10 great ways writers earn money: How to make money writing columns and as a business writer
92Writing can take you places you never dreamed
There are more ways to earn money writing than you think!
I've supported myself (and my children, when they were younger) as a writer for more years than I care to document here. While many years were spent in traditional print settings, many were not. Here are some ways you can make money from your writing. These ideas have made money for me throughout my career, as well as many of my colleagues in the industry :
1. Newspaper columns: Newspapers are still alive, and while they're transforming themselves to the Internet era, they are filled with, guess what, writing. Many have had cutbacks, though, and have reduced their budgets for freelancers (as well as staff positions). Some columns are written for free, which won't pay your bills, but will get you a byline and exposure. Payment for columns varies with the paper and the market its in. A column in a large city will pay far more than a small, weekly paper in a rural area. But, clips from those columns can move your career forward. Regular staff positions are more rare (and highly competed for, ever since newspaper reporting came to the forefront during the Watergate scandal).
You do not need a journalism degree to write a newspaper column (columnists are usually called stringers), but you'll probably need one to get a staff positions. However, once you've shown you can turn in good-quality work and meet deadlines, you'll get even more assignments. If you write five to ten paid pieces in one week, you can be earning a reasonable income from your work. To start, you'll need to pitch your stories to the editor, but eventually, you can become a regular columnist or can get freelance assignments.
2. Magazines: Interestingly, magazines are gaining momentum in many areas. The Austin American-Statesman recently reported the magazine industry is on the upswing, with new publications coming out in various cities. Breaking in is the trick, though. It can take months to get the editor's attention, but you can do it!
Even more so than newspaper editors, magazine editors want you to pitch an idea to them. I've heard some people worry that their idea will be stolen - well, this might happen now and then, but it's rare with a credible publication. You can protect your idea from those concerns, though, if you pitch an interesting story that hinges on a certain source (a profile or feature about someone in your city who used to be a sword swallower at the circus, for example). The story sounds interesting, and they may want it, but you're the one with the contact to get the interview.
Pay attention to what the magazines publishes each month and gear your pitch to their content. Ask for their "editorial budget" for coming months - this will be the list of themes for upcoming issues. Magazines plan things out up to a year in advance. You can spot themes that give you ideas and plan ahead, then pitch stories to them that fit their plans for each issue. Unlike newspapers, magazines take forever (so it seems) to print your stories and issue payment; deadlines are many weeks before publication, and payment is usually after publication. Magazines can pay anything from a few dollars for a short piece (for small publications) to several hundred or more for a major feature.
Literally thousands of local and regional organizations or publications need writers
Other outlets that need writers
3. Trade Publications: These are the little magazines that focus on specific industries - the Dairy Farmer's Monthly, or Plumbing Today. Don't laugh - these publications often pay quite well, in some cases they pay even better than general interest publications. As with magazines and newspapers, research what they print and send them a pitch.
4. Regional Publications: My neighborhood gets one or two 'regional' papers a month. They're funded entirely through ads, and they come in the mail. The trend lately seems to be the tabloid format (almost a magazine in size, but on newsprint or heavier stock). Because they're printed weekly or monthly, stories have to have a lifespan longer than a newspaper item would have. But unlike magazines, these publications often focus on news. They do hire stringers and columnists, and pay will vary according to the size of the publication, how successful it is, the size of the audience and other factors. Again, it's a byline, and can be a regular paycheck.
5. Government-funded Publications: Sound boring? Not so. Think Texas Highways Magazine or Arizona Highways. Travel magazines are among the more common publications produced by state or local governments, and they pay for good writing as well as good photography, in many cases. Some government publications have had budget cuts, but there are still opportunities in this area. And, once you're in their writers' pool, you'll get even more work as time goes by.
6. Chamber of Commerce Magazines: Every city has one or more chambers of commerce. Why more than one? Often, there will be a Mexican American Chamber of Commerce or another group in your city in addition to the main chamber. They will likely have a monthly or quarterly magazine, and they pay for content.
Freelance PR Writing
7. Newsletters: Small organizations usually don't have the budget for a full-blown magazine, so they produce a monthly or quarterly newsletter that has features and news about the organization and its members. Since smaller organizations have smaller staffs (no surprise), they often don't have the money for a full-time writer, so they hire freelancers to produce content and sometimes layout as well. A bonus in writing for these publications is that they frequently provide you with story ideas - they know interesting things their members are doing, or issues related to membership, so they'll often assign topics to you. Pay can be very good for individual newsletter stories and even better if you contract for the entire content plus layout and design.
8. News Releases: As with small organizations (above), many small businesses or non-profits can't afford a full-time PR staffer. You can make a good income doing their news releases and publicity. It's good to develop the know-how to place the stories, though. You'll need a distribution system and contact information for all the appropriate media in order to do the job thoroughly, although some organizations will have their own distribution sources. Pay for news releases can be quite high - several hundred dollars or more for one piece. News releases need to be written in a certain style, and good PR writers are paid well.
The Big Bucks
While you can indeed earn a good living with the above ideas, you can earn a major income in the fields below. I was able to transform my successful career as a columnist and freelancer for newspapers and magazines into a series of full-time staff positions with increasing responsibilities and increasing paychecks each time I advanced.
9. Public Information: This is not (repeat, not) public relations! Every major government agency needs public information staffers to fend off the media and to present the best side of the story to reporters. This is a very specific skill, and the best training for it is through getting a background in news reporting. If your writing is all-about-you, this isn't the place for you. Writers here need to be understand the reporters they deal with, have good relationships with reporters (I have often mitigated a bad story because the reporter trusted me and knew I wasn't spinning it), and have nerves of steel. The pay, however, can be tremendously high. You will answer media calls, write news releases, do occasional news conferences, be interviewed by reporters (including on TV and radio) and sometimes even deal with national and international outlets.
Public Information differs from public relations and marketing in several ways. In PR, you can hype your story, develop gimmicks - you know, the giveaway coozies and ink pens, the T-shirts, or the cute publicity piece where confetti falls out the minute someone opens the envelope. These things are often illegal in government settings. Government settings rarely have much of a budget for public information, so you learn quickly how to get your story placed for free.
Starting pay for entry-level or non-management positions can be in the $40,000 - $50,000 range (sometimes lower, rarely higher). But once you're established, you can earn six figures or more for senior or management positions. These positions (as with staff positions in print publications) offer full benefits. But unlike most news outlets, many government settings still offer pensions as well as 401k plans.
My years doing this were fun, financially and intellectually rewarding, and as stressful and grueling as being strapped to the front of a jet airplane during take-off and landing. In a hurricane. And I wouldn't trade those years for anything.
10. Corporate Writing: This also includes government writing other than the public information jobs mentioned above. All major organizations (government or private sector, doesn't matter) need good writers. Countless times, I've been pulled into interesting projects simply because I was a writer and could produce good material. You can earn a great income by writing annual reports, business plans (if you learn how to take the organization through the planning process, you'll earn even more), strategic plans and other documents that few others in the organization can produce. Government settings also need those documents, as well as special reports required by the Legislature, Congress or other bodies. As a manager and writer in various state agencies, I've written Legislative Appropriations Requests, Sunset Review Reports, and other major documents. While it's drier writing than doing a blog, it's interesting and builds your credibility and knowledge base. And the pay is very good.
Grant writers are in high demand in tough times
Bonus Tip! Make money for others
Grant Writing: As with corporate writing, this can be very lucrative. I fell into it (or was pushed) because my agency wanted to apply for a grant and they considered me a strong writer. I'd never written a grant before, but flexible writers can adapt to any assignment. And what the heck, they paid my salary. My first grant was for $1 million (and we got it), and since then I've written several others in other settings, some of which were also in the millions. Some organizations need full-time grant writers (the pay is generally good to excellent). But since grants are cyclical (you get the money and it can be a few years before you need to reapply), freelance grant writers are increasingly needed to help non-profits stay afloat. You're paid either a cut of the money (if it's awarded) or for a flat fee upon completing the grant, whether it's successful or not.
Unless you have a great track-record with the exact type of grant application needed, I'd go for the flat fee. You don't want to put spend hours researching the grant's requirements and developing the language and then get nothing for your time. Pay for grant writing is based on the size of the grant and the effort required. Grants can range from a few pages of simple justification to thick documents with attachments and detailed support materials. If you're interested in grant writing, get copies of sample grants from various sources, such as government agencies (which are required to release certain documents). Get a feel for the style of writing, the details that need to be covered and the persuasiveness needed to win the money.
Learn how grants are formatted (many have very detailed requirements for margins and the number of pages), and be absolutely deadline oriented. Grant deadlines are cut in stone; you'll need to get your product written and submitted on time, or nobody gets any money at all.
If you market yourself as a grant writer, ask organizations you contract with whether staff will be providing program information and budget details. You just want to write the grant; you don't want to develop the program they want funded or work out budget details only their finance officer will know.
These are just a few of the places writing has taken me in my career. If I can do it, so can you. If you're writing here on HubPages, you're already developing a track record and bylines. Now, decide where you want to go with your skills!
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Excellent professional advice from an individual who has a passion for writing! THANK YOU! Sincerely, Sparklea :)
Bookmarked! It was news to me to learn that magazines are on the upswing. I'd long thought that the internet and the iPad had relegated them to obscurity and slow extinction...
Thanks for stopping by, Sasha, and thanks for the nice comments! It was news to me, too, that magazines are growing. It will depend on the market where you live (or where you want to write), but they're not dead yet. To our mutual surprise!
Thanks, Sparklea! I hope these ideas help some of our great writers here. I look forward to reading your hubs!
Thanks for the great ideas - the chamber of commerce publications and gov travel guides were ones I hadn't thought of. Excellent hub!
Hi, Christin - thanks for stopping by! There are a ton of government publications out there - many use freelancers, since budgets are tight and they can't justify full-time writers. In addition to chamber publications, try local clubs (sort of a subset of the trade organizations). Good luck - I hope these are helpful!
Your hub contains some good pointers for people looking to earn through writing. Worth checking out. Nice work and thank you for sharing.
Thanks, Debbie! I hope some of these ideas are helpful - best of luck in your writing. I look forward to reading your hubs!
This is so informative. I have learned great pointers here and hopefully will apply them to any future writing endeavors I shall undertake.
Excellent hub, voted UP, USEFUL and INTERESTING. I, too, shall bookmark it to peruse carefully when more time is available. Thanks for sharing these suggestions.
Thanks, gmwilliams - I'm glad you liked it!
Hi, Jaye - thanks for reading and commenting! I love our community here, and I think we all learn by sharing information!
Hi Marcy.Excellent advice.Thanks for compiling this list.
Thanks so much for your kind words, hamzah! I'm glad you enjoyed the piece.
Fabulous springboard detail. Thanks so much for putting this together so well! Voted up.
Such good info Marcy, it's good to know specifics and what's out there for any who are trying to break into freelance writing. You've put a lot of work into this and it's very considerate to share it, thanks.
Thanks, Carter - I appreciate your time in reading and commenting! Let me know what happens as you go forward!
Thanks RTalloni! Everyone has been very generous with their responses; I feel fortunate to be in such a great community of writers!
Wow! Am so impressed and grateful for such valuable information--I'm completely inspired now! Thanks!
Thanks, larcaustin - it's gratifying to have fellow Hubbers reading and giving feedback. I've learned so much from everyone here; glad I can share ideas.
Thank you Marcy for such good information
I have already followed up one of your tips
Colin
Hi, Colin - thank you for reading and commenting. Please let us know what you hear from the follow-up!
We are lucky to have you on Hubpages with all of your experience. Thank you so much for sharing this great information.
Thanks for the kind words, Elayne. Just hoping to pay it forward a bit here. I enjoy your hubs, by the way!
Great new ideas for writing income! I need to bookmark this hub and revisit often.
Thanks, Austinstar - I hope some of these work for you!
This is a lot of good information...If you could get in with one of these, you would do good. Thanks for sharing. :)
It would be nice to branch out from HubPages. thanks for the information.
Thanks for stopping by, Les Trois Chenes! I feel certain you can branch out - you have some very unique content to offer. Have you considered airline magazines? Almost all airlines have their own house publication, and it's generally full of travel and entertainment features. Often, they use freelancers - check out which airlines fly into destinations you can write about (or into France for general pieces on food or culture), and send them query pitches.
Useful advice, Mercy. Thank you for posting this.
Thanks, Melchius! I hope these are helpful to you. I was amazed, over the years of my career, at all the places writing took me.
Good tips Marcy.
Being a Technical writer, I drifted towards grant writing but, 'cause of the recession could not find money for the NPO's. But, sure the possibilities are endless as a writer :)
Voted up as useful
great information. The hub is very resourceful. Useful and voted up up and up..Sharing with my friends.
Marcy...
This is an excellent selection that gives me hope some dollars can be made. I have bookmarked this, voted up, and shared!
Thanks,
Thomas
This is a great hub. I am so glad I saw it go by somewhere and came to check it out. I am fairly new to all this and like to learn new venues for writing so this was very beneficial.
Welcome to hubpages.
Great tips, Marcy! Now, if only that full-time job didn't interfere with my time...;) Voted up and useful.
Hi Marcy! What an informative article! Thanks so much for sharing your words of wisdom with us. I'm new to HubPages. I recently took a food writing course (I'm studying to become a registered dietitian) and look forward to implementing some of the suggestions my professor shared with our class. I look forward to learning as much as possible from you as I read more of your work! :)
Hi, Jill - thanks for your kind words! I'm glad you found the hub useful. I will watch for your writings. Welcome to the site, from one newcomer to another!
Thanks for reading, commenting and sharing, Ian! I hope you and your friends get some assignments from the list!
Hi, ThoughtSandwiches - thanks for the positive feedback. I've read some of your hubs; you definitely have money in your future! Very engaging style & witty. Let us know what happens!
Thanks homesteadbound - it's fun learning from the other writers here, isn't it? I've gained some amazing tips and insight into web publishing. I hope you find some writing outlets through these suggestions.
I know the feeling, cclitgirl! It was very difficult for me to do any additional writing during my full-time job days - especially when I wrote a lot for work. I feel so guilty when I read about novelists who get up at 4 am and write, and then go to work. But we can make our dreams happen, can't we! Thanks for reading and commenting.
Thank you for this great article. I learned much from you today. Your Hub is needful and timely. I appreciate it.
Thanks, James - I greatly value your opinions and your terrific writing skills; your comments mean a lot to me!
Great hub with wonderful tips, Voted up and interesting, hope you enjoy my hubs as well!
Thanks, Finance Hub! I appreciate your time in reading and commenting! I definitely follow your great hubs, by the way!
Awesome resource for freelance writers. Thanks Marcy!
Thanks, randomcreative! I appreciate your warm feedback - and I hope there are tips here you can use!
Hello, Marcy. Thank you for sharing this excellent resource for writers. I appreciate your writing tips links, too. Voted up and useful!
Thanks, Annette - I appreciate the compliments from a fellow writer, and a fellow Texan!
This was such a great hub; and I wanted many more people to read it. So I included it in my latest hub luv hub!
Do you think that writing for newspapers and magazines will continue to be profitable as many abandon print, move to the web, and take advantage of user-generated content?
Hi, Casey - that's hard to predict - they're all going through a metamorphosis, too. Many publish online as well as in hard copy, so the 'employer' is still a paper publication. As I mentioned, some areas are seeing a growth in the magazine industry. I'm not sure where you live, but in my area, you can't walk into a restaurant or club without passing a stack of freebie publications. They can be about sports, entertainment, family life, you name it. They're quite good, and they are ad-supported & they pay for content.
Let us know what you find in your area? This would be a good topic for all of us to network about.
Homesteadbound - thank you for including me in your compilation! I'm honored - Wow! I can't wait to read your hub!
Hi Marcy,
I am so glad I came across your hub on Homesteadbound's Hub Luv hub. This is great information. Very well thought out and presented. A must bookmark. Thank you!
Sharyn
Thanks, Sharyn! I appreciate your comments, and I hope you find a few ideas here that work for you.
Welcome to HubPages! I found my way here via Homesteadbound's hub luv hub and am so glad I did. Thank you for sharing these ideas with us and providing your personal insights.
Voted up and SHARED.
Thank you so much for this interesting and useful hub. Voted up and SHARED.
Thank you, LL Woodard! I'm so honored that Homesteadbound included this hub in her luv hub! It's great to meet you here - I look forward to reading your hubs as well.
Thank you, Thelma Alberts! I hope you and the people you shared it with get some ideas for advancing their writing careers!
Such a wonderful hub and great information! Thank you so much!
Nice hub with a lot of good, relevant information. This is excellent advice for up and coming writers and I hope they take this advice. Voted up and interesting!
Thanks, Audrey! I appreciate your comments - hope there are helpful ideas you can use!
Hi, Suzette - thanks for reading and commenting. I wish I'd known some of these things earlier in my career. But even so, they all came to pass one way or another, so I can't complain. There are some wonderful career opportunities for people who are versatile writers.
Good tips especially with so many online content publishers cutting back on staff because of search engine algorithm fluctuations. Thanks for an awesome tutorial.
Hello Marcy, Absolutely great info here. Anyone trying to make it as a writer can definitely benefit from the sources you have here. Bookmarking for future reference and voting up!
Thanks, Donna - communication is more important than ever, so good writers are still needed - even when the dynamics are changing so rapidly. Thank you for commenting!
Hi, Cyndi10 - thanks for reading and commenting! I'm working on some additional hubs, too, to cover more ideas.
Great Job. No wonder you have been so successful in your writing jobs. Thanks for sharing this. It was very interesting. Confidence, confidence if I only had more LOL.
Thanks, Tammy! I think it's like riding a bike or skiing - it's all about practice! Then you realize, "Hey, I'm actually a writer!" Thanks for visiting and commenting!
Good hub, really good information. I hadn't thought about grant writing and what was involved and this gives me an idea or two!
Hi, Eliza! Let us know if you look into grants as an outlet for your writing - there are many smaller organizations that need grant writers. Thanks for your comments!
Excellent hub! never even realised there was such an activity as 'grant writing' but of course it makes as much sense as any other professional writing.
Hi, Magicdust Staff - I hope you check out the grant writing idea - it is actually a very lucrative field. You have to learn how they're written and what the requirements are, but once you do that, you can earn quite a bit in that field. Good luck to you!
marcy, good hub. how did you get into grant writing and what are some good sources for learning and getting involved in it?
Thanks, PDXKaraokeGuy - I sort of fell into grant writing (don't do it much now because I concentrate on other writing). Something people don't realize is that if you write at all where you work, whenever they need writers for something, you get pulled into the project. It's very interesting, and you learn to do a variety of writing. That's exactly what happened with the grants. A place where I worked wanted to apply for a grant, so I learned about it from doing it (we got the money - $1 million). That then led to getting another job (managing a clinic, if you can believe it), because the clinic needed someone who could manage and also write grants.
As for learning - get some grant applications (search for them through foundations, etc.) and study the requirements. They often have strict requirements for silly things like margins, but those things give them ways to disqualify grants for technical reasons. You can also (probably) use an open records request to get copies of successful grant applications and awards so you can see what the winning grants looked like. Examine the writing style, the things they mention in each section, etc.
Then just start marketing your writing to small non-profits (that's where I'd start) and see what happens. Good luck! Let me know what happens!
Wow, thank you for sharing all these wonderful ways a writer can earn....very very helpful! And congratulations on your Hubnuggets nomination! This is wonderful publicity that's for sure. Check it out: http://redelf.hubpages.com/hub/Happy-HubNuggets-Va Blessings...
Thanks, ripplemaker! I am honored to be nominated for Hubnuggets! Feel free to share the hub!
I am so impressed with the detailed information in this hub. Some of these ideas I have heard of and others I had not thought of. I am definitely bookmarking, voting up, and sharing this with others. Congrats on your nomination and welcome to Hubpages!
I am book marking his wonderful hub! I am certainly interested in how I can turn something I love to do into income. Very nice! Many thanks!
Thank you, cardelean! I'm honored (and stunned) to be nominated. We have a wonderful community here, don't we?
Thanks, KrystalD - I'm so glad you found helpful information here!
Yes we do! It is a great place to write, learn, and share ideas!
Print media is much more familiar to me as well as not needing to worry about ad clicks. Congratulations on the nomination.
Thanks for all the great ideas and venues. I am definitely bookmarking this article.
Thank you, FloraBreenRobison - I am thrilled to be nominated! I'm sure we can both learn the ads and clicks world of writing, too - but I do agree we aren't in Kansas anymore!
Thanks, Stephanie - I'm so glad you liked the hub!
Thanks for sharing, Marcy! I like to write and have even done a little of it professionally, but have never considered writing as a career. Maybe I'll take another crack at submitting some articles to my local paper.
Hi, Neen - I think if you like to write, you should go for it! That's truly what it's all about! Best of luck, and let us know what comes of it.
Hello Marcy, I should say that from the first few lines of your hub it was clear - you are a very experienced writer who clearly knows how to use words and make reading interesting. Well done on your achievements!
My kind regards,
Dina
Hi, Dina - thank you for your gracious compliment - I'm glad you enjoyed the hub!
Thanks for enlightening me.I am a seasoned writer i need more avenues to exhibit my skills.
Thank you, Geraldnduru - I hope some of these avenues work for you!
This is really great information. Voted up and thanks for sharing.
Hi, savanahl - thanks for reading and commenting; I'm glad you liked the information here!
great read! thanks for this post
Thank you, GDRshop! I'm glad you enjoyed the hub.
Marcy, this hub is incredibly detailed and so, so useful! I am only just getting into writing and I do it mainly for the pleasure of it but it would be nice to make even a little bit of money doing something which I enjoy. Voted up, great hub.
These are great tips and very helpful Marcy, Thank you for sharing this with us!
I'm glad you liked the hub, Jools - there are so many ways the world (business and otherwise) uses writing. I hope some of these tips work for you!
Thank you, Curiad - I'm so glad you found them helpful!
Thank you for this helpful hub! Im bookmarking and sharing it. I would love to know more about how you find the government jobs.
Very useful, Marcy! Sounds tough to break into, but as you say, it's possible, huh? bookmarking this for reference!
Hi, Victoria - yes, it is possible! The more you get publishing credits, the more doors you can open. The online community has created opportunities, but also expended competition. However, I feel there are jobs and niche areas still to be found. Thanks for your comments!
Hi, Rebecca - thanks for reading and commenting! The best way to find government jobs is through either agency websites (which can take a while, since there are hundreds of agencies), or a central job bank such as many states offer for government postings as well as private sector firms, in many cases. Do a search for titles like Public Information, Information Specialist, Technical Writer or Grant Writer, for starters. You can also call and even visit some bigger agencies to find where people learn about jobs and what the common titles are in your state. People love to help others; you may find some friendly Folsom who will show you the ropes. Best of luck to you!
Love this list - nice and easy to follow and digest.
I have to say that I started out doing grant writing in academics and, over the years, that has turned out to be my least favorite form of writing.
Hi, Kris! I understand what you're saying - I think it takes a special mindset to find your calling in grant writing. But it can be interesting at times, and to be sure, freelancers can earn a good income from it. Thank you for reading and commenting!
Great Info thanks so much!
Thank you, Lola! I appreciate your comment - I hope the hub is helpful to you !
I know I'll be referring to this again . Very thorough!
Extremely useful and interesting.
Thank you for being so helpful.
Thank you, Rich - I hope it continues to offer ideas as you tackle each goal on it!
Thanks, DF - it's so nice of you to read and comment - and I'm glad you like the hub!
Thank you for researching and writing such a useful hub. I hope I can make use of it.
I hope so too, Blossom! Let us know what happens - I wish you the best!
Wow, didn't know you can get paid so well to be a writer and lead such an adventurous life. The "Public Information" part is especially interesting.
LOL! I guess adventurous is one word for it, ingenira! Public Information is probably one of the most stressful jobs you can find, but it's exciting stress. It is actually more deadline oriented than news reporting (which ranks right up there as one of the all-time stressful jobs). News reporters call you at all hours when something is happening, and you have to think fast. It is a great field, though!
Sure many others have bookmarked this page, as I have.Great hub
This is a great list of writing opportunities, though these jobs would probably be open to professional writers. Is that correct to say? You certainly have a lot of experience on this. Thanks for sharing it.
Excellent hub and very interesting. Have bookmarked for future references.
Thanks for sharing.
Great article. I've read many on this topic where it is plain to see the author really didn't know what they were talking about. Can't say the same for this one. Well written and very informative.
I used to think I wanted to become a "writer", and just recently have come to the conclusion that I am a "writer", I just don't make a living at it.
I'm not sure if I want to take something I enjoy doing and make a job of it. I would think that sooner or later it becomes a daily drudgery. Do you sometimes feel that way at all? I know after working all day in front of a computer, it's hard for me to drive home and sit in front of my own - even if it is for enjoyment.
Marcy, this is all excellent advice - and, as it happens, I have been branching out, adding about eight new Internet clients in the past two months. I am also contacting local businesses, letting them know of my availability. Voted up and congrats on your nomination!
Thanks for reading and commenting, cavallo - I hope you'll let us know if you venture into these career areas!
Hi, Chin chin - yes, it generally takes experience to work into the higher-paid positions. But you can get there from the smaller assignments. That's how many of us who ended up in public information got the background to move up. Thanks for reading and commenting!
Thank you, Gloshei! I'm so glad you enjoyed the hub!
Wow Marcy Goodfleisch so many ideas to learn from, amazing, you are living your writing dream that many of us are pursuing. Thanks for sharing your article really interesting a vote up.
Regards Dale
Those are good questions, Duchess - I personally never disliked the writing parts of my various career positions, but as with any job, the politics or other factors could be draining. Those factors didn't diminish the fun of the writing, even when it was drier stuff, like grants or a news release about highways.
One thing I noticed, though, it was more of a challenge to shift gears and write fiction or other pieces that deviated from the writing I did at work. But, since none of the positions were purely writing (even if that's what got you hired), there were many interesting variations to every assignment. Writers in these settings get pulled into amazing projects, and you're often 'where the action is' each day.
Thanks for defining the options so clearly. Great hub!
That's great news, crochet48! Why don't you write a hub and share your tips - I think everyone would love to learn from your experience! Thanks for your comments!
Thanks, Dale - I never thought of it that way, but now that I look back, I guess things really did evolve the way I always hoped they would. I so thankful that others here can perhaps take an idea or two and run with it!
Thank you, Cashmere! I will look for your hubs!
Thank you Marcy, you provided some venues and ways I was not aware of.
What a great article, I am glad that I stopped by - thank you for the information.
Hi, MSantana - thanks for your comments! I hope some of these venues become outlets for your writing!
Thanks, acaetnna - I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I appreciate your comments!
Excellent.
Specific and useful stuff here, Marcy.
I am pursuing several avenues for my writing, and why the heck not make a little $ while doing so!
Write On!
Thank you, Happy Man I hope this information makes you even happier! I'm glad you found the hub helpful.
This is really cool! I've thought about being a columnist, but I don't have a journalism degree. How do you go about offering pieces to a paper? I'm kind of shy, so I worry that it would be a big thing to ask a paper.
Awesome hub, I really liked the ideas you've presented. :)
Fantastic article, Marcy! I worked as a grant writer, and it really was a job (like you said :)) Writing was the easy part, research was time-consuming. Still, it was fun! Saved for future reference, voted up!
Hi, Melbel - Oh, I so hope you go after the columnist goal! You would be good at it! One way is to contact a small, local publication with an idea for either an ongoing topic (entertainment in your area, or gardening in your climate), or to contact him/her about a particular human interest story about a local person. Then see where it goes from there. Let me know what happens?
Oh yes, vox vocis! So true about all the hours spent on the project that weren't really writing. I felt they did hone skills, though, and have paid off in the long run! Thanks for reading and commenting.
Yeap! First of all, different funders require different grant templates, and in many cases grant applicants will just give you a draft of a project that you need to turn into a great project proposal. But, like you said, doing this type of job is very rewarding, both in terms of finances and knowledge.
Thanks, Vox - you are right about the templates - writers need to research what the specs are for various funding sources. Some are quite involved, and others are so simple it amazes me. Thanks for your comments!
Excellent ideas though I'm surprised newsletters are still on the list. Didn't realize some businesses still relied on this -- thought they had been replaced by website. Voting this Up and Useful.
Thank, Alocsin - yea, there are still newsletters. Some are paper, but some are written for either print or email purposes. Many people will not go to a website for their neighborhood newsletter or for a corporate newsletter, but they'll read it via email. That area still seems to straddle paper vs electronic.
Very interesting and a lot of valuable information! Thanks for sharing it with us.
Hi, Kebenett - thanks for reading, and thank you for your kind comments!
Hi, All - I am going to compile some of the answers to questions mentioned here and either update this hub or write a sequel. Thanks for your interest in the topic! Stay tuned for more!
Bookmarked! This is worth checking out. I'm grateful for this valuable information you have shared here. Voted up and awesome!
Thank, SanneL - let me know if you go into any of these areas!
Thanks for this information it is very interesting, with so much to learn I will bookmark and keep going back to it.
Thanks, Gloshei - let us know if you follow up on any of the ideas?
Marcy, that's great advice, thank you very much. And they say writing isn't hard work...
LOL! I know what you mean, PDX! So many times, I've heard, "Oh, you can write - why don't you write this (grant, major report, analysis, whatever) for us!"
At least it does lead to pay, if you stick with it!
Good Post! Ghost Blogging is a wonderful opportunity to earn as a Writer. I am a Ghost Blogger to a Well known Celebrity in my country. I also handle the FB and Twitter Accounts of this person apart from dealing with some PR and Reporters. The money is good and the work is challenging.
What a great suggestion, Anamika! I've often suspected there were ghost writers for Tweets and blogs that allegedly come from celebrities. That would be a great how-to hub, if you have time to write it. I've written ghost editorials and made up plenty of quotes in news releases. Busy people want to get their name and words out there, but they don't have the time and often lack the background in writing.
Great advice as always! Your experience is incredible. Thank you for the suggestions/comments on all your hubs. What a great writer you are! Blessings, Sparklea :)
Thank you, Sparlea! You made my day!
Great article, thanks for the information and welcome to hubpages. It is great to have you here!
Thanks, donnaisabella - I am glad to be here. I appreciate your comments!
Good information and good article - thanks! Voted up!
Thank you, Dubuquedogtrainer - I appreciate your comments, and I'm glad you enjoyed the hub!
Informative hub! Grant writing is a tedious task. No wonder people pay others to do it for them. I recently helped someone with this task for a local church and could not believe the rules involved.
I agree, Tams - grant writing can be a long and tiring process. The many guidelines and rules for submission can wear you down at first. I did learn that it's easier the next time around or so, because you've learned the drill and don't have to research the application process as much.
Thanks for your comments!
Great hub; I see why it's had a lot of comments. Can't believe I missed it earleir. Anyway, I am bookmarking for future reference. Thanks for sharing your advice!
Thanks, Deborah - I appreciate your reading and commenting. I'm glad you found the hub helpful!
Bookmarked for future reference. Writers need to remember there are many ways to make money plying their trade. Some are harder than other. Grant writing is a lot of hard work. But now that I think about it, all writing is hard work, especially if you do a good job.
That's a very good and accurate observation, Keith Tax! Any career involves hard work, and writing is no different. Thanks for reading and commenting!
What a great article, I am glad that I stopped by - thank you for the information. I'll try to do this :) Thanks again Marcy :)
Thank you, Beatrix - I'm so glad you liked the hub! I appreciate your comments.
Wow there is so much great information here, thanks for providing all the resources for writing!
Marcy, this was an incredibly helpful and well informed hub. I recently received my degrees in Mass Communication and Literature and am looking for real ways to get my career as a writer started. Thanks for the advice!
Thanks, Christy! I truly appreciate your remarks, and I'm glad you enjoyed the hub!
Useful tips. Thanks for sharing. Voted up.
I appreciate your reading and commenting here, Suzy - and I'm so glad this was a timely topic for you! Check out the companion hub that has more ideas for earning money as a writer - it covers additional ways businesses need writing talent and communications expertise.
Best of luck to you as you follow your new career path!
Thanks for reading and commenting, alahiker!
Informative and interesting which you share with us so i think so it is very useful and knowledgeable. I would like to thank you for the efforts.
Hi, khmohsin - I'm glad you enjoyed the hub. Thank you for reading and commenting.
insightful and interesting at the same time. Thank you Marcy, very helpful indeed. Good day to you!
Thanks for reading and commenting, onlooker - I hope some of the ideas will work for your career goals!
Awesome tips! Thank you so much for posting. I'll bookmark this hub for future reference, as my ambition is to forgo my accounting "job" for a career in my passion, which is writing.
Hi bravewarrior! I truly hope you're able to achieve your dream! Best of luck with that goal, and thank you for commenting here.
Great advice. I've bookmarked this for future use. I was a columnist for a local paper for 5 years while we had our sign business. It didn't pay anything but the exposure was incredible! People on the street recognized from me from my column photo lol. Lots of great ideas here - thanks!
Hi, Dorsi! I'm so glad you liked the hub! My experience in community recognition was similar; people all over the city knew me, and it was a great way to be more immersed in your community. Thanks for reading and commenting!
indeed, Marcy... but i'm glad I'm not relying on it as my sole source of income at the moment!
Lol! I know what you mean about the ups and downs of this career! Thanks for commenting here, PDX!
I wanted you to teach me how to write a Hub.. What I need is for you to teach me how to write.. I hate to admit it.. I do not know how to write.. Reading your hubs makes me fill like an infant in the writing sector... Marcy.. What is your motivation.. Where does your inspiration come from!
Hi, Capedium - the best suggestion I can give is to just jump in and start writing. Try to use the type of grammar and sentence structure you see in the writers on HubPages who are doing well. The site seems to want journalism and magazine styles of writing in hubs. Mostly, that takes practice, and a lot of time reading hubs or articles elsewhere that follow those standards.
As for inspiration and motivation - I wrote one hub on that, and I think there are others. After writing for many years, you start seeing stories more easily. I sincerely love to write, and it's been my career for a long time.
Check out the hubs by cclitgirl on grammar, puntuation and other writing tips. She has some great information, and she knows her stuff. I've written one or two about the same topic, but she has many more hubs on it than I've done. Then, read your own writing and look for errors and ways to improve. Go back into your hubs and make those changes, and as you do that, you will learn not to repeat the same errors.
Best of luck to you! And thank you for the kind words!
Congratulations, Marcy. Yes, I confirm, this is the way writers earn a living. Was there, done that...
Too lazy now... burnt out... and yes, I had enough of the ups and downs...
Voted up and excellent!
Thanks, Martie - I'm with you, been there and still have the shirt. They were great years, but I'm glad to be where I am today. I've had a few offers, and I'm open to them, but not looking at the current time. Thanks for the comments here!
One of the best hubs I have read on the subject - hands down! Gosh, you have more than 77 votes as "useful" so far! A very helpful guide for writers looking to make money with their craft.
Thank you, Steph! I'm just so glad people have found the hub helpful. I'd love to see people follow their dreams and have careers in writing. I appreciate your comments here!
This is good, Marcy. I interview a lot of interesting business owners. I struggled, though, looking for places to submit articles as odd as that sounds. I'll continue segmenting a list.
Thanks, Don - please let me know if you put any of these ideas to use? You are fortunate to be exposed to a wide variety of potential outlets!
Good hub! So many comments and views in hubpages, you just done a great money job already:) Thanks!
LOL! Thanks for the comment and support, scobytube! Thanks for reading, and I'm glad you like the hub!
Very good information thank you for sharing. I have started writing but find it hard to fit it in with my main job and other commitments. Any good tips on making time for all the things we want and would like to do?
Hi, Zubair - congratulations on embarking on your journey as a writer! Finding time to write while still working full-time is a real challenge. I'd start with small goals (maybe one article a week or even a month), and then find small chunks of time to do any research you might need to do before writing, since research can often be done in 5-15 minute pieces of time (although you may need several such pieces of time to fully research a topic). Make notes as you go along, and begin deciding what facts or elements best suit your ultimate goal.
Then decide when during the average week you might have a few hours to do the actual writing. Some people like to get up earlier every day and write in those quiet hours. Some write late at night, and some on weekends. If you travel for work, consider taking a laptop and writing in your hotel room when you're out of town.
Since you mention being new to writing, don't overdo each time you sit at the keyboard. You could easily burn out and lose enthusiasm, and it's also easy to make errors when you're tired and stretched. Write for short periods of time at first, then longer as you gain experience and momentum.
Good luck on reaching your goals!
Good information and written as though you know your topic well. I'm certainly impressed! Thank you for sharing. Your ideas have given me motivation to look further into a subject that has always piqued my curiosity. I would love to know the feeling of selling my writing as a professional. I laud your successful venture to feed yourself and your kids and now help others. Thank you.
Mike
Thank you, solar captain - I'm so glad you found motivation from these ideas. Thanks for reading, and for your kind comments!
Great Ideas, really helps a lot .
Thanks for the hub..
Thanks, Deepateresa - I hope some of these ideas open up opportunities for you!
I might have to pursue some of these opportunities at the moment since I am struggling to find any sort of decent income for myself. I find it hard to get a decent job in my area so something like this might help me to get back on the right footing.
Good luck, Mikey - it's difficult with today's economy, so things may not happen quickly. Be sure to market yourself for all your career areas (with resumes for each), at the same time you're pursuing anything to do with writing. I hope you get some great opportunities opening for you! Thanks for your comments here!
This is an impressive list and an excellently written hub. I hope I can give at least one shot to any of the resources you have mentioned. I have bookmarked it to come back for reference and reading it again.
Voted up and useful.
Hi, Rajan - so glad you enjoyed the hub! I hope you're able to find similar opportunities. By the way, the bookmarks will go away soon, so check for site updates on how to save your list. I will miss that feature!
Hello Marcy. A well written, helpful post. Thank you for sharing. Clearly, you are quite familiar with this topic. I'm curious about this topic...new to writing.....exploring what is available.Voted up and useful.
Best Regards,
I'm glad you enjoyed the hub, alifeofdesign! I hope there are ideas here that you can use - best of luck, and thanks for commenting!
This is great info about writing. I realize how little I know about the different opportunities available! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, MissE! I appreciate your comments here, and by the way, I've learned a lot from your hubs, too!
This is wonderful piece of information. Very informative and useful. It will be very much helpful. Thanks :)
Thank you, InternetGeek - so glad you found the hub useful. I appreciate your comments!
Vote useful and bookmarked! great information!
Hi, dipsmi - thanks so much for your kind comment! I'm so glad you like the hub!
This is good information. I am really enjoying writing and have been searching for ways to make it more profitable. I would love to do freelance stuff but just don't know how to break into it. Will bookmark and try some of your suggestions.
Hi, TripleAMom - I'm so glad you found some helpful ideas here. Best of luck in putting them to use - i know you can do it! Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
Thanks a lot for this nice hub....Nice explanation
Hi, htodd - I'm so glad you found the hub helpful! Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts!
Brilliant hub, one of the best I've read here so far. A very useful niche of information. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for your kind comments, Silverstararrow! I'm so glad you like the hub - hope some of these ideas work for you!
Wow! Great information, advice and ideas. I too have bookmarked it for further reference. You have given me an idea that I will pursue right now. Thank you.
Voted up and shared.
Hi, Maralexa - I'm so glad you saw an idea here that you want to pursue! Okay, now I won't be able to rest until you let us know how it goes. Hope you check back in with some updates now and then!
This is great advice, thank you so much! Saved to refer back to. Voted up!
Hi, MelChi - I appreciate your comments - thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope you're able to use the ideas to expand your career!
Nice and great hub for a new writer.Thanks and I do follow it
Hi, Naimishika - thanks for reading and leaving your thoughts here! Best of luck on your writing!
very helpful hub! I do hope my writing will someday qualify for these!
Hi, Marshella - thanks for your kind comments! I feel certain you will reach any of these goals - and I look forward to seeing your work here on the site!
Hi Marcy, thank you so much for sharing. I deadly need information like this.
Hi, Vietfoodchannel - thanks for commenting here. I'm so glad you like the hub and that you found it helpful!
dadibobs Level 4 Commenter 3 months ago
Useful, interesting and bookmarked! I shall be returning to this hub when more time is available :)