You have to quickly respond to trending topics, avoid typos at all costs, and create buzz around the brand you are writing for.
Where to find jobs?
Job boards like ZipRecruiter, Indeed, and FlexJobs have job listings for social media writers.
How much money can you make?
The average pay for salaried social media writers is $50,000.
Resource to learn more
Writing for Social Media in 2023: Tips and Tools
16. Self-Publish a Book
This might sound like a crazy idea, but self-publishing your own book is actually quite easy thanks to the internet. Different services like Kindle Direct Publishing and BookBaby will help you self publish for a fee, along with print on demand distribution and eBook conversion and distribution.
Self-publishing an eBook is extremely easy since there is no physical product. You can literally write it and have it uploaded online in just a few hours.
Where to find jobs?
The most popular self publishing sites include Kindle Direct Publishing, BookBaby, and Barnes & Noble Press.
How much money can you make?
This depends on how many copies you sell. There are a number of online distributors that you can use to sell your book. Whenever a copy is sold, you receive a royalty.
Resource to learn more
How to Self-Publish a Book in 2023: A Guide for Savvy Authors
How to Publish a Book in 2022: A Step-by-Step Guide
17. Create and Sell Online Courses
If you are a writer with an educational background, creating and selling online courses could be the writing side hustle you are looking for. If you are passionate about eLearning, this could become a full time income.
There are numerous platforms where you can make money online by creating and selling courses, including Teachable, Thinkific, and Podia.
Where to find jobs?
Creating and selling online courses isn’t the kind of side hustle with job listings. You create your own job by choosing a platform and making content.
How much money can you make?
How much you make selling online courses depends on how many classes you create, how many students you have, and what kind of platform you use. Many teachers have seen their earnings from selling courses surpass the salary they earned at a school.
Resource to learn more
Best Online Course Platforms Guide
18. Send Out Newsletters
Starting an online newsletter on a site like Substack is another option for writers to make some extra money working from home. They make it easy to create a website and publish your content as a newsletter that you can email out to your subscriber list.
There’s a lot of flexibility with writing newsletters, as you can choose to write about any topic you want and decide how often you want to publish. Substack will help anyone set up a blog and email newsletter — and no tech knowledge is required.
Where to find jobs?
I recommend creating your newsletter using Substack, so that you have full editorial control and always own your intellectual property, mailing list, and subscriber payments.
How much money can you make?
How much you make with your newsletter is completely up to you. It depends on the number of subscribers you have and the rate that you charge. For many writers, writing on Substack has become a full-time job.
Resource to learn more
How to Monetize a Newsletter: The Ultimate Guide
A Guide to Paid Subscriptions — Substack
19. Become an Affiliate Marketer
I decided to include affiliate marketing on this writing side hustle list because it can be a way for writers who have some entrepreneurial skills to make some passive income. Joining an affiliate program can get you exclusive access to new content and special deals for your audience — and you earn money at the same time.
Affiliate marketing works with a blog or a website because you use that space to promote other people’s products to your readers. When a reader purchases any of the products or services advertised on your blog, you will make money by earning a small commission.
Where to find jobs?
A number of major companies have affiliate marketing programs. The most popular is from Amazon, but all of the big box stores have one. HubSpot, Fiverr, Thinkific, and Shopify also have great affiliate marketing programs.
How much money can you make?
The sky’s the limit with affiliate marketing. How much you make depends on how many products you sell.
Resource to learn more
Ultimate Guide: How to Start an Affiliate Marketing Business
50+ of the Best Affiliate Programs That Pay the Highest Commission
20. Write Articles for Content Mills
Content mills are companies that hire writers to write content for various clients on a variety of different topics. When you write for a content mill, the clients will assign the topics and they often order a large volume of content at once.
For beginner writers who don’t have much experience and have yet to be published, content mills can be a great place to get started in the freelance writing industry and develop your skills. Just remember, you won’t have much control over the content you write.
Where to find jobs?
CrowdContent, Constant Content, Writer Access, Content Gather and Scripted are the best content mills to find writing jobs.
How much money can you make?
Content mills usually pay lower rates, between 1 to 4 cents per word.
Resource to learn more
The 10 Best Content Mills to Work For
21. Write and Sell eBooks
Just like with self-publishing, writing and selling eBooks exclusively without printing soft cover copies can be a good side hustle. This method is a challenge because there are millions of eBooks available to purchase online. So, you need to know your audience and niche.
Where to find jobs?
The most popular sites for selling eBooks are Kindle Direct Publishing, BookBaby, and Barnes & Noble Press.
How much money can you make?
How much money you make writing and selling eBooks depends on how many copies you sell. There are a number of online distributors that you can use to sell your book. Whenever a copy is sold, you receive a royalty. It’s up to you to market and sell your book, so what you earn is completely dependent on you.
Resource to learn more
How to Publish an Ebook: 9 Action Steps + Helpful Hacks
Physical Jobs
22. Write and Sell Greeting Cards
If you enjoy writing poetry (even as a teen), social media posts, and short messages, then you could make money with a side hustle of writing and selling greeting cards. If you are a creative writer, this could be a good fit for your skills.
The different greeting card companies have their own methods for submissions. The pay isn’t always competitive, but it can get you some unique writing experience and the chance to earn some extra cash. If your card is selected, the company will pay you for the rights to use your design.
Where to find jobs?
Blue Mountain Arts, Calypso Cards, NobleWorks Cards, and Papyrus.
How much money can you make?
Some companies pay as much as $100 for each accepted verse.
Resource to learn more
Getting Your Greeting Card Line to Market
Breaking into the Greeting Card Market
23. Write for a Newspaper
Newspaper jobs aren’t available like they used to be, but there is still opportunity for freelance writers to submit their work. There are also staff writing positions available at big city newspapers and hometown publications.
Instead of going to one particular newspaper to submit your work, you can use a press or content agency to help you find the outlets who would be most interested in your articles and pitch them for you.
Where to find jobs?
You can find newspaper writing jobs on job boards like Indeed, LinkedIn, and ZipRecruiter.
How much money can you make?
Freelance newspaper jobs usually pay by the word. The rate is usually between 5 cents to 20 cents per word, but it could be much higher.
Resource to learn more
How to Write and Sell Your Articles to a Newspaper or Magazine
24. Write Physical Magazine Copies
This is a niche that is much harder to get into as a staff writer, but it can be a high-paying gig if you can get it. Physical magazines are in decline and the job opportunities are limited. However, there are opportunities in both journalism and commentary to submit articles to print magazines as a freelance writer. You just have to know where to look.
Where to find jobs?
One of the best places to begin your search for magazine writing jobs is the Writer’s Market. This book contains hundreds of different publications that pay freelance writers, as well as the name of editors to pitch your articles to, submission guidelines, and pay rates.
How much money can you make?
You can earn anywhere from $0.10-$2 per word when writing for a magazine.
Resource to learn more
How to Get Into Magazine Writing: 6 Tips for Aspiring Magazine Writers
25. Write and Sell Song Lyrics
I didn’t want to leave out the side hustle of writing and selling song lyrics. This option isn’t for everyone. But if you have a love of poetry, music, or short-form writing, you should consider giving song writing a try. You don’t need
You won’t get a publishing deal to write songs exclusively — unless you are extremely good at it. However, you can create your own lyrics and try to sell them to producers, artists, and record companies.
Where to find jobs?
This is a difficult question to answer. Consider reaching out to up and coming artists and offer free songwriting help, or partnering up with a producer. Get on social media platforms like Instagram, YouTube, SoundCloud, etc. and start sending messages.
How much money can you make?
This is impossible to determine. You might not make a dime writing songs. But, if you happen to pen the next number one single, you could earn thousands of dollars for one song. Depending on your level of experience, you could charge $50 per hour for songwriting support or earn hundreds doing “work for hire.”
Resource to learn more
How to become a songwriter (and make money)
And there you have it, the 25 best side hustles for writers out there.
If you are a writer looking to make money with a side hustle, I hope I inspired you and gave you some good ideas with this list. My top recommendation is starting a blog because I know it can be a moneymaker. If you are interested in me walking you through the process step-by-step, click here and enroll in my IGNITION course.