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How to Get Paid to Write (9 Options for 2023)

Josephine Mariñas is a freelance content writer who worked with B2B and B2C companies in outsourcing, tech, e-scooter, digital marketing, and online education since 2018.

Today, she writes for startups and SMEs and shares her insights on freelancing, writing, and the gig economy on Gigworker.com.

Gigworker articles are reviewed by gig economy experts before getting published to ensure accuracy, thoroughness, and quality. Learn about our editorial standards .

Brett Helling is the founder of Gigworker.com. He has been a rideshare driver since early 2012, having completed hundreds of trips for companies including Uber, Lyft, and Postmates.

Since that time, he has expanded his knowledge into the Gigworker site, as well as writing the book Gigworker: Independent Work and the State of the Gig Economy Paperback,  now available on Amazon .

Although freelance writing is one of the easiest ways to make money online, the low barrier to entry makes it a highly competitive field.

This high competition leaves you wondering where to start and how to get paid to write.

Luckily, it isn’t rocket science.

Whether you want to make some extra money or want to start a writing career, this guide will explain everything you need to know about getting paid to write.

• How Much Can You Make by Writing
• What You’ll Need to Get Paid to Write
• Full List of Ways to Get Paid to Write
• 1. Upwork (Freelance Marketplace)
• 2. Fiverr (Freelance Marketplace)
• 3. TextBroker (Writer Marketplace)
• 4. PeoplePerHour (Gig Economy Staffing)
• 5. CopyHackers (Writing Broker)
• 6. Listverse (Listicle Website)
• 7. WordAgents (Content Agency)
• 8. ProBlogger (Content Broker)
• 9. nDash (Content Broker)
• Why You Should Consider Writing as a Side Hustle
• Problems With Writing
• 1. Choose Your Platform
• 2. Prepare Writing Samples
• Things to Consider When Writing
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Similar Ways to Get Paid
• Wrapping Up

Can You Get Paid to Get Paid to Write?

Yes, you can. The internet is full of sites you can visit to find a decent-paying freelance writer position . Some of the available options include:

• Online freelance marketplaces
• Content writing job boards
• Job networking sites like LinkedIn
• Social networking sites like Twitter

In addition, you can take one of the following actions to put yourself out there:

• Create a profile on an online marketplace and sell your freelance writing services
• Apply for an in-house content writer position on a job board and get hired by a company or content writing agency
• Pitch guest post ideas to internet companies and get paid on a per-project basis

New writing opportunities pop up every day, so you’re bound to find a paying gig if you look hard enough.

The amount of money you can earn as a freelance writer depends on several factors, including your work ethic, experience level, ability to market yourself, and your client base.

According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, US writers and authors have a median pay wage of $69,510 per year or $33.42 per hour (as of 2021).

Anyone can earn money online as a freelance writer. However, if you’re thinking of becoming a freelance writer , you’ll need the following skills and technologies:

• Excellent Command of English : You need to be able to write at the same level as a native English speaker to earn money writing on a freelance basis. Your writing should be free of grammatical and spelling errors and communicate clearly and concisely to the audience you’re writing for.
• A Computer With a Word Processor : A computer with a word processor is necessary because it’s what you’re going to use to produce the content you write for your clients.
• An Internet Connection : The internet is the glue that’ll hold your freelance writing operation together. You need it to pitch and apply for jobs. It’s necessary to sign up for an account on an online marketplace. Also, many tools you can use to improve your writing (like Grammarly) are web-based applications. 
• A Means of Receiving Payments : Your options include a local bank account or a fintech service like PayPal, Payoneer, or Wise.

It’s worth mentioning that you need all of the above to succeed as a freelance writer. If even one is missing, you probably won’t be able to get paid to write.

Where to Get Paid to Write

The gig economy platforms and freelance marketplaces discussed below are among the best sites to look for freelance opportunities.

We’ve included an overview of our top picks above. For a full list and detailed information on each pick, scroll down .

• Upwork  (Freelance Marketplace)
• Fiverr  (Freelance Marketplace)
• TextBroker  (Writer Marketplace)
• PeoplePerHour  (Gig Economy Staffing)
• CopyHackers  (Writing Broker)
• Listverse  (Listicle Website)
• WordAgents  (Content Agency)
• ProBlogger  (Content Broker)
• nDash  (Content Broker)

Upwork is a well-known online freelance marketplace where small business owners go to search for an assortment of skills and services. You can find a variety of freelance writing gigs that cover a variety of subjects on Upwork, and the available jobs for writers accommodate all skill levels.

How Much You Can Make

Upwork gigs vary depending on factors like the project’s scope, the client’s budget, and your level of experience. Therefore, it’s challenging to specify an average rate. Some clients prefer to pay a lump sum per project and specify as much in the listing, whereas others may specify an hourly rate.

What Makes This Option Great?

Experienced writers will appreciate this platform because it does away with the need to search for work. If your Upwork profile has impressed prospective clients, they can contact you directly about their projects.

• Typical Fees/Commission : Before you earn $500 with the platform, Upwork will charge you a 20% commission on all your gigs. The commission rate reduces to 10% when you earn up to $10,000 and 5% when you earn more than $10k.
• Typical Payment Methods : You can get paid directly into a US bank account, a non-US bank account, via wire transfer, and through Instant Pay. In addition, you can receive payments via your PayPal, Payoneer, or Mpesa (Kenya only) account.

Fiverr is a platform where gigs start as low as $5. However, don’t count it out as a viable source of income, as you can use this platform to jumpstart a freelance writing career. Unlike other online marketplaces where clients post gigs , Fiverr sellers can create listings that begin with the words “I will” to sell their services (e.g., “I will create original content for your blog”).

Although Fiverr is reputed for its $5 gigs, you won’t be stuck earning that amount forever. You can apply to become a Fiverr Pro freelancer and charge higher fees if your application is successful. Some Fiverr Pro writers earn as high as $378,000 per year .

Fiverr’s model is excellent for writers who find it difficult to make cold pitches to clients. You can create a listing, sit back, and the clients that need your particular services can commission work.

• Typical Fees/Commission: Fiverr takes a 20% commission on all your gigs.
• Typical Payment Methods : Fiverr pays writers (and other freelancers) via bank transfer, direct deposit, PayPal, Payoneer, and the Fiverr Revenue Card.

Textbroker is an online marketplace with a particular focus on offering writing services. The platform is an excellent place to find freelance writing jobs, and it even provides resources that can help you improve your writing skills.

The platform uses a five-star rating system that determines how much writers can make (the clients do the rating). For example, a four-star writer can earn $0.014 per word, while a two-star writer earns $0.007 per word.

Content volume is where Textbroker shines. Even though this platform has a reputation for being a content mill, it does have plenty of freelance writing opportunities you can tap into.

• Typical Fees/Commission : Textbroker doesn’t charge any fees in commissions. However, the platform charges a $1 fee if you request two payouts in the same week.
• Typical Payment Methods : Textbroker only pays writer earnings via PayPal.

PeoplePerHour is an online marketplace where companies go for their gig-worker staffing needs. Some examples of services offered on the platform include graphic design, programming, and writing. Typical writing gigs you can offer on this platform include copywriting , proofreading, content writing, and translation.

Your earning potential on PeoplePerHour depends on how much you list your gig. Typical writing gigs can start at $25 for 500 words.

Like Fiverr, PeoplePerHour lets you price your gig listings. Therefore, if you sell yourself well, you can decide how much your services are worth and get compensated fairly.

• Typical Fees/Commission : PeoplePerHour charges a fee based on each individual client’s lifetime transactions with a freelancer. For example, if you earn less than or up to $304 with a client, PeoplePerHour will charge a 20% service fee. Earnings between $304 and $6083 attract a 7.5% service fee. And earnings over $6083 attract a 3.5% service fee.
• Typical Payment Methods : PeoplePerHour supports withdrawals of earnings to a bank account (local or international) or a PayPal or Payoneer account.

As is suggestive of its name, CopyHackers is an agency with a focus on copy. If you’re skilled at writing informative articles about marketing, email marketing, UX design, and the like, this is the place for you. You can send in a writing pitch after reading CopyHacker’s submission guidelines .

As of February 2020, CopyHackers pays between $300 and $1000 per guest post. The amount you’re paid is at the editor’s discretion.

CopyHackers offers some of the highest pay rates for writers who can craft original articles on topics related to internet marketing, SaaS, and similar.

• Typical Fees/Commission : CopyHackers doesn’t charge fees or commissions.
• Typical Payment Methods : CopyHackers doesn’t disclose how it pays writers. However, it’s safe to presume that the agency pays via bank transfer (direct deposit).

Listverse specializes in top 10 lists that cover different types of content. The platform encourages writers to use a humorous writing style and doesn’t require much besides an excellent command of English.

If Listverse accepts your article, the company will pay you $100 for it.

The arrangement is incredibly straightforward: you come up with a top 10 list, Listverse reviews your article, and either accepts it and pays you or declines and asks you to try again.

• Typical Fees/Commission : Listverse doesn’t charge its writers any fees or commissions.
• Typical Payment Methods : Listverse only pays writers via PayPal.

WordAgents is an agency that specializes in search-engine-optimized content. The company provides services that span SEO-friendly blog posts and articles and website copy. It counts agencies, ecommerce companies, publishers, and local SMEs among its client base and is constantly hiring writers to service their requests.

At the time of writing, WordAgents pays its writers $0.3 per word, which equates to $300 for 1000 words. The company expects its writers to deliver at least 5,000 per week, meaning you can make $1500 per week or $6000 per month.

WordAgents is one of the few websites on this list where you can make a full-time income with your blog writing skills.

• Typical Fees/Commission : WordAgents doesn’t charge any fees or commissions.
• Typical Payment Methods : WordAgents pays its writers once a week via PayPal.

First and foremost, ProBlogger is an internet company that teaches people how to establish and grow blogs. The reason it makes this list is for its job board. Companies from around the world list open freelance writing positions on the ProBlogger job board, making it an excellent place to search for writing gigs.

Typical ProBlogger listings offer rates that start at $0.03 per word and go as high as $500 per article.

ProBlogger is an excellent option because you can find amazing remote job opportunities there. Better yet, many of the companies that use the job board offer attractive compensation.

• Typical Fees/Commission : ProBlogger doesn’t charge any fees or commissions for jobs gotten through its job board.
• Typical Payment Methods : The payment methods available to you will depend on the company that hires you.

nDash is a content broker that provides a platform for pitching writing gigs. Thousands of businesses and brands use this platform to find and hire writers. You can craft everything from a blog post to a white paper on the platform.

According to nDash, writing assignments on the platform typically range between $175 to $450. In addition, you can earn a lifetime commission for every company you successfully refer to the platform.

If what nDash claims about its writing assignments is to be believed, this platform is the best place for a professional writer to look for high-paying writing gigs.

• Typical Fees/Commission : Thankfully, nDash doesn’t charge writers a commission on every gig they successfully complete. Instead, the platform passes that cost along to the clients by adding their cut on top of the writer’s final price per article.
• Typical Payment Methods : You need an approved “non-preview” Stripe account to receive your writer earnings from nDash.

Why should you consider writing as a side hustle? Some of the numerous reasons why this hustle pays off include:

• Choose Your Hours : Most freelance writing opportunities you’ll find online let you work remotely. As long as you meet the clients’ deadlines, you can decide when you want to work.
• Choose Your Workload : Working as a freelance writer means you’re not limited to one client or employer. As such, you can choose to take on as much work as you can handle.
• No Cap on Your Earnings : Expanding on the above point, choosing your workload means your income isn’t limited by a salary cap. You can scale your monthly take-home by getting as many jobs as you can handle.
• It Improves Your Writing Skills : When you work on multiple articles, your writing and editing skills will improve.

Also, this side hustle will teach you a lot, as writing about a diverse range of topics tends to do.

As with all side hustles, there’s a con for every pro. The problems unique to freelance writing include:

• It Can Be Time-Consuming : Good quality writing takes time to churn out. For example, you can spend a minimum of three hours perfecting a 1,500-word article. While AI writing software tools can help you reduce the time you spend, many clients and employers prefer you give them original content 100% written by you.
• Some Gigs Don’t Pay Well : Freelance writing isn’t a get-rich-quick opportunity. When you first start out, clients may offer depressingly low pay for your service.
• Your Income Can Fluctuate : If you don’t get a full-time writing position, don’t expect income stability.
• It Can Be Lonely : To be fair, this con isn’t to freelance writing but remote working as a whole.

Freelance writing isn’t a cakewalk. Therefore, expect to put in time and effort if you want to succeed at this side hustle.

How to Get Paid to Write: Step-By-Step Instructions

Here’s how to get paid to write in three easy steps.

The platform you use will depend on your goals. If you’re looking for a full-time gig, use a job board to find work.

In contrast, if you’re looking for freelance gigs, an online marketplace like Upwork will suffice.

It’s a good idea to have some writing samples on hand before applying to freelance job postings.

Similarly, potential clients may want to see samples of your work before commissioning one of your gigs.

Once you’ve chosen your platform and have your samples ready, there’s nothing else left to do but apply for jobs.

The process described above may be slow-going at first. However, keep at it, and it won’t be long before you land your first gig.

Freelance writing has such a low barrier to entry that you can embark on your career in a matter of hours.

However, there are a few factors you need to consider when starting out. They include:

• Copyright Ownership: Unless otherwise agreed with the client, you don’t own the copyright to work you’ve written in exchange for payment. This point is especially true when you work for a company as an independent contractor.
• Author Credit : Not all freelance writing gigs provide the opportunity to get author credit. Therefore, you’ll have to be selective about the gigs you take if you want to get your name out there.
• Subcontracting Agreements : If you land a gig that requires you to sign a contract, you might need to draw up a subcontractor agreement . This agreement protects you from liability in the event that you need to hire outside help to complete a task. If the subcontractor doesn’t fulfill their obligation, you’re legally covered.
• Use of Artificial Intelligence : As mentioned above, many clients prefer human-written content to AI-generated content. If your client or employer expressly forbids the use of AI writing assistants, abide by their policy.
• Plagiarism : Stealing other people’s content and passing it off as yours is a huge no-no in the content writing world. Tools like Copyscape can expose your stolen content and search engines like Google will penalize your client for your indiscretion. So don’t do it. It can cost you a lucrative contract and damage your reputation.
• Taxes : Freelance income over $400 is subject to taxes, so keep that in mind when freelancing. You’ll need to file tax returns once you hit the above financial milestone.

When you keep the above considerations in mind, your freelance writing side hustle can operate without any avoidable hiccups.

What is the Best Paid to Write Website?

ProBlogger is probably the best website on the above list to search for high-paying freelance writing gigs.

What Type of Writing Pays the Most?

Technical writing gigs are among the highest-paying writing projects a freelance writer can get. Research writing also pays well.

If content writing isn’t your speed, we discuss similar ways to get paid below.

• Get Paid to Take Surveys : If you’re looking for a less labor-intensive means of earning extra money, you can try taking paid surveys.
• Get Paid to Type : This side hustle is similar to content writing, except you’ll be doing things like data entry and transcribing videos.
• Get Paid to Text : Rather than write full-length articles, you can get paid to have text conversations in a customer service role.

Due to how competitive the freelance side hustle can be, guides like this are important to clarify the process.

When you know what to expect and where to look for work, you can make your writing side hustle soar with a little luck and a lot of determination.

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How to Become a Freelance Writer: 6 Tips From a $200K Earner

Our readers always come first.

The content on DollarSprout includes links to our advertising partners. When you read our content and click on one of our partners’ links, and then decide to complete an offer — whether it’s downloading an app, opening an account, or some other action — we may earn a commission from that advertiser, at no extra cost to you.

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Becoming a freelance writer can be a lucrative career path with the right attitude and a little training. Uplevel your freelance career with these tips from a six-figure writer.

Our mission at DollarSprout is to help readers improve their financial lives, and we regularly partner with companies that share that same vision. If a purchase or signup is made through one of our Partners’ links, we may receive compensation for the referral. Learn more here .

Content marketing is in high demand and businesses all over the world are in constant need of new and unique content.

This presents a great opportunity for individuals looking to learn how to become a freelance writer or start an online job with the freedom to work wherever they want.

Blog posts and other short and long-form pieces are good ways to use writing talents to make some extra cash. But how does one start a freelance career and how does it become a lucrative source of income?

Most people learn how to become a freelance writer — or, in many cases, how not to become one — the hard way: through trial and error.

They start a website (often using platforms like WordPress), throw up a few samples, pitch jobs on Upwork to prospective clients, and maybe even land a few projects.

However, they quickly realize that being a part-time blogger doesn’t quite make enough money for time spent on projects, and certainly not enough to take their freelancing career full time. This is where many new freelance writers throw in the towel.

They begin to believe “you have to have a degree in journalism” or “know the right people” to become a successful freelance writer. Some even convince themselves that freelance writing is not a viable career option. Turns out, many people with these attitudes never properly learned how to become a freelance writer.

Holly Johnson’s story, on the other hand, shows aspiring freelance writers exactly what is possible with this flexible profession.

Meet Holly Johnson, a Six-Figure Freelance Writer

Holly is a wife, mother of two sweet girls, and a freelance writer who makes a six-figure income online.

In 2018 alone, Holly earned over $225,000 creating content for sites like The Simple Dollar, LendingTree, Bankrate, U.S. News & World Report, and other well-known publications. Her success led her to create a course, Earn More Writing, to teach other freelance writers how to grow their income online.

Holly’s husband, Greg, runs their own personal finance blog — ClubThrifty — which also brings in a six-figure annual income.

While it may sound like the Johnsons are living the dream these days, that hasn’t always been the case.

Life before freelance writing

In 2011, Holly’s days looked like the average worker in corporate America: wake up, dress to impress, rush out the door, drop the kids off at daycare, head to work.

Nine hours of misery.

Head home, throw together a quick dinner, catch up on chores, put the kids to bed, read/relax/breathe for a moment, go to bed.

Rinse and repeat.

Holly knew there had to be a better way; a way to be there for her kids, spend more time with her family, and do work she not only enjoyed, but that supported the lifestyle she desired. One that offered more than 20 days of paid time off and the occasional 3% annual raise.

From zero to six figures freelance writing

After years at an unfulfilling job that stole the majority of her time and energy, Holly decided to make a change. She turned to the world of online business for a way out and started researching work-from-home jobs .

“When we started our website in 2011-2012,” Holly says, “I was looking for a way to make some extra money. It takes time to build a considerable income with a blog, so I turned to freelance writing while we built up our readership.”

During her first year as a freelance writer, Holly built her portfolio on the side of her full-time job. That meant her writing had to be done in the evenings and weekends. While her new writing career took up the bulk of Holly’s already scarce free time, she kept the bigger picture in mind.

“My initial goal was earning $3,000 per month freelancing so I could replace most of my income and quit my job,” Holly shares. “I wanted a way to work at home so we would have a better quality of life, even if that meant earning less.”

Little did she know, becoming a freelance writer would not only be her ticket out of corporate America, but it would also propel her family into financial freedom. Within the first two years of her freelance career, Holly broke the six-figure income barrier.

Related: 25 Online Jobs That Are Legitimate, Easy, and Flexible

Life today (as a full-time freelance writer)

Since taking her writing business full time, Holly’s income and lifestyle have improved substantially. In 2016, ’17, and ’18, she brought in over $225,000 creating content online. That figure doesn’t include income from her blog or online writing courses , which Holly says have surpassed what she makes as a freelance writer.

Whereas Holly and Greg were lucky to receive a 3% annual raise in their previous jobs, freelance writing and blogging allow them to earn as much as they want to support their ideal lifestyle. In Holly’s words, “This money allowed us to pay off our beautiful home and pay for a $100,000 remodeling project in cash last year. We are also investing large sums and on a path toward very early retirement.”

Beyond income, the Johnsons’ quality of life is greater than they ever imagined. Holly graduated from 20 days of PTO to traveling with her family 12 to 16 weeks per year. “We’ve taken our kids all over Europe and the Caribbean mostly,” says Holly, “although we’ve been on quite a few other international trips.”

For an upcoming excursion, they plan to explore Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Italy, with additional trips scheduled in Hawaii, England, Scotland, France, Spain, and the Caribbean later in the year. “We could never live like this before,” Holly says, “because we didn’t have enough vacation days.”

With limited funds and capped vacation days, trips like these were once a pipe dream. Now, they’re the Johnsons’ reality.

Related: 51 Freelance Job Websites with Great Remote Work Opportunities

How to Become a Freelance Writer in 6 Easy Steps

After building a six-figure freelance writing career, Holly received thousands of questions from aspiring writers looking to build a career online. Armed with years of experience and lessons learned through trial and error, she created her course, Earn More Writing, to help writers uplevel their freelance businesses and blogging careers.

Since her course launch, she’s helped teach hundreds of people how to become a freelance writer so they could make money online when they were away from home. If you aspire to make an income as a freelance writer, here are six steps you can take to get started.

1. Narrow your focus

Before you dive deep into how to become a freelance writer, decide what type of freelance writer you want to be.

The better you define your passions, hobbies, interests, or areas of expertise, the easier it will be to find freelance writing jobs that match your skill set.

To be clear, you don’t have to confine yourself to one specific topic. However, in Holly’s experience, “it can help if you have some expertise in a specific area.”

For example, if you’ve worked in marketing for a decade and can authoritatively speak on various marketing topics, it will be easier for you to land freelance writing clients in that niche as opposed to something you have no personal experience with.

2. Learn what you don’t know

As a new freelance writer, you’ll have to answer a lot of questions. For example, how much will you charge for your work?

Don’t be afraid to research successful writers and borrow a page from their playbook. For example, Holly suggests that new freelance writers “set a minimum hourly rate they’re willing to work for and set their per-piece rates from there.”

“This doesn’t mean you’ll write hourly,” she explains. “It just means you will only take on assignments that result in your hourly minimum rate or more.”

Say you want to make a minimum of $50 per hour. You estimate it will take you three hours to write a 1,500-word article. Using this idea, you would charge $150 per 1,500-word article, which comes out to $0.10 per word.

“This works best when you are able to estimate how long a project will take you,” Holly admits. However, your predictions will become more accurate with time.

Related: How to Get Paid to Write: 13 Sites to Find Paid Writing Jobs

3. Create an online portfolio

Even as a new freelance writer, you’ll need a portfolio to share your work with potential clients.

“After all,” Holly says, “it will be more difficult for people to hire you if they cannot read some of your writing samples online.” A simple portfolio website will do the trick if you’re not interested in becoming a blogger .

In order to showcase your work to potential clients, you’ll first need to create some samples. You can do this in a couple of ways. One option is to write and publish a few articles on your own website. WordPress is a fairly simple way to start building out an online portfolio.

While that can be a great start, prospective clients may feel more comfortable hiring you if they see your work has been published on other sites as well.

As a new freelance writer, one of the best ways to get your work out there is to reach out to websites in your niche and offer to guest post for free. Not only is this a great way to build your portfolio, but it will also help get your name out and put your work in front of prospective clients.

4. Find your first client

Don’t be discouraged if the majority of your pitches go unanswered at first.

“It’s not too difficult to get more ongoing work when you have a few clients,” says Holly. “What’s difficult is getting your very first writing job…You have to find that one person willing to give you a chance.”

Often, finding that first paying client is a challenge for new freelance writers. But the good news is, you can send an unlimited number of pitches for free using online job boards. Many beginner freelance writers turn to sites like Upwork for those first few clients. However, the majority of those writing jobs are low-paying. Not to mention, there are so many people competing for jobs, you could send in dozens of pitches without hearing from a single one.

Two of the best freelance writing job boards are at ProBlogger and FreelanceWriting.com . Both sites post new opportunities each day, and you don’t have to pay to join and start pitching your services.

5. Improve your writing (and other) skills

One of the best tips when learning how to become a freelance writer is practicing your writing.  Just like with any skill, the more you practice writing, the better you become. The better your writing, the more you can charge for your services to help you make cash fast.

That doesn’t mean you have to be perfect or even a great writer to be successful. However, it should encourage you to spend some time honing your craft. In addition to improving your actual writing, figure out what other skills can set you apart from the competition and devote time to learning them.

For example, according to Holly, “SEO content is probably the most in-demand type of content right now. Many websites are competing to rank for various keywords on Google, and they need qualified SEO writers to create content that fits their guidelines.”

Explore job postings in your niche to find out what companies are looking for in their writers. That way when you go to pitch a new client, you can highlight how your experience makes you a perfect fit for the job.

Related: How to Get Paid to Write Reviews

6. Invest in yourself

Perhaps the best way to launch or up-level your freelance writing career is to invest in yourself. There are two main ways to invest in your new writing career.

Time:  This one is a given. As with any new skill — especially one you want to make a decent amount of money with — you should plan to spend a significant amount of time researching, reading, and improving your writing.

This includes reading books and blogs, listening to podcasts, setting your rates, learning content marketing, pitching new clients, learning new in-demand skills, and anything else required to get your freelance writing business off the ground.

Related: 12 Steps Freelancers Should Take During the Coronavirus

If You Want to Become a Professional Freelance Writer, Persistence is Key

Persistence is often what separates successful freelance writers from those who never land their first client.

Growing a freelance writing business is no easy feat. It takes time, patience, and a little bit of hustle. However, Holly and many of her students have found the hard work well worth it.

“Writing full time has impacted my lifestyle in many ways,” she tells us. “The most important of which is the freedom I’ve gained.” For Holly, that freedom means traveling the world, setting her own hours, and, most importantly, being there for her family. Through her freelance career, her life today is far beyond what she ever imagined working at her full-time job.

When you learn how to become a successful freelance writer, there is no limit to how much income or freedom you can create. However, it’s up to you to create it.

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How to Become a Freelance Writer

R.J. Weiss, CFP®

• Updated May 20, 2024

In this beginner’s guide to making money as a freelance writer, you’ll learn how to go from a complete beginner to a highly-paid and sought-after pro.

Our step-by-step approach is based on our team’s decades of combined freelance writing experience.

Beginners will want to read this guide from top to bottom and then work their way through each step. For those with paid experience as a freelancer, the table of contents below will take you directly to the stage you’re at.

Table of Contents

How Freelance Writing Works

If you’re considering a career as a freelance writer, it’s important to have a good understanding of how both freelance writing and the freelance industry as a whole work.

It’s common for beginners to think that common freelance writing niches like creating blog posts for a website are all the opportunities that exist within the field. In reality, there are many different ways to make money as a freelance writer.

The simplest way to define freelance writing is the act of getting paid to write for others as an independent contractor (a.k.a., as a freelancer). The writer’s job is generating the text that is asked for by the client.

But what many beginners overlook is why clients need written text in the first place. After all, they’re looking to achieve a result of their own. Your job — whether you’re working with a Fortune 500 company or a small local business — is to discover and deliver that desired result.

This may sound basic, but a common mistake many freelance writers make is focusing on what they want. Beginners hear about the flexible hours, the good pay and the opportunity for steady work, and that’s all they focus on.

The correct mindset, and the one adopted by the highest-paid freelance writers, is to focus on the results their clients want first.

This is the reason why it’s important to pick a quality niche.

The 8 Steps to Start Making Money as a Freelance Write r

Step #1: research markets and niches.

A niche is how a freelancer defines what they do. Take the example of a writer who writes how-to articles for how-to websites; this would be the niche they write in, and it’s how they’re known in the industry (as well as how they market themselves to prospective clients).

Without a niche, you become a generalist. The problem with being a generalist is that you’re competing against niche experts. And since clients want results, they’re more likely to want to work with someone who has proven they can deliver that result.

One of the best pieces of advice I can offer freelance writers is to be very intentional about your niche. 

The niche you select impacts:

• The amount of fulfillment you get from your work.
• The amount of money you can make.
• The type of clients you work with.

What I can’t stress enough is that you get to pick your niche! Choose well and you open up the opportunity to nearly limitless amounts of work that fulfills you.

As a beginner with no experience, your goal is to choose the best niche available as of today. Start by examining your existing skills and knowledge, and consider how that can be applied to a specific niche — keeping in mind that you’re not limited to only your writing experience. Instead, look at specific areas where you have above-average knowledge on a particular topic.

For example, suppose you’re an avid exerciser and you’ve been going to CrossFit religiously for a few years. You’re passionate about fitness, and you understand the language, the people, the brands and the spaces, because you’ve been living in that world. This has certainly resulted in you having above-average knowledge of this topic, which can help you secure a job writing about it.

There are likely around five to 10 areas where you have above-average knowledge like this.

Focusing on topics where you do have above-average knowledge is a great place for beginners to start.

For an in-depth guide on niche selection, you’ll want to read our article “ How to Choose a Freelancing Niche .” This guide walks you through niche selection, offering four tips for those just starting out. Also, read up on what we feel are the best freelance writing niches for beginners . 

One last note on niche selection: your niches can and should constantly evolve the more you learn and grow your skills. Without experience, you’re operating on a limited knowledge base.

For this reason, it’s good to start with a broad category and then drill further down into subcategories. The initial broad category is how you’re able to get paid work and experience as quickly as possible while discovering better opportunities.

For example, you may start writing informational content for blogs in the CrossFit space. But as you learn more about the type of work out there and what pays well, you may see that there’s a need for quality copywriters in the space. ( Becoming a freelance copywriter , as opposed to a generalist, can significantly increase your earning power.)

Step #2: Establish Credibility by Building Your Portfolio

Freelance writing portfolios come in a variety of forms.

Some freelance writers have their own website, where they share information about their services while providing reasons clients will want to work with them. 

While this is something you’ll want to do long-term, it’s not necessary for absolute beginners (although it can surely help land you work).

Others may want to create a resume or a credible profile on a site like Upwork that stands out.

The end goal, no matter the type of portfolio, is to establish your credibility as a writer and earn the respect of potential clients. Remember, clients are looking for results and they’re likely to hire the freelancer that seems most likely to deliver those results to them.

It’s here where having a niche is so important. Even without a client to your name, you can still establish credibility. 

Going back to our CrossFit example, here are some things you can do:

• Create a writing sample of the type of content blogs in the CrossFit space are looking for (more on this in Step #4).
• Include proof that you have above-average knowledge in this space. For example, photos of you working out at a CrossFit gym.
• Post a video of you talking about how CrossFit has impacted your life and why you’re choosing to work in this niche.

Notice that none of these credibility builders require you to have worked as a freelance writer before.

For more information, see our article “ How to Create a Freelance Portfolio From Scratch .” Also, check out our guide to writing a resume with no experience ; a resume is helpful for writers considering using job boards to apply for a job (more on where to apply for jobs below).

Step #3: Create Freelance Writing Samples That Stand Out

The best credibility indicator freelancer writers have is work samples. After all, what better way to convince a client you can do the job they want than by showing them you’ve done it before?

Furthermore, the vast majority of people looking to hire freelance writers will not hire you unless they see a sample of previous work.

Many beginners hold off on showcasing samples of their work because they think they need to have clients first.  

However, there’s no requirement that the samples within your portfolio be paid assignments.

More so, your goal here isn’t to hide the fact that you haven’t done paid work before; it’s to provide proof that you’re capable of doing the work a client wants.

In fact, many clients will be impressed that you took the time to create and showcase a writing sample of your own, seeing that it was unpaid.

As you’ve done your homework regarding the type of niche you’re wanting to work in, now go ahead and create a sample of what your ideal client is looking for.

This sample should showcase your existing knowledge in the field. So, pick a topic that only someone with above-average knowledge like yourself can create. 

For example, an article with a title like “7 Things You Should Know Before Starting CrossFit” would help display your knowledge in the space. You could even add a personal story or two based on your own experience.

Step #4: Set Your Freelance Writing Rates

Setting your initial rates gets you one step closer to a paid assignment.

We talk about all the details in our article “ How to Set Your Freelance Writing Rates ,” but the big takeaway for beginners is that you shouldn’t overly focus on the rates you’re being paid for your first one to three assignments.

In the beginning, it’s more important to get some projects and positive client feedback under your belt.

Long-term, it doesn’t matter that much whether you price yourself at four cents per word or eight cents per word when you’re getting started. In fact, my first gig as a freelance writer brought me a whopping $50 for an assignment that took me 10 hours to complete. 

But I was fine with that; I had strategically priced my services low because:

• It was the exact type of client I wanted to work for.
• I knew I had the skills to deliver what the client wanted.

As I got the job via Upwork, this client then left very positive feedback. Needless to say, that was the last time I ever worked for $5 per hour. My next assignment was at a much higher rate, and it wasn’t long until I was making over $100 per hour.

To summarize, you want to set an initial rate that allows you to gain experience as quickly as possible. When you have a few clients under your belt, then you can start charing more.

Step #5: Find a High-Quality Freelance Writing Job

Not all freelance writing clients are equal. While it’s important to gain experience as fast as possible, this doesn’t mean taking on any and all client work. The truth is there are many overly-demanding clients, and you definitely want to stay away from them.

Fortunately, because you’ve done the work of selecting a quality niche and establishing credibility within that niche, you’ll be able to avoid the lowest of lows in the freelance writing world (cranking out articles for a penny per word for an article writing service).

When choosing clients, beginners should focus on finding short-term jobs within their niche. The benefit of shorter-term work is that it aligns with your goal of gaining experience as fast as possible. It also doesn’t lock you into below-average rates for very long.

It’s also important to consider the type of person you’re working for. You want to work with someone trustworthy who will treat you with respect. This is where evaluating the communication before the assignment is vital. If you see red flags — e.g., the client is messaging you every two hours wondering whether you’re going to take the job — stay away!

The best-case scenario is finding someone who already knows and trusts you, as well as who you know and trust, to get your first paid assignment. For example, you could ask the owner of the CrossFit gym you go to if they’re looking for any writing work.

A close second is getting a referral from someone who already knows and trusts you — e.g., asking the owner of the gym if they know of anyone looking for a freelance writer in the community.

If you’re not fortunate enough to have a connection to someone looking for writers within your niche, there are plenty of great job boards online for finding freelance writing work.

Learn more here : The Best Freelance Writing Job Sites For Beginners and Pros .

Step #6: Deliver High-Quality Work

The ability to deliver high-quality work begins long before you open up a blank document. It even begins before the research process.

An important principle for beginning freelancers to understand is that it’s your client that determines the quality of the work, not you!

Here’s what I mean : you can deliver your client an in-depth, well-written article that you feel is best-in-class, but that doesn’t matter if the client wanted something short and punchy. 

In other words, good freelance writing is content that aligns with the client’s desires and expectations.

So, you have to learn how to effectively communicate your client’s needs back to them to make sure you’re on the same page. This is best done by asking a lot of questions before the job even starts. You want to make sure you understand how long the article should be, how long they’re willing to wait for it, what they expect to pay, and what their revision process looks like.

Summarize these important points in writing to the client.

Most importantly, you want to understand the client’s goals. What exactly is the purpose of the article and why are they creating it? (In other words, what result do they want?) This allows you to over-deliver on what’s most important to them (not what you think makes an article good).

One tip is to give your client an unexpected and value-added surprise when handing in your assignment. This surprise should come from understanding what the client’s goal really is.

For example, say your client’s goal is to gain organic search traffic for an article. When you deliver your assignment, you can say something like, “After I completed the first draft of the assignment, I ran it through an SEO checklist to make sure it was optimized for Google.”

This shows that you not only listened to what your client had to say but really cared about the end result — i.e., whether they get the results they’re looking for.

Step #7: Start Building Credibility Indicators

Over-delivering to a client doesn’t just make that person happy; it can and should be leveraged into better and high-paying jobs in the future.

When you’re charging low-end rates, potential clients tend to overlook you not having a website, having limited feedback on your profile, or having a lack of experience on your resume.

But the more you want to be paid, the more important these credibility indicators become. Every job you complete offers another opportunity to build trust with potential clients.

This trust can come in many different forms.

Some examples of credibility indicators to focus on include:

• Making sure you’re getting a byline for the article you turned in, which you can showcase to other potential clients.
• Adding the article to your published pieces on your website, freelancer profile or resume.
• If working on a site like Upwork, getting good feedback on your profile.
• A testimonial you can place on your website.
• Verified results of the article produced, such as page views, organic ranking, conversions, etc.

The work of building your credibility never stops. Every assignment offers a new opportunity to establish yourself as someone to trust within your niche. You want to take full advantage of it.

Step #8: Maximize Your Earning Potential by Thinking Like a Business Owner

Freelance writing can be very lucrative. I know many writers who earn six figures. It’s rare, but there are writers who earn seven figures.

How do these writers make so much money? It comes down to the value they bring to their clients.

As an example, copywriters are among the highest-paid freelance writers because what they produce directly correlates to a company’s sales. The right words can increase sales, and for some companies, that can add millions in revenue.

Increasing the amount of value you can provide to your clients starts with choosing clients where your work is highly valued. Remember, your niche (and therefore the type of freelance client you’re willing to work for) should always be evolving.

After your first few assignments, you’ll better understand the opportunities within certain niches. For example, you may find that the CrossFit blogs you work for make most of their revenue by writing in-depth product reviews. So, moving forward, you’ll want to focus on taking on assignments that involve writing about products, as well as increasing the value you can deliver for your reviews.

It’s here where you might consider taking a freelance writing course to level up your writing skills.

No matter the path, the end goal should be to constantly find clients where you can maximize the value you deliver (in most cases, this means revenue generated for the client) — in addition to increasing your own writing skills to deliver that value.

How to Become a Freelance Writer: Summary

Freelancing writing is certainly one of the best ways to make money from home . But while this article offers a step-by-step approach for getting started, understand that your path to becoming a successful freelancer will probably not follow a straight line.

You may find that there isn’t any demand for the niche you thought would be perfect for you, that your skills as a writer are not where you want them to be, or that you’re terrible at sales and can’t close a prospect.

Here’s the thing : everybody — even the most successful freelance writers today — failed miserably at the beginning.

How you deal with those failures will determine whether you’re able to build a successful and prosperous freelance writing career.

After all, it’s not really a failure if you’re learning from these mistakes and using them to improve yourself going forward.

Read Next : 5 Freelance Writing Sites That Pay Daily .

Nice article

We appreciate that, thanks Jackie!

Well explained and good article. Please i have a question. I have articles written down which I believe it can help many people especially the young generation. The article is about self life experiences/Mistakes which I decided to use the opportunity to write an article or book about it to save the lives of some young people especially girls/ladies from be a victim of such mistakes. But the problem is how to get it published on line. I need help?

I’d look to publish on Medium.

While in most cases I prefer someone to publish on their own site, Medium is a good way to get your ideas out in the world as fast as possible and start getting feedback.

Thank you for this amazing and informative piece! I saved it and have been told to be a writer by several. So, maybe I will!😉👍 Jill Richards

Are there “niches” where you get to do fantasy fiction writing? Do those exist or is it all just boring real world experience, marketing and how to such and such and blah blah blah?

There certainly are. A lot of fiction writers hire ghostwriters as well, which could be a lower barrier to entry.

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So you’re wondering how to become a writer. The short answer is: anyone who writes is a writer. However, becoming a writer who’s serious about their professional career requires lots of work, and if you’re wondering how to become a professional writer, you’re ready to start the journey towards a productive and successful literary career.

How do you become a writer? You don’t need a degree to be a writer, nor do you need to be a certain age. Becoming a writer simply requires an admiration for—and a longing to create with—language. So, don’t worry about becoming a writer later in life or lacking a formal education. (That’s what Writers.com is here for!)

No one can teach you how to admire the written word, but the instructors at Writers.com are experts at turning longing into language. That’s why this article covers everything you need on how to become a writer. From the personal to the professional, let’s dive into everything writers need to build a successful literary career .

How to Become a Writerl: Contents

How to Become a Writer: Anyone Can Become One

It’s never too late to become a writer, where to begin your writing journey, how to become a professional writer: what “professional” means, how to become a writer: resources for becoming a professional writer, how to become a writer: developing a writing habit.

Even today, there’s a persistent myth that writers are elite, born-with-it Ivory Tower folks who possess some ineffable gift of the Muses. Yes, some great writers were born with greatness (and plenty were born with privilege), but anyone who calls themselves a writer does so because they labor with the written word.

Becoming a writer simply requires an ardent exploration of language.

In others words, you don’t need an MFA from the University of Iowa to call yourself a writer. Becoming a writer simply requires an ardent exploration of language. If we had to boil a writer down to three requirements, it wouldn’t involve age or degree. The 3 traits for becoming a writer are:

• Passion for the written word,
• Desire to expand the boundaries and possibilities of language, and
• Willingness to grow and learn continuously.

Many writers who have these traits stop themselves from writing, because they’re wondering how to become a writer without a degree. Now, writers certainly benefit from a university education or a family legacy in literature, but countless writers have acquired respect and success without a degree or name recognition.

Ernest Hemingway never went to college, but he still won a Pulitzer and Nobel Prize; neither did Maya Angelou attend university, yet she’s celebrated as the “black woman’s poet laureate” and later accepted a professorship with Wake Forest University. Degrees are just paper; it’s words that matter.

How to become a writer: Degrees are just paper; it’s words that matter.

Becoming a writer has no age restriction; the act of writing is rated G for the General Public, and those 3 aforementioned traits are found in writers from ages 2 to 99+.

Many writers discover their writing talents in their later years. Why, exactly? Neurology reveals there are two types of intelligence : fluid intelligence and crystallized intelligence. “Fluid” refers to creative and adaptive thinking, including activities like writing and problem solving. “Crystallized” refers to the solidified body of knowledge people draw from—all the words, definitions, and experiences that build a foundation for the world.

Generally, younger adults have more fluid intelligence, whereas life experience builds one’s crystallized intelligence over time. The two intelligences tend to converge in a person’s 40s, since this is an age where the faculties for fluid intelligence haven’t declined, and crystallized intelligence abounds. Not-so-coincidentally, many writers see their careers flourish in their 40s and 50s!

Many celebrated writers didn’t put pen to paper until middle age or later.

In fact, many celebrated writers didn’t put pen to paper until middle age or later. Laura Ingalls Wilder didn’t start writing until her 40s, and her Little House series didn’t start printing until she was 65. Likewise, Most of Wallace Stevens’ work was published after he turned 50; despite being a poet, he worked at an insurance company, and most of his coworkers were shocked when he won a Pulitzer at 75. Nobody knew that he wrote!

Finally, many university students return for a writing degree after establishing a career elsewhere. BFA and MFA programs around the world educate students in their 30s and beyond; in 2017, the average age of a low-residency MFA student in the U.S. was 35.4, according to LitHub and AWP .

Whether you’re 19 or 90, you’re never too old to write. The best time to write is yesterday; the second-best time is today.

Rather than an If-Then structure, the writing profession follows a Became-Because structure.

How do you become a writer? Where do you begin? The writing profession is unlike most professions, which follow an If-Then structure. If you get a bachelor’s degree, Then you can work as a nurse, computer scientist, or accountant; If you join a worker’s guild or apprenticeship program, Then you can find work in a number of trade jobs.

The writing profession follows a Became-Because structure. Zora Neale Hurston became a writer because she obtained degrees from Howard University and Barnard College, encouraging her to dissect the African American experience through a literary and anthropological lens.

Conversely, Haruki Murakami became a writer because of a baseball game .

The qualifications for becoming a writer are unique to the individual, and every writer is formed by personal interests and experiences. As a result, no one can tell you where to begin your writing journey; however, if you’re wondering how to become a writer, you’ve already started your journey by thinking about it.

If you’re wondering how to become a writer, you’ve already started your journey by thinking about it.

One distinction to help you think about your writing journey is the difference between amateur and professional writers. If you’re not sure what you want to become, start with the following question: what does “professional” mean?

There are, generally, two classes of writers: amateurs and professionals. Before describing the professional writer, let’s be clear: “amateur” is not derogatory, and professional writers are not “better” than amateurs. Amateur comes from the Latin amator , “lover.” An amateur writer loves the written word just as much, sometimes even more, than the professional; amateurs simply have less pressure, deadlines, and financial dependence on writing. It’s a pastime, not a career.

If you want writing to be a significant portion of your income, then you aspire to being a professional writer.

If you want writing to be a significant portion of your income, then you aspire to being a professional writer. Professional writers have to approach their writing as a business, building a literary audience and keeping a regular writing schedule. Professional writers need to understand the ins and outs of the publishing industry—which they often learn through obtaining a university degree—and it also helps to have formal training in the publishing world and experience operating literary magazines.

How do you start to work toward becoming a professional writer? Below are resources to get you started.

At some point, the professional writer needs to know the ins and outs of writing as a business. This list covers the essentials of how to become a professional writer.

How to make money as a writer

• Explore freelance writing opportunities (updated weekdays at F.W.G.)
• 6 writers explain how they make money (NY Mag)
• Self-publishing versus traditional publishing (Self-Publishing School)
• Writing to market (Funds For Writers)

Taxes as a self-employed creative

• Taxes on freelance writing and royalties (TurboTax)
• Tax tips and unique situations (The Balance Careers)

Resources on publishing

• Poetry journals
• Fiction journals
• Creative nonfiction journals
• How to get published in a literary journal (Reader’s Digest)
• Book: What Editors Do by Peter Ginna ($25 at UChicago Press)

Becoming a writer online

• Basic guide to each social media platform (Kindlepreneur)
• Building an author’s website (The Write Practice)
• Free website template for authors (Copyfolio)
• Running a mailing list (Your Writer Platform)

Things to know before taking writing classes

• Poetry courses
• Fiction courses
• Creative nonfiction courses
• Why take a writing course?

Additional resources for learning how to become a writer

• Setting SMART goals
• Reading like a writer
• The golden rule: show, don’t tell
• Overcoming writer’s block
• Becoming a poet
• 8 tips on learning how to write
• Best online creative writing classes

How do professional writers spend their workdays? Perhaps the trickiest part about becoming a writer is establishing a writing habit. For example, Haruki Murakami runs a 10K every morning to support his writing, and Charles Dickens wrote (and slept) facing north to improve his creativity.

Perhaps the trickiest part about becoming a writer is establishing a writing habit.

What works for one person rarely works for another, so experiment with writing habits—and when you find one that works, stick with it.

Generally, you can parse the writing business into 3 separate components:

• The writing life—putting pen to paper at regular intervals.
• Scheduled time for “the business of writing”—literary submissions, applying for grants, etc.
• An active media/marketing presence—blogging, tweeting, emailing, etc.

You’ll want to schedule time for each of these elements in your daily writing habit. Of course, this is easier said than done. Budding writers often overestimate their ability to work: they think they can spend 3 hours writing, 2 hours replying to emails, and 2 hours submitting work to journals. Then they spend the afternoon watching reruns of BBC quiz shows. (Yes! I did do this recently.)

That’s why forging a consistent writing habit is essential—for amateur writers as well as professionals. Writing at the same place at the same time encourages your brain to write every day. And, if you can’t keep yourself focused on writing, try experimenting with different writing rituals. If a 10K helps Murakami write, something equally unique could help you, too.

How to Become a Writer: Take Your Next Step with Writers.com!

The classes we’ve curated in our upcoming schedule will take your writing life to the next level. Whether learning a new writing style or mastering the business of writing, becoming a writer feels a whole lot simpler with Writers.com.

Sean Glatch

11 comments.

Brilliant review Misty

I hope, I can be a better writer with your support.

Yeah. Same thing as with all other fields. Practice, practice, and once again, practice! It’s like a sport, you should always find new ways to practice.

This really helped me out. Thank you so much!

I’m 14 and i hope to become a writer someday. Thank you so much for the info.

Thank you for the information About to start my writing journey and thus really helped.

I’m a senior that would like to turn my love of writing into a profession. The information you have presented here has inspired me to continue moving towards that goal.

I live in a rural area of Uganda with very little education but always aspired to write a book on families. I am much encouraged. started it but got stuck ..

I love writing and thank you for information you have given meand am obliged to say thank.

i am very eager to become a writer be that script know how or fiction. i am a sponge for knowledge so i learn as i work. i treat everyday as a school day. i want to learn every single part of the writing career-be that if the editor drinks tea or coffee and how they like there papers folded. i soak information as i do a task. i love to build the bullet points for a story because everything needs a beginning. if you are baking a cake the eggs and flour are needed before you think about putting anything in the oven. to prepare a cake you need a tray to put it in-before you build a story you need a starting and then ingredients to put in along the way. i really love to build a story from different snippets of things. i have a thirst for many different aspects of life having spent a majority of time in hospitals and then being taken advantage of my my family because of my brain injury. so i know more than most in a lot of different subjects and matters in life, i have lost more than most in life but i am here telling my version of it to the big bright world. 0874762400 is my contact number

Discovering the path to becoming a writer is both exhilarating and daunting. It requires a blend of passion, persistence, and honing one’s craft. From mastering the art of storytelling to navigating the intricacies of the publishing world, the journey demands dedication and resilience. Embrace every word written, every rejection faced, for they are stepping stones on the road to literary success.

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Copyblogger

How to Make Money as a Freelance Writer: 15 Writing Business Essentials

Wondering how to make money as a freelance writer? Well, buckle up, because everyone loves the part of the hero’s journey where our protagonist accepts the “call to adventure” and “crosses the threshold” from “the ordinary world” into “the extraordinary world.”

It’s engaging. It’s hopeful. It pushes the plot forward.

But we can’t forget about the challenges and struggles that come next.

For new freelance writers:

You may have started off with a couple of great freelance writing clients , but now you have to turn your passion into a sustainable writing business .

How to make money freelance writing

So, what’s the skill that enables a terrific content marketer and copywriter to offer premium services?

Time management.

Before you click away, disappointed that I brought up something as practical and boring as time management, hear me out. My intent is not to poop on your party as you learn how to become a freelance writer .

In fact, it’s the exact opposite.

When our freelance-writer hero accept calls to adventure to cross over into the extraordinary world, they still need to be equipped with the real-world abilities that make their service business possible.

And part of that transformation involves balancing client work with their own marketing and marketing education.

Time management is the core of your strong business and content strategy, because how you spend your time directly affects the:

• Health of your business
• Types of clients you attract
• Value you have to offer those clients

You don’t quickly learn how to make money as a freelance writer and then get to sit back and eat bonbons while clients who pay competitive rates flock to you.

The challenges and struggles of the hero’s journey exist for a reason: They help you, your business, and your marketing story grow.

Want us to scale your traffic?

For the first time, The Copyblogger methodology is now available to a select few clients. We know it works. We’ve been doing it since 2006.

How to be a freelance writer and make money

But here’s an often overlooked scary thought that might happen on your way to earning money freelance writing:

What if your content marketing actually works? What if you get all of the clients you want? Will you be able to handle them?

Every service provider needs to answer those questions honestly because there is often a disconnect between what we say we want and the actions we take.

Fear of success can prevent us from crafting the bold, strategic plans that will truly teach us how to make money as a freelance writer.

Without realizing it, self-doubt causes us to make weak and safe moves that limit our potential — because we’re unsure if we’re capable of building relationships with prospects and managing a full roster of clients.

The path to make money freelance writing

Self-doubt will arise in any business journey, but if you prepare for the healthy, sustainable relationships you want to have with clients, you’ll be one step closer to attracting and winning over prospects with marketing ethics and confidence.

Check out these 15 service business essentials, so that you’ll feel nothing but proud when your content marketing dreams come true.

1. Get serious

Before you offer services, you’re used to operating as a non-business person. You likely perform favors for others — whether it’s reviewing a friend’s resume or sharing their content on social media.

Once you start offering services to make a living online , part of you becomes your “business self.”

It’s the foundation for the rest of these pointers about how to make money as a freelance writer.

While in your personal life “wanting” to do something might be a reason to do it, in your business life, you need to consider favors or discounts with care.

Your service is a business now, not a hobby.

2. Treat your business like … a business

Successful freelance writers establish the healthy boundaries all businesses (and especially service businesses) need.

Working extremely long hours every day of the week might seem exciting at first, but it always leads to burnout.

And when you’re burned out, you only have scraps of energy to offer new clients who might want to work with you at that time. You may even be so absent-minded that you forget to invoice your existing clients on time, which can be a strain on your cash flow.

To avoid those unfortunate scenarios, schedule your work and leisure hours. Creative people know the uncanny benefits of spending time away from work .

3. List goals

To reinforce your new business-centric mindset, list out your professional goals in a document you keep handy near your workspace.

A digital file on your computer desktop works well because you can easily add to it over time. The items in the list will ideally help both you and your clients.

They’ll be especially useful when you’re faced with a tough decision or you’re procrastinating on improving a skill, such as article pitching .

You’ll already have clear intentions for the services you offer, so the choice you make should always help you reach one or more of those goals related to your online business ideas .

You might have to say “no” sometimes.

4. Protect your time

Service providers often work at all hours throughout the day and night, and give the excuse “that’s just my lifestyle.” (Been there, done that, wasn’t worth the indigestion.)

Skip that path to burnout and don’t reinvent the wheel just because you have the freedom to make your own schedule.

You can have a creative work life and borrow wisdom from tried-and-true practices, like designated office hours.

Give yourself time for:

• Work responsibilities
• Personal responsibilities
• Meals and breaks

Like your list of goals, here you need to have clear priorities and agree to activities only if they realistically fit into the schedule for your work time or the schedule for your personal time.

5. Market to the right prospects to make money as a freelance writer

A part of your work time needs to be dedicated to marketing your own business.

One of the reasons why freelancers often experience the “feast or famine” cycle is because they overbook themselves with client work and don’t have time to market themselves.

If you only spend time serving current clients, when you finish those projects you won’t always have new prospects on the horizon.

It might seem scary to turn down extra work because you need to set aside time for your own marketing , but it’s an important step in learning how to make money as a freelance writer and building a long-term healthy business.

6. Be friendly, not friends

That non-business side of you will keep popping up if you’re not stern with it.

You can have friendly, professional relationships with your clients without crossing over into “friend territory.”

I’m not saying that a friendship with one of your clients can’t or won’t develop organically over time.

But a “I’m friends with all my clients!” attitude does not establish boundaries that enable you to take care of your business, your clients, your actual friends, and yourself.

7. Give a simple, straightforward first impression

A lot of well-intentioned solutions turn off prospects because they’re overly complicated.

When you explain your offer in a simple way, it demonstrates that you’re results-oriented.

As a side effect, “simple” tends to — not always, but tends to — attract people who value no-nonsense transactions.

If your business style is unorganized or complex, you’re more likely to attract chaotic or dramatic personalities.

8. Provide a terms of service

A terms of service agreement can help keep you in the “friendly, but not friends” zone.

On the surface, it’s a boring business document, but you can actually use your creativity to establish a set of guidelines that allow great working relationships to flourish.

Instead of making your terms of service dry, demonstrate what it’s like to work with you and how the client can contribute to the relationship in a productive way.

You can answer frequently asked questions and outline your customer service procedures.

For example, you don’t have to return emails or calls within minutes. In fact, if you set yourself up to operate like that, you’re likely to get stressed out and resent work (See #3 above).

So, your terms of service can state your business hours and when clients can expect to hear back from you.

9. Establish a payment policy and schedule to earn money freelance writing

A payment policy and schedule is an extension of your terms of service.

Without one, you don’t have rules for getting paid other than “when the client gets around to it,” which is no good for your cash flow.

Many writers who get paid per project ask for half upfront.

• If the project went as planned, the writer will invoice the remainder when they finish.
• If the project didn’t go as planned because the client needed more work than they originally requested, the writer will invoice the remainder when they finish, along with fees for the additional work.

For example, when I worked as a freelance editor, drafts that prospects sent me dictated the price quotes I gave them, so my payment policy had a penalty if a client needed to send me an updated draft to edit after they already paid me.

It not only discouraged clients from making mistakes when sending me their documents, it put a clear procedure in place if a client changed their needs once I already began working on their project.

10. Have go-to plans for common issues

As you’ve likely noticed by now, learning how to make money as a freelance writer involves expecting the unexpected. But even when you take preventative measures, some clients may innocently cause problems.

I say “innocently” because they might be completely unaware that they are asking too much (or whatever the aggravation is), without any ill intentions.

If the client is not out-of-line, assume a “get back on track” mentality before you get too frustrated.

Anticipate common issues that will throw you off balance, so even if you get a little frazzled at first, you’ll know how to proceed.

Your go-to plan could be as simple as referring to the part of your terms of service that states the protocol for what the client wants.

Regard your terms of service and payment policy as “living documents” you can always update for future clients, if you think of additional business standards.

11. Label and archive your emails

Everyone is going to have different systems for staying organized, but one thing we all have in common is email.

My inbox stays manageable without a fancy or strict system. I mostly use two features in Gmail: labels and archive.

If you don’t use Gmail, there are probably equivalents in the interface you use.

The idea is to have different labels for each client, so you can easily find all of your correspondence.

The archive function will take an email out of your inbox once you decide you don’t need it there anymore. And since you’ve assigned a label to each email, the email will remain under that label in your sidebar.

12. Continue learning

Another part of your work time should be dedicated to your own marketing education.

To stand out as a well-qualified content marketer in the sea of freelance writers, you have to offer something special .

Staying on top of both the expertise clients need and smart marketing trends helps you present your services as the only reasonable choice .

By now you’ve probably noticed that I wasn’t kidding when I mentioned time management above.

Freelance writers with strict work schedules and fierce discipline are the ones ahead of the curve.

13. Get to know your topic better every day

This is a branch of your marketing education.

While you might aim to work your way through premium online courses like the ones in Copyblogger Academy , there are other ways you can learn every day.

You can create your own free marketing curriculum by narrowing down the top publications in your niche and studying them as if they were paid products .

14. Practice like an artist

Your communication skills enable you to be an intelligent marketer.

When you continually sharpen your writing and editing on your own creative endeavors — such as publishing your own killer blog post ideas , teaching your own online training materials, or learning how to create digital products — you increase your value as a service provider.

Prospective clients like to see the quality of the projects professional writers produce independently.

15. Focus on serving, rather than second-guessing

If you find yourself second-guessing your capabilities, put that energy into new or better ways to serve your clients.

The productivity will distract you from self-doubt and make you feel accomplished.

Learn how to make money as a freelance writer … in Copyblogger Academy!

If you’re using content marketing and copywriting to build your freelance writing business, you’ve probably already realized an unpleasant truth:

We live in a day and age when there is plenty of outstanding content to consume.

Your ideal customers and clients literally have multiple lifetimes worth of content to consume, right at their fingertips.

So it begs the question:

Why should an audience choose your great content over the competition?

That’s where having a broad understanding of digital marketing comes into play. So you know how to command attention and differentiate yourself enough that your audience chooses you.

The good news is that we’ve narrowed down this range of competence to three core areas we teach inside Copyblogger Academy .

It’s what we call the trifecta of core skills

Writers with a good understanding of these three skills end up with higher-quality clients who are happy to pay a premium. These clients are also more likely to give you ongoing work.

As a result, you’ll successfully learn how to make money as a freelance writer and boost your income substantially.

Without working more hours. Without scrambling to find new clients all of the time. And without stressing about where the money to pay next month’s bills will come from.

Business owners who implement these three core skills find that their businesses tend to grow more effortlessly. They attract bigger, higher-quality audiences who buy.

This makes growing and scaling your freelance writing business far easier.

Interested in mastering these three core skills?

Find out more about joining us inside Copyblogger Academy here .

Stefanie Flaxman

Stefanie Flaxman is an editorial director . Get her best tips for new writers at StefanieFlaxman .COM. Previously, Stefanie was Copyblogger's Editor-in-Chief for 9 years.

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Reader Interactions

Reader comments (13).

April 30, 2018 at 12:40 pm

As for #1 Stefanie, I have found one of the easiest ways to make more money is to freely advertise your services then to only help folks who pay you first 😉 Meaning, give 100% of your attention and energy to clients, and 0% to non paying folks. This is a bit uncomfortable at first; guilt sets in. Worthiness issues. All that stuff. But with practice it gets easier to realize that it is only money, a means of exchange, causing the feelings.

I promote my products and services all day long and connect with folks who dig what I do, premium-wise, and keep boosting cash flow.

Excellent post!

May 2, 2018 at 2:01 pm

Great points, Ryan!

Sonia said something similar this week too:

“Your audience needs to both love you and want your product or service. They also need to be buyers. ”

https://copyblogger.com/fear-of-selling/

April 30, 2018 at 4:53 pm

Stefanie– Another great post! I really relate to this one. I’ve worked for myself for most of my life, first in manufacturing and now in writing services and consulting. Your checklist is spot on, in my opinion.

The clearer I make everything with my clients up front, the easier and smoother the process is every step of the way. When that inevitable snag or hitch happens, that transparency already set before them helps clear the air and the issue without anyone suffering in the process.

Thanks for sharing! Jane

May 2, 2018 at 2:03 pm

For sure. Sometimes the level of drama in a situation is directly related to how much you’ve prepared. That’s why gaining experience in your field is so important — it helps you prepare. 🙂

May 3, 2018 at 11:53 pm

Hey, Stephanie –

I really appreciate the distinction you made between being friendly with your clients and being friends with them.

While I have some client relationships that have over time developed into real friendships, knowing where to draw that line is super important for those of us who struggle with drawing boundaries between our work and our personal life.

Thanks for sharing! Eva

May 4, 2018 at 1:41 pm

Once you start taking on clients, I think it’s natural for your work life and personal life to get blurred a bit — and the sooner a service provider recognizes the benefits of establishing boundaries, the better. 🙂

May 5, 2018 at 1:40 am

Stefanie, excellent advice! I like the establish the terms of service, policy and payment terms beforehand. I try o set the expectations up as well. And I set them up lower than I anticipate so I can over deliver. It’s so important today to set it right from the get go. I believe #10 is so important today as things are changing rapidly in most fields. I’m in marketing and it’s changing every day now. You really have to be aware of these changes if you are helping others to increase their bottom lines.

May 7, 2018 at 1:56 am

Have a go to plan for common issue!!!

this totally separates the amateurs from the professionals. I’ve freelanced for 10 years. Easily 99.99% of clients get into a project, and when they see the great work you’re doing, can’t help but ask for a little more.

One thing I’ve found that helps. On your quote or agreement, after the final price. Add in a section for common optional extras. An extra page for X dollars, or more rewrites for X dollars.

I’ve found that being open about what is and isn’t included up front really helps out with those conversations towards the pointy end of the project.

May 8, 2018 at 8:26 am

I’ve found that doing free work for friends often results in paid work for others thanks to word-of-mouth!

May 9, 2018 at 2:11 pm

Great point!

I think it always comes back to gauging whether or not your friend is the right fit for your services (if you’ll be able to provide value for where they’re at right now.) If they are, helping them out with free work can be win-win. 🙂

May 11, 2018 at 5:11 am

Amen! to getting the client to pay half up front, or at least a portion with part payments throught the project. I am working on implementing this. It means I get something to help with my cash – flow. It is especially useful if there are delays from the client side.

April 1, 2022 at 5:30 am

Thank you for the tips, Stefanie! I especially liked the idea to dedicate a significant part of your time to your own education.

April 6, 2022 at 5:26 pm

Thanks for the great tips! Getting my first few clients felt so easy, but turning it into a sustainable business was definitely a struggle. It’s a lot of why I started calling myself a content marketer rather than just a freelance writer.

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Blog • Understanding Publishing

Last updated on Sep 01, 2023

How to Make Money by Writing Books: 8 Tips for Success

Of course, making money by writing books should ideally involve publishing well-received and popular works. But for most authors, it also means activating several income streams that stem from your career as an author. By supplementing royalty earnings with additional writerly activities, many authors can quit their 9-5 jobs and make a living. 

If you’re dreaming of making money by writing books, here are 8 tips to help you out: 

1. Write a lot, and to market 

Contrary to popular belief, a bestseller isn't loved by everyone, but rather by a niche audience obsessed with it. As bestselling author Suzy K Quin says, “Best-sellers target a pre-made audience .” The ‘pre-made’ audience can be genre readers, sub-genre readers or a very specific demographic that a book will resonate with. As Quin pointed out in her talk at SPS Live 2022 , Eat, Pray, Love targeted single women in their 30s — and their enthusiasm for this book helped create a buzz around it. 

In other words, if you want to write a book that sells, it’s key to write for a niche group that will truly resonate with it.  Reedsy’s Ricardo Fayet said at the same event that this is the equivalent of the startup world’s “Product-market fit — when a company creates a product that is perfect for a specific market.”

Touch on themes that resonate with your genre’s readers

Each genre tends to be associated with certain themes — sci-fi with justice, oppression, and freedom; fantasy with good and evil; romance with hope and love, etc. So, one way to ensure your book is well targeted to your market is to look at the themes associated with your genre. If you aren't sure how to go about this, reflect on the books within your genre that you’ve read and try to connect them with common plot themes.

Consider using genre tropes

Genre fiction frequently uses tropes that readers are already familiar with, as they keep returning for new books with the same tropes they've previously liked. In fact, many of the traction that books pick up on TikTok is based on popular tropes — romance tropes such as ‘enemies to lovers’ or fantasy tropes like ‘the reluctant hero’. Moreover, tropes have become significant to the extent that authors have started to incorporate them into their marketing too, as evident in this marketing material from author Ali Hazelwood.

Release new titles as often as possible

Writing to market is just one part of the equation. To make serious money by writing, word of mouth about your books has to build momentum, which can only happen if you write multiple titles or a trilogy or series that keeps readers coming back. So, keep writing, and don’t get dejected if your first book doesn’t immediately skyrocket to success. For more on boosting your writerly productivity, head to our post on writing faster .

For fictional series, consider the following:

• What might happen to your main character(s) after the events of this book? Is their story truly finished? Maybe their arc in Book 1 is only the first stage of a much larger journey — this could become a longer series .
• Could you shift the focus to a secondary character? Another common approach for series, especially in romance , is to write sequels based on secondary characters from previous books — keeping a familiar cast while giving the story a fresh spin.
• What about a brand-new story in the same universe? This would technically become a new “interlinking” series, but it would still draw readers from the original books.

 Alternatively, for a nonfiction series:

• Do I have anything more to say on this topic? Is there an area you didn’t have time to research or space to expand on? Make it the subject of your next, related work.
• What’s the natural progression from here? Think of your books as how-to steps. Say your first book is about how to set up a small business; your second might be about how to grow that business over the next five years.
• What else would my readers find interesting? Return to your target market and figure out what they want! For instance, if your first book were true crime , you’d likely find that your target readers are gobbling up more of the same — which might compel you to write another book about a different case.

To help keep up your writing pace and release new titles in a timely manner, check out this course on how to establish a writing routine:

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2. Polish your manuscript with an editor

There’s a reason that the highest-earning authors, without exception, work with professional editors. Authors are often too close to their story to see their work’s flaws without biases  — and they usually also don’t have the years of experience that an editor can bring to the task. A developmental editor can tell you whether your book’s big-picture progression makes sense, spot any plot holes or incomplete character arcs, and consider how your book compares to competitor titles in its genres. 

Give your book the help it deserves

The best editors, designers, and book marketers are on Reedsy. Sign up for free and meet them.

Learn how Reedsy can help you craft a beautiful book.

Here are some stories of other authors who’ve worked with Reedsy editors:

• How My Nonfiction Book Became a Reputable Tech Resource by Marlon Buchanan
• My Reedsy-Edited Memoir Landed Me a TEDx Talk by Niyati Tamaskar
• Lifting the Stigma: How My Reedsy Editor Helped Me Structure My Mental Health Memoir by Ahiddibah Tsinnie
• How the Right Editor Helped Me Grow as a Bestselling Fantasy Author by Antoine Bandele

3. Keep as many of the royalties as possible

The royalties you receive depend on whether you self-publish or traditionally publish your book. While self-publishing requires that you invest in editing, cover design, and book marketing upfront, you get to keep the rights to your book and a significantly higher amount of the royalties — for books that prove commercially popular, that usually proves lucrative.

To give you a  rough estimate of how much authors make , self-publishing allows you to keep 50-70% of the royalties, while traditional publishing gives you 5-20% (assuming you ‘earn out’ your advance). Indie authors often go solo out of choice not because they’ve failed to be published traditionally, but to secure a bigger share of the earnings pie. If you’re on the fence about which path to publication is right for you, our one-minute quiz can help you out:

Is self-publishing or traditional publishing right for you?

Takes one minute!

4. Build up your author platform

To succeed financially, you must put on more than just your ‘author’ hat. As Darren Hardy (Amazon’s UK manager of Author and Editorial Programmes) emphasized at SPS Live 2022, this means “ treating your book as a business .”

Building up your author platform is a long-term investment in your writing career. While having an author website and an active social media presence is useful, setting up an author mailing list takes the cup when it comes to delivering results. A mailing list can help you build an engaged audience, announce new releases, secure pre-orders and create long-lasting relationships with your loyal fans. It helps you build credibility, establish your authority, and make offers to people who already know you and want to hear from you. 

Not sure how you go about it? No problem — just sign up for our free course on setting up a mailing list:

How to Build Your Author Mailing List

Learn how to connect with your audience and sell more books with email.

5. Make your books accessible to more readers

Making your book available in multiple formats allows you to tap into different pools of readers — some people only read ebooks , others only browse in-store, others can only listen to audiobooks for accessibility reasons (and many people just listen to audio for the fun and convenience of it). In other words, if you aren’t already offering your work in more than one format, doing so could expand your readership. 

The same principle can be applied to foreign language markets —  translating your book enables you to tap into new markets of readers in your genre. The German, French, Italian, Spanish, Indian, Chinese, and Japanese markets generally prove successful with independent authors — other markets, like Greece, not so much (Greeks somehow never fell for ebooks). 

In fact, you might even consider how to best promote your English-language book across the pond from wherever you’re based — for British authors, the American market offers massive potential, and British readership is always a nice added bonus for American authors. Think about doing a marketing push in a new territory, considering things like digital ads, book cover aesthetics, and your book’s title . 

💡 Fun fact: British author Emma Jane Unsworth’s novel Adults was published as Grown Ups in the USA. Clearly, her publishers thought the difference mattered!

6. Promote new releases as well as your backlist

Promoting your backlist along with your newest release can dramatically increase your overall sales. This can be done by creating a book bundle — offering your older books at a discounted price when people buy your newest book. This is especially useful if you have a series and put a discount on the first few books 一 you readers will have to pay full price to know how it all ends! So hook new readers and get them invested in your collection. 

You can play around with different price points, but make it a time-bound offer and make the discount evident. Use your email list, newsletter, and social media to promote this to your best capabilities. Another popular tactic authors use is setting up their latest book for pre-order and then running targeted ad campaigns . This helps generate a certain buzz around your book even before it’s out.  

Looking for more marketing ideas and insights? You can grab a free copy of How to Market a Book by Reedsy co-founder Ricardo Fayet below.

7. Offer services related to your product

Authors do make money from writing books, but they also make money from all the related services they can offer once they’ve built up their platform.  These could take the form of speaking engagements where you share your journey as an author, seminars and courses teaching the craft of writing, or even consulting services (especially for non-fiction authors). 

Speaking engagements

Val Breit, founder of The Common Cents Club , didn’t think she’d be invited to do any public speaking: “Without any mention of speaking on my website, social media, or in my book, I received paid invitations to speak just a few months after publishing. Albeit nerve-racking, I connected with new readers, expanded my author platform, and even paid a few bills!”

If you already know you’re interested in doing speaking engagements, do mention this in your author website ’s Contact page. This can be done in a few different ways:

• “For speaking enquiries, contact me at [email address]” 
• “I am available for speaking engagements on the topic of X, Y, and Z.”
• “Previous speaking engagements” section, followed by photos or videos of you speaking.

Coaching or consulting (if you’re a nonfiction author) 

Many established authors offer coaching services to new authors, assisting them with things like project plans, feedback on their writing, and navigating the confusing world of publishing. You could even offer to tutor language students in English .

Also, if you’ve written a book on a nonfiction subject, you can earn money by consulting on it. Publishing a book (or multiple books) in your field has already established you as an expert; it’s only natural to leverage that status into consulting.

Free course: Grow Your Influence as a Nonfiction Author

Find out how to build your platform and grow your influence base as a non-fiction author.

Courses and seminars 

While one-on-one coaching and consulting sessions are great, you might be better off hosting courses and seminars multiple people can take at once. For these, you’d put together more in-depth, widely applicable content on a topic of your choice — for example, “How to Write Sparkling Dialogue” or “How to Turn Your Blog Into a Book” — and market it to other writers, either through a multi-part course or an interactive presentation. 

Ghostwriting and/or editing services

If you’ve got the skills to pay the bills, ghostwriting and editing can be very lucrative — but getting through projects can also be quite time-consuming, so prepare to commit at least several hours a week if you go this route. Reedsy’s marketplace can provide you with a reliable source of freelance projects:

Get editing & ghostwriting requests sent to your inbox

There are 500,000+ authors on Reedsy need help publishing their book

Learn more about how Reedsy can help.

💡Learn more about how you can become an editor or a ghostwriter over on our Freelancer blog.

8. Study how other authors make money 

Many authors today are finding creative ways to make more money with their books — be it starting a crowdfunding campaign or selling books directly to readers. Brandon Sanderson raised a record-setting $41 million on Kickstarter for 4 books he wrote during the pandemic — and many other authors can finance their books with the help of their fans. If you want to learn how they do it, sign up to our free course below.

Free course: Crowdfunding for authors

Kill two birds with one stone: pay for your production costs and sell your first 1,000 copies before you've printed a single copy.

Another tactic independent authors are starting to turn to is direct sales, as mentioned by Joanna Penn at the SPS Live conference in 2022 . This involves directly selling your book to readers through e-commerce platforms , allowing you to keep the entire cut of the sale instead of just the royalties . Here’s Ricardo Fayet’s analysis from his weekly book marketing newsletter — which you can sign up to here :

The first benefit of direct sales is obvious: you make more money per copy sold. It won’t be 100% of the list price, as there are always taxes and payment processing fees, but it certainly is a lot more than 70%… It’s not just about the money, though. There are many other benefits that come from selling direct, which can be even more valuable than the extra $ you gain: You own the customer data. When a reader buys your book on Amazon (or any other retailer), you have no idea who they are. You don’t get their email address, nor their name — nothing. When you sell direct, however, you do collect this data. Which means that you can immediately add them to your mailing list (prior consent), and even segment your list based on their purchase. You own the retail interface. Discoverability on retailers works both ways: while readers might come across your book while searching for another one, they might also find another book when looking for yours. On your website, the only books that readers will see are yours. You own the tracking. One of the reasons why advertising books is so complicated is that you can’t track anything that happens after the reader clicks on your ad and lands on your book page. Except, of course, if that book page is on your website — in which case you can use tracking tools like Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, etc. You can even optimize your ads for conversion (more on that in a future email). So why isn’t everyone selling their books directly through their website already? Because there’s a big tradeoff: discoverability. 

Fayet goes on to explain that direct sales are an appealing option for authors who already have a following, and don’t need to rely on retailers — though you do need to be aware that with the increased earnings may come decreased visibility on Amazon, whose algorithms won’t pick up as much traction for your book.

If this isn’t making much sense, take our free course on Amazon algorithms to demystify the way the platform spotlights certain books:

Amazon Algorithms for Authors

Learn to optimize your book description, pick categories, and sell more books.

We hope you now feel more confident in terms of being able to make money with your book. Remember, create the best possible version of the book you can (for a tailored audience), take yourself seriously, learn from others, and don’t hold back on promoting your book . Good luck!

Continue reading

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Home » Make Money » How to Become a Freelance Writer (From 0 to $30,000+ per Month)

How to Become a Freelance Writer (From 0 to $30,000+ per Month)

The journey from novice to earning $30,000+ a month as a freelance writer is both challenging and rewarding. How can you transform your passion for writing into a lucrative career?

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• Updated: October 23, 2023
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If you’re interested in learning how to become a freelance writer so you can earn an amazing income from home, this post is for you.

Imagine being your own boss, having nearly unlimited income potential, and being able to work in your pajamas if you want to. Instead of slaving away in a cubicle all day, you rely on your creative talents – and your rigid work ethic – to build the life of your dreams.

Without an employer to answer to, you’re free to take as much time off as you want.

While that freedom paves the way for countless family vacations, it also makes it easy for you to be a better mom or dad – the type who shows up for parent breakfasts and waits patiently at the bus stop each day.

You’re grateful, but you work hard. Because, no matter what, you cannot fathom working for anyone else again.

Failure is not an option. You will succeed, or you will die trying!

• How I Became an Online Freelance Writer

Table of Contents

How to become a freelance writer, the bottom line – becoming a freelance writer.

I’m a 41-year-old mother of two, and this is my life. But, I wasn’t always so fortunate.

Before I learned how to become a freelance writer, I worked in a thankless professional job that imposed countless demands on my time and my health.

I worked long hours, weekends, and holidays, watching my life (and my children’s lives) tick away while I sacrificed everything for around $40,000 per year.

My kids were in full-time daycare, but they only got the scraps of a parent even when I was home. Our daily routine was pure misery. Wake up, dress to the nines with full makeup and hair, get the kids ready, scramble to get to daycare then to work by 8:00.

Hate my life until 5:00, throw together a sad dinner, bath time, laundry, chores, read a few books, then melt into a pile of disgust and despair.

Eventually, my husband and I decided we wanted more out of life – more freedom, more money, and more time for ourselves.

Since we weren’t sure what to do, we started a blog – ClubThrifty.com – in 2011 as a way to document our financial lives. We weren’t sure where it would lead, but we hoped it would lead somewhere. 

In the meantime, I began leveraging my online presence (and my scarce free time) to pursue my passion – writing. For a long time, my husband and I worked full-time and built our online business during our spare time.

That often meant getting up at 5:00 a.m. to write before heading to our real jobs, blogging, and writing on weekends and holidays, and sacrificing all our free time.

The ordeal was absolutely draining, and I wanted to give up all the time. Fortunately, my husband never let me give up my dreams. I took a few weeks “off” here and there, but I always jumped right back in.

Fortunately, our hard work eventually paid off. These days, my husband is a full-time blogger who finally makes six figures running our website. I write online content for a living, earning an average of $20,000 – $30,000 per month writing articles, book chapters, and slideshows for a variety of websites and individuals.

I work extremely hard, but my new life puts my old one to shame. Instead of schlepping by with 15 PTO days per year, we now travel around 12 weeks annually. With more money at our disposal, we max out our retirement accounts and invest in real estate .

Most importantly, I am the type of parent I have always wanted to be – the type who is always home and available for my kids. While the money is great, this is the best part of our success.

Over the years, thousands of people have asked me how I transitioned from a 9-5 office jockey to a freelancer who barely gets dressed and earns six figures.

With that in mind, I created a course specifically for writers who want to build online careers – EarnMoreWriting.com .

Since my course launched several years ago, thousands of writers have begun building online freelancing careers of their own.

While much of the advice I offer is common sense, I share a lot of the lessons I learned the hard way. Many course participants with writing skills or even untapped talent have benefited tremendously from hearing “what not to do” and having a freelancing roadmap to build off of.

If you’re angling to build a freelance career from home, it’s easy to spin your wheels without ever knowing where to start. Here are 13 steps anyone can take as they start on the path toward freelance success:

Step 1: Start a Blog

While I don’t credit all my freelance writing success to my blog, I will say that starting a blog makes building a freelance career considerably easier. After all, your blog can serve as your “online home,” or a place potential clients can easily find you on the web. Trust me, that’s a lot better than having no online presence at all — especially when you’re first starting out.

In the meantime, having a blog shows anyone who cares that you have a very specific set of skills you probably need in most freelance jobs anyway. For example, having a blog shows potential clients you can:

• Write, edit, and publish your own posts
• Use WordPress to schedule content
• Add photos and links to the article
• Perform basic tasks to increase SEO for the content you write

Having a blog also shows clients you know how affiliate marketing works, which is important for freelance writers who have clients who monetize their content.

Separately, there are also many ways you can earn extra money with a blog . This can help you diversify your finances, meaning you can use your blog income to supplement your freelance writing income. 

Step 2: Find a Profitable Niche

One of the biggest roadblocks new writers face is figuring out who they are and what they should write about. If you can nail down your passion, an area of expertise, or your areas of interest, it’s a lot easier to find writing jobs in your niche.

Roshni Gandhi is an attorney who signed up for EarnMoreWriting.com because she wanted more freedom in her life and her career. She took the advice in my course to “find herself” quite literally, choosing to leverage her lawyer skills to find writing jobs that apply to her area of expertise. Gandhi also does a ton of ghostwriting, mostly because it pays well and lets her leverage her professional knowledge.

At the time of this writing, she was earning between $3,500 and $5,000 per month creating online content, and that’s on top of the income she earned as an attorney. When it comes to finding your “passion,” her advice is similar to mine:

“Pay attention to the topics and niches that pique your interest,” says Gandhi. “There is a good chance that your interests align with paid writing gigs, and that will be your ideal match.”

What are you obsessed about? What are you already reading about? What skills from your day job can translate into a writing career?

Answer these questions and you’ll be one step closer to finding where you belong.

In the meantime, you should be aware that some niches in freelance writing are more profitable than others. For starters, you’ll earn more money if you’re willing to write about products and services within industries that have the budget to pay you. 

Examples of profitable niches in freelance writing include:

• Personal Finance
• Higher education
• Health and beauty
• Politics and government policy

If you are hoping someone will pay you to write a personal diary, on the other hand, you may earn $0 as a freelance writer.

Step 3: Find Your Ideal Client

Finding your freelance writing niche is important, but this step goes hand-in-hand with finding the type of client you want to write for. Generally speaking, you’ll likely start out writing for smaller publications, businesses, and even other bloggers, but the goal should ultimately be moving up to more established, better-paying clients.

You might be surprised at the sheer number of companies that hire freelance writers over the course of any given year. Examples of people who have hired me to write content include:

• Major publications with millions of readers
• A campground owner who wanted me to write a 2,000-word application for an award she wanted
• Financial advisors who hire me to ghostwrite
• A medical device company had me write their product pages
• An author who had me write a few chapters for his book

These are just some of the unusual examples I have encountered, but there are plenty of others. In reality, your freelance writing clients could be:

• Small business owners who need blog posts
• Major corporations
• Online businesses
• Magazines that want new content
• Non-profit organizations
• Busy professionals who need help
• Start-up companies who are building their online presence

Over time, you’ll probably find you like working with some types of clients more than others…and that’s perfectly okay! At the end of the day, a client is a good fit if the pay is great and you truly enjoy the work. If you’re getting paid to write something unusual but you’re pretty happy with the arrangement, that’s really all that matters.

Step 4: Build a “Starter” Portfolio

When it comes to getting started as a freelance writer, many aspiring writers struggle with what steps to take first. It’s hard to get writing jobs when you don’t have a portfolio, yet you cannot build a portfolio without writing jobs.

New Freelance Writers

One of the most important “first steps” for any freelance writer is building a “starter portfolio” with a few online samples potential clients can read. Most of the time, you can start building a beginner’s portfolio by guest posting for free.

Don’t know where to guest post? The easiest way to get a guest post is to reach out to bloggers in your niche.

One of my first “big writing jobs” was with a website called GetRichSlowly.org. They finally hired me after I sent a handful of guest posts they could publish for free. While you don’t want to write for free forever, writing for free (for a short time) can definitely pay off!

LEARN HOW TO MAKE YOUR FIRST $1K BLOGGING

Step 5: Create Samples in Your Preferred Writing Niche

Once you have an idea of your ideal client and the niche you want to write in, getting the type of jobs you want can be a tricky endeavor. This is especially true if you are more experienced writing other types of content, and if most of the work on your portfolio is totally unrelated to the work you want to do.

In this case, I suggest creating writing samples in the niche you want to work in with the goal of getting them published somewhere….really, anywhere! 

When you’re first trying out writing in your preferred niche, it can help to land guest posting gigs that will be published online. You can also try setting up an account with a platform like Medium, which will allow you to write and publish work you can add to your portfolio without anyone’s permission.

Once you have some published work in the writing niche you’re hoping to end up in, getting more paid writing gigs becomes much, much easier. Make sure to add this work to your portfolio where potential clients can find it, and you’ll improve your odds of finding good-paying work in your niche in a major way.

Step 6: Become a Better Writer

Building a freelance career that stands the test of time requires decent or good writing skills. The best way to become a better writer is to constantly hone your skills – as in, write all the time whether you’re getting paid or not.

Eric Ridenour is a course participant who has grown his income from $1,000 per month to $1,500 per month since he got started. His secret? Ridenour reads and writes all the time in an effort to improve his skills.

“Write every day no matter what,” says Ridenour. “If you have no jobs, then write pitch letters. If you are tired of writing pitch letters, then free-write.”

Tired of that? “Make some creative posts on Facebook or write Amazon reviews,” he says. 

When Ridenour first got started, he says he used some of his best Amazon reviews on his writing portfolio. Apparently, it worked.

The good news about writing online is that, no matter what, you will get better with time and practice. I know for a fact I’m a better writer now than I was just a few years ago, and that’s mostly because I sit at my computer reading and writing for at least six to seven hours every weekday.

Step 7: Invest in Social Media

Like it or not, most freelance clients really like it when their writers have some sort of professional social media presence. I’m not talking about your personal Facebook page; I’m talking about a professional social media handle on major platforms like Instagram and Twitter.

Why do clients like it? They absolutely love it when you are willing to share your articles on your social platforms from time to time. You don’t have to do this all the time , but a social share or two can definitely endear you to your clients!

At the very least, a professional social media presence shows clients you’re a real person in the weird, impersonal online world we’re all trying to work in. 

Fortunately, starting professional social media accounts is absolutely free and you’re probably building them anyway if you’re a blogger. If you’re not a blogger, just make sure you set up separate accounts from your personal accounts, then take steps to grow your following. 

For example, you can build followers by adding your social media handles to your professional writing byline, and by following others in your niche and sharing their articles when you can.

Step 8: Invest in Yourself

Ben Luthi started blogging several years ago, landed a writing job with Nerdwallet, and then took my course once he was ready to become a freelancer. He now earns well over $5,000 per month writing in his spare time.

Luthi’s key to success? “Relentless self-improvement,” he says. Since he didn’t have any writing experience when he started blogging, he faced quite a large learning curve at first.

“After a few months of that, I started getting freelancing gigs and I had some great editors who gave me candid feedback,” says Luthi. “I soaked it up and implemented the feedback immediately.”

In addition to listening intently to any feedback you receive, you can also take a course that packages everything you need to know in an easy-to-digest format. You’ll spend money, but it can easily pay off.

When Luthi started his blog several years ago, the initial $300 he spent hurt quite a bit. But, looking back four years later, he says that initial investment launched his career as a writer, leading to tens of thousands of dollars in additional income.

“The same goes with Holly’s writing course and other investments,” says Luthi. “It may seem like a lot up front, but if you’re disciplined and passionate about writing, the return on investment can be amazing.”

Step 9: Get a Professional Headshot

To work as a professional writer, you absolutely need professional-looking headshots. This doesn’t mean you have to pay a professional photographer to take them. It just means the picture you use for writing jobs needs to look clean and professional and present you in the best way possible.

As an example, here is an example of one of my professional headshots. This is one I use all the time because the lighting is good and I think it actually looks like me.

Now, check out this headshot that was taken by my husband with his iPhone last year. 

Both of these photos are perfectly okay because they look clean and present me in a positive light. The second one set me back $0, which is pretty great if you ask me!

With this in mind, don’t feel like you need to rush out for professional photos if you don’t have the cash right now. With a decent camera, you can easily come up with a photo that works.

Step 10: Learn the Art of the Pitch

When you’re trying to build a portfolio that pays the bills, you have to find ways to score new clients. Most freelance writers accomplish this goal by “pitching” clients who might pay them for work. For this strategy to work, however, you have to know what to say and be willing to pitch often enough to land meaningful work.

Professional writer and course participant Aja McClanahan says she spends quite a bit of time pitching and trying to get new work.

“I try to pitch at least 3-4 times a week,” says McClanahan. “I also have my own blog with a social media following.”

For McClanahan, this strategy has paid off in spades. She is currently earning $3,000 – $4,000 per month with her freelancing efforts but hopes to double that amount soon.

Step 11: Network, Network, Network

While you don’t have to network in person as an online freelance writer, you have a lot to gain by reaching out to other writers and website owners in your niche. The more people you know, the more jobs you can learn about.

I always suggest creating portfolios on websites like LinkedIn and joining online freelancing groups. Writers on EarnMoreWriting.com share tips and job leads in a dedicated Facebook group as well.

Step 12: Track Your Earnings and Set New Goals

In my opinion, all writers need a daily, weekly, and monthly income goal. Without a goal in mind, your freelance income is flying blind. With a daily goal, however, it’s much easier to achieve your income goals.

Imagine you want to earn six figures as a freelance writer. That sounds like a lot and, without a goal, you might be hard-pressed to earn anything close to $100,000 per year.

But, break it down further and you’ll see it’s not that crazy after all. Earning six figures per year requires a monthly income of at least $8,333. If you can work 20 days per month, you need to earn at least $416 per day.

That’s a lot, but it’s not unattainable. I typically earn between $600 and $2,000 per day, after all.

Step 13: Never Give Up

If you want to be successful at anything in life, being able to weather numerous storms without giving up is key. Building a freelance career takes time and effort. You’ll experience a lot of setbacks and hear a lot of “no’s” at first. If you want to break through to the other side, you have to focus on your “wins” and ignore your losses.

Ben Luthi may be earning well over $5,000 per month now, but his first writing client paid him $10 per article. It wasn’t great, he says, but he used the opportunity to improve his writing skills and process. Over time, he found more clients that paid better and moved up the ranks.

That’s exactly how I built my career, and how you’ll probably build yours, too. While I earned around $75 per article at first, I kept improving my skills and moving up the ranks until I was finally at the top. I experienced a ton of setbacks and stressful moments, but I never let the struggle stand in the way of my goals.

If you want to be a freelance writer, you need to develop a thick skin and decide you’ll never give up.

Those who never give up are the ones who succeed – even if it takes a while.

Building a freelance career isn’t easy. If it was, everyone would do it. It takes a strong-willed personality to build a career out of thin air and then keep going even when success seems out of reach.

But, the payoff is worth it for those who find the courage to pursue their goals to the very end. Not only can you achieve the kind of job flexibility and autonomy most people only dream of, but you have nearly unlimited income potential, too.

For a mom like me, the lifestyle is addictive – so addictive that I will do whatever it takes to maintain our high standard of living.

The same can be said for Aja McClanahan, who writes for a living while homeschooling her two kids.

“I like being able to work whenever and wherever I need to,” she says. “Plus, no one can fire me or put a cap on my income.”

Unlimited income and the freedom to live life on your own terms? Once you learn how to become a freelance writer, your income is only limited by how much you want to work.

1 Cited Research Article

Upwork.com. Find the best Freelance Writing jobs https://www.upwork.com/freelance-jobs/writing/

About the Author

Holly Johnson is the founder of Club Thrifty, a personal finance and travel resource geared to families who want to make the most of their incomes while seeing the world. She is also the co-author of budgeting book Zero Down Your Debt: Reclaim Your Income and Build a Life You'll Love. The book explains the step-by-step process behind zero-sum budgeting, which is the type of budget Johnson and her husband used to pay off debt in their 20's so they could begin building their investment portfolio in their 30's and 40's. Before beginning a career in personal finance, Johnson worked in the funeral industry alongside her husband Greg. She attended Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, and she was given the Best Contributor/Freelancer for Personal Finance at the 6th annual Plutus Awards Ceremony in 2015. Johnson is an investment expert who built and manages her own seven-figure portfolio, and she frequently writes about various investment strategies as a result. She also covers credit cards, loans, insurance and other banking topics for publications like Forbes, CNN Underscored, U.S. News and World Report, Bankrate, and more. Highlights: *Award-winning personal finance writer *Author of budgeting book, Zero Down Your Debt: Reclaim Your Income and Build a Life You'll Love *Owner of finance and travel site ClubThrifty.com *Owner of freelance writing course, EarnMoreWriting.com *Regular contributor to CNN, Forbes, Bankrate, and more

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16 comments.

I like to write

Nice article. I’ve always wanted to become a freelancer and this article is just on point. I’ll follow up your blog and see ways I can improve. Thanks for sharing .

Hello, I am very well interested in freelance writing myself, reading yuh our article you explained alot about the hard work and dedication it takes, also the amount of money that one could possibly make but no real information on how to start a portfolio and to really get your feet off the ground and running or walking rather. I just wish you’d really explained more about that, but thanks for the info you did provide

Dear Holly Hi, Very informative article on online writing. However, it is not an easy work. It sounds honest and to the point. I am just a beginner and do not know how to start. I would love to learn professional writing skills.

Thank you for sharing.

Regards Maria

Thank you very much for all the advice. I never knew one could earn this much working part time. As I approach my mandatory retirement age of 60 here in Malaysia, I would still want to share my experience and contribute to companies or individuals that certainly may need my advice. I work in a fairly large Oil and Gas Company and am the Head of Contracts. I have no doubt that my knowledge and experience could be marketed properly to the world if I only knew how to go about it. How will I be able to charge for my services providing contractual advice based on real situations rather than from a purely academic approach? Thank you.

Searching for translation job work from home

I liked writing and shots stories

I want a home work job

Please email me. I love to write poetry and short stories. What is the process on how to begin.

Doing what?

Thank you for the information.

I am interested in becoming a Freelance writer but getting paid to do it.

Really informative article and incite on online writing, I like the fact that it does not give the illusion of easy work. It is honest and straight to the point.I am just getting into this and honestly do not even know what to write about and would love further insight on where to develop professional writing skills.

Regards Joseph

Good day how are you. I just wanna say that I appreciate your story and numerous advice up above it was very encouraging. I am a creative writer that is currently looking to network with a few freelance writers so that I can learn how they started off doing things to become their best at their freelance writing businesses. I am very passionate about writing and have been for many years and I’d love to become self employed at freelance writing because writing itself brings me peace and joy which drives me to write down what’s on my heart and mind and to share it with others. Even I’m not currently getting paid to do freelance writing yet I still just love how therapeutic it is for myself, my mental and to be the flexible person that I am and to enjoy my life to the full without getting a regular of 9 to 5 job having bosses standing over me and breathing down my neck. Hopefully I hear from you soon and thanks again for sharing. Have a great day ????

Mtayari Umoja

I have taken Holly’s course and it was excellent. I am quoted above as increasing my income up by $500, but what she did not say is I had upped it by that amount the first month I took the course. I am currently at $1800 as a target for this month and have a $4k/mo target for the end of the year which I think I will make thanks to Holly after years of just writing on the side here and there.

That’s awesome! I’m glad you had a good experience with Holly’s course. She’s a class act!

How to Make Money as an Author: Important Tips for a Writer’s Success

by Joslyn Chase | 0 comments

Want to Become a Published Author? In 100 Day Book, you’ll finish your book guaranteed. Learn more and sign up here.

What are your goals for being a published author? Do you want to know how to make money as an author? Or a living? And if you do, how much do you really want it? Because the depth of your desire will determine your path and your success.

In our modern world, I believe it is possible to make a living as a novelist— if you go the indie route, maintaining control over your creative work and garnering a much larger chunk of the profits than you’ll get from signing contracts with most major publishing houses.

Things in the publishing industry have changed dramatically over the last decade or so. Once upon a time, in the days before I started writing, I imagined life as an author would consist of days spent in simple solitude, making up stories and sending off manuscripts to agents and publishers.

I’d start my next book while waiting in pleasant anticipation for someone to buy my previous work and take care of all the technical details involved in publishing it—editing, cover, marketing, book signings, and so on.

Let me tell you about the two pivotal events that radically shifted my perception.

Death of One Dream, Dawn of Another

Shortly before I started my writing career, I took a job with our regional library system and had the good fortune to meet Kristine Kathryn Rusch at a staff training conference.

I listened to Kris give a presentation about the changes in the publishing industry and it devastated me. Publishing—as the world had known it—was dying and nearly dead. It seemed my dream of being a published author was shattered before I even started.

It’s not that I didn’t believe her, it’s just that self-publishing seemed so complicated and beyond my skill set. I didn’t believe I could pull it off. I decided to go with a traditional publisher, no matter how stiff the odds.

And then it happened.

I clearly remember sitting at my kitchen table, listening to a three-part episode of the Story Grid podcast which explored and compared traditional publishing versus indie. When Shawn Coyne revealed that marketing the book is the fiction writer’s responsibility—regardless of the publishing route taken—I felt the earth move under my feet.

This came after he’d already explained the vast differences in maintaining creative control and profit margin. The marketing stuff is what I really didn’t want to worry about and if a publisher isn’t going to do that for me, yet take control of my content and most of the profits generated by my book, what good are they?

Being a self-published author seemed like an impossible mountain to climb, but that day, sitting at that kitchen table, I vowed I’d learn how and make it happen.

Turns out, it’s far easier than I ever dreamed.

What You Will Learn in This Article

If you’re reading this and you’re set on following the traditional course, I wish you luck. However, this article won’t be your best source of information. I’m not going to cover anything about query letters , literary agents, or synopses.

I’m also not going into detail about the technical aspects of self-publishing—how to get your book up on a book platform like Amazon, Draft2Digital, etc. Throughout the self-publishing process, Google and YouTube are your friends and if you need more formal guidance, there are plenty of programs to choose from—like those offered on The Write Practice —to help you learn what to do.

While you won’t find the technical nitty gritty here, I am going to share some of what I’ve learned about setting yourself up for success as an indie publisher.

If that sounds good to you, read on.

Build a Solid Product

Once you’ve finished writing your book, you need to take off your writer’s hat and assume the role of editor and marketer. Your book is now a product to be packaged and promoted. If you’re in the indie author business, all of that is up to you.

Don’t worry—each part of the process is something you can do, and IT can even be fun. Let’s take a look at the five important pieces.

Full disclosure—I won’t have a lot to say about the editing process . My mentor, Dean Wesley Smith, has always cautioned me stringently about allowing my work to be edited. He’s been with me since I began writing and he taught me to write a clean draft using a cycling process and to let my individual voice shine through.

When he gives me a writing assignment, he also gives me a very short deadline so that I won’t have time to fuss over it and rewrite. He says the creative voice in the back of a writer’s brain is the storyteller. Give it free rein and get out of its way. Rewriting involves the front brain critical voice which will often pull out what makes a writer’s words unique and interesting.

Since I plan my stories before I write them, I'm fairly confident all the necessary structural elements will be in place. I don’t engage in a lot of editing. I use ProWriting Aid to help point out grammar issues (commas always sneak in where they don’t belong) and at times I’ve hired a copy editor to check for simple errors.

Once I'm sure my story's structure is sound and the manuscript is free of grammatical errors, I read it aloud and listen for flow. Do the words fit together well and convey the tone I want readers to feel ? Are there awkward sentence constructions I should fix? What about unnecessary adverbs or sticky words I can eliminate?

I pay special attention to chapter endings and openings. Have I written past a cliffhanger or forgotten to include one? Have I neglected the kinds of vital details in my openings that pull readers from the end of one chapter into the beginning of the next?

Have I used the tools in my writer's toolbox to create suspense throughout the story?

I know my book will be competing with a million other books and it needs to come up to a professional standard. The same will apply to you, whether you self-edit or decide to hire an editor.

2. Formatting

As I mentioned, you want your book to be on a par with the current bestsellers—the professionals—in your genre. That means you can use those bestselling books as examples. Examine them and imitate what works for your own book.

How can you do this? Open up a bestseller and notice the interior layout.

Observe important details like:

• The size of the margins and font
• The location of elements such as page number, author name, and chapter titles
• The type of font
• How the title page looks, the organization and formatting
• The content included in the front matter of the book—and back matter

You can hire someone to design your layout, but I prefer to do it myself. That way, if I need to change anything in future, I don’t have to go back to the formatter. I like being in control over each part of the process.

There are a number of methods for formatting. I used Scrivener to format most of my books. Many writers I know swear by Vellum, but it’s only available on Apple products and I run a PC.

Dave Chesson recently released a new tool called Atticus and I used it to format the last two books I published (See our review of it here ). It’s simple to use, puts out a professional-looking product, and has a lot of great features. That’s what I’ll be using for the foreseeable future.

However you choose to format, make it look good. Also, make it look like it should be placed along other comparable titles in your genre.

If your cover doesn’t grab a reader, nothing else will. It’s your book’s first impression and must appeal to your target audience. You want to draw readers in to read the blurb or your opening lines.

Again, study the book cover design of bestsellers in your genre. Imitate what’s working for them. When it comes to the front cover, make sure it looks professional and appeals to the emotions. Remember, readers are looking for an experience, not a list of plot points.

If you look at the bestselling mysteries and thrillers, you’ll notice that most of the front covers include some kind of punchy tagline or quick testimonial, usually near the author’s name.

They also make use of genre-related subtitles which help search engines find the book more easily on platforms like Amazon.

Don’t clutter the back cover. It should include the sales blurb with a tagline above or beneath, and maybe a short bio. Leave some white space.

Whether you create your own covers or hire a professional, you can learn more about how to ensure your book cover sells in this article .

4. Sales Description and Editorial Review

Remember, your book is now a product that you want to get into the hands of eager readers. That’s why you need an effective sales description, or blurb.

Put some effort into this—you will use it over and over in getting your book up on the various sales platforms, on your back cover, on your website, in your advertising or promotions, and elsewhere.

Sales writing draws upon a different sort of skill set than you used in writing your book. You’ll need to toot your own horn a bit and use buzz words like “edge of your seat,” “nail-biting suspense,” “riveting,” “gripping,” “heart-stopping,” “action-packed,” etc.

I write suspense, and readers of suspense fiction want an experience. They want to feel excited and intrigued. They want to experience a brush with danger while staying safe at home. Address that desire and appeal to those emotions, rather than falling back on plot points.

Here’s a basic pattern for an effective sales description using the blurb from my novel Nocturne In Ashes as an example:

Slammed by disaster, playing for her life! With the death of her husband and son, concert pianist Riley Forte’s life and career shattered. Her comeback performance bombs, her sponsor pulls out, and she faces the tattered ruins of a once-happy life. When Mt. Rainier erupts, isolating her in a small community stalked by a serial killer, it seems like the end of everything, but it brings a new chance for Riley. If she can evade the clutches of a dedicated killer. In a riveting action story filled with breathtaking suspense, Riley fights to hang on to the one thing she has left—her life, and the one thing she needs to turn it around—redemption. Fans of Jeffery Deaver, Lisa Gardner, and Peter Robinson will be captivated by this page-turner. If you like a gripping, suspenseful tale, grab your copy of Nocturne in Ashes and prepare to burn the midnight oil.

A tagline is a pithy or hard-hitting one-liner that encapsulates the reading experience.

Slammed by disaster, playing for her life!

FIRST PARAGRAPH

Share something engaging about the character or the story world in summary. No plot beyond first page events. No passive voice . Nail down genre, if possible, and keep it succinct.

With the death of her husband and son, concert pianist Riley Forte’s life and career shattered. Her comeback performance bombs, her sponsor pulls out, and she faces the tattered ruins of a once-happy life.

SECOND PARAGRAPH

If you introduced your character in the first paragraph, bring in the setting now, and vice versa. Hit something about the plot of the first chapter only , the hook to get your reader in the door and wanting more. Keep it short, two or three sentences at most. No passive voice.

When Mt. Rainier erupts, isolating her in a small community stalked by a serial killer, it seems like the end of everything, but it brings a new chance for Riley.

THIRD PARAGRAPH

This is the plot kicker line — da da da dum! Summarize the stakes, infuse intensity. This is usually a one-liner, a tag, a punch. More will weaken the potency.

If she can evade the clutches of a determined killer.

WRAP-UP PARAGRAPH

This is your enticing summary and call to action. This is where you tell your reader why they should buy your book. It’s fine to use three or four lines here.

In a riveting action story filled with breathtaking suspense, Riley fights to hang on to the one thing she has left—her life—and the one thing she needs to turn it around—redemption. If you like a gripping, suspenseful tale, grab your copy of Nocturne in Ashes and prepare to burn the midnight oil!

On the Amazon platform, there’s also a space for Editorial Reviews on the sales page of your book. Don’t neglect it!

Readers are influenced by what they read in this section, so it’s important to make it look professional and enticing. As soon as you have positive feedback from reviewers, post it here.

For more information about how to write a great sales description, read this article.

5. Promoting

In my opinion, when you only have a few published books, your focus should be on producing more, rather than advertising what you’ve got. It’s not cost effective until you’ve got a decent backlist for readers to turn to when they want more of your work.

Imagine what would happen if you were a baker and you opened a bakery. It’s a lovely bakery, clean and shining with a cute little sign over the door and lots of well-lit shelves. But if a customer comes in and sees just one cake in the display case and nothing else for sale, they’re not going to feel confident about buying a slice of that cake.

At the beginning stages of your writing career, I don’t advocate spending your time and money on advertising or running a lot of promos. Focus on producing the next finished book. And then the next.

There is one thing that you should be doing, however, right from the start. And that’s building an email list . Make it a point to create engaging and regular content for the people who've entrusted you with their email address. They will stick with you as you grow and stand ready to buy your books when they come.

The real key to your long-term success is discoverability—getting your name out there—and probably the best way to do that is to fill your shelves with more titles for readers who like your books.

To learn more about discoverability, read this article or this book.

How to Achieve Long-Term Success

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with writing and publishing a few books as a hobby, to make a little extra cash, or because you have just one or two stories you really want to write and that’s all. That might fit exactly with your idea of success.

There’s nothing wrong with writing part-time while working full-time to pay for living expenses. A great many well-known authors are doing it like this. That might be the kind of success you’re happy with, too.

If your concept of success means being a full-time writer and supporting yourself and your family on what you make from writing novels, your desire for it must run deep and you'll need to gear up for a long haul. I believe that kind of success is possible, but it may be a long time coming.

And there’s nothing wrong with that, either.

If earning a living with your novels is something you aspire to, here are some key points to consider:

1. Define what you mean by “making a living.”

Put some numbers on paper and break it down. For example, if you aim to make $70,000 a year from full-time writing, you’ll need to bring in about $5,833 per month in book sales.

If you set your retail price at $5.99, that will yield about $4 a book (using current models). Divide $5,833 by $4 and see that you’ll need to sell 1,458 books a month.

If you have twenty books, that’s only seventy-three books per month, per title. With forty books, that drops down to about thirty-six books per title.

If you're in the book business, the more books you’ve published, the better off you'll be.

2. Twenty is the magic number

Many professional indie writers agree that once you reach twenty books on your list of published works, discoverability kicks in and sales start to pick up and move. That’s twenty novel-length books, which include collections, under the same pen name.

Patience and longevity are necessary ingredients. Get lost in the joy of writing and focus on telling stories and getting them into the hands of readers.

Twenty books is a reachable goal, but it will take time. Make the mental adjustment and don’t be in a hurry.

3. Write what you love

If you get caught up in writing mysteries, thrillers, and suspense novels—the kinds of books you love—you can maintain the passion for writing long-term and enjoy your life as a writer.

Thrillers and mysteries rank high on the list of popular genres, but you won’t be able to sustain the joy for the work if you’re solely writing to market. You’ll face burnout and worse—you risk losing the simple pleasure and satisfaction of telling a great story.

It's the same if your favorite genre is romance, or fantasy, or adventure.

Stick with writing what you love.

4. Get good at business

You need to learn how to run a business, one detail at a time, during those years when you’re building up your inventory. Once you start making real money, you’re going to need to know how to manage it, how to shelter it from undue taxation, and how to invest it.

Spend time educating yourself about the book business and intellectual property. Learn how to keep track of expenses and income, prepare for tax season, and how to structure your writing business to best serve your needs and maximize your earnings.

In addition, you’ll need to stay abreast of the changes in the publishing industry and adjust your business strategies accordingly.

I find Joanna Penn is a great source for help in staying on top of publishing industry changes and in looking to the future. Her podcast is fun, informative, and inspiring.

5. Continue to learn your craft

This is perhaps the most important aspect in your long-term success as a writer. There’s always more to learn, new skills to master.

Staying in a learning frame of mind helps sharpen the tools you already have in your writer’s toolbox, as well as opening vistas of opportunity for greater levels of skill.

And learning is exciting and motivating. When you learn a new technique, you want to use it, test it, develop it. Successful authors never stop learning, never stop discovering, and never stop reaching for ever higher levels of writing abilities.

The Write Practice is a superb place to continue your education as a writer.

Can You Earn a Living Writing Novels?

Yes! But as you can see, it won’t be quick or easy. If money is your primary objective, pick another avenue. Write for the love of writing, and the money will come.

Eventually.

For my suspense writing friends, we write in the suspense genres because those are the stories that stir our blood, pique our interest, and provide the satisfaction of a world put right and justice served by book’s end.

Consider that the job of a suspense writer is to read such stories and learn how to create something similarly stimulating and satisfactory. Develop new skills and techniques. Sit down, put words on paper, and make it happen.

If that’s the job of a suspense writer (and it is!) the years spent in writing many books before seeing a financial return can pass in pleasure, excitement, and the joy of writing.

An effort well worth making.

Ready to make money? Check out our new class, How Writers  Actually  Make Money , available now. In this four-part class, you'll learn what it takes to turn your passion into a mutli-income stream business. Check it out and sign up here.

How about you? What’s your definition of success as a writer? Tell us about it in the comments .

Writing an effective sales description is an important part of the book business. Using the basic pattern outlined above, practice writing the sales copy for a book you’ve written or one you are in the process of writing.

If you don’t currently have a book project, write the blurb for a book you read recently, or even a movie you watched. The point is to practice looking at the story from a marketer’s perspective and writing a description that sells.

Take fifteen minutes to write your blurb. When you’re done, share your blurb in the Pro Practice Workshop here . Be sure to leave feedback for your fellow writers who want to be successful authors! Based on their blurbs alone, would you read the book?

Join 100 Day Book

Enrollment closes May 14 at midnight!

Joslyn Chase

Any day where she can send readers to the edge of their seats, prickling with suspense and chewing their fingernails to the nub, is a good day for Joslyn. Pick up her latest thriller, Steadman's Blind , an explosive read that will keep you turning pages to the end. No Rest: 14 Tales of Chilling Suspense , Joslyn's latest collection of short suspense, is available for free at joslynchase.com .

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How to Become a Freelance Writer, Plus Tips for Success

F reelance writing is a booming industry, and it could be a great way to enjoy remote work and set your own schedule. Yet becoming a freelance writer can be difficult and confusing, especially in the beginning.

Today, let's explore how to become a freelance writer step-by-step, plus break down some extra tips to ensure success in this field.

1. Decide what kind of writer you'll be

No freelance writer can do it all, so you need to decide what kind of writer you'll be before starting on this career path.

Here are some examples of freelance writing niches and focuses:

• Technical writers : have technical expertise or in-depth knowledge about a specific subject, like manufacturing, finance, programming, etc. This type of writing is the most profitable side hustle. However, it's also the hardest for new freelance writers to break into as small businesses.
• Content writers: create blog posts for a variety of websites, often retail or affiliate websites. Content marketing includes high-qualitycontent writing. Such content might include guest posts for bloggers and business owners. It might also include other freelance content, like creating social posts or email copy. Helpful skills to know are how to use WordPress, Slack, Google Suite, Asana and similar.
• Copywriters : create content for brands by mimicking brand voice, tone and language rules. This freelance writing work means providing writing services to a brand's own blog. Such purposes typically revolve around SEO/search engine optimization purposes.

Of these types of freelance writers, you can further specialize. For instance, you can be a retail content writer exclusively, a finance technical writer and so on. In many cases, you should choose your freelance writer niche based on your previous experience, interests or specializations.

Consider your working schedule, too. Full-time writers will have more access to freelance writing jobs. However, you can still build a writing portfolio with stellar writing samples to attract potential clients, even as a part-time writer.

There are lots of online writing clients to attract. In any case, you'll build up a byline reputation after you get your first client and start flexing your creative writing skills.

Related: How Much Should You Charge as a Freelance Writer ?

2. Learn your niche's writing conventions and strategies

Next, you'll need to learn and master your niche's writing conventions and strategies.

As an example, if you become a copywriter for retail brands, you need to understand typical writing conventions like:

• Reading through your clients' tone packages or portfolios (sometimes called brand guides). These will give you the information you need to mimic your client's voice appropriately.
• Writing in streamlined, short sentences without a lot of fluff. These days, most online readers skim written content rather than reading it word by word, so you need to know how to create compelling, attractive headers and content blocks.
• Using bullet points frequently (just like this.) to convey key informational points quickly and succinctly.

Many of these skills can be learned and practiced as you hone your writing skills and as you determine your ultimate freelance writing niche or focus. Outside of learning by pursuing writing opportunities and building an online presence, many good writers have positive experiences with writing courses designed to build professional writing skills for different types of content.

3. Build a portfolio and join freelance job sites

No one will want to hire you as a freelance writer without seeing some samples of your work. This can sound counterintuitive, as at the beginning of your career, you won't have any work to showcase. However, you should create a portfolio of sample or trial blog posts, copy and more. Even if you come up with this content from scratch, it can serve as a good example of the work future clients can expect.

Once you have your portfolio, put it up on your personal website and your social media pages (particularly your LinkedIn profile). Then add to freelance job websites like Upwork. Make profiles on all the freelance job boards you can.

In the earliest days of your freelance writing career, you'll be pursuing as many jobs as possible. The more places you have to advertise your skills, the better.

Related: Leaving a Steady Job to Start a Freelance Career ? Here Are 5 Things You Must Know

4. Start looking for work

Now it's time to put your nose to the grindstone and begin looking for work. As a freelance writer, the initial months of your career will be filled with proposals and requests for work. Don't expect to get a lot of clients initially. In fact, you'll probably spend most of your time seeking out clients instead of writing.

This isn't a bad thing. During this time, you'll learn how to write effective, persuasive proposals to your clients and how best to represent yourself as the ideal freelancer for their needs. In time, you'll get a few jobs, then use those jobs to open further doors and new professional opportunities.

5. Request good reviews

Each time you get a job from a client, do it to perfection. Then, at the end of your contract, request an excellent review or testimonial. Many freelance job board websites allow you to post reviews or automatically calculate a review or star score based on your performance.

The better your review score is, the easier you'll find it to acquire new, high-paying clients. In this way, your freelance writing career will start off very slow, then quickly pick up speed.

Related: The 9 Skills it Takes to Succeed as a Freelance Writer

6. Market your writing aggressively

As you earn initial success, you should market your writing aggressively. There are a few different ways in which you can do this:

• You can create a personal website for your freelance writing business, showcasing your best samples and reviews or testimonials.
• You can make online ads promoting your skills as a knowledgeable copywriter, particularly in a specific industry or niche.
• You can and should market yourself on social media by regularly posting that you are looking for work or new clients.

Don't feel bad about announcing your skills in this way: You have to hustle to make it in this industry, a truism that holds for all freelance professionals, in fact.

Other tips for freelance writing success

You now know the basics about how to become a freelance writer. But even with the step-by-step process above, you might not see initial success unless you keep some key tips and strategies in mind.

Pick a niche to excel at

First, and perhaps most importantly, you should pick a niche or specialization at the earliest opportunity. Generalized freelance writers don't make nearly as much money as specialized writers. That's because specialized writers can provide more raw value to their clients.

Imagine a situation in which a programming company needs a writer to create some in-depth blog posts for B2B clients. They can hire a generalized content writer or a specialized technical writer who knows the ins and outs of programming languages and computer science. The latter choice is always the better option for that client.

To that end, find a niche in which to excel based on your previous schooling, your interests and more.

Price your writing properly

Many freelance writers struggle with getting a living wage, partially because they price their writing too low. True, in the earliest stage of your career, you'll probably earn about one cent or two cents per word. However, as you earn your first initial reviews, you should counterintuitively increase your price to five cents per word or more.

Why? If you price your writing too low, clients will think that you aren't worth their time. By pricing your writing sufficiently high, you show that you are confident in your ability to deliver results to those clients.

Always be looking for new clients

The life of a freelance writer involves constantly looking for new clients and work opportunities. Even if you have a handful of solid clients who send you work consistently, don't rest on your laurels.

Always be cultivating new contacts and finding new professional clients who you can approach for work. You never know when your current jobs or projects might dry up, leaving you in desperate need of new income streams.

Always improve your writing skills

Similarly, always work to improve your writing skills by learning new words, practicing your grammar and so on. As a writing craftsman, it's up to you to make sure that your skills are as sharp and desirable as possible. Don't let your writing skills fall by the wayside just because you have achieved some initial success as a freelance writer.

Related: Examples of Writing Business Ideas

Start your journey as a freelance writer

As you can see, you can become a successful freelance writer in a variety of ways and niches. But keep the above tips in mind, and you'll be sure to land high-paying clients and master your new business in short order.

Check out Entrepreneur's other guides and resources for more information on this topic.

• Scriptwriting

How to Become a Paid Screenwriter in 2023: A Step-by-Step Guide

Y ou want to learn how to become a screenwriter, but every screenwriting article you find is redundant or confusing.

We’ve put together a complete step-by-step guide to screenwriting that teaches you how to become a screenwriter, how to find entertainment writer jobs in LA (and elsewhere), and how to sell your screenplay.

We also provide videos and resource posts on specific topics so that you gain deep knowledge and clarity on each concept. Lezgo.

Getting Started

Learn the craft, build your portfolio, commit to your career.

• Submit Your Work

Watch: Anatomy of a Screenplay — Ultimate Guide

Subscribe for more filmmaking videos like this.

HOW TO BECOME A SCREENWRITER

Ch 1    ➤   how to become a screenwriter    ➤   getting started, 1. what does a screenwriter do.

Your plan is to set out on the grand journey of becoming a successful screenwriter. The first thing you need to do is understand the career.

So what exactly does a screenwriter do?

SCREENWRITER DEFINITION

What does a screenwriter do.

A screenwriter is someone who writes content for a visual medium. This could be for feature films, television, documentaries, commercials, video games, music videos, online content, and educational material.

A screenwriter is paid to write scripts, screenplays, teleplays, AV scripts, and treatments that include strong concepts, coherent themes, well structured plots, and dynamic characters.

The main thing to remember is that the world is changing, and while film and television writing is the standard for professional screenwriters, many signs point toward other avenues that still need good screenwriting skills.

That doesn’t mean movies are dead, or that you should stab out your eyes lest you see yet another writing credit that does not belong to you.

Don't give up… we’re just getting started.

Ch 1    ➤   Getting Started    ➤   Study Scripts

2. study other screenplays.

The next thing you need to do is to read scripts. Study how your favorite screenwriters wrote your favorite produced scripts.

This is absolutely non-negotiable.

Watching movies will help you too, but screenwriting and directing are very different crafts, and while they are very much connected and inform one another, you have to start by hitting some balls off the tee.

Want to read some great scripts? Check out any of these posts below where we provide analysis and a free script PDF download for each:

Related Posts

• Pulp Fiction Analysis & Download →
• Seinfeld Script Analysis & Download →
• La La Land Script Analysis & Download →

Ch 1    ➤   Getting Started    ➤   Reading List

3. read screenwriting books.

To be a good screenwriter, it helps to be a relentless reader. This doesn’t mean you can’t have success with a lot of ambition, life experience, and perspective — but at the very least you need to read screenwriting books .

But don’t pick one book and follow it as gospel — mix and match.

You wouldn’t watch only Tarantino films to learn how to become a director, or only watch Lebron James to become a basketball player.

The best screenwriters understand filmmaking in general, and while it takes a different skill set to be a screenwriter versus a director, you will only benefit from having a holistic approach to filmmaking.

Wondering which screenwriting books are must-reads?

We’ve got you covered. The following screenwriting books will absolutely fast-track your progress as a screenwriter:

• 10 Best Filmmaking Books to Read in 2019 →
• 15 Best Screenwriting Books to Read in 2019 →

Ch 1    ➤   Getting Started    ➤   Script Formatting

4. learn screenwriting format.

This is a funny one. A lot of screenwriting guides have this step way too far down the list. I think this is a phenomenon unique to screenwriting.

No one tells you to start drilling for oil before you do a proper survey.

No one tells you to develop a prototype before you learn to code.

No one tells you to perform a few surgeries before you go to med school.

Screenwriting format explained

Screenplay formatting is relatively simple to learn. Once you understand the relationship between action lines, characters, dialogue, and scene headings you will have a much easier time writing your scripts.

What if you’re writing a music video, or a commercial, or some other form of screenwriting that will be hindered by narrative screenplay format? That’s when you use an AV script template .

What’s an AV script?

This is where you create a document with a table — two columns — one for your audio, and one for the corresponding video. Hence ‘AV’ script.

AV scripts can be used for YouTube videos, political ads, anything really.

If you have yet to decide on a professional screenwriting software, why not try out StudioBinder’s free screenplay and AV script feature .

Our software guides you through the writing process and displays helpful formatting icons at the top of the script. These buttons will help you apply the appropriate margin and alignment for each line of text.

Click on the image below to read the full sample script:

Script Formatting  •   Written in StudioBinder

Collaborate with your writing partners wherever, and whenever you like. One key aspect of StudioBinder is it’s built-in pre-production tools.

If you plan on producing or directing a script, you can segue into production planning to create script breakdowns, schedules, shot lists, storyboards and call sheets.

If you want to learn how to professionally format screenplays and AV scripts, make sure to check out our screenwriting posts below (which also provide free templates to get started):

• How to Format Professional Screenplays →
• How to Create an AV Script [FREE Template] →
• StudioBinder’s Free Screenwriting Software →

Ch 2    ➤   How to Become a Screenwriter    ➤   Learn the Craft

Learning the craft of screenwriting.

You’ve learned how to format your script, which is great, because now you’ll be prepared to get your ideas down on the page in a professional manner that helps to sell your screenplays or various scripts.

Now it’s time to learn the scientific side of screenwriting, which is to say the proven elements that combine to make a piece of entertainment.

Let’s go through each step and use an original example along the way.

Ch 2    ➤   Learn the Craft    ➤    Concept

1. how to create a concept.

It feels good to get out of the frying pan and into the fire, so let’s move on to an important step in learning how to become a screenwriter...

Creating a story concept.

A big part of this is finding something you’re passionate about. This can means analyzing films, shows, and any other form of entertainment that you love, and can’t wait to share with friends and peers.

Free Video Master Class: How to Make a TV Show

You’ll notice how very few filmmakers and screenwriters jump from genre to genre, partly because they have established their career tone…

But also because they simply enjoy writing about a particular topic.

If you’re just building out your portfolio, mastery through repetition is the key. Every concept doesn’t need to become a 110 page screenplay.  

In fact, it may be better for you to start out with sketches or short films. They each require their own unique approach, but if you’re thinking about getting into running… you might not start off with a marathon.

If you want to learn how to become a screenwriter, write a short film that has a strong concept that supports the medium of filmmaking.

I whipped up a mock screenplay to walk you through the process. 

Here’s the logline .

Screenwriting Concept Example

Afraid of the dark.

A young boy, who is afraid of the dark, loses his favorite ball when it slips from his hand… and rolls into the basement.

This concept is a relatively strong short film. Why's that?

• We have a ‘flawed’ character — the boy is afraid of the dark.
• He has a clear motivation — his favorite ball.
• There’s opportunity for change — overcoming his fear of the dark.

This concept intertwines both our plot and character arcs .

You can click the image below to open up the full mock screenplay so that you can follow along with our examples as I walk you through action lines and dialogue in this short film example:

Short Film Example  •   Written in StudioBinder

So if you need help developing your idea, drop everything and check out this essential Master Class on Developing a TV Series.

Even if your concept isn’t a TV series, these are universal takeaways that’ll help you build any concept for a piece of modern entertainment.

StudioBinder’s TV Development Masterclass

So check out the FREE 7 episode TV development masterclass to develop a compelling television show concept that can sell in Hollywood:  

Related Post

• Free TV Writing and Development Masterclass →

Ch 2    ➤   Learn the Craft    ➤   Themes

2. how do i establish theme.

Establishing the theme for your story concept is important because it keeps your content connected to a deeper message.

Every great story has at least one strong theme that is supported by the events, characters, locations, costumes, and every other story elements you introduce on the page. Agents and managers know this as well.

Remember our concept for our sample short, Afraid of the Dark ?

Here is a refresher:

What would be a good theme for this story? How about courage?

So our events, our character, our costumes — all of these things should somehow support our theme of bravery. How do we do this to the script?

Visual Motif in Film | StudioBinder

A motif is a recurring element that supports a project’s theme. Like how the roses in American Beauty represent lust.

So how do we create a motif around bravery?

Maybe the young boy wears a Knight costume while he plays.

Now the viewer understands that, while the boy is afraid of the basement, he values bravery so much that he dresses up like a Knight. This both motivates his character, but supports the overall theme.

Motifs add important layers of depth to any story. If you want to learn more about how to identify potential motifs and themes see here:

• Visual Motif Definition and Examples →

Ch 2    ➤   Learn the Craft    ➤   Plot

3. build plot and structure.

Your script plot and structure are often directly tied to one another. Structure is important because it helps your story maintain a pace that allows you to tell a rich, full story that is also engaging.

Structure gets a bad rap, because people will often blame classic story structure for unoriginal plots and familiar storytelling.

You can always use Dan Harmon’s story circle :

Dan Harmon Story Circle | StudioBinder

Harmon’s story circle is actually rooted in a more classical framework. Joseph Campbell's “The Hero's Journey.”

The simple fact is that studios, producers, directors, agents — all of these professionals know that story structure is necessary for a script to sell.

3 Mistakes Screenwriter Make with Structure

To make sure your story has the right structure, you can use a story beat sheet, which will let you know when certain events should take place in your story, and to do this you can use a beat sheet template .

When an experienced producer opens a script for the first time, they will first flip to the last page . They are checking for the length of your script.

They will then flip to page 1, then to page 12-13, then flip to page 25, then to page 70, and finally they will glance at the last few pages… 100-110.

If they have gotten this far, chances are they'll read your script.

They're checking for structure, and if they find an area that is missing key story beats, they will cast judgment on your writing.

Screenwriting Plot Structure Masterclass

A plot is very simply the chain of events that occur in your story. A good example of a classic plot is the action film Die Hard .

People have sold entire script ideas as “ Die Hard at ⎽⎽⎽⎽⎽⎽⎽⎽”.

They keep the strong plot of Die Hard , but they switch  up the settings, characters, and maybe even the theme to build a ‘new’ story.

If you need a FREE beat sheet template, or want to read more about Dan Harmon’s story circle and plots, check out these posts below:

• Build a Great Plot in Your Screenplay →
• Build a Story Using Dan Harmon’s Story Circle →
• Create the Perfect Beat Sheet [FREE Template] →

Ch 2    ➤   Learn the Craft    ➤   Characters

4. how do i develop characters.

Good characters make writing so much easier, and developing your characters will develop their traits, their trends, and their decisions.

How to Create Characters | StudioBinder

Think of your favorite television character…

How would they respond if I were to call them an idiot?

You may love Jon Snow from Game of Thrones , or Frank Reynolds from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia — it doesn’t matter who you prefer.

You could probably write their response, because they are such well developed characters that you can almost predict their decisions.

Jon Snow would be humble, polite, and maybe a bit self righteous.

Frank Reynolds would draw his gun and tell me to ‘suck on this dirt bag!’

A Common Mistake When Developing Characters

When you develop a rich character, it makes writing fun. With each new line you write you build a new layer to the character.

What if you’re not sure which character to build in your script?

There are some classic character types that are great to call upon.

Character Archetypes | StudioBinder

What if you have a good character, but you need help building logical conflict that will take us on a journey with your characters?

One great technique is developing internal and external conflict.

For this, let’s look to our story example, Afraid of the Dark .

Our character, the young boy, loves to play with his favorite ball and fantasizes about being a Knight on a quest… but then he drops his ball.

There is external conflict — because he has lost his ball.

There is internal conflict — because he is afraid to retrieve it.

We want him to find his ball, but we also want him to overcome his fear, and the conflict in our character supports our theme of bravery.

If you need help developing characters, building conflict, and deciding on character archetypes, check out these posts on each subject:

• Character Development [FREE Worksheet] →
• Build Internal and External Conflict in your Story →
• 8 Character Archetypes: Complete List & Examples →

Ch 2    ➤   Learn the Craft    ➤   Action Lines

5. how do i write action lines.

Action lines are more important than dialogue. How much?

I’d say somewhere around a 75/25 divide. What occurs on screen is 75% of your story, whereas what your characters say to one another should normally be around 25% of your story.

This is because actions speak louder than words.

How to Write Exposition | StudioBinder

Your action lines should be in a descriptive, present tense:

The young boy runs around the corner, bumps into the wall. His favorite ball slips from his hand, tumbles down into the basement. He stares into the abyss. Sweat runs down his face. Mouth agape. Hands clenched.

You want to keep the reader engaged in the story while writing action lines that are clear and concise. You want to avoid ending verbs in ‘ing’ .

“The young boy is running down the hall, bumping into the wall”.  

It’s not that this is super confusing, but it makes it more difficult to jump from idea to idea. If you can write a clear action line in as few words as possible, you’re beginning to understand the concept of screenwriting.

Young boy turns the corner, bumps the wall. The ball slips, tumbles into the basement. Sweat drips down his face. Mouth agape. Hands clenched.

Does this mean you can’t write rich description and emotion in your actions? Not really… but this is the most debated concept in screenwriting. What if you like Quentin Tarantino’s writing style?

Short Film Action Lines  •   Written in StudioBinder

Is this better screenwriting when compared to our first example?

Meh… this is where you need to decide on your writing style.

If you want to learn more about writing exposition in your screenplays make sure to check out each of the fantastic resource posts below:

• Christopher Nolan Screenwriting Tips →
• How to Write Exposition in Your Screenplays →
• Coen Brothers Screenwriting Tips and Strategies →

Ch 2    ➤   Learn the Craft    ➤   Dialogue

6. how do i write dialogue.

As I said in the section above, dialogue should be one of the last things your put into your screenplays, and the best films are proof of this point.

You shouldn’t write a single line of dialogue until you’ve developed your concept, theme, characters, plot, settings, action lines, and structure.

Let’s jump back to our example:

Short Film Dialogue  •   Written in StudioBinder

Our action is clear enough, we don’t need the young boy to say ‘my ball!’

We need dialogue that adds emotions , and some style to our story. In the last line of dialogue in this scene, the young boy references his desires.

We know he wants to be brave, but he is afraid of the dark, and the dialogue helps to support our theme.

I wrote a similar post to this one all about writing dialogue, and you can go through step-by-step and  audit the dialogue in your screenplay:

• 22 Screenwriting Tips for Writing Movie Dialogue →

Ch 2    ➤   Learn the Craft    ➤   Scene Types

7. how do i write scene types.

There are big scenes in movies and shows that stump new screenwriters, and for good reason. They require good pacing but an understanding of the process the production team will have to go through to film them.

Some of these scenes include:

• Fight Scenes
• Chase Scenes
• Telephone 

These scenes are sometimes easy to write, but difficult to produce.

Every time you write a new scene heading, that is a location that you have to find and pay for. Crew parking, gear rentals, actors to pay, gas to buy, etc. What about fight scenes? How descriptive do they need to be?

How to Write Fight Scenes | StudioBinder

You also want these scenes to be fun to read, but clear enough that the reader (producer, agent, actor, director) can track the action.

You also want to make sure to build a story with your fight scene, so that the viewer can not only track the action, but also track the story.

This is how you keep both a reader, and a viewer engaged.

If you want to learn even more, take a look at each of these posts that help to explain how to write a montage, a fight scene, and a car chase:

• How to Write an Epic Fight Scene →
• How to Write a Montage Like the Pros →
• How to Write a Car Chase in a Screenplay →

Ch 3   ➤   Create Your Portfolio    ➤   Preface

Create some work for your portfolio.

School is out. No more theory. No more learning.

Now it is time to build your story, and to build it right. Make sure you do each of these steps in order. I wrote the first draft of a 110 page screenplay in two weeks because I followed these steps… in order.

Ch 3   ➤   Create Your Portfolio    ➤   Writing Schedule

1. create a writing schedule.

You want to write scripts and screenplays, but more than anything you want to write something that will actually be produced. Spending hours on a script that has no clear future seems like a hopeless errand.

Great… I have a 110 page story idea that I can show my dog.

There is a remedy to this feeling, and one solution is a screenwriting guide. You'll often hear people say you need to ‘just write’ which can help and be therapeutic, but eventually you need to build a road map for the reader's journey, otherwise the story may seem hollow. 

Christine Conradt has been a professional screenwriter for nearly 20 years, and she has been a writer on over 60 produced projects.  

Professional Writing Schedule

Truly, you should write with a purpose toward a cohesive story, and you should create a writing schedule that helps your ideas progress.

Professional athletes go to the gym most days. They practice 5 days a week with their team. They relentlessly work on their craft. If you want to be an olympic runner, you can’t ‘just run’ around the block.

You need to practice the events you hope to win, you need to build your game plan, improve your starting time off the blocks, lean forward when you finish, and pace yourself for long distance events.

Screenwriting is a career, so you will want to treat it as such if you want to gain success in the shortest amount of time — but don’t ‘just write’.

That will exhaust your creative energy, and it won’t help you become a more complete writer — it will only improve your typing skills.

If you ‘just write’ the time you spend staring at a blank page will balloon.

Write with purpose, toward a good story, toward a screenwriting career.  

Now let’s listen to Quentin Tarantino talk about his process:

Quentin Tarantino on Screenwriting Process

Tarantino is a filmmaker, and because of that he isn’t thinking in terms or screenwriting for a career, he is rather thinking about building films.

He has an encyclopedic knowledge of films and techniques, so he’s done his homework, and when he writes he does so with a story in mind.

Tarantino writes so much the characters are part ‘in his blood’.

Check out this post on how to cure writer’s block:

• 23 Proven Ideas to Cure Writer's Block →

Ch 3   ➤   Create Your Portfolio    ➤   Logline

2. write a logline.

A logline is a 1-2 sentence long description of your story, and if often goes in the order of character, setting, plot, and maybe some style.

Remember our logline:

This logline tells us everything we need to know about the script, and it does so in a way that gets us excited to see the story play out.

How to Write a Logline | StudioBinder

Need help writing your own logline? Check out this post below:

• How to Write a Logline Producers Won’t Pass On →

Ch 3   ➤   Create Your Portfolio    ➤   Synopsis

3. write a synopsis.

A synopsis is an abridged description of the events in your story. A good synopsis is there to give a producer a clear idea on how the events in your script play out without them having to read through each line.

Writing compelling loglines and synopses are one of the ways you get your scripts past professional script readers . Your synopsis should fit onto a single page for a 110 page script.

Check out this post on how to write a synopsis:

• Write a Movie Synopsis that Makes Readers Salivate →

Ch 3   ➤   Create Your Portfolio    ➤   Outlines

4. write script outlines.

A script outline is not really for producers, studios, and agents.

It’s for you … and the director, which may end up being you .

Script outlines are basically like beat sheets. They create a game plan for your writing and for your story. You know how each scene will inform the next, and because of this you can write a more complete story.

This may be the time when you decide on some important screenwriting devices, one of which is called ‘breaking the fourth wall’.

How to Break the Fourth Wall | StudioBinder

Check out this post on how to write a script outline:

• How to Write a Script Outline for Film and TV →

Ch 3   ➤   Create Your Portfolio    ➤   Treatment

5. write a treatment.

So, you know how you just created a script outline?

Now you need to build another one, but this one will be for producers, agents, studio executives, and others that may ‘buy’ an idea.

This is a called a treatment .

How to Write a Treatment | StudioBinder

If a producer reads your logline, and your synopsis — they’re interested.

Now they want to see the complete game plan, but they don’t need every detail that will be important to you as a filmmaker or screenwriter.

So take the really important details, and build a treatment.

Check out this post on how to write a film treatment:

• How to Write a Film Treatment Like the Pros →

Ch 3   ➤   Create Your Portfolio    ➤   Spec Script

6. write an original spec script.

A speculative script is a story that you write with no commitment toward the eventual production of said script. This means that you are writing an original idea that you hope will later sell.

Spec scripts are important because they show your ability to complete an entire idea, and to show that you can be creative without a safety net.

Inside the Spec Script Market

The spec market has slowed over the past few decades, because studios and production companies have found statistics that suggest that IP (intellectual property) with built in fan bases have a higher success rate.

That’s why Sonic the Hedgehog and The Playmobil Movie are some of the ideas being produced today versus the best spec scripts.

Check out this post on how to write a spec script:

• The Complete Guide to Writing on Spec →

Ch 3   ➤   Create Your Portfolio    ➤   Sample Script

7. write a sample spec script.

A sample spec script is when you write a script for a show or property that already exists, which will allow a producer or representative to see if you have the ability to join a writer’s room for a television show.

6 Tips For Writing a Spec Script

Rarely will your sample script ever be produced, but it proves something that your original scripts will be unable to do. It proves that you can write on top of a story that already exists, and thus continue the collective vision.

Often, you will want to write a show that has aired in the last year-to-date, and this will allow you to use your sample script to apply to writing fellowships around Los Angeles and other entertainment hubs.

If you hope to submit to these fellowships, you will need to have at least two sample spec scripts of shows that ran in the last year-to-date.

Ch 3   ➤   Create Your Portfolio    ➤   Portfolio

8. build a work portfolio.

Now that you have written a few scripts, it’s time to build your portfolio.

What goes in your screenwriting portfolio?

Everything you just built during the steps up above. You should have an original spec script with a logline, synopsis, and a killer treatment.

Make sure to copyright your screenplay as well.

You should have two sample spec scripts with a logline, synopsis, and a treatment for each — along with some other important documents.

Build a cover letter that gives a brief look into your history, no more than a page or two, and it should be easy to read and pleasing to the eye.

If you have any professional connections in the film industry, you should buy them a bottle of wine or a gift card or something and ask them for a letter of recommendation as a screenwriter.

What if you don’t know anyone in the industry?

That’s okay — you will soon enough, but for now just gather the hard work you’ve done so far, and assemble it in a single, organized package.

Build a digital portfolio and label your script files and folders in a clean, easy to read manner so that the recipients enjoy browsing through.

Check out this post on how to copyright your script:

• How to Copyright a Script →

Ch 3   ➤   Create Your Portfolio    ➤   Short Film

9. produce a short film.

Okay, so you’ve written a bunch of scripts and treatments and loglines and read screenwriting books and learned formatting, and yet you are no closer to your goals than you were when you started this guide.

Wrong… but that’s okay. Everyone lashes out a bit, but the fact that you are growing restless is good. It means you care about success.

Now it is time to get your hands dirty.

Go make a film. Make a short film . Rent a camera. Find a director and DP. Find actors in class or at a playhouse. Go make a bad short film.

Figure out how it feels to actually write, produce, and direct a film so that you can see how your script translates on screen. This will make you a better screenwriter, but it will also give you the right amount of perspective and hopefully energize you into creating more.

Your best bet is to write and produce a short film.

Take a look at how StudioBinder makes production better:

Welcome to StudioBinder

You can take it to festivals and meet people, you can throw it up on YouTube. You can send it in your portfolio — especially if it is a proof of concept for an idea you’ve been writing and hope to sell.

Are you worried about your project’s budget? Are you unable to organize funds for your project? Financing a piece of entertainment is a pretty big risk, and it is almost always the things that slows or scuttles a project.

Need help writing a short film or finding money for your projects?

Check out this post on the best film grants:

• The Ultimate Film Grants List in 2019 →
• How to Write a Short Film That Gets Noticed →

Ch 4   ➤   Commit To Your Career    ➤   Preface

Time to commit to something.

You’ve done the leg work. You have a portfolio and you’ve read the books, done the research, you’ve maybe even made a short film.

Let’s go already.

Ch 4   ➤   Commit To Your Career    ➤   Writing School

1. go to school for writing.

Do you need to go to film school ? No… you don’t.

I personally went to film school, and I found great value in the experience, the instructors, the other students, and the opportunities that have come from my degree.

I’m not your financial advisor or life coach. I won’t tell you to go to school or not to go to school, but the vast majority of successful filmmakers and writers went to some form of college.

They didn’t all go to film school, but many of them went to some form of higher education. They had ‘some form’ of film school.

I know literally hundreds of people who work in production and make really good money who never stepped foot in a film school. More often these cats are grips, electricians, and assistant camera operators. 

Again, there are exceptions to the rule, and when you research popular filmmakers like Fincher and Tarantino who didn’t go to film school, you quickly realize they were still immersed in the filmmaking community. 

Check out this post on the best film schools:

• 21 Best Film Schools →

Ch 4   ➤   Commit To Your Career    ➤   Major Market

2. move to a major market.

You may be here in the states. You may be in the UK. Maybe you live in France, or Canada, or India. The entertainment industry is not just in LA and New York, but most of the time it is in a big city or major market.

I grew up in the western United States, so I moved to LA . If you live in Racine, maybe move to Chicago. If you live in Buffalo, maybe move to New York City. If you live in Staines, maybe move to London.

Just move to a place where other people are thinking about film.

Ch 4   ➤   Commit To Your Career    ➤   Film Industry Jobs

3. get a job in the film industry.

When you research David Fincher, who technically isn’t a screenwriter, you will find that he worked in a dark room before getting a job at ILM.

Having a job in the film industry is the quickest and best way to meet professional filmmakers, screenwriters, and talent representatives.

It also is the best way to learn the craft of filmmaking.

You may be able to get a job as a script reader, which means you will need to understand how to perform proper script coverage .

Or you can be a PA on set , or in the production office:

Essential PA Duties | StudioBinder

Industry jobs aren’t there to train you to become a professional screenwriter, they are there to support the current productions.

This means that you will be putting in long hours on someone else’s creative vision, and often you will go home exhausted.

You may not have enough energy to keep up with your writing schedule. Anger, jealousy, and doubt will reach deafening levels in your head. 

But... you have to just keep going, keep working, keep to your schedule, make more films, and focus on your overall career goals.

Can you at least get low budget paid work as a screenwriter?

Yes, you can. You can write for digital channels or for companies doing industrial work or e-commerce. Change with the craft of screenwriting.

Check out this post on screenwriter salary:

• Screenwriter Salary: What Do Writers Make? →
• Guide To Learning Script Coverage (Free Template) →

Ch 4   ➤   Commit To Your Career    ➤   Writing Groups

4. join a writing group.

This is one of my favorite steps, because it is the most fun. You will want to find a serious group of screenwriters who are at a similar stage.

Join a group of people who are at a similar stage.

Screenwriting groups should be free, so if you find some random writers group on craigslist asking for an entry fee or something… skip it.

These groups should be a small, no more than a dozen people that get together twice a month (at least) to swap scripts so that you can give each other script notes , and collaborate when the occasion calls for it.

Here is an important screenwriting tip that people tend to neglect…

Learn to take script notes with grace .

Screenwriter Note Mistakes | Film Courage

People will give you bad notes, good notes, rude notes, sycophantic notes, useless notes, and notes that completely transform your ideas.

If you have a trustworthy writing group, most of the notes you will get will be, at the very least, honest. Regardless, you will want to develop the ability to listen to notes carefully, and write them down for later use.

Don’t interrupt notes to explain things, don’t get offended if someone doesn’t understand something, don’t trip out over an opinion.

Just listen, write them down, and then come back when you’re ready to look at your script with a calm, collected demeanor.

Check out this post on screenplay notes:

• How Script Notes Can Improve Your Screenplay →

Ch 4   ➤   Commit To Your Career    ➤   Rewrite Scripts

5. rewrite your scripts.

You have scripts you wrote a month ago, or maybe ever years ago. The ideas were always solid, because you know what makes a good story.

Look to add things to your story that support the medium of film:

Match Cuts | StudioBinder

Now you have new information, new notes, new techniques that you’ve learned. Go apply them to the script you have already written.

Screenwriters don’t make a living with first drafts…

They make a living with rewrites .

Ch 4   ➤   Commit To Your Career    ➤   Career Mentors

6. find career mentors.

If you’ve worked a few jobs in the entertainment industry or went to film school, you will probably know at least one person with a successful career in film production. Offer to take them out to dinner or drinks.

Show them that you’re interested. Don’t ask for favors...

Ask them questions. Ask about their scripts or their projects . Listen to their stories, chat about film, have some opinions, but mostly just listen .

Listening is the most powerful tool for a career screenwriter.

Ch 4   ➤   Commit To Your Career    ➤   Stay Informed

7. stay industry informed.

This is one of those steps that some people really love, and others could do without. This comes down to strategy, but knowledge is never bad.

A big part of the entertainment industry is ‘the game’. When you go to bars, parties, festivals, or dinners you will want to know a bit about the production companies and studios. You will want to know important names, and faces. You will want to stay informed.

Some of this will help you with your personal relationships.

Some of this will make you a stronger screenwriter.

Check out all of these posts on staying informed:

• 12 Best Screenwriting Websites →
• Teleplay vs Screenplay vs Script →
• The 75 Best Movie Tagline Examples →

Ch 4   ➤   Commit To Your Career    ➤   Network

8. never eat alone.

Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi is basically a self-help book on steroids that explains strategies and tips for professional relationships.

The book is titled, Never Eat Alone because its core message is that you should focus on building strong personal relationships at all times.

Keith Ferazzi | Never Eat Alone

The reason that so many whack movies and shows are produced every year is because people with very little shame and perspective also happen to be the most extroverted, and this leads to taking chances.

They build personal relationships rather than hone their craft, so what you get is a professionally made film that has a terrible story.

Be a craftsman who also accrues social skills. Split the difference.

Put Yourself Out There

Ch 5   ➤   put yourself out there    ➤   screenwriting contests, 1. submit to screenwriting contests.

Alright, we’re in the final rounds of how to become a screenwriter.

Maybe you’ve taken one or two on the chin. Maybe you’re down a few points. Start swinging dawg! How do you go about this?

Submit to The Blacklist

The Blacklist is a list of the best unproduced scripts. You can host your script on their website for around $25 a month, and pay for professional readers to review your script and give them a numerical rating.

If you get enough good ratings, your script will go up on The Blacklist.

Submit to Fellowships

Fellowships are screenwriting programs that networks and studios created to find talented writers to groom for later years.

These are highly competitive, and most require you to have an original spec script, two sample spec scripts, and a few recommendation letters.

Submit to Contests & Festivals

Screenwriting contests and festivals are often judged by agents, producers, and other professionals in the world of filmmaking.

Most have an entry fee, so my advice to you would be to research the scripts that won in the previous years.

If you wrote a romantic comedy, and the contest you want to enter gave last year’s first prize to a sci-fi thriller, you may want to submit elsewhere. Need a list of screenwriting contests?

Check out this post on screenwriting contests:

• 12 Best Screenwriting Contests →

Ch 5   ➤   Put Yourself Out There    ➤   Submit Scripts

2. send your script out strategically.

If you think your script is ready to be seen by actors, directors, producers, and others in the entertainment industry — send it out.

Avoid gimmicks or long emails asking for a chance or a break.

One way is to find production companies that accept unsolicited material, meaning you don’t need a reference to send your script.

How to Get a Script Read

The biggest companies and agencies don’t accept unsolicited material, partly for legal reasons, but also because they would be inundated with a tsunami of bad scripts and screenwriters looking for a ‘break’.

There is will power. There is hard work. There is even nepotism.

There is no such thing as a ‘break’ in screenwriting.

Breaks are for Kit-Kat bars.

Ch 5   ➤   Put Yourself Out There    ➤   Agents and Managers

3. secure an agent and manager.

You may be wondering why this step didn’t come earlier.

Agents are helpful for professional screenwriters, but until you have a script with momentum and some established value inside the entertainment industry  — they won’t be able to help you all that much.

When submitting, you will also want to prepare a submission release form that, if you can, is looked at by an attorney. Protect yourself and others legally with well prepared documents that can be enforceable.

Submitting a Screenplay

They have two dozen writers to worry about, whereas you only have yourself to worry about. Don’t be the person who thinks that all you need is a good rep for your life to change, because that is not the answer.

Make some short films. Write screenplays. Make a manager come to you.

You can send screenplays to managers that accept unsolicited material, and even send to ones that you’re unsure about — but the most powerful tool to finding a working talent rep is by having established momentum.

Ch 5   ➤   Put Yourself Out There    ➤   Sell a Screenplay

4. how to sell a screenplay.

We’ve made it to the final step of this guide, and by far the most vexing.

Fact is that people sell screenplays all the time, and some will even sell dozens of screenplays across their careers… maybe even hundreds.

The best path to green-light a script is to attach a name. This could be an actor, or a director, or even a social media influencer. Try to build a unique aura around your script, and make it more marketable.

Writing a Marketable Screenplay

You want to sell your screenplay right?

It is fair to assume you want ‘money people’ to buy or finance your story, so start speaking their language. The language of markets and finances.

You don’t have to become a banker, but try to find why your script will make money for the investors, and really lean on that point.

How to Pitch a TV Idea | StudioBinder

Even if you get someone to attach their name to a project, and then they drop out, that means you were able to generate momentum.

If you have a manager or agent, bring them your marketing ideas.

Tag team the script selling process.

Free Screenwriting Software

Thanks for reading this guide on how to become a screenwriter. Scripts written in screenwriting software with professional script formatting shouldn’t be an obstacle. So check out our FREE screenwriting software.

Up Next: StudioBinder’s FREE Screenwriting Software →

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22 comments

Oh damn was that long! (in the best way possible)

So comprehensive, descriptive and witty but not tiring!

Lastly, the probably 100+ links to other articales re greatly appreciated!!

Excellent article. One of the best out there ! I am going to start my script writing journey and your article is of great help!

Oh my goodness! This quite amazing! I felt like I was already in a theater lecture hall will reading through! Thanks a lot! Its so educative.

Thank you thank you and thank you from Nigeria

Thank you so much. This was very descriptive and easy to read.

Wow , so helpful, have learnt lots here Thanks alot

I would like to know how to push my movie scripts, I have 11.

This is awesome! I feel like I just took a masterclass.

This is awesome! I feel like I just took a Masterclass!

Thank alot ,this will be a good way to kick off my career

Thank you Studio Binder and S C Lannon. I have just started writing scripts with no training at all. I am busy working on two scripts. I must say this was very informative and will definitely help me complete the scripts much quicker than I anticipated. Romi Subchintuk from South Africa.

Good evening

My name is Bonolo from South Africa and i would like to learn how to write screenplays and make my own movies

Wow! This is not just an article. I feel like someone owes me a degree for reading this article. And please can you help me to understand how I can download the Studio binder software? I have tried all I know. This is Ojonugwa from Nigeria

Thanks, God bless you all, great information, i never expected it to be free.

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Syd Field’s supportively whispered in my ear as I wrote. I’m old school. I Keep it close. Thank you for your inspiration.

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Very helpful information , particularly for the beginners. Thank you very much for taking the pain to write in simple words and for providing links. Highly grateful JJN

We a very appreciative thank you very much for passing us through this wonderful process we a benefit so much

This a great post for who want to become screenwriters

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How To Make Money On Social Media in 2024

Updated: May 20, 2024, 6:18am

Table of Contents

What is social media monetization, who makes money on social media, why making money on social media is important, 8 strategies to monetize social media, 5 mistakes to avoid when monetizing social media, bottom line, frequently asked questions (faqs).

Social media is no longer just about connecting with friends. In today’s digital landscape where the average person spends two hours daily on social media, these platforms have evolved beyond mere networking spaces into powerful avenues for monetization. We will explore how to make money on social media for both individuals and businesses. From leveraging influencer marketing to exploring affiliate programs, we’ll guide you through effective strategies to transform your social media presence into a lucrative venture.

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Are you one of those people who have asked yourself, “How do I make money on social media?” The answer is social media monetization. Social media monetization refers to the methods individuals and businesses use to generate income from their presence on social platforms. This growing trend enables creators to establish sustainable income streams through various means, such as brand collaborations, sponsored content and advertising. When executed properly, these strategies can transform a creator’s online influence into tangible earnings.

A wide array of people and businesses can use their social media platforms to generate income. This includes content creators, influencers, affiliate marketers and small-scale businesses who all leverage their digital influence to run ads, endorse products, collaborate with brands and sell goods online.

Influencers

A social media influencer is an individual who has gained credibility, popularity and reach on social media platforms. Many have amassed a huge number of followers in order to make money by sharing branded content with them. Think the Kardashians, Addison Rae and Selena Gomez. Influencers often have a niche and connect with their substantial following through their content.

With an impressive 400 million Instagram followers, Kylie Jenner has made a staggering $983,100 from just one sponsored post. However, earning from sponsored content isn’t limited to those with millions of followers. A class of content creators known as micro-influencers, who have between 1,000 and 10,000 followers, can also turn a profit through brand partnerships and sponsored content. Micro-influencers can make between $100 and $500 per sponsored post.

Affiliate Marketers

Affiliate marketers have tapped into the potential of social media platforms as lucrative avenues for generating income. The process works by promoting specific products or services through engaging posts, in-depth reviews and compelling narratives. These marketers typically embed an affiliate link into their content and then earn commissions from sales made through unique referral codes or links.

This approach capitalizes on the marketer’s follower base and requires an understanding of one’s audience. Successful conversions come from knowing the best strategies that align with the brand’s value proposition. The use of analytics tools embedded in most social media platforms can enhance the effectiveness of affiliate marketing.

Content creators can monetize their social media presence through various strategies. Affiliate marketing is a lucrative approach where creators earn commissions by promoting products through unique affiliate links. They can also cultivate brand sponsorships to leverage their following for product endorsements or sell products and services directly to their followers. Another way is to build a paid membership program on platforms such as Patreon and YouTube where paid subscribers can access exclusive content.

Small Businesses

Small businesses have found numerous ways to leverage social media platforms in order to generate income such as advertising products or services, engaging directly with customers and increasing brand awareness. Not only can businesses use social media to advertise their products, but they can also sell their products directly to their customers through their social media feeds. Platforms including X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest all allow businesses to sell products directly to consumers.

Social media platforms have revolutionized small business marketing by offering low-cost avenues for businesses to market themselves. Social media platforms offer a cost-effective and efficient way to reach a wide audience, which is essential for businesses with limited marketing budgets. In addition to low-cost marketing, social media also helps small businesses increase brand awareness, communicate directly with customers to better understand their needs and drive traffic to their website. Platforms such as Instagram, X and Facebook offer analytics and metrics to help businesses better understand their audience in order to tailor their offerings to meet customer needs more effectively.

Small businesses can also increase their revenue streams beyond traditional methods by monetizing their social media platforms. Businesses can earn money from a large customer base by using tactics such as sponsored content, affiliate marketing and selling products directly through social media channels. This modern approach to revenue generation opens up new avenues for growth in the digital marketplace that are not limited by the geographical location of a brick-and-mortar store.

1. Define Your Niche

Defining a niche is a crucial strategy in monetizing social media because it helps create a focused community. By choosing a specific target demographic, you can cultivate a group of followers who are genuinely interested in your content. This approach is more effective than chasing vanity metrics such as follower count. A smaller audience that is united by a single interest is more valuable than a large, diverse audience with a range of interests.

2. Optimize Social Media Profiles

Ways to optimize your social media profiles include using relevant profile photos, ensuring your niche service is clearly communicated and regularly posting content that addresses your audience’s specific needs. New profiles might want to build page content before focusing on growth. Make sure to continuously monitor engagement levels to learn what resonates with your audience and what the most optimal times to post are.

3. Create Engaging Content

Establish yourself as an expert in your niche by creating and sharing high-quality content. To help balance the content you share, try following the 60/30/10 rule. Make sure 60% of your content is engaging material related to your niche such as educational, conversational or entertaining posts. About 30% of your content should be relevant industry news and content from non-competitive businesses. Reserve 10% for sales-focused content in order to avoid overwhelming your audience with promotions.

4. Create Sponsored Posts or Videos

Promoting products is one of the most common ways social media influencers make money online. They work with specific brands to integrate sponsored content into their social media platforms in order to promote the products to their followers. This includes sharing images, videos or testimonials with engaging narratives about the items being promoted.

Consider pitching a brand or company directly to see if they’d like to work with you. Or, look to programs run by social media sites themselves, such as Instagram’s Creator Marketplace , which can pair you up with brands.

5. Use Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is another way to monetize your social media by selling other people’s products. Content creators can share an affiliate link or code, then earn a commission each time a follower purchases the promoted product. For effective monetization, it’s important to choose partners that are relevant to your niche and select products that genuinely align with the needs of your audience. Common affiliate marketing programs include Amazon, ShareASale, CJ Affiliate and Awin.

6. Create and Sell Online Courses

Creating courses is an increasingly popular method for monetizing social media. Individuals with expertise in a particular field can design and sell online courses. They can leverage their social media presence in order to attract potential learners. Platforms such as Udemy, Teachable or Skillshare allow creators to sell their courses to a global audience.

Creators can share insights, tutorials and educational content in their niche on social media before directing followers to their paid courses. This approach can generate income, enhance personal branding and increase audience engagement.

7. Create and Sell Digital Products

Creating digital products is a lucrative way to monetize social media by packaging your expertise into valuable resources. Consider, for example, a fitness trainer with a wealth of knowledge in creating workout plans. This expertise can be transformed into digital products such as downloadable fitness regimens catered to the specific fitness goals of different audiences.

While individual digital products may not generate as much immediate revenue as full-fledged courses, they can serve as a steady source of passive income over time. You create them once and update them as needed, and they continue to earn money. You can offer these digital products in conjunction with courses or as stand-alone items.

8. Host an Event

Hosting events is another viable way to monetize a social media presence. The events can be either in-person or online. By organizing exclusive workshops, live streams or virtual gatherings, creators can generate income through ticket sales, subscriptions or donations from their audience. These events can provide additional value to followers, foster connections in the community you are creating and become a sustainable source of revenue.

Successfully monetizing social media requires careful navigation to avoid common pitfalls. Understanding these frequent errors not only enhances your strategy’s effectiveness but can also help sustain your social media presence in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

• One-Size-Fits-All Approach: Different social media channels attract different audiences. Posting the same type of content across all platforms can fail to engage effectively. Tailor content to suit each platform’s unique audience for better brand perception​​.
• Not Knowing Your Audience: It’s crucial to understand your audience’s preferences so you know how to create content that resonates with your audience. One way to do this is to use social media analytic tools to gain insights into your audience’s interests and behaviors.
• Over-Posting: Excessive posting can overwhelm your audience. When it comes to posting content, focus on quality over quantity.
• Failing To Practice Ethical Advertising: Ethical advertising that emphasizes honesty, transparency and respect for consumers is key in social media marketing. Using clear disclosure methods for sponsored content and avoiding misleading content will help maintain consumer trust.
• Being Too Sales-Focused: Overly aggressive sales pitches can turn off potential customers. Instead, focus on building relationships with your audience. Authentic storytelling is more engaging than hard selling​.

Social media has proven itself as a reliable platform for generating income. While we might not all be Kylie Jenner, individual creators have proved it is possible to make a hefty income from sponsored posts, affiliate links and online sales. Monetizing one social media stream is not a get-rich-quick scheme. It takes patience to grow and understand an audience, but it can be worth it for individuals who want to make money online.

Which social media platform is best for earning money?

Determining the best social media platform for earning money depends on your content and target audience. That said, a study by Epidemic Sound showed—according to the content creators they surveyed—that TikTok came out as the number one platform for generating income, followed by YouTube. Facebook, X and Instagram all came in at the bottom of the survey.

Does TikTok pay me?

Yes, TikTok offers a TikTok Creator Fund that pays creators for their content based on views and engagement. Creators must have 10,000 authentic followers and at least 100,000 authentic video views in the past 30 days to qualify. Creators can earn between 2 cents and 4 cents per 1,000 views on a post through this program.

How much does Instagram pay for 1,000 views?

Instagram doesn’t directly pay users for views, but creators can earn income indirectly. Brands can pay influencers to create content promoting their products or services. There is no set price point for 1,000 views. However, depending on factors including engagement rates, audience demographics and quality of content, influencers can expect an amount between 1 cent and 5 cents per 1,000 views.

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Jennifer Simonson draws on two decades as a journalist covering everything from local economic developement to small business marketing. Beyond writing, she tested entrepreneurial waters by launching a mobile massage service, a content marketing firm and an e-commerce venture. These experiences enriched her understanding of small business management and marketing strategies. Today, she channels this first-hand knowledge into her articles for Forbes Advisor.

Money latest: Britons choose tea over alcohol - but experts say we should treat a morning brew like glass of wine

It's International Tea Day - and we have expert tips on making your brew better. Read this and the rest of today's consumer and personal finance news - and leave a comment - below.

Tuesday 21 May 2024 09:15, UK

• Britons should treat tea more like wine, expert says - as some secrets of improving flavour revealed
• Travel sites with highest percentage of scam-related reviews - with Airbnb top
• Grocery inflation at lowest level since October 2021, industry data suggests
• Two big moments this week - here's what's happening 

Essential reads

• Money Problem : 'My second-hand Ford is being written off with a known issue - but no one is taking responsibility'
• How to sell your home without an estate agent
• Basically... What is the FTSE
• Basically... What is PIP - and what could government changes mean?
• Best of the Money blog - an archive

Ask a question or make a comment

By James Sillars , business reporter 

Grocery inflation has eased to its lowest level since October 2021, according to industry data released before official figures tipped to show a big dent in the overall pace of price increases in the economy.

Kantar Worldpanel - which tracks supermarket till prices, sales and market share - said its measure of grocery inflation slowed to 2.4% in the four weeks to 12 May from 3.2% the previous month.

The measure showed there is still upward pressure on the cost of items such as chilled fruit juices, drinks, sugar confectionery and chocolate confectionery - the latter a consequence of poor cocoa harvests.

Prices were still falling fastest in toilet tissues, butter and milk, the report said. It has previously pointed to wider assistance in falling costs from a price war among supermarkets.

Fraser McKevitt, Kantar's head of retail and consumer insight, said: "Grocery price inflation is gradually returning to what we would consider more normal levels. It's now sitting only 0.8 percentage points higher than the 10-year average of 1.6% between 2012 and 2021, which is just before prices began to climb.

"However, after nearly two and a half years of rapidly rising prices, it could take a bit longer for shoppers to unwind the habits they have learnt to help them manage the cost of living crisis."

Read more on this story below ...

Airbnb has the highest percentage of scam-related reviews, according to new data.

8.5% of comments left on the holiday-let site warned about scams, travel payment website PayFasto said.

Trivago came in second with 7.5%, Hotels.com third with 6.5%,  Myholidays in fourth with 6.1% and Booking.com fifth with 5.8%.

PayFasto says it is essential to do your research before booking a holiday online.

"Sometimes, if a deal looks way too good to be true, it often is," the company said. 

"Make sure you do research on the site and make sure they have legitimate ways to contact them if you were in the position where you needed to. If the site has no contact options, then this is certainly a red flag. "

It also warned holiday-goers to look for the ATOL (Air Travel Organisers' Licensing) scheme on websites, which guarantees customers protection separate from insurance when booking a package holiday that includes a flight. 

Sky News has contacted Airbnb for comment.

Basically, the FTSE (short for Financial Times Stock Exchange) is an index of the 100 largest companies by market capitalisation listed on the London Stock Exchange.

The index, operated by a division of the London Stock Exchange Group, is often referred to by its nickname "Footsie" and was created in 1984.

Among the companies in it are BP, HSBC, Barclays, Glencore and AstraZeneca.

Figures are reviewed every quarter. At each review some companies will exit and others will enter. Promotion and relegation, just like in league football for example, depends on performance.

The value figure presented in the evening is the closing value of the FTSE 100 for that day - representing the combined value of the top 100 companies.

How to invest in FTSE 100

You can buy individual shares of FTSE 100 companies via a share dealing platform.

There is stamp duty of 0.5% to pay on UK share purchases.

Once you've bought shares, you will need to keep track of the markets. If the shares you buy go up in value, you'll make a profit when you sell them subject to any fees.

Losses are only crystallised if you sell below the purchase price.

Tracker funds (open-ended investment companies or exchange-traded funds) provide the easiest way of investing in the FTSE 100.

Trading hours are Monday to Friday from 8am- 4.30pm.

You may have read about the FTSE reaching record highs in recent weeks - but the London-based index is actually a relative laggard this year compared with rivals in the US, Japan and Germany.

Membership arguably doesn't hold the prestige it once did - and an increasing number of major companies are citing the fact they could be valued higher as a reason for snubbing London.

Shell last month indicted it could abandon the city for New York for this reason.

Is it the top British companies?

The index is chock-full of companies that have little or nothing to do with the UK - such as Fresnillo, a Mexican gold and silver miner; Antofagasta, a Chilean copper and gold miner; and Ashtead Group, a plant and tool hire company which derives £90 in every £100 it earns from the US.

Even companies thought of as British, such as BP, Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, Shell and Diageo, the world's biggest scotch whisky and tequila producer, derive the vast majority of their earnings outside the UK. In fact, of the 20 biggest companies in the Footsie, only one - the Lloyds Banking Group - can be said to make most of its income in the UK.

For a better gauge of how corporate Britain is doing, investors are better off looking at the FTSE 250, the next biggest 250 listed companies on the London Stock Exchange and home to household names such as Bellway, Games Workshop and ITV.

Read other entries in our Basically... series:

Britons will, on average, pay £182.40 more a year for broadband and £94.80 for mobile after last month's hikes, according to research by Uswitch.

Price hikes in April mean monthly broadband bills have increased by an average £15.20 and mobile bills by £7.90, with customers who have stayed with their provider for more than five years being hit hardest. 

Mobile customers across both pay-monthly and SIM only contracts who have stayed with their provider for eight to nine years paid an extra £13.20 on their mobile bill last month - a huge rise in comparison with the national average price increase of £7.90, Uswitch reports.

Those who switched their provider less than one year ago were the best off, with their increases averaging out at £6.70.

Similarly, broadband customers who stayed with their provider for seven to eight years paid an extra £22.10 this month - significantly more than the national average price rise of £15.20.

Those who switched less than one year ago paid 23% lower than the national average.

This Uswitch chart illustrates the numbers...

"Customers seeing these price rises can still take action," says Sabrina Hoque, telecoms expert at Uswitch.

"Your provider will let you know when your contract is about to end, so don't be tempted to ignore these emails when they come through. Run a comparison or ring your provider up and negotiate a better deal."

We are a nation of tea drinkers – we drink around 100 million cups a day and 70% of us say we'd choose tea over alcohol.

But, on International Tea Day, experts have told Sky News that Britons should be treating tea more like wine.

One key thing not enough of us are doing is checking the back of the packet to see which country our tea is coming from.

Tea is grown in more than 60 countries, with the UK getting most of its supply from East Africa. All tea comes from the same plant – the Camellia sinensis – but where it is grown can really affect its flavour.

Let us know your tea tips, or how you make yours, in the comments section

"The black tea that we tend to drink here are blends, so you could have tea from seven different origins in one bag," the chief executive of the UK Tea and Infusions Association, Dr Sharon Hall, told the Money blog.

"You might have Kenyan tea in there for that really good colour but you might also have teas from Assam in there to give it that really malty flavour which we as consumers love in the UK.

"Depending on where that tea bush is grown, whether it's up high in the Himalayas or down low, the tea leaves off that will really have a different flavour profile. It's just like wines," she added.

If you look on the packet, it should tell you the origins of the tea you are consuming.

According to the Teabackyard website , the following regions have these flavour profiles...

Assam . Assam tea grows in tropical lowlands in the Assam region in India, near the Brahmaputra River. This produces a malty, chocolatey flavour. 

Ceylon . Ceylon tea is cultivated in Sri Lanka. Some tea plants are grown at up to 6,000 feet. The flavour is said to be spicy, chocolatey, and citrusy.

Kenyan . Kenya's black tea plants grow in lush green plantations located in lowland regions. This tea is often used in tea blends to provide a robust base because it is strong and full-bodied. It is a tea that almost needs milk to tame down its "bite".

Keemun . Keemun tea is grown only in the Anhui province of China. Some in China claim this was the first breakfast tea - and it is now used in tea blends too. It is a lighter-bodied black tea with a more delicate taste and isn't usually used as a base tea. Hints of smoky maltiness come through in flavour, with a subtle floral aroma.

Two teabags?

Dr Hall said two teabags was quite typical of the UK's habits, with the majority of Britons preferring a strong brew.

Despite this, data from the UKTIA shows only 7% of people brew their tea for the optimal 3-4 minutes suggested by many black tea brands, and nearly a fifth only leave the bag in for less than a minute.

Dr Hall insists tea hasn't become weaker, so if you are using two tea bags, it might be time to check the packet to see what your recommended brew time is and giving that a go to get the "optimal flavour". 

"Really in terms of the flavour you get out of those blends, they are very brand specific, like a stronger black tea you might find a brand that delivers that. But in terms of strength, that is really to do with brew time and how you prepare your tea," she explained,

She said that for green tea, she might brew the bag for slightly less time, but she likes to leave her black tea for a good five minutes.

If you are still struggling to make the perfect cup of tea, Dr Hall suggests a key ingredient could be how you boil your water.

One element that she emphasised in particular is using a "smart boil" system to make your tea – basically, measure out the amount of water you need and only boil that amount.

Not only does it save you money, it also means there is more oxygen in your water which "excites the flavours out of the leaves", meaning it could help to make your tea more flavourful, she said.

Your favourite mug, adding the milk after the water, and taking five minutes to relax are also key, she said.

UKTIA has released its latest UK "tea census" today - here are some of the key findings:

• 70% of Britons are choosing tea over booze;
• The age group most likely to choose a cuppa over alcohol are 30-44-year-olds (81%);
• 18-29-year-olds are more likely (72%) than 45-59-year-olds (64%) to pass up alcohol in favour of tea;
• Sweet biscuits are the most popular snack pairing (48%), followed by a chocolate biscuit, cake, a sandwich and chocolate;
• Britons' preferred types of tea are black tea (84%), green tea (60%), peppermint (46%), ginger (43%), chamomile (37%), lemon balm (22%) and spearmint (20%);
• Around 40% of people say putting on the kettle helps to encourage someone to open up, according to the UKTIA.

HMRC is reportedly using AI to recruit staff , with some not speaking to a human until their first day.

The hiring process for some junior roles - including customer service adviser - are being done virtually with candidates asked to send a CV and 1,000-word statement to an email address and then answer six questions from a pre-recorded video, according to The Sunday Times .

One current HMRC employee who went through the process told the newspaper it was "so daft and the questions themselves were waffle".

HMRC said that for entry-level roles, recruitment processes were automated to manage the higher level of applicants it received.

Ryanair has reported another year of record profits and passenger numbers.

At the same time, the average fare at the airline, which is Europe's largest by passenger numbers, was 21% more expensive than 12 months earlier, its annual results showed.

But the company suggested a cut in ticket prices could be on the way after this summer when prices will either be the same or more expensive than last year.

Annual profits reached €1.92bn (£1.64bn), surpassing the previous record of €1.45bn (£1.26bn) made in the year ending March 2018.

Read the full story here ...

Business flights to and from the UK have decreased by nearly a third  since the COVID pandemic.

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and examined by the New Economics Foundation found there were 29%  fewer trips in 2023 than in 2019.

In total, businesses shelled out around £2.9bn less on air travel in 2023, a 22% decrease from four years earlier, according to City AM.

"Business use of air travel peaked in 2007 and has fallen further since the pandemic. Today, growth causes major damage to our climate while benefiting only a tiny group of airport owners and wealthy frequent flyers," Alex Chapman, senior economist at the New Economics Foundation, told the newspaper.

The number of 56-65 year olds looking to buy their first home has grown by 13% in the first quarter of this year.

The average age of a first-time buyer is 33 - but 2.2% are now in the 56-65 age bracket.

This compares with 44.8% aged 18-30 and 35.6% aged 31-40, according to data from Legal & General.

Further analysis found the average loan searched for at the end of 2023 and beginning of 2024 increased by 3.7% from £214,299 to £222,148, pointing to the fact buyers can afford larger loan values due to inflation dropping and monthly earning increasing.

Kevin Roberts, Legal & General Mortgage Services managing director, said: "Our figures show that the desire to own a home remains strong, even for those who are waiting longer to take those first steps onto the property ladder. 

"As affordability begins to ease, we'll likely see further activity in the first-time buyer market, especially if inflation continues to fall and the Bank of England reduces its base rate later in the year." 

BT Group has pushed back its timetable for moving all customers off the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and onto digital landlines.

New digital landlines provide services using the internet and will replace 40-year-old analogue landline technology that has become increasingly fragile and difficult to fix.

It aims to allow all UK telecoms companies to offer consumers and businesses clearer and better quality phone calls, as well as new features such as anonymous caller rejection or three-way calling, according to the Gov.uk website.

When is the switch happening?

BT now says the switch is happening in stages.

From this summer, customers who have not used their landline in the last 12 months, who do not identify as vulnerable or have additional needs, have not contacted an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) in the last 24 months and live in an area where a data sharing agreement is in place, will be switched - unless they have opted out.

Vulnerable customers or those with additional needs will start to be switched from summer 2025 with the aim to have all customers moved off the old analogue PSTN by the end of January 2027.

Howard Watson, chief security and networks officer at BT Group, said: "Managing customer migrations from analogue to digital as quickly and smoothly as possible, while making the necessary provisions for those customers with additional needs, including telecare users, is critically important.

"We need all local authorities and telecare providers to share with us the phone lines where they know there's a telecare user."

Young twin sisters have gone viral on TikTok after fuming over the prices charged by an ice cream man. 

In a video posted on the social media site, Marnie and Mylah rant after being quoted £9 for two ice creams. 

"There's an ice cream van there selling two ice creams with two chewing gums in it for bloody £9," one of the twins says. 

She adds that the ice cream van who visits her street usually charges between £1 and £2 for an ice cream. 

"He's going to get nowhere with that," she says. 

To make the situation even worse, she's outraged that he only accepts "bloody card". 

"Bloody hell. It's bloody well bad," she says. 

The average price of a 450ml - 1 litre tub of ice cream is currently £3.39 - up 6.3% since last year, the latest data from the Office for National Statistics show. 

The ice cream van industry has been plagued with difficulties, from rising running costs and rubbish weather. 

According to the Ice Cream Alliance, the market is worth a huge £1.4bn. 

Sky News contacted the ICA, the industry's trade association, for comment. 

A popular music magazine has been closed down just months after being relaunched online. 

Q, which originally closed after 34 years in 2020, was revived as an online publication nearly six months ago after a licensing deal was struck by New-York based Empire Media Group. 

But its surprise closure, which came to light on Friday, means a team of six full-time staff have lost their jobs.

Writer Will Harris is one of them, saying he'd lost his "first full-time employment in a dozen years".

Writing on Substack , he said the move had been a "business decision" but that staff had been working long hours to "make it the best publication" possible. 

"We worked our shifts, worked before and after our shifts, and delivered consistently top-shelf content that was, to our way of thinking, exactly the sort of thing that a new incarnation of Q Magazine should offer," he wrote. 

Editor-in-chief Andrew Barker said the decision to shut the magazine down "came with no advance warning, and no indication that anything was wrong". 

"To say that we were shocked and devastated would be a colossal understatement." 

Sky News has contacted Empire Media Group for comment. 

Separately, last week saw the return of a 90s lads mag Loaded.

The magazine relaunched its website after disappearing nine years ago, offering a £9 monthly membership. 

As part of its revival, it has changed its tagline from "for men who should know better" to "for men who know better". 

"The relaunch of the platform is a digital rebellion for the modern man who refuses to fit into a stereotype, from the finest in music, sports, film, and anything else that is of interest," it said in a statement. 

"Loaded is about building a space where men challenge each other, celebrate wins, and tackle all that matters to them." 

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The Possible Collapse of the U.S. Home Insurance System

A times investigation found climate change may now be a concern for every homeowner in the country..

This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and email [email protected] with any questions.

From “The New York Times,” I’m Sabrina Tavernise. And this is “The Daily.”

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Today, my colleague, Christopher Flavelle, on a “Times” investigation into one of the least known and most consequential effects of climate change — insurance — and why it may now be a concern for every homeowner in the country.

It’s Wednesday, May 15.

So, Chris, you and I talked a while ago about how climate change was really wreaking havoc in the insurance market in Florida. You’ve just done an investigation that takes a look into the insurance markets more broadly and more deeply. Tell us about it.

Yeah, so I cover climate change, in particular the way climate shocks affect different parts of American life. And insurance has become a really big part of that coverage. And Florida is a great example. As hurricanes have gotten worse and more frequent, insurers are paying out more and more money to rebuild people’s homes. And that’s driving up insurance costs and ultimately driving up the cost of owning a home in Florida.

So we’re already seeing that climate impact on the housing market in Florida. My colleagues and I started to think, well, could it be that that kind of disruption is also happening in other states, not just in the obvious coastal states but maybe even through the middle of the US? So we set out to find out just how much it is happening, how much that Florida turmoil has, in fact, become really a contagion that is spreading across the country.

So how did you go about reporting this? I mean, where did you start?

All we knew at the start of this was that there was reason to think this might be a problem. If you just look at how the federal government tracks disasters around the country, there’s been a big increase almost every year in the number and severity of all kinds of disasters around the country. So we thought, OK, it’s worth trying to find out, what does that mean for insurers?

The problem is getting data on the insurance industry is actually really hard. There’s no federal regulation. There’s no government agency you can go to that holds this data. If you talk to the insurers directly, they tend to be a little reluctant to share information about what they’re going through. So we weren’t sure where to go until, finally, we realized the best people to ask are the people whose job it is to gauge the financial health of insurance companies.

Those are rating agencies. In particular, there’s one rating company called AM Best, whose whole purpose is to tell investors how healthy an insurance company is.

Whoa. So this is way down in the nuts and bolts of the US insurance industry.

Right. This is a part of the broader economy that most people would never experience. But we asked them to do something special for us. We said, hey, can you help us find the one number that would tell us reporters just how healthy or unhealthy this insurance market is state by state over time? And it turns out, there is just such a number. It’s called a combined ratio.

OK, plain English?

Plain English, it is the ratio of revenue to costs, how much money these guys take in for homeowner’s insurance and how much they pay out in costs and losses. You want your revenue to be higher than your costs. If not, you’re in trouble.

So what did you find out?

Well, we got that number for every state, going back more than a decade. And what it showed us was our suspicions were right. This market turmoil that we were seeing in Florida and California has indeed been spreading across the country. And in fact, it turns out that in 18 states, last year, the homeowner’s insurance market lost money. And that’s a big jump from 5 or 10 years ago and spells real trouble for insurance and for homeowners and for almost every part of the economy.

So the contagion was real.

Right. This is our first window showing us just how far that contagion had spread. And one of the really striking things about this data was it showed the contagion had spread to places that I wouldn’t have thought of as especially prone to climate shocks — for example, a lot of the Midwest, a lot of the Southeast. In fact, if you think of a map of the country, there was no state between Pennsylvania and the Dakotas that didn’t lose money on homeowner’s insurance last year.

So just huge parts of the middle of the US have become unprofitable for homeowner’s insurance. This market is starting to buckle under the cost of climate change.

And this is all happening really fast. When we did the Florida episode two years ago, it was a completely new phenomenon and really only in Florida. And now it’s everywhere.

Yeah. And that’s exactly what’s so striking here. The rate at which this is becoming, again, a contagion and spreading across the country is just demolishing the expectations of anyone I’ve spoken to. No one thought that this problem would affect so much of the US so quickly.

So in these states, these new places that the contagion has spread to, what exactly is happening that’s causing the insurance companies to fold up shop?

Yeah. Something really particular is happening in a lot of these states. And it’s worth noting how it’s surprised everyone. And what that is, is formally unimportant weather events, like hailstorms or windstorms, those didn’t used to be the kind of thing that would scare insurance companies. Obviously, a big problem if it destroys your home or damages your home. But for insurers, it wasn’t going to wipe them out financially.

Right. It wasn’t just a complete and utter wipeout that the company would then have to pony up a lot of money for.

Exactly. And insurers call them secondary perils, sort of a belittling term, something other than a big deal, like a hurricane.

These minor league weather events.

Right. But those are becoming so frequent and so much more intense that they can cause existential threats for insurance companies. And insurers are now fleeing states not because of hurricanes but because those former things that were small are now big. Hailstorms, wildfires in some places, previous annoyances are becoming real threats to insurers.

Chris, what’s the big picture on what insurers are actually facing? What’s happening out there numbers-wise?

This is a huge threat. In terms of the number of states where this industry is losing money, it’s more than doubled from 10 years ago to basically a third of the country. The amount they’re losing is enormous. In some states, insurers are paying out $1.25 or even $1.50 for every dollar they bring in, in revenue, which is totally unsustainable.

And the result is insurers are making changes. They are pulling back from these markets. They’re hiking premiums. And often, they’re just dropping customers. And that’s where this becomes real, not just for people who surf balance sheets and trade in the stock market. This is becoming real for homeowners around the country, who all of a sudden increasingly can’t get insurance.

So, Chris, what’s the actual implication? I mean, what happens when people in a state can’t get insurance for their homes?

Getting insurance for a home is crucial if you want to sell or buy a home. Most people can’t buy a home without a mortgage. And banks won’t issue a mortgage without home insurance. So if you’ve got a home that insurance company doesn’t want to cover, you got a real problem. You need to find insurance, or that home becomes very close to unsellable.

And as you get fewer buyers, the price goes down. So this doesn’t just hurt people who are paying for these insurance premiums. It hurts people who want to sell their homes. It even could hurt, at some point, whole local economies. If home values fall, governments take in less tax revenue. That means less money for schools and police. It also means people who get hit by disasters and have to rebuild their homes all of a sudden can’t, because their insurance isn’t available anymore. It’s hard to overstate just how big a deal this is.

And is that actually happening, Chris? I mean, are housing markets being dragged down because of this problem with the insurance markets right now?

Anecdotally, we’ve got reports that in places like Florida and Louisiana and maybe in parts of California, the difficulty of getting insurance, the crazy high cost of insurance is starting to depress demand because not everyone can afford to pay these really high costs, even if they have insurance. But what we wanted to focus on with this story was also, OK, we know where this goes eventually. But where is it beginning? What are the places that are just starting to feel these shocks from the insurance market?

And so I called around and asked insurance agents, who are the front lines of this. They’re the ones who are struggling to find insurance for homeowners. And I said, hey, is there one place that I should go if I want to understand what it looks like to homeowners when all of a sudden insurance becomes really expensive or you can’t even find it? And those insurance agents told me, if you want to see what this looks like in real life, go to a little town called Marshalltown in the middle of Iowa.

We’ll be right back.

So, Chris, you went to Marshalltown, Iowa. What did you find?

Even before I got to Marshalltown, I had some idea I was in the right spot. When I landed in Des Moines and went to rent a car, the nice woman at the desk who rented me a car, she said, what are you doing here? I said, I’m here to write a story about people in Iowa who can’t get insurance because of storms. She said, oh, yeah, I know all about that. That’s a big problem here.

Even the rental car lady.

Even the rental car lady knew something was going on. And so I got into my rental car and drove about an hour northeast of Des Moines, through some rolling hills, to this lovely little town of Marshalltown. Marshalltown is a really cute, little Midwestern town with old homes and a beautiful courthouse in the town square. And when I drove through, I couldn’t help noticing all the roofs looked new.

What does that tell you?

Turns out Marshalltown, despite being a pastoral image of Midwestern easy living, was hit by two really bad disasters in recent years — first, a devastating tornado in 2018 and then, in 2020, what’s called a derecho, a straight-line wind event that’s also just enormously damaging. And the result was lots of homes in this small town got severely damaged in a short period of time. And so when you drive down, you see all these new roofs that give you the sense that something’s going on.

So climate had come to Marshalltown?

Exactly. A place that had previously seemed maybe safe from climate change, if there is such a thing, all of a sudden was not. So I found an insurance agent in Marshalltown —

We talked to other agents but haven’t talked to many homeowners.

— named Bobby Shomo. And he invited me to his office early one morning and said, come meet some people. And so I parked on a quiet street outside of his office, across the street from the courthouse, which also had a new roof, and went into his conference room and met a procession of clients who all had versions of the same horror story.

It was more — well more of double.

A huge reduction in coverage with a huge price increase.

Some people had faced big premium hikes.

I’m just a little, small business owner. So every little bit I do feel.

They had so much trouble with their insurance company.

I was with IMT Insurance forever. And then when I moved in 2020, Bobby said they won’t insure a pool.

Some people had gotten dropped.

Where we used to see carriers canceling someone for frequency of three or four or five claims, it’s one or two now.

Some people couldn’t get the coverage they needed. But it was versions of the same tale, which is all of a sudden, having homeowner’s insurance in Marshalltown was really difficult. But I wanted to see if it was bigger than just Marshalltown. So the next day, I got back in my car and drove east to Cedar Rapids, where I met another person having a version of the same problem, a guy named Dave Langston.

Tell me about Dave.

Dave lives in a handsome, modest, little townhouse on a quiet cul-de-sac on a hill at the edge of Cedar Rapids. He’s the president of his homeowners association. There’s 17 homes on this little street. And this is just as far as you could get from a danger zone. It looks as safe as could be. But in January, they got a letter from the company that insures him and his neighbors, saying his policy was being canceled, even though it wasn’t as though they’d just been hit by some giant storm.

So then what was the reason they gave?

They didn’t give a reason. And I think people might not realize, insurers don’t have to give a reason. Insurance policies are year to year. And if your insurance company decides that you’re too much of a risk or your neighborhood is too much of a risk or your state is too much of a risk, they can just leave. They can send you a letter saying, forget it. We’re canceling your insurance. There’s almost no protection people have.

And in this case, the reason was that this insurance company was losing too much money in Iowa and didn’t want to keep on writing homeowner’s insurance in the state. That was the situation that Dave shared with tens of thousands of people across the state that were all getting similar letters.

What made Dave’s situation a little more challenging was that he couldn’t get new insurance. He tried for months through agent after agent after agent. And every company told him the same thing. We won’t cover you. Even though these homes are perfectly safe in a safe part of the state, nobody would say yes. And it took them until basically two days before their insurance policy was going to run out until they finally found new coverage that was far more expensive and far more bare-bones than what they’d had.

But at least it was something.

It was something. But the problem was it wasn’t that good. Under this new policy, if Dave’s street got hit by another big windstorm, the damage from that storm and fixing that damage would wipe out all the savings set aside by these homeowners. The deductible would be crushingly high — $120,000 — to replace those roofs if the worst happened because the insurance money just wouldn’t cover anywhere close to the cost of rebuilding.

He said to me, we didn’t do anything wrong. This is just what insurance looks like today. And today, it’s us in Cedar Rapids. Everyone, though, is going to face a situation like this eventually. And Dave is right. I talked to insurance agents around the country. And they confirmed for me that this kind of a shift towards a new type of insurance, insurance that’s more expensive and doesn’t cover as much and makes it harder to rebuild after a big disaster, it’s becoming more and more common around the country.

So, Chris, if Dave and the people you spoke to in Iowa were really evidence that your hunch was right, that the problem is spreading and rapidly, what are the possible fixes here?

The fix that people seem most hopeful about is this idea that, what if you could reduce the risk and cause there to be less damage in the first place? So what some states are doing is they’re trying to encourage homeowners to spend more money on hardening their home or adding a new roof or, if it’s a wildfire zone, cut back the vegetation, things that can reduce your risk of having really serious losses. And to help pay for that, they’re telling insurers, you’ve got to offer a discount to people who do that.

And everyone who works in this field says, in theory, that’s the right approach. The problem is, number one, hardening a home costs a fantastic amount of money. So doing this at scale is hugely expensive. Number two, it takes a long time to actually get enough homes hardened in this way that you can make a real dent for insurance companies. We’re talking about years or probably decades before that has a real effect, if it ever works.

OK. So that sounds not particularly realistic, given the urgency and the timeline we’re on here. So what else are people looking at?

Option number two is the government gets involved. And instead of most Americans buying home insurance from a private company, they start buying it from government programs that are designed to make sure that people, even in risky places, can still buy insurance. That would be just a gargantuan undertaking. The idea of the government providing homeowner’s insurance because private companies can’t or won’t would lead to one of the biggest government programs that exists, if we could even do it.

So huge change, like the federal government actually trying to write these markets by itself by providing homeowner’s insurance. But is that really feasible?

Well, in some areas, we’re actually already doing it. The government already provides flood insurance because for decades, most private insurers have not wanted to cover flood. It’s too risky. It’s too expensive. But that change, with governments taking over that role, creates a new problem of its own because the government providing flood insurance that you otherwise couldn’t get means people have been building and building in flood-prone areas because they know they can get that guaranteed flood insurance.

Interesting. So that’s a huge new downside. The government would be incentivizing people to move to places that they shouldn’t be.

That’s right. But there’s even one more problem with that approach of using the government to try to solve this problem, which is these costs keep growing. The number of billion-dollar disasters the US experiences every year keeps going up. And at some point, even if the government pays the cost through some sort of subsidized insurance, what happens when that cost is so great that we can no longer afford to pay it? That’s the really hard question that no official can answer.

So that’s pretty doomsday, Chris. Are we looking at the end of insurance?

I think it’s fair to say that we’re looking at the end of insurance as we know it, the end of insurance that means most Americans can rest assured that if they get hit by a disaster, their insurance company will provide enough money they can rebuild. That idea might be going away. And what it shows is maybe the threat of climate change isn’t quite what we thought.

Maybe instead of climate change wrecking communities in the form of a big storm or a wildfire or a flood, maybe even before those things happen, climate change can wreck communities by something as seemingly mundane and even boring as insurance. Maybe the harbinger of doom is not a giant storm but an anodyne letter from your insurance company, saying, we’re sorry to inform you we can no longer cover your home.

Maybe the future of climate change is best seen not by poring over weather data from NOAA but by poring over spreadsheets from rating firms, showing the profitability from insurance companies, and how bit by bit, that money that they’re losing around the country tells its own story. And the story is these shocks are actually already here.

Chris, as always, terrifying to talk to you.

Always a pleasure, Sabrina.

Here’s what else you should know today. On Tuesday, the United Nations has reclassified the number of women and children killed in Gaza, saying that it does not have enough identifying information to know exactly how many of the total dead are women and children. The UN now estimates that about 5,000 women and about 8,000 children have been killed, figures that are about half of what it was previously citing. The UN says the numbers dropped because it is using a more conservative estimate while waiting for information on about 10,000 other dead Gazans who have not yet been identified.

And Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the House, gave a press conference outside the court in Lower Manhattan, where Michael Cohen, the former fixer for Donald Trump, was testifying for a second day, answering questions from Trump’s lawyers. Trump is bound by a gag order. So Johnson joined other stand-ins for the former president to discredit the proceedings. Johnson, one of the most important Republicans in the country, attacked Cohen but also the trial itself, calling it a sham and political theater.

Today’s episode was produced by Nina Feldman, Shannon Lin, and Jessica Cheung. It was edited by MJ Davis Lin, with help from Michael Benoist, contains original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, and Rowan Niemisto, and was engineered by Alyssa Moxley. Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly.

That’s it for “The Daily.” I’m Sabrina Tavernise. See you tomorrow.

• May 20, 2024   •   31:51 Was the 401(k) a Mistake?
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• May 17, 2024   •   51:10 The Campus Protesters Explain Themselves
• May 16, 2024   •   30:47 The Make-or-Break Testimony of Michael Cohen
• May 15, 2024   •   27:03 The Possible Collapse of the U.S. Home Insurance System
• May 14, 2024   •   35:20 Voters Want Change. In Our Poll, They See It in Trump.
• May 13, 2024   •   27:46 How Biden Adopted Trump’s Trade War With China
• May 10, 2024   •   27:42 Stormy Daniels Takes the Stand
• May 9, 2024   •   34:42 One Strongman, One Billion Voters, and the Future of India
• May 8, 2024   •   28:28 A Plan to Remake the Middle East
• May 7, 2024   •   27:43 How Changing Ocean Temperatures Could Upend Life on Earth
• May 6, 2024   •   29:23 R.F.K. Jr.’s Battle to Get on the Ballot

Hosted by Sabrina Tavernise

Featuring Christopher Flavelle

Produced by Nina Feldman ,  Shannon M. Lin and Jessica Cheung

Edited by MJ Davis Lin

With Michael Benoist

Original music by Dan Powell ,  Marion Lozano and Rowan Niemisto

Engineered by Alyssa Moxley

Listen and follow The Daily Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube

Across the United States, more frequent extreme weather is starting to cause the home insurance market to buckle, even for those who have paid their premiums dutifully year after year.

Christopher Flavelle, a climate reporter, discusses a Times investigation into one of the most consequential effects of the changes.

On today’s episode

Christopher Flavelle , a climate change reporter for The New York Times.

Background reading

As American insurers bleed cash from climate shocks , homeowners lose.

See how the home insurance crunch affects the market in each state .

Here are four takeaways from The Times’s investigation.

There are a lot of ways to listen to The Daily. Here’s how.

We aim to make transcripts available the next workday after an episode’s publication. You can find them at the top of the page.

Christopher Flavelle contributed reporting.

The Daily is made by Rachel Quester, Lynsea Garrison, Clare Toeniskoetter, Paige Cowett, Michael Simon Johnson, Brad Fisher, Chris Wood, Jessica Cheung, Stella Tan, Alexandra Leigh Young, Lisa Chow, Eric Krupke, Marc Georges, Luke Vander Ploeg, M.J. Davis Lin, Dan Powell, Sydney Harper, Mike Benoist, Liz O. Baylen, Asthaa Chaturvedi, Rachelle Bonja, Diana Nguyen, Marion Lozano, Corey Schreppel, Rob Szypko, Elisheba Ittoop, Mooj Zadie, Patricia Willens, Rowan Niemisto, Jody Becker, Rikki Novetsky, John Ketchum, Nina Feldman, Will Reid, Carlos Prieto, Ben Calhoun, Susan Lee, Lexie Diao, Mary Wilson, Alex Stern, Dan Farrell, Sophia Lanman, Shannon Lin, Diane Wong, Devon Taylor, Alyssa Moxley, Summer Thomad, Olivia Natt, Daniel Ramirez and Brendan Klinkenberg.

Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly. Special thanks to Sam Dolnick, Paula Szuchman, Lisa Tobin, Larissa Anderson, Julia Simon, Sofia Milan, Mahima Chablani, Elizabeth Davis-Moorer, Jeffrey Miranda, Renan Borelli, Maddy Masiello, Isabella Anderson and Nina Lassam.

Christopher Flavelle is a Times reporter who writes about how the United States is trying to adapt to the effects of climate change. More about Christopher Flavelle

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