How to Make Money from Writing

From LoveToKnow Freelance-Writing

Writers need to know how to make money from writing, whether it’s fiction writing, non-fiction writing, editing or teaching. Earning money for writing and making a living off writing are two different things. A freelance writer must be flexible and open to different options.

Editing is one way to make money from writing.

How to Make Money from Writing

Multiple revenue streams are available for writers who are willing to keep their options open. Getting paid to write is not an easy business to break into and most freelance writers recognize that it can take a long time of working twice as hard for less than half the money to develop the contacts, resources and networking necessary to get the right writing jobs.

Copy Writing Options

For freelance writers, copy writing is among the most lucrative of writing opportunities available on the Internet. Copy writing requires a salesman’s sense of marketing to write copy for companies who want to build their advertising profiles. Copy writers may also be offered work in the form of white papers and SEO articles.

Writing SEO Articles

You can earn a decent income from writing search engine optimized articles or SEO articles. SEO articles are designed to improve the search engine rankings of a web site by creating relevant, searchible content. For example, a web site that sells dance wear may feature articles on different styles of dance, popular dancing shows and profiles of famous dancers.

The goal of the SEO writer is to create readable content liberally sprinkled with the key SEO phrases as required by the client without sacrificing the integrity of the piece. A competent SEO writer can churn these articles out on a regular basis for $5 to $25 per article.

Creating White Papers

Creating white papers can be very lucrative for the technical writer who can do the research and prepare the material. A white paper is similar to a research paper, requires correct attribution and should provide the reader with a guide or a how to on the subject matter of the white paper.

For example, a white paper on freelance writing should include the pros and cons of freelance writing, links to the Bureau of Labor Statistics on writers and editors as well as other comprehensive data for the reader to learn. The key to a white paper is that it should teach. White papers are useful in the corporate and retail world for educating consumers.

Fiction Writer

Fiction writers might appear to have it easy, but fiction writing comes with its own set of challenges. A SEO article or standard copywritten article is going to average 500 to 750 words. For most writers this is a day’s worth of work at most. A standard book is 75,000 words and takes even the strongest writer 30 to 45 days to write, edit and complete. The average author will spend six months on a book.

Writing a book does not guarantee the sale of the book. While a fiction writer may spend six months writing their book, it may take another six months to find an agent or publisher willing to give the book a shot. In terms of return, successful fiction writers make a great deal of money, but it is not a direct source of immediate income.

Ghost Writing

Fiction writers who want to know how to make money from writing may consider ghost writing projects while working on their own writing. Ghost writers are typically paid up front for their work. While they do not make royalties or benefit from long-term credits, ghost writing provides the author with practical writing experience and a pay check.

Money Making Guide

Writers can make money through passive and active income sources.

**Make Money from Writing Shortcuts**
Opportunities	Type of Writing
Associated Content	Direct pay marketplace, small sums.
Guru	Direct client: copy writing, ghost writing, white papers
Helium	Copy Writing, Marketplace Orders, Debates
Love To Know	Copy writing, article writing and interviews.
Pro Blogger	Blogging positions both paid and unpaid can be found on the job board.
Writer’s Market	Fiction and non-fiction, periodicals, magazines and books