Are you a writer looking for ways to earn extra income? Do you dream of turning your passion for writing into a profitable side hustle? With the rise of the gig economy, there are now more opportunities than ever before for writers to make money on the side.

Writing is no longer limited to traditional publishing or journalism. With the internet, there are countless ways for writers to monetize their skills and build a successful side business. From freelance writing to content creation, the possibilities are endless.

If you’re a writer looking to start a side hustle, this article is for you. We’ve compiled a list of the best side hustles for writers. Whether you’re looking to make a few extra bucks or turn your writing into a full-time business, there’s something here for everyone. Let’s dive in!

Why Should You Have Side Hustles as a Writer?

As a writer, you often face the challenge of not having a steady income. Writing jobs can be hard to come by and clients may not always pay on time. Having side gigs is essential for writers who want to supplement their income and have some financial security while they’re writing.

Financial Stability

As a writer, you may not be able to rely on your writing alone to provide the financial stability and security that you need. Freelance writing or other related side gigs can supplement your writing income, especially during periods when the writing industry may be slow or unpredictable. This extra income can provide you with a safety net and help cover expenses, allowing you to focus on your craft without worrying about financial constraints.

Diversify Skills and Experience

When you engage in a side hustle outside of writing, it can offer valuable opportunities to diversify your skills and gain new experiences. Taking on different projects or roles can broaden your perspective and enhance your ability to connect with various audiences. For instance, if you want to start a blog or podcast related to a different subject, you can refine your communication skills and expand your knowledge base, making you more versatile and adaptable.

Expand Professional Network

A side job often involves collaborating with new clients, customers, or colleagues outside the writing industry. This interaction can be an excellent way to expand your professional network, connect with like-minded individuals, and potentially open doors to new writing opportunities. Expanding your network can lead to referrals, partnerships, or even invitations to participate in events or conferences, providing you with valuable exposure and career growth prospects. 

23 Side Hustles for Writers

There are numerous opportunities for writers to pursue side gigs. Here are a few good options worth considering:

Write for Established Blogs

Writing for a well-established blog can be a great way for writers to hone their skills, make money, and get their name out there. Blogging is an incredibly popular hobby and profession, and countless websites are looking for talented writers to create content for them. If you have knowledge, expertise, or interesting opinions on a particular topic, you can earn money by writing blog posts on that topic.

Start Freelance Writing

Freelance writing is one of the most popular side hustles for writers. There are countless websites and job boards dedicated to helping freelance writers find work. If you have a knack for writing, you can easily find paid gigs in various niches, such as finance, health, technology, and more.

Freelance writing is an excellent way to make money on the side while also gaining valuable experience in different fields. It can also be a great way to build your network. Plus, you can often set your own hours and work from the comfort of your home.

If your earnings reach a minimum of $600, you will likely receive a 1099 form. And if you find yourself seeking to decrease costs, you can establish an LLC.  Consult with a professional to explore your optimal choices.

Offer Ghostwriting Services

As a ghostwriter, you are hired to write books, articles, blog posts, and other material on behalf of someone else. You don’t get credit for your work—instead, the person or company who hires your services does.

Start Your Niche Blog

Whether you’re passionate about fashion, travel, health, or any other topic, blogging can be an incredibly rewarding and lucrative side gig. To get started, simply create a website, write content regularly, and start growing your audience. You can monetize your blog through sponsored posts, affiliate marketing, and advertisement.

Offer Freelance Editing and Proofreading Services

If you’re an experienced writer with an eye for detail, freelance editing could be a side job for you. Many businesses and authors need help ensuring their work is well-written and error-free. If you have a knack for grammar and spelling, you can offer your services as a freelance proofreader or editor You can even specialize in a particular genre or industry if you wish.

Become a Copywriter

As a copywriter, you create persuasive, attention-grabbing pieces of copy designed to sell products or services. If you have a way with words and an interest in marketing, this could be the perfect side hustle for you. You can find clients through job boards or marketplaces like Fiverr and Upwork.

Teach Writing

If you have a passion for teaching and helping others improve their writing skills, teaching writing could be a great side gig. You can take classes online or in person, depending on your schedule and preferences. You can even offer one-on-one or group tutoring to help students develop their writing skills. From grammar fundamentals to essay-writing tips, teaching writing can be a great way to make money on the side.

Create an Online Course

If you’re knowledgeable about a particular subject, you can create an online course and monetize it. You can offer your course via platforms like Udemy or Teachable, or even host it on your website. Creating an online course is a great way to share your knowledge with others and make money on the side.

Become a Content Marketer

Content marketing is one of the best side hustles for writers. It involves creating content that promotes products, services, or brands in order to drive sales or conversions. As a content marketer, you’ll be responsible for writing blog posts, articles, social media posts, and other forms of content. You’ll need to have an understanding of SEO and digital marketing in order to succeed as a content marketer.

If you will earn at least $600, you may receive a 1099 form. Creating an LLC can potentially reduce costs. You can seek advice from a professional to determine the best course of action.

Start a Newsletter

One of the best side hustles for writers is starting a newsletter. If you have a website or blog, you can create an email list and send newsletters to your readers regularly. You can use your newsletters to promote your content, share industry news or offer exclusive deals to subscribers. You can even monetize your newsletter via sponsorships and advertising.

Publish an eBook

If you have a knack for writing and storytelling, publishing an eBook can be a great way to make money on the side. Whether it’s fiction or non-fiction, you can self-publish your book and market it on platforms like Amazon Kindle. You can even use your eBook to promote your other services or products and drive more sales. With an eBook, you can start earning passive income on the side.

Consider Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is a type of performance-based marketing in which a business rewards one or more affiliates for each visitor or customer brought by the affiliate’s own marketing efforts. With the right resources and strategies, it can be a great way to make some extra money on the side while doing something you’re passionate about.

Start an Online Community

If you’re looking for a side hustle that combines writing and networking, starting an online community could be the perfect option. You can create a website or social media group dedicated to your particular niche and start growing an engaged audience. You can share your content and promote products or services within the community. And if you manage to attract enough members, you can even monetize your online community.

Become a Resume Writer

Resume writing is an in-demand skill that allows you to help job seekers create documents that will help them stand out from their competition. To become a resume writer, you’ll need to be knowledgeable about current trends in the job market, as well as have strong writing skills and knowledge of grammar and formatting. You can offer your services on job boards or even create a website to promote your services. 

Get Paid To Write Reviews

As a product reviewer, you can earn extra money by writing reviews that help customers make informed decisions when they’re shopping online. Product reviewers provide valuable feedback to potential buyers on the features and benefits of various products. You can look through different websites to find product review opportunities and start making money on the side.

Write Greeting Cards

While the market for greeting cards is highly competitive, it’s possible to make a decent living writing them. To start writing greeting cards, it’s important to do your homework and research the greeting card market. That way, you’ll be able to understand the type of cards that are selling well. Greeting cards should always be creative and unique. If you’re struggling with ideas, try to think of a funny or meaningful message that you can convey in just a few words.

Become a Transcript Writer

As a transcript writer, you are responsible for taking audio recordings of meetings, interviews, lectures, and other types of events and turning them into written transcripts. This type of work gives you the flexibility to make your schedule and work from home. When working as a transcript writer, you’ll need to be familiar with the transcription software and have excellent grammar and listening skills. 

Offer Technical Writing Services

Technical writing is a great side hustle for writers looking to diversify their income streams. Technical writing involves creating documents that explain complex topics in an easy-to-understand way. It includes tasks such as user guides, tutorials, troubleshooting documents, and process descriptions. If you have experience in a specific field or expertise in a particular software program, then technical writing could be the perfect side gig for you. 

Start a Writing Youtube Channel

You can create a writing-related YouTube channel and post videos that will help other writers become better at their craft. You could offer tips, advice, and resources that will help writers improve their skills. You can even host interviews with other writers to help promote their work and inspire your viewers. Plus, you can monetize your channel by displaying ads or creating a Patreon page for fans who want to support you financially.

Establish Your Podcast

Podcasts can have a broad range of topics and are an excellent way to showcase your writing or storytelling skills. You can monetize your podcast through sponsorships or advertisements, as well as by selling merchandise or digital products related to the show. 

Work as a Social Media Marketer

Do you have the skills to be a social media marketer? If so, you can put your writing talent to work in this field. As a social media marketer, you will be responsible for creating content that resonates with an audience and encourages engagement on various platforms. This could include crafting captivating tweets or designing eye-catching Instagram posts, as well as managing campaigns and interacting with customers.

Become a Virtual Assistant

The digital revolution has enabled many people to become their own bosses and make money by working as virtual assistants. As a writer, becoming a virtual assistant (VA) can be an excellent way to earn additional income while continuing your writing. As a VA,  you can provide various business support services from home or online. This could include anything from researching to helping manage email accounts, marketing campaigns, and more.

Start a Flipping Side Hustle

Flipping is the practice of buying something that can be sold at a higher price for a profit. This could work great as a side gig because it requires minimal time and effort while still allowing you to make money. The first step in starting a flipping side hustle is to find items that you can buy at a low price and resell for a higher price. This could be anything from books to electronics, clothes, furniture, or any other type of item that you can find at a low cost. You could then use your writing skills to create listings on sites like eBay or Etsy that will attract buyers and help you make a profit.

How to Start Your Side Hustle as a Writer in 5 Steps?

To start a successful side gig, you can follow these five important steps.

1. Decide on a Side Hustle Idea

When starting a side hustle, it is important to select one opportunity from the multitude available and focus on building experience in that area. Ask yourself what you want to get out of it. Do you need to make money quickly or do you want to create a steady stream of income? Knowing your goal will also help you determine which side gig is best for you. This can lead you to explore additional side hustles in the future.

2. Create a Business Plan

Developing a business plan for a side gig can provide advantages if you’re seeking growth. It is advisable that you conduct research on the side hustle, pinpoint the target audience, analyze the required resources, and assess operating and advertising costs.

3. Consider Setting Up a Business Structure

If you are an established or aspiring writer with multiple side hustles, it’s important to think about setting up a business structure. A business structure will help ensure that all your activities are properly organized and managed in a way that is beneficial for both you and your clients.

The first step in setting up a business structure is to decide what kind of legal entity you’d like to operate under. You will also need to consider taxes, licenses, and other liabilities when setting up a business structure.

If you’re earning a minimum of $600, you qualify to receive a 1099 form. To protect against liability and access tax benefits, it is advisable to establish a formal business structure such as a Limited Liability Company (LLC). A professional can help to ensure compliance with legal and tax obligations.

4. Obtain and Maintain Business Licences and Permits

When you’re a writer taking on extra freelance work, it’s important to make sure you understand the process of obtaining and maintaining the necessary business licenses and permits. Depending on your location, there may be different rules and regulations that govern what type of license or permit you need in order to operate legally. It is also important to keep up-to-date with any changes in regulations so that you can ensure that your side hustle is legally compliant. 

5. Build Your Network

Creating a strong network is essential for your side hustle as a writer. This includes developing relationships with mentors and other professionals in the industry who can help provide advice or guidance when needed. Additionally, networking with potential clients is key to finding new opportunities.

6.  Market Yourself and Your Services

Marketing your services is critical for establishing yourself as a professional writer in the industry. You can do this by creating a website, participating in online forums or events, and utilizing social media platforms to showcase your writing skills. Also, don’t forget to market yourself offline with business cards, flyers, or word of mouth.

Once you have decided on a side hustle and put together your business plan, the next step is to start taking action. Consider launching a blog or website so that you can showcase your writing skills and promote your services. You can also join freelance platforms such as Upwork, Fiverr, or Freelancer and create a profile to help attract potential clients. 

Squeeze Your Creative Juices with Side Hustles

Starting a side hustle as a writer doesn’t have to be intimidating or overwhelming. By following the above steps, you can create an efficient and profitable side hustle that will help you supplement your income and pursue your passion for writing.

By utilizing a proper approach, diligence, and collaborating with partners such as doola, who offer assistance with LLC establishment, bookkeeping, and tax services, you can easily turn your passion for writing into a profitable business.

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