This is the third episode in our series on leveraging writing skills to increase your income.
Part 1: How To Become a Career Writer Part 1: Think Like a Business
Part 2: How To Become a Career Writer Part 2: Make Maximum Money on Your Book
Today, we’re discussing how to transition from being a hobbyist to a career writer.
How do writing skills differ from writing books?
Thomas: Isn’t this just about writing more books?
Jim: Not quite. Pumping out books isn’t the whole story. There are at least half a dozen ways to monetize your writing skills.
Editing as a Revenue Stream
Thomas: The classic way to earn money with your writing skills is as an editor. The better you are as an author, the more valuable your insights are to less experienced writers. They’re willing to pay for your expertise, and editing is a highly valued service. The supply of editors is smaller than the demand, allowing skilled editors to charge substantial hourly rates. This is a great way to supplement your income.
Jim: You can also create courses on writing or editing to teach other authors. Many authors earn income this way. If you’re a skilled editor specializing in a genre, you can share that expertise. A great example is Self-Editing for Fiction Writers (affiliate link), a cornerstone book for fiction authors. I reread it every couple of years to reinforce the fundamentals. Those editors turned their knowledge into a bestselling book.
Thomas: Before creating a course, ensure you have something unique and teachable to offer. The world doesn’t need more generic writing courses or blogs.
Start by editing for friends or writers’ group members, perhaps at a low cost initially.
One tip is to focus on a specific genre. It will be easier for others to recommend and refer people to you. Editing pays much sooner than book royalties, which may take a year. Plus, editing others’ work improves your own writing. Analyzing different authors’ storytelling approaches enhances your skills and, as such, serves a dual purpose. Many of these methods not only generate income but also make you a better writer.
Writing for Periodicals
Thomas: Another way to monetize your skills is writing for periodicals. I hear some novelists grumbling, “I’m a novelist, not a magazine writer!” Nonfiction writers have an easier inroad to writing articles in their expertise areas. But fiction writers can explore short story collections. Stephen King, for example, began with short stories. Writing short stories hones your ability to craft tight, focused narratives, which improves your overall writing. Plus, it provides quick income.
Jim: I might get flak for this, but fiction writing is harder than nonfiction. However, the ability to evoke emotion and show rather than tell applies to nonfiction too. Don’t dismiss writing for magazines, journals, or websites just because you’re a novelist. Nonfiction publications need your fiction skills.
A friend of mine, who initially self-published her book, now travels the world, staying at luxurious resorts and writing about them.
Thomas: Writing articles can be lucrative. Some say, “$50 or $100 per article isn’t real money.” But if you write one article daily at $100, that’s a solid income while sharpening your skills. It’s faster money than book royalties.
Jim: You can also repurpose articles and sell them multiple times depending on contract terms. There are complexities, but also opportunities for additional income.
Ghostwriting Opportunities
Thomas: Another method, though less popular, is ghostwriting.
Jim: Ghostwriting can be lucrative, though it raises ethical questions. Some celebrities put their names on the work without acknowledging the writer. I get the moral concerns. However, you often get a “with” credit or acknowledgment, and the pay is good. You typically receive an upfront fee and sometimes royalties. I’ve ghostwritten one book, and I enjoyed the freedom of telling someone else’s story without the pressure of my name on it. It was fun and creatively liberating.
Thomas: Ideally, you get acknowledgment so you can share your work with friends. Some authors, whose names never appear on covers, have written dozens or hundreds of books, significantly impacting the world.
There’s a saying, often attributed to various presidents: “There’s no limit to what you can achieve if you don’t care who gets the credit.” Many writers start by co-writing with a more famous author, doing most of the work.
Listen to our episode on Ghostwriting 101 with Arlene Gale.
Work-for-Hire Writing
Jim: Another option is work-for-hire, where you’re paid a fixed amount for a project. I recently signed a work-for-hire contract for a novel I’ll write in 2016. I’m excited because we’ll collaboratively develop the storyboards, characters, plot, and conflict. Once that’s set, I’ll write the story. I love the team effort because it’s a collaboration of ideas. I won’t get royalties, so if it’s a massive bestseller, I might regret not negotiating for them. But I’m happy with the agreed-upon fee, and so is the publisher. It feels freer than writing my own books.
Thomas: If millions buy that book, they’ll seek out your other royalty-paying books, boosting their sales.
Your next contract will reflect the success of this book, potentially increasing your royalties. Work-for-hire provides predictable income, allowing you to budget more accurately. Combining work-for-hire with royalty-based writing creates a stable income stream for a career writer. This isn’t merely about becoming a bestseller; it’s about sustainable work. Work-for-hire is less glamorous but pays well.
To learn more about work-for-hire and freelancing, check out our episode, Yes, YOU Can Make a Living as a Writer, Here’s How.
Copywriting for Profit
What is copywriting?
Jim: Copywriting spans many areas, but for authors, it includes writing back cover descriptions, website content, radio or TV ads, sales brochures, and newsletters. I’ve done copywriting for Novel Marketing clients and others, like Kylie Dunn, whose book Do, Share, Inspire applies lessons from 54 TED Talks to her life. Writing concise, compelling back cover copy is rewarding and promotes the book effectively. Strong copywriting skills can generate significant income.
Thomas: Nobody is born a great copywriter; it’s a skill you learn. As a writer, you already know the fundamentals, so it’s kind of like cross-training. Copywriting is lucrative because it’s valuable. Businesses pay well for good copy because it boosts sales significantly. Writing copy for your own work is tough because you’re too close to it. Businesses hire copywriters for that objectivity. It’s a win-win. Businesses get effective copy, and writers earn good money.
Jim: Many think they can write their own copy, but it’s a specialized skill. If someone can do it better and you don’t have years to learn, then hire a professional. It’s worth it.
Thomas: Copywriting is scientific. We have a 60-year history of testing, starting with direct mail. Years ago, companies tested different versions of direct mail letters to see which performed better. Those tests established principles you can now study in books. To be a good copywriter, you must learn these principles.
Blogging for Income and Exposure
Thomas: The final way to make money is through blogging. The internet is a big deal. Everyone, even my grandmother, reads blog posts. A man I spoke with earns $80,000 annually from blog ads without writing new content, thanks to his old articles ranking on Google. That income didn’t come overnight; it required years of learning, attending conferences, and working with experts.
Blogging can be lucrative, especially in high-advertiser-interest topics. Writing about writing isn’t the most profitable, but other niches are. The simplest method of monetizing is by placing ads on your blog, earning anywhere from 5 to 20 cents per click. More page views mean more income.
Blogging also builds an audience for your books, especially for nonfiction writers who blog in their areas of expertise. Novelists can blog on engaging, shareable topics. Blog traffic comes from articles worth sharing or ranking on Google.
A viral blog post I wrote was read a million times, and it put my book on the map. Blogging is a valuable investment for both income and book promotion.
Final Thoughts
Jim: All these methods require effort. There is no “win the lottery” course. These are practical ways to earn money.
Thomas: There are no shortcuts to becoming a career writer. Success demands hard work. Anyone promising otherwise is, as they say in Russia, “hanging noodles from your ears.”
We’re giving you a buffet of options. You don’t need to do all of them. Some writers thrive focusing on one, like ghostwriting or copywriting.
Hopefully, you’ve found at least one idea to pursue, honing your skills while earning income.
Related Episodes
- Yes, YOU Can Make a Living as a Writer, Here’s How
- How to Make Money as an Author Assistant
- How to Find and Work With a Virtual Assistant
- How to Diversify Your Income as an Author
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