Writing for Money

If your goal in writing is to write for money, than you need to tailor your efforts to target the jobs that will pay the most amount of money for the time you are committing. Additionally, you need to determine if you are considering writing for short-term money or a long-term career. Once again, there are ways you can target your job search to accomplish each of these goals.

When I first started writing, I had dreams of being featured in magazines and having books published. Although my goals were realistic in the long-run, I also needed to start making money quickly. I didn't have the luxury of time to dedicate to unsolicited manuscripts, full book proposals, sample articles and query letters. In order to do those things, you need to spent significant amounts of time doing work that may or may not pay out in the future. Being a stay-at-home mom with three girls under the age of two, that was not part of my reality at the time. So, I started looking for less than glamorous writing jobs that paid out quickly.

I started by applying for a writing job with Demand Studios. I was able to make money on a weekly basis writing how-to articles at night while my girls slept. I was able to pick up a handful of ghostwriting jobs, which paid well, but my name was no where on the project. As I had more articles published online, I was able to get additional jobs writing content for other websites. I started writing product descriptions, sales copy, informational articles and company blog posts. These were not the jobs I had in mind when I dreamed of being a writer. However, as it turned out, I was pretty good at writing these types of things, and I was making steady money.

I was writing for money for two years when I finally landed a contract job with a publishing company. I was hired to write a how-to book on resumes and cover letters. I had spent so much time working on informational and how-to articles that I developed a niche for myself. I recently finished my 3rd how-to book with the same publisher, and I have been offered a contract with a 2nd publisher. I am happy with my accomplishments. I am achieving my goals, and I am making money.

I still hope to one day be featured in a magazine, publish this great novel I have had in my head for several years, and write children's books about smart, active and funny little girls. Those are things I can still accomplish, but having yet to accomplish those goals does not lessen what I have accomplished. I read a lot of blogs and websites about freelance writing, authors, bloggers, etc. Sometimes people hold onto the idea that you are not an accomplished writer until you have published that best selling novel or award winning children's book. Other times, I read blogs that hold freelance writers to the "starving artist" image. I disagree with both of these images.

With the economy in the dumps, I have seen more and more online articles and blog posts on ways to make money on the side. More often than not, one of the suggestions will be to offer your services as a freelance writer, start a blog or write an ebook. They fail to mention that writing for money isn't just about writing, but about marketing and targeting your audience. I'm not trying to be discouraging for people interested in making money as a freelance writer. I just don't want people to bang their heads against a wall or become disillusioned with the idea because they didn't find overnight success.