Alternative Ways for Writers to Earn Extra Money Through Writing Activities: Part 1

7 days ago

7 min read

Are you a struggling writer? And when I ask if you are struggling, I mean financially.

Let’s face it: as independent authors, we cannot always rely on book royalties alone. Whether you are self-publishing, freelancing, or creating content, writing is a business—not just a hobby. Royalties can take time to come in, and payments may only arrive monthly or even quarterly.

On top of that, writers have expenses. There are self-employment taxes, website costs, writing tools, and even outsources costs for editing, design, and marketing. Those costs can add up quickly.

A few years ago, I had to stop working full-time for medical reasons. Soon afterward, things became difficult financially, and I had to find ways to supplement my household income. That led me to learn more about other income streams I could pursue as a writer.

You do not have to try everything at once, and you shouldn’t expect six figures in your first year. But adding one or two income streams can help support your writing goals while you continue building your business.

In this first part, I will cover content writing, newsletter monetization, freelance and ghostwriting services, writing contests, and course creation or coaching.

Core Income Streams: Writing Activities

Content Writing

Content writing can include creating blogs for your own business website or writing specialized articles for outside platforms and clients. This is a great option for writers who have niche expertise, want to build an audience, or want to get into the habit of writing for others.

To begin, you will need a reliable writing tool, such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs, a place to publish your work, and a list of topics or publications you would like to write for. If you are writing blogs for your own website, try to create a consistent posting schedule and use Search Engine Optimization (SEO) keywords to help readers find your work. Keep in mind that building traffic takes time.

If you want to write for other websites, it can help to focus on an industry, genre, or subject you already know. You may be able to submit work to publications such as Longreads or find opportunities through writing job boards and freelance platforms. Always review a publication’s submission requirements before sending in your work.

You can also share your work on social media, such as Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, to build confidence, attract readers, and help people learn what you write about. Over time, you may be able to add income through paid subscriptions, sponsored content, affiliate links, or client writing work.

My personal experience: I have been writing blogs for Inspire Books for a little over a year now. It has helped me earn a little extra money toward my own goals and aspirations as a writer. I have also learned a lot in the process and have become more confident in my writing.

Newsletter Monetization

Newsletter monetization involves sending regular emails to readers who are interested in your stories, updates, advice or personal experiences. Over time, you can build a group of subscribers who may be willing to pay for exclusive content.

This can be a good option for writers who are comfortable sharing personal experiences, writing advice, or updates directly with their readers. You will need an email provider or newsletter platform, an idea of the audience you want to reach, and a consistent schedule that you realistically keep up with.

Growing an audience before asking people to pay can be a slow process. Platforms such as Substack, Medium, Kit, Notd, beehiiv, and Patreon can give writers a place to start. You may want to build a community first by offering free content, then introduce paid subscriptions one you have readers who enjoy and value what you share.

Some writers begin with a lower subscription price, such as $5 to $8 per month, and increase it later as they add more content or benefits.

My personal experience: Although I have not fully utilized newsletters in my own writing process, I did try Notd. I offered a few free notes and then offered some as paid subscriptions, which allowed me to earn a little extra income. The difficult part for me was staying consistent because of different challenges I was dealing with at the time. It taught me that newsletters can work, but you have to choose a schedule that you can realistically commit to.

Freelance Writing and Ghostwriting

Freelance writing and ghostwriting involve providing writing services for clients, peers, businesses, or authors who may not have the time, writing ability, or desire to create the content themselves. These services may include books, blog posts, newsletters, website content, social media content, or marketing materials.

Ghostwriting is a little different from traditional freelance writing because the client usually receives public credit for the finished work. If you are comfortable with writing and not getting the full credit for it, ghostwriting can be a good option. If you want to use your own name and build a portfolio, freelance writing may be the better fit.

To get started, you will need a professional service profile, samples of your work, a list of services, and a way to explain your process to clients. It is important to set boundaries and make sure that the range of duties is clear before beginning to work on a project. Make sure to discuss deadlines, payment arrangements, revisions, confidentiality, and who owns the completed work.

Freelance and ghostwriting work can provide more immediate income because you may be paid by the project, by the hour, by word count, or through a package price. Writers may find work through referrals, Fiverr, Upwork, Reedsy, or other professional organizations. Beginning ghostwriters can also look into the Association of Ghostwriters Associate Membership for learning resources, templates, networking, and tips on finding and managing ghostwriting work. Associate members do not receive job leads, but the membership can help writers learn the business before moving into larger projects.

My personal experience: I have learned about the needs of my friends, family, and peers and have offered help when they needed something written. For example, my past work has included resume writing and author bios. I have written resumes for friends and family for years. Even when I did the work for free, I gained valuable experience that helped me better understand what people need from a writer.

Contest Writing

Contest writing allows you to submit short stories, poems, or other work to writing competitions while you are working on your larger writing projects. It can be a good way to test out characters, worlds, story ideas, genres, and tropes.

Some contests offer cash prizes, publication opportunities, feedback, or exposure. However, it is important to remember that contests are not guaranteed income. You may not win every contest you enter, and you should always review the entry fee, deadline, guidelines, prize information, and rights before submitting your work.

Reedsy Prompts can be a place to start if you want to submit short stories to regular writing competitions. It gives writers an opportunity to practice writing to a prompt, share their work with other readers, and compete for a cash prize.

My personal experience: When I first heard about Reedsy Prompts writing contests, I got excited and worked hard on each of my short stories. I paid the $5 entry fees and hoped I would win one, although I have not won yet. I am okay with that. I stopped submitting entries for a while, but I am open to trying again now that I have a better understanding of short-story writing and the process behind it.

Course Creation and Coaching

Creating courses and offering coaching can allow you to turn your professional knowledge, writing experience, or specialized skills into something that helps other people. Courses may include videos, eBooks, PowerPoint presentations, workbooks, quizzes, templates, or live training sessions. Coaching may include one-on-one support, group sessions, feedback, or guidance.

This option can work well for experienced nonfiction writers, professionals, or anyone with a skill set they can teach clearly. You need to have knowledge that solves a specific problem for a particular audience. For example, a writer with HR experience may be able to create content around resumes, interview preparation, employee onboarding, benefits, or career development.

To host a course online, writers can use platforms such as Kajabi, Teachable, Udemy, or LearnWorlds. You do not have to start with a large course or an expensive platform. You can begin with a workshop, downloadable guide, PowerPoint presentation, or coaching session to see what people are interested in learning.

This option can take more time upfront because you have to create the content, organize it, and market it. However, if you create something helpful that solves a real problem, it may continue to earn income over time.

My personal experience: In my previous HR roles, I helped create course content related to employee training and development, onboarding, and benefits administration. I also created training programs to teach employees how to perform specialized roles. At the time, I did not use online course-hosting platforms. I mainly created the content through Microsoft PowerPoint. I have also tried to create content for other purposes, but I have sometimes lacked the confidence to share it. This is something I am still working on.

Final Thoughts

There are many ways writers can earn extra money while working toward their larger writing goals. You do not have to take on every opportunity at once. In fact, trying too many things at the same time can make it harder to stay focused and consistent.

Choose one or two options that fit your skills, your available time, and what you enjoy doing. Some income streams may bring in money more quickly, while others may take longer to grow. The important thing is to start where you are, learn as you go, and give yourself time to build.

I have personally tried more than one of these options, and I have learned that it is easy to get excited and attempt too much at once. Sometimes I would focus on one income stream and forget about the others. But each experience taught me something about my strengths, my goals, and the kind of writing work I want to do.

In Part 2, I will share additional ways writers can earn income through more creative and multimedia activities.