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Writing Contests, Grants & Awards

• See Recent Winners
• View the Submission Calendar

The Writing Contests, Grants & Awards database includes details about the creative writing contests—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, and more—that we’ve published in Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it. Ours is the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere.

Narratively

Memoir prize.

A prize of $3,000 and publication in Narratively will be given annually for a short work of memoir written in the first person. Two runners-up prizes of $1,000 each...

Griffin Trust for Excellence in Poetry

Canadian first book prize.

A prize of $10,000 Canadian (approximately $7,349) is awarded for a debut poetry collection by a living Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada published during the...

Center for Book Arts

Poetry chapbook contest.

A prize of $500 and letterpress publication by the Center for Book Arts is given annually for a poetry chapbook. The winner also receives 10 copies of their chapbook, an...

Griffin Poetry Prize

A prize of $130,000 Canadian (approximately $95,542) is given annually for a poetry collection published during the current year and written in, or translated into, English....

Virginia Commonwealth University

Cabell first novelist award.

A prize of $5,000 is given annually for a debut novel published during the current year. The winner is also provided money for the cost of travel and lodging to attend the...

Codhill Press

Pauline uchmanowicz poetry award.

A prize of $1,000, publication by Codhill Press, and 25 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. James Sherwood will judge. Submit a manuscript of 48 to 70...

Two Sylvias Press

Wilder series poetry book prize.

A prize of $1,000, publication by Two Sylvias Press, and 20 author copies will be given annually for a poetry collection by a writer over 50 who identifies as female (including...

Michigan Quarterly Review

Jesmyn ward prize in fiction.

A prize of $2,000 and publication in Michigan Quarterly Review is given annually for a short story. Ghassan Zeineddine will judge. Using only the online submission...

Ohio University Press

Hollis summers poetry prize.

A prize of $1,000 and publication by Ohio University Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Natalie Shapero will judge. Using only the online submission system,...

Alternating Current Press

Front range book prize.

A prize of $1,000, publication by Alternating Current Press, and 25 author copies will be given annually for a poetry collection, story collection, essay collection, novel,...

Award for Short Fiction

A prize of $1,000, publication by Press 53, and 53 author copies is given annually for a story collection. Claire V. Foxx will judge. Submit a manuscript of 100 to 250 pages...

Laurence Goldstein Prize in Poetry

A prize of $1,000 and publication in Michigan Quarterly Review is given annually for a single poem. Cyrus Cassells will judge. Using only the online submission system...

Before Columbus Foundation

American book awards.

Awards are given annually for books published in the United States during the current year to recognize “outstanding literary achievement from the entire spectrum of America’s...

Poetry Society of America

Four quartets prize.

A prize of $20,000 is given annually for a unified and complete sequence of poems published in the United States in a print or online journal, a chapbook, or a book during the...

Black Caucus of the American Library Association

Literary awards.

Four prizes of $1,000 each are given annually for a poetry collection, a debut novel, a book of fiction, and a book of nonfiction (including creative nonfiction) by African...

American Library Association

W.y. boyd literary award.

A prize of $5,000 is given annually for a novel published in the current year that is set in a period when the United States was at war. Publishers or authors may submit seven...

Short Fiction Contest for Emerging Writers

A prize of $1,500 and publication in Boulevard is given annually for a short story by a writer who has not published a nationally distributed book. The editors will...

Poetry Prize

A prize of €6,000 (approximately $6,605) is given annually for a single poem. Three runners-up prizes of €1,000 (approximately $1,101) each are also given. The four shortlisted...

Burnside Review Press

Book contest.

A prize of $1,000, publication by Burnside Review Press, and 10 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Ananda Lima will judge. Using only the online...

Baton Rouge Area Foundation

Ernest j. gaines award for literary excellence.

A prize of $15,000 is given annually to an emerging African American writer for a book of fiction published in the current year. The winner is also provided money for the cost...

Robert H. Winner Memorial Award

A prize of $2,500 and publication on the Poetry Society of America website is given annually to a poet over 40 who has published no more than one poetry collection. Using only...

Tampa Review

Danahy fiction prize.

A prize of $1,000 and publication in Tampa Review is given annually for a short story. Using only the online submission system, submit a story of 500 to 5,000 words...

Lascaux Review

Lascaux prize in short fiction.

A prize of $1,000 and publication in Lascaux Review is given annually for a short story. Previously published and unpublished stories are eligible. The editors will...

Tupelo Press

Dorset prize.

A prize of $3,000, publication by Tupelo Press, and 25 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. The winner also receives a two-week residency at Gentle House in...

Virginia Woolf Award for Short Fiction

A prize of $2,500 and publication in LitMag is given annually for a short story. The winner will also have their work reviewed by agents Lisa Bankoff (Bankoff...

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Huge List of Paid Writing Gigs and Online Jobs for Writers

Author: Holly Reisem Hanna

May 25, 2024 156 Comments

If you’re looking for online writing jobs, keep reading! This massive list of paid writing gigs has you covered no matter what your writing niche or specialty is!

Freelance writing is one of the best ways to make money from home, and it’s perfect for beginners. You don’t need experience or a degree; the opportunities are plentiful, and you don’t even need a website to get started. As long as you can provide well-written, engaging content and you can meet deadlines, you can make good money as a writer.

Not convinced?

New York Times Best Selling Author Nora Roberts  only has a high school education. She started writing her first novel back in 1979 after being trapped at home due to blizzard conditions. To date, Nora has written over 200 romance novels – incredible!

Still don’t believe me?

A few years ago, Danny Margulies decided to quit his full-time job to pursue an online copywriting career using the freelance platform Upwork. Without any special education or training, he quickly honed his skills and earned six figures during his second year as a copywriter.

If you’d like to work at home as a freelance writer, here is a huge list of paid writing jobs, where to find them, and, in some cases, pay rates.

Freelance Blog Writing Gigs

Writing blog posts is a quick and easy way to earn money and showcase your expertise, as numerous sites will allow a byline with a link back to your website. Many of these sites have established guidelines in place, so make sure you carefully read through the details and follow all of the guidelines. Crafting a thoughtful pitch will greatly improve your chances of getting accepted.

• 99 Designs – Contact for rates
• A Fine Parent – $75
• AutoStraddle – $80-$200
• BDG – Contact for rates
• Bored Teachers – Contact for rates
• Budget101 – $0.02-$0.05 per word
• Cambrick Yard LLC – Contact for rates
• Christian Courier – $30-$70
• Clever Girl Finance – Contact for rates
• Copyhackers – $300-$1,000
• DIS – $25
• DollarSprout – Check listings for rates
• First Quarter Finance – Contact for rates
• Food Tank – Contact for rates
• Girls Guide to Cars – Contact for rates
• GreenPrints – $100-$150
• Grown and Flown – Contact for rates
• Hip2Save – Contact for rates
• Horse Network – $100
• How-To Geek – Contact for rates
• Income Diary – $100-$300
• Insteading – $50
• Introvert, Dear – $75
• Listverse – $100
• Loaded Landscapes – $20-$150
• Make a Living Writing – $150-$230
• Mold Busters $200-$400
• Mommy Poppins – Competitive rates
• Nutri Inspector – $60-$180
• Pregnant Chicken – $100
• Screen Rant – Contact for rates
• SitePoint – Contact for rates
• Small Biz Trends – Negotiable
• Smashing Magazine – Contact for rates
• Technology Networks – Contact for rates
• The Barefoot Writer – $100-$300
• The Krazy Coupon Lady – Full-time, pay DOE
• The Right Hairstyles – Contact for rates
• The Sportster – Contact for rates
• The Write Life – $75-$250
• Theme Park Tourist – $10-$50
• Wise Bread – Contact for rates
• Writer’s Digest – $50-$100
• Writers Weekly – $30-$60

Full-Time Writing and Editing Jobs

If you prefer not to freelance, there are plenty of options for you to work from home on writing projects full-time. These positions tend to be with marketing and advertising agencies and online content creators and publishers. To find these full-time remote work opportunities, explore the hiring companies below. 

• Dotdash Meredith
• GoBankingRates

Paid Freelance Writing Platforms

No matter what type of freelance writing jobs you’re looking for (article writing,  copywriting , creative writing,  grant writing , ebooks, technical, case studies, press releases, content writing, or white papers), you’ll be able to find them on these freelance marketplaces. Each job site works in its own manner. For some, you’ll search for projects and submit bids; for others, you’ll apply to become a freelance writer; and for others, you’ll set up your own profile and list your services.

• Capital Typing
• ContentWriters
• Express Writers
• Journalism Jobs
• Media Bistro
• People Per Hour

Writing Greeting Cards

Have a knack for writing short and sweet sentiments? Turn your ideas into cash by submitting your words to greeting card companies . According to Carol Eannarino , payment for a greeting card idea ranges from $10-$50 or more, depending on the studio.

• Blue Mountain
• Comstock – $50 per idea
• Greeting Card Universe
• Oatmeal Studios – $100

Of course, you can create your own cards and sell them on a platform like Etsy. Melanie from Simple Made Pretty chronicles her success in selling greeting cards on Etsy . 

Write Helpful Tips, Short Stories, and Magazine Articles

Print and online magazines are always looking for new content, which is why many publications are willing to pay for short stories , helpful tips, poems, and even jokes.

Here are just a few publications that pay for submissions. Payment is made only if your tip or story is published.

• Apex Magazine – $0.08-$0.09 per word
• Broadview Magazine – Negotiable
• Chicken Soup for the Soul – $250
• Cricket – Up to $0.25 per word
• Discover Magazine – Print $1 per word, $300 for web
• Grain Magazine – $50-$500
• Guide – $0.07-$0.10 per word
• Ms. Magazine – Rates vary per assignment
• Narrative Magazine $50-$1,000
• The Story People – Contact for rates
• Writers Digest – $0.30-$0.50 per word
• YES! Magazine – $0.40-$0.50 per word

Do you want to write for magazines? Check out this post , where Linda Formichelli tells you how to break into this lucrative writing niche!

Job Boards for Writers

Smaller, niche-focused job board websites are a great place to search for freelance, part-time, and full-time writing jobs. Search the sites using these key phrases that meet your criteria.

• BloggingPro
• FlexJobs – A paid job board
• Freelance Writing Jobs
• ProBlogger Job Board
• Writers Wanted – A paid job board

Mixed Writing Jobs

One of my favorite places to search for writing jobs, both full-time positions and freelance roles, is staffing agencies . With staffing agencies, you can find contract, permanent, temporary, and remote job openings. They have openings for technical writers, content strategists, copywriters, public relations writers, SEO content writers, and more! Working with a staffing agency is an excellent way to test the waters in different writing careers, as well as a good way to get your foot in the door with companies. 

Here are some staffing agencies to explore for paid writing jobs: 

• Flex Professionals
• Kelly Services
• Robert Half

Medical Writers

If you have a degree in nursing, pharmacology, social work, or another medical specialization and you enjoy writing, there are many remote writing jobs for healthcare writers. With some of these writing job opportunities, you’ll write curriculum and test prep questions; other times, you’ll write policies, continuing education materials, grants, and articles. 

See each website for submission guidelines and assignments. 

• ClearVoice  
• CrowdPharm  

Get Paid to Write Poetry

Are you a creative writer who enjoys evoking emotions in people? Then, perhaps selling your poetry can earn you some extra cash. Here are a few places you can sell your poems.

• Arc Poetry Magazine – $50 per page
• Boulevard – $50-$300
• December – $40-$200
• Palette Poetry – $50-$150
• Poem Analysis – Contact for pay rates
• Poetry Foundation – $10 per line and $150 per page of prose
• Room – $50-$200 CAD
• Three Penny Review – $200-$400
• VQR – $200-$1,000

You’ll also want to check out this list of ways to earn money with your poetry here .

Recipe Writers and Developers

If you’re talented in the kitchen and create your own recipes, there are food bloggers who will pay you for your original written recipes. Most will also want you to include photos or videos as well.

• Recipe Yum – CPM payment model

For more recipe writing gigs, check out our post on how to make money selling your recipes . 

Earn Money as a Resume Writer

Are you good at proofreading, interviewing, and persuasive writing? Then, becoming a professional resume writer may be the perfect freelance writing job for you. As a resume writer, you’ll write cover letters, resumes, and sometimes LinkedIn profiles. You may also help job seekers practice answering common interview questions.

• Career5 – Freelance
• ERW – Freelance
• Talent Inc. – Freelance
• The Job Sauce – Part-time, independent contractors
• TopStack Resume – Full- and part-time writers

Paid Revenue-Sharing Sites

With revenue-sharing sites, you contribute content to the site, and in return, you make a percentage of the advertising revenue generated from your content. Each site does it a little differently; some offer base pay, while others are strictly based on how much traffic or how many clicks your content receives. I’ve never tried to make money this way, but here are some success tips from Carol Tice .

• The Richest

Write Romance Novels

Do you want to write the next Fifty Shades of Grey? Then, submit your manuscript to one of the many romance publishers.

• Carina Press
• Extasy Books
• Harper Collins Publisher
• Sourcebooks

Of course, you don’t have to go through a traditional publisher to get your book published. With Amazon, you can self-publish your book on a shoestring budget. The nice thing about going this route is you maintain the ownership of your book, which you don’t with a traditional publisher. If you’re curious about self-publishing, check out Rachel Blaufeld’s success story with self-publishing romance novels. 

Social Media and Content Marketing

With platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and more, there is a huge demand for writers who know the ins and outs of these online marketing platforms. Sometimes, these positions are called social media managers or virtual assistants, and other times, digital content specialists. Besides writing social media updates, you may also create content for blogs, ads, newsletter campaigns, video scripts, and other forms of content creation.

General knowledge of search engine optimization (SEO) is generally needed for these roles. Some companies may require applicants to have a bachelor’s degree in marketing, advertising, or a related field. However, depending on your experience level, some companies may substitute a degree for experience.

• MarketerHire
• VaVa Virtual Assistants

Travel Writing

Who doesn’t dream of traveling the world and getting paid to write about their adventures ? While most travel gigs pay for free travel, food, lodging, and activities, there are a few outlets that will pay a small amount for your writing.

• Backcountry Magazine – $0.35 or less per word
• Down East – $0.60-$0.75 per word
• Go Nomad – $25
• International Living – $100 per $1,000 words
• Nomadic Matt – $250
• Outpost Magazine – Pay negotiable
• Young Adventuress – $50-$150

Probably one of the best ways to make money as a travel writer is to start your own blog. With travel blogging, you’ll write your own content, publish it, and then make money through activities like affiliate marketing, advertising networks, selling products, and paid sponsorships. If starting a travel blog sounds appealing, be sure to sign up for our free 10-day start your blog course .

Final Words About Paid Writing Gigs

As you can see, there are tons of paid writing jobs for writers!

However, if you don’t see the type or topic of writing assignments you’d like to work on, you can always pitch your freelance writing services to a potential client. If you don’t have a website with writing samples, you can create an online portfolio on LinkedIn or Contently to showcase your work.

Since most of these job opportunities are freelance positions, you’ll want to be sure to track your income and expenses and set aside money for quarterly self-employment taxes. You’ll also need a system for keeping track of clients and deadlines, and our Ultimate Online Business Planning Toolkit is perfect for running your freelance writing business like a pro!

As your freelance writing career grows, you should invest in your writing skills by taking courses, joining professional organizations, and other tools and resources you’ll need to be successful.

What type of paid writing gigs are you searching for? Do you know of another site that pays writers? Let us know in the comment section below.

Originally published on February 25, 2015. Content updated on May 2024.

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About the Author

Holly Reisem Hanna

Holly Reisem Hanna is a former nurse who decided to start a blog to make money from home while caring for her daughter. Since its inception in 2009, The Work at Home Woman has helped millions of readers find legitimate work at home jobs and business ideas. Under Holly's guidance, The Work at Home Woman was named one of the best websites for your career by Forbes two years in a row. Holly graduated from the University of Texas and has been featured in Yahoo Finance, Woman’s World Magazine, CNN, and many others.

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Reader Interactions

156 comments.

June 1, 2024 at 6:39 am

I’m interested in pursuing a remote writing job from home. What steps should I take to get started in this field?

June 2, 2024 at 8:34 am

Write a few samples for your portfolio, and start applying for gigs.

February 17, 2024 at 12:00 pm

I began pursuing a career in Copy and SEO Optimization Writing about a year ago. I had at this point been studying the art of Copywriting for about a year. I paid for a course thru the AWAI Institute and even though there was great information, not a lot of support on finding real work. I began working construction last May to make ends meet and because of the long days and hard work, my career in Copy and SEO writing came to a complete stop. I have in the last few weeks began to restart the machine and even took this week off work to start applying for writing jobs and try to keep the dream alive. I go back to work in 2 days and I am concerned the momentum I have built will fall off once again. Even worse, the situation me and my kids have been in will not get any better if I remain doing the same thing. I thank you for this post, as I have been maniacally sitting with my laptop for days on end trying to find work so I can leave my other job. I am about to go one by one thru all your links because I know what I am looking for is there. Thank you

February 19, 2024 at 9:11 am

Check out this article by Danny; he chronicles his success using Upwork as a new copywriter: https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/make-money-freelancing/

Wishing you all the best!

January 28, 2023 at 4:25 am

Hi, for the poetry, do they accept international submissions?

January 30, 2023 at 7:40 am

I believe they are available globally.

January 30, 2022 at 5:12 pm

Is there anywhere to submit writing samples for songs? Thank you!

January 31, 2022 at 12:00 pm

Let me know do some research — stay tuned.

July 9, 2021 at 7:16 am

Hello, I am Robert from Nakuru, Kenya. Is there an opportunity for men? I am interested, I am willing to contribute in areas of fine arts and writing theological materials. Thank you in advance, Pastor Robert.

July 10, 2021 at 9:18 am

Yes, the information is applicable to men as well.

Just click on the company and it will take you to the opportunity.

September 24, 2019 at 2:52 pm

I have to say I never thought I would get paid to write for a living but blogging is something I never knew would exist when I was growing up either! Such much changes but writing is always a great way to get out your feelings and thoughts and if you can get paid to do so, even better!

September 25, 2019 at 9:13 am

Me either, Scarlet. I’m so glad that you found a career that you love!

Thanks for stopping by!

September 9, 2019 at 1:15 am

I would like to get a job in writing online from home where do I start? and what to do next? many thanks in advance.

September 9, 2019 at 6:44 am

Just click on the links above and follow each sites’ instructions for applying.

February 28, 2019 at 7:18 am

Wow this looks quite informative! Thanks for sharing.

June 22, 2021 at 3:54 pm

Glad you enjoyed the list, Janelle!

February 4, 2019 at 7:47 pm

Thank you for the encouraging responses that you have given your audience. I started my search to find writing gigs that would pay me @ least $75 per day for my work… Unfortunately, several of the blogs/ YouTubers had negative reviews and I was discouraged. I decided to just do a search and I found your blog. The information you listed is mind blowing!!! That is… That someone would put this amount of work into compiling this list and not ask for a dime!! But, what meant the most to me is that you took the time to advise others and encourage people. Thank you for that!

February 5, 2019 at 2:38 pm

You’re welcome!

I’m glad you found the list helpful. Let me know if you decide to apply for any of these positions, I’d love to know how they work out for you!

December 4, 2018 at 3:06 pm

Incredible work Holly! There’s so much good info here, thanks, I know we all appreciate it.

June 22, 2021 at 3:55 pm

Thanks, AJ — I’m glad you found the list helpful.

October 8, 2018 at 8:16 am

hello am a writer which website will I get a client

June 23, 2021 at 8:16 am

Shes not toting her psychic skills. Click a link.

June 6, 2018 at 4:21 am

You can even count this website https://www.gmrtranscription.com/careers.aspx in the list as well for freelance transcription jobs. They’ve plenty of work most of the time and always looking for the candidates.

June 6, 2018 at 11:17 am

Thanks for sharing!

December 2, 2018 at 12:38 pm

I really want a job

May 14, 2018 at 3:15 pm

Hiring? Need job.. Ready to work..

April 19, 2018 at 6:09 pm

I’m looking forward to perusing these sites. I love finding new niches to freelance for. Ultius has treated me well and I think they are almost always hiring ( https://ults.co/writerapply ).

April 20, 2018 at 7:48 am

Thanks for sharing, Alice!

October 20, 2021 at 9:58 pm

I want a at home job typing on the computer I’m a hard worker but people jobs want cookie cutter people yes people people that can work a lot of hours with no sleep I can work but not to much

October 21, 2021 at 6:36 am

Have you looked at temp agencies like Kelly Services?

April 16, 2018 at 12:13 pm

Wow what a great list. I’ve really enjoyed writing for https://www.constant-content.com/ but will have to check out some of the others in the list. Thanks!

February 28, 2018 at 10:42 am

I’ve noticed these gigs are all in dollars.

Can you use these sites if you live in the United Kingdom?

February 28, 2018 at 3:09 pm

You’ll have to follow up with each site to see if they allow writers from the UK.

July 2, 2018 at 6:16 pm

Hi, can i use this site if i live is SA

July 4, 2018 at 7:25 am

Hi Stanley,

Nice to meet you!

With these writing gigs, it shouldn’t matter where you live as long as you provide high-quality work and can be paid via PayPal.

Please check out this post for international listings: https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/worldwide-work-from-home-jobs/

Good luck on your job hunt!

December 31, 2017 at 7:58 am

Thank you so much for this list! I drive almost an hour one way to go to work and I am looking for something I can do from home. This information will be a great start for me!

January 2, 2018 at 12:44 pm

Glad you enjoyed the list, Pam.

If you’re looking for more ideas, these articles will give you a great place to start your WAH job search:

https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/best-work-from-home-jobs/

https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/right-job/

https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/work-home-jobs-location/

December 1, 2017 at 9:29 am

Great list!! I recently started a free writing leads site as a labor of love from one writer to another. It’s a daily list of Canadian writing jobs and remote and freelance opportunities, too. Feel free to share or check it out. WritingJobsCanada.ca

November 25, 2017 at 11:45 pm

Dear holly any recommendations for offline data entry website as I have time I want to earn some money please advice ASAP FOR some critical issues thanks

November 26, 2017 at 12:31 pm

Try looking on Indeed and FlexJobs, or this post may give you some ideas: https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/typing-jobs/

September 28, 2017 at 11:49 am

Holy smokes this is one heck of a list, Holly! Thanks for putting it together for us. You know I’m sharing this one!

Hope all is well. :)

Happy small Friday!

September 28, 2017 at 1:56 pm

Glad you enjoyed the list, Cori. Love that, happy small Friday! Same to you!

June 19, 2017 at 7:38 pm

As retirement approaches, a lifelong desire to simply create, write, and explore avenues that have always proven themselves a true interest and passion is rapidly pulling me in to my most deepest desires of these areas. Admittedly, there are so many areas that are catching my attention, so the question now is, “Where to begin?” Thank you so very much.

June 22, 2017 at 7:58 am

Check out this post, Patty: https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/start-working-from-home-now/

June 15, 2017 at 6:35 pm

This is a great website thank you! I have just graduated with a first but want a writing job from home part time to go alongside another full time job. I like beauty/fashion/baking but having done psychology degree I like to write about current issues, including personal ones such as copying with anxiety etc Do you recommend where I could start writing? Thanks

June 13, 2017 at 5:32 am

Story writing is my hobby and want to share it more to you. Though I need my real chance to start for you.

June 7, 2017 at 12:52 am

I just wanted to let you know that you are my muse for extensive thoroughness with my writing. I’m just getting started, and you’re my go-to gal for inspiration and encouragement. As of right now I’m trying to learn the technical ropes and migrate my site to a new host. I’d love to have you in my network! Any tips you could share would be immensely appreciated!

June 12, 2017 at 7:15 am

Hi Ashley, Thanks for your kind words — they made my day!

I’m not a tech person. I use a web programmer for all of my tech issues. Her name is Susan from http://octoberskies.com . I’ve also heard great things about Grayson Bell at https://www.imarkinteractive.com/author/imark/ .

I’m on all the major social channels if you’d like to connect. Thanks for stopping by and leaving such a nice comment!

May 23, 2017 at 4:33 am

I’m sadia and please suggest me any job .

May 24, 2017 at 9:46 am

Hi Sadia, These articles will give you a great place to start your WAH job search:

May 21, 2017 at 10:43 am

Hey i would love to write. Im pretty good with short stories (usually fiction), what would you suggest?

May 18, 2017 at 11:05 am

I’m used to write in french. I tried upwork but i’m paid 5 dollars per 1000 words or 7 dollars… Can you suggest me a website where i can write in french but having good salary like those websites you posts on your blog ? And can you suggest me VA in french website please ?

May 19, 2017 at 3:32 pm

Rev.com hires French translators: https://www.rev.com/translation

Also, Anna has a great list of translation jobs on her website: https://realwaystoearnmoneyonline.com/money-earning-directory/translation/

Good luck and keep me posted!

May 15, 2017 at 3:12 pm

Hi Holly, My passions include being a life long runner and outdoor enthusiast, having owned a fairly large business in that niche. In addition, healthy pro-active nutrition, and politics are included. Do you have any recommendations as to what writing industries or companies to pursue? I’m interested in doing reviews, blogs, copywriting but open to suggestions. Thank you very much! Kathy

May 18, 2017 at 7:28 am

Hi Kathy, What about Live Strong? They are always hiring writers in a variety of categories. Also, check out your favorite brands and companies and research their blog posts. Maybe they haven’t added any new content in a long time, and you can send them a proposal, or you can pitch them a few ideas that they haven’t covered. Good luck!

May 9, 2017 at 6:20 pm

Wow! Thank you so much for this blog post! I have never seen so much accurate and helpful information in one post! I have bookmarked this page and will be checking all of them out! Thank you so very much!

May 10, 2017 at 1:30 pm

Glad you enjoyed the list, Courtney!

April 7, 2017 at 10:57 pm

I am interested in a stay at home career in writing. I am a mother of two and I have been writing for many years. Nothing has been published. I write short stories, children’s stories and some poetry. can you please let me know in which direction I should be looking to get started.

April 8, 2017 at 7:29 am

It depends. Do you want to set up a business? Or are you just looking for a little extra side cash?

Here are some hand-picked articles that can help guide your way:

https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/4k-writer/

https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/start-working-from-home-now/

https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/make-money-freelancing/

Good luck and keep us posted!

February 27, 2017 at 8:45 pm

I m interest in writing. Can u plss give me the instruction??

February 26, 2017 at 4:05 pm

This may seem a rather daft question, and it is, but: I’m a man. Now, can men, even incredibly heterosexual ones such as me (lol), utilize and take advantage of these services as a means to market their writerly talents? Also, I have found that, for me personally, nonfiction writing is easier than fiction. However, I must strongly emphasize that this opinion is tempered by and only true of those times when one finds that they can be just as creative and imaginative and fluid and free and freewheeling in their nonfiction as they are in their fiction. To that end, I have furthermore discovered that, for me personally, in addition to the writing of certain essays and ersatz/satirical articles and the prosy like, poetry is also relatively easy to write. Indeed, it is EASIER to write. At least, it is for me, anyway. Now, don’t get me wrong, I also like to fiction, but I can’t write it as speedily and with as much insouciant ease as I can various forms of essay and poetry. Again, that’s just me, though. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity of using this forum as a means of getting a few things off my chest. However, I have one last query to advance: As I have recently written a great, semiautobiographical (or perhaps pseudoautobiographical) seriocomical/jocoserious short story that has a great deal of erotic imagery, action and description in it, I wonder where I might publish this story? It is not, I must stress, despite it’s sexual nature and the intrinsic, crucial importance of the eroticism therein, a bona fide erotic story. It is not erotica, as they call it. It is far above and beyond the trashy simplicity of erotica. Yet, as I said, the middle section of it is a sex scene, but one that I twist and manipulate every sort of human emotion out of, and that sex scene is not gratuitous, it is essential to the story and the plot. I am not one to, even in the writing of the very few forays into erotica and eroticism that I have attempted over the past seven years, write of sexuality overmuch, or at all, or gratuitously, but as this was integral, I saw no reason to withhold the sexual from the bounds of my prose.

Regardless, and for comedic effect a few very dirty vulgarities and smutty colloquialisms are used within the context of my tale, but still I wonder: Who would publish such an esoteric, unidentifiable, eclectic work?

I am rightly proud of the story, it being one of the best and funniest yet most strangely sad stories I’ve ever written, and long to see it in all the unbounded glory of print.

(I did not mean this thing to turn out to be some abridged story of my life, but as the next revelation that I am about to parenthetically reveal is somewhat imperative, I feel I must, if only as a means to create an understanding of me, my works and, most especially, my STYLE and TECHNIQUE as a writer, share the following bit of semi-personal data with you: Namely, that I am an avid reader in general and in particular of the greatest Anglo-American/European/Russian/Near-Eastern/Mediterranean writers of all manner of prose of the past several millennia, but with an especial focus on the greatest writers of the 1700’s-1960’s: and before and beyond: and it is them and their monumental and intellectually-stimulating, descriptive, sublime works that inform all my writing….therefore, that’s why I’ve elected to write in the way in which I’ve done here….not to impress, except by diffusion and osmosis, but rather because it is just the general, natural way I always have of speaking and, most especially, writing. Thank you bearing with me through this difficult digression….which, if I was going to submit and publish this essay-length comment, I think that would make an excellent title for it! lol)

February 27, 2017 at 12:06 pm

Yes, these opportunities are applicable to both women and men.

February 24, 2017 at 6:47 am

Hi Holly, I’d appreciate knowing about your favorite freelance writing opportunities for elementary educators. Thanks!

February 24, 2017 at 7:26 am

Hi Lesley, Have you thought about curriculum writing or instructional design? Really, the sky’s the limit, you can write for education blogs, magazines, newsletters. It just depends on your area of expertise within the education field and what type of writing interests you.

February 22, 2017 at 1:47 am

I’m interested in writing in several categories: my worldwide travel experiences; the 23+ years of meeting, taking pictures and talking to hundreds of celebrities in NYC.

I’m also interested in writing book, TV and movie reviews. I’ve done quite a few travel reviews on TripAdvisor. I’ve written a couple of book reviews and received thank you notes from the author.

Can you give me some advice where I can do this and get paid for it? Thank you.

February 22, 2017 at 8:48 am

Hi Diane, Have you thought about starting a review blog?

February 17, 2017 at 3:40 am

Hi, I am Rashid from India.Just recently I had started blogging and I had published two based on my personal experience.Now I am willing to write a short fictional story.Can you suggest me any site where I could begin with?

January 26, 2017 at 8:41 am

I also have had a lot of luck scoring paid contracts on freelancing websites like Upwork. I t’s tough to build up a profile initially, but after about a year I was able to make solid money – between $500-$1000 per week. It’s all about building up a profile and reputation, just like any business.

Thanks for these tips!

January 26, 2017 at 12:15 pm

That’s great — congrats on your writing success!

January 16, 2017 at 2:35 pm

I am interested in writing about women’s life experiences. Its been suggested to me because of my sense of humor and the way I look at life, especially mine!! Blogging has been suggested but boy I feel lost and not so sure. Main ideas?

January 16, 2017 at 4:37 pm

Hi Paula, This post will give you a great place to start: https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/setup-blog/ Let me know if you have further questions — happy to get you going in the right direction.

January 15, 2017 at 6:12 am

Hi I’m also interested in writing ….I’m from India….how can I be helped…..

January 16, 2017 at 6:25 am

Hi Rosy, Most of these sites pay via PayPal, so if you’re able to accept payment via PayPal — just start pitching and applying. Good luck!

December 2, 2016 at 4:07 pm

I just stumbled on this informative gift from your stable by luck today. I like to earn from writing and online typing. I’m in Nigeria. Guide me.

December 4, 2016 at 7:52 am

As long as you’re able to accept payments via PayPal, you should be able to write for the majority of these sites. Good luck!

November 29, 2016 at 12:49 pm

All this being said if you’re a fast writer, and you don’t spend a lot of time on each article, maybe you could make minimum wage working on Demand Studio stuff. Which would be cool if you’re working from home and that’s all the money you were looking for. But long-term, other “freelance” writing jobs would be likely to net you a lot more. Blogging is my favorite.

I’ve done quite a bit of freelance writing, myself–not the website, but jobs you hunt down for yourself in corporate America–and the income can be excellent, but often requires a lot more personal marketing or a good list of personal contacts. And you’ll need to be able to prove you can do the work with a combination of references, education, and samples. You also need to have the good aptitude for customer service, so you can keep your clients happy.

November 5, 2016 at 12:47 am

Thanks for the informative post. I’ve been trying to assess the validity of the site writingjobz.com for a potential scam without much luck. I notice that it isn’t on your list. Have you ever heard anything about them? If not, could you please look into this? I’ve given my info (basic application stuff, but still) and am, sadly, backward fact-checking. Thanks!

November 7, 2016 at 6:53 am

The one thing that stands out to me is they’re hiring writers, but nowhere on the website are they selling the articles to clients. Most legit sites have a page for customers and another for writers. They are based in India, not the US — I’d steer clear of this one.

September 26, 2016 at 2:28 pm

Hi Holly! There are a ton of awesome ideas here that I am eager to explore! I recently started a blog that I’m going to use as a portfolio for my pieces and hopefully will submit them somewhere for pay and future writing gigs. I am currently working in a full time office job and would like to move from this lifestyle that allows me to write remotely on a more flexible schedule. I have just submitted an essay to a contest about my experiences as a person with a disability. I’m wondering if you have any additional suggestions on where to send my essay, or else any information you can provide as I try to embark upon this difficult career change. Thanks so much!

September 27, 2016 at 7:18 am

Hi Brittany, Glad you enjoyed the list! It sounds like you have a good plan in place.

Here are some pieces that I think will help you on your journey:

Gina Horkey has had tremendous success as a freelance writer and virtual assistant and she gives some great advice in this interview: https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/4k-writer/

This article by Katie McDonald has some excellent information on identifying strong freelance leads: https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/promising-leads/

Oh, and this article has some advice from four successful freelancers (Carol Tice, Kristi Hines, Mary Jaksch, and Heather Robson) on how to make more money with your writing: https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/make-more-money-writing/

September 27, 2016 at 8:49 pm

This is great, thanks so much!

September 28, 2016 at 8:54 am

You’re welcome, Brittany!

August 18, 2016 at 6:46 am

I have around 7 years of experience in IT currently a stay at home mom with two naughty boys.. I love to write and earn a living.. what would be the best site for me to start with

August 18, 2016 at 11:35 am

Have you written articles before? Or is this your first stab at freelance writing? If you’re new to the game, I’d suggest looking at the ProBlogger job board or Upwork. Get some articles under your belt, then go after higher paying gigs.

August 15, 2016 at 11:09 am

Its one of the best posts full of good resources on writing content. I have not visited all of the sites yet but I am going to check them all one by one. Thank you so much.

August 16, 2016 at 3:02 pm

Glad you enjoyed the list!

July 31, 2016 at 1:28 pm

Scary Mommy is no longer offering payment for submissions.

August 1, 2016 at 10:24 am

Thanks for letting me know, Jessica. I’ll take it off the list.

August 3, 2016 at 1:42 pm

Such a bummer! Still a good opportunity to build up a portfolio though :)

August 3, 2016 at 4:39 pm

Definitely!

July 6, 2016 at 1:11 am

Hi holly I love to write on life and experience and many more but could not find website

July 6, 2016 at 7:07 am

Have you checked Carol Tice’s website? She too has a great list of paid opportunities: http://www.makealivingwriting.com/earn-money-online-websites-that-pay-writers-spring-2016/

June 7, 2016 at 6:59 am

Looking to get hired. How do I start?

June 11, 2016 at 10:05 am

Hi Angel, Just click on the links and it will take you to each gig. Good luck!

June 5, 2016 at 10:46 pm

Hi I live in India n love to write so please let me know how I can do that . Thanks

June 11, 2016 at 10:15 am

Hi Damanpreet, Click on the links above and each site will tell you how to apply. Good luck!

April 28, 2016 at 6:54 pm

I don’t have website but looking and love writing. I had been writing on agony aunts column I enjoy helping other people. Love to follow my dream and do this for a job.

April 29, 2016 at 10:32 am

With these sort of gigs you don’t need a website. However, if you’re interested in getting a website for free – this article has some good options: https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/35-free-resources-to-help-manage-your-business-life/

Good luck on your writing journey!

April 9, 2016 at 8:32 pm

We pay $100 per post if you want to add our site. All details are here: http://www.blessthislist.com/write-get-paid/

April 9, 2016 at 9:01 pm

Thanks for sharing your writing gig!

July 27, 2016 at 5:40 pm

Hi holly I enjoyed reading your post on writing I love writing and would like to start blogging How can I find a how to guide to begin blogging? And with no experience what best choices are there for hiring fresh writers

July 27, 2016 at 6:31 pm

Hi Meandra, Here is a step-by-step tutorial on how to setup a blog: https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/setup-blog/

This post explains how to get started: https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/blogging/

April 8, 2016 at 10:17 am

Thanks for all the information. I am a homemaker and enjoy writing picture book stories, I have been looking for some freelance work and your article has been a blessing. I will be checking at the sites you recommend, thanks again and take care.

April 9, 2016 at 2:20 pm

Good luck, Denita!

April 4, 2016 at 3:15 am

I would like to recommend my site 20four7va. We currently need lots of writers and VA’s for different kind of business.

April 5, 2016 at 10:16 am

Thanks for sharing, Catherine. How much does 20four7va pay per article?

October 6, 2016 at 7:01 am

i live in india… i m a home maker… i love writing…. creative work like designing cards, dresses… plz let me know how can i work from home….

October 6, 2016 at 6:56 pm

The Work at Home Woman is geared toward U.S. residents.

March 15, 2016 at 11:44 am

So many interesting information, thanks. I also would like to recommend another source paperwritingonline.com. I often write to this site. If it’s interesting for somebody, you can visit a site or write me for more information.

March 15, 2016 at 12:03 pm

Thanks for the lead, Selena!

March 31, 2016 at 7:55 am

They do not have current openings for writers. Contacted them through their site chat..

March 2, 2016 at 7:24 am

Thanks for sharing this huge list. very nice list for writers

March 2, 2016 at 8:38 am

Glad you enjoyed it, Ranjeet!

February 26, 2016 at 12:49 pm

Once I get started writing a blog how would I get paid for it?

February 26, 2016 at 1:34 pm

Hi Amber, Most of these opportunities pay via PayPal. However, you’ll need read each companies terms to verify the exact payment method. Good luck!

February 21, 2016 at 9:33 pm

Great tips Holly! always enjoy your posts :)

February 22, 2016 at 9:12 am

So glad you enjoyed it, Mandi. Thanks for stopping by =)

February 18, 2016 at 12:45 pm

This looks interesting. I like to type and I would like to make some extra money. Please send me some info

January 29, 2016 at 4:31 am

i want a writing job

January 28, 2016 at 4:38 pm

Holly, I just wanted to thank you for this incredible post. It’s full of SO much good information and resources to find freelance writing work online. I can tell you spent a lot of time on it, so thank you, thank you, thank you! And I had NO idea about Nora Roberts only having a high-school education! That is a great cocktail party fact, too! Hope you’re well.

January 29, 2016 at 9:30 am

You’re welcome, Lisa! I love to do research — so it was a fun post to write!

January 28, 2016 at 11:07 am

I’m a Social Work student, who cares about special needs and social needs in public.IS there any sites to become a writer in this field? :)

January 29, 2016 at 9:31 am

Try looking at LiveStrong. If I come across any others — I’ll drop the links here. Good luck!

January 10, 2016 at 8:42 am

This is by far the most complete list I have come across of the highest paying writing jobs. I have been seriously considering working as a freelance writer, however many of the jobs that I have seem are not as generous in compensation as the ones listed here in your article. I look forward to checking out these opportunities! Thank you!

January 11, 2016 at 7:56 am

You’re welcome, Clara! Good luck on your freelance writing journey and keep us posted =)

January 6, 2016 at 10:53 am

I’m a yoga teacher an a Nutritionist. What do you think the best place to start would be for my knowledge? Thanks.

January 7, 2016 at 7:35 am

Have you tried LIVESTRONG? They hire writers for fitness and wellness articles. Also try looking at Upwork and Problogger.net for fitness gigs. Good luck!

December 17, 2015 at 2:06 pm

Would anyone happen to know a good place to write opinion articles? Maybe 300 to 500 words for $10 a pop? Whenever I find these lists of blogs and publications that pay, they are almost never looking for opinion. Maybe the niche is not profitable.

January 4, 2016 at 10:37 am

Try looking at magazines — many publications will pay a small stipend for short stories, jokes, recipes, and poems. Good luck and keep us posted!

December 10, 2015 at 5:28 pm

Parents, teachers and homeschoolers – Get paid to share your expertise and ideas with thousands of readers!! -Opportunities for paid blog posts on the Educents blog (blog.educents.com) -Receive a quarterly newsletter with blog topic ideas -Receive invitations to submit pitches for blog posts -Get your name out there! Every blog post published on Educents has an author bio

More info: http://blog.educents.com/join-the-educents-all-star-blogger-program/

December 2, 2015 at 1:08 pm

Greetings Holly, Top Tenz is no longer excepting submissions until further notice. They are now using their inside staff writers.

This information was on the website.

December 2, 2015 at 2:03 pm

Thanks for letting me know, Tangela. I’ll have to find a replacement =)

January 4, 2016 at 4:14 am

Accepting is the appropriate word, not excepting.

October 30, 2015 at 6:19 pm

Hi I have just written a short story about an old pit bull telling his life story. It’s approx 20,000 words. Any suggestions as to where I go next with this

November 2, 2015 at 7:25 am

Here’s a great list of places to submit your short stories: http://thewritelife.com/where-to-submit-short-stories/

October 7, 2015 at 4:36 pm

Thanks Ms. Hanna! I love doing recipes and this article will really be a blessing!

October 9, 2015 at 7:42 am

You’re welcome, Leiann! Glad you found the recipe section helpful. I’ll keep you posted if I find some more sites.

September 25, 2015 at 2:23 am

The Intense Blog link leads to the Dollar Stretcher page. (It isn’t hard to Google the write for us link, just thought you should know anyways!)

September 25, 2015 at 8:45 am

Thanks for letting me know, Kali. The link has been corrected =)

September 5, 2015 at 6:15 pm

I enjoy writing poems. I don’t see any place for me to submit a freelance poem here though.

Heading Onward makes one Lag when Learning of the Yearly traffic gag.

September 8, 2015 at 8:02 am

Try submitting to greeting card companies, magazines, and contests.

July 16, 2017 at 10:17 am

There’s an app you could download for writers and although its free to use and doesn’t necessarily pay you for each poem u post theirs perhaps some leads on paying opportunities and contests…. Mirakee

August 19, 2015 at 10:11 am

Good Morning!

I’m glad I came across this site. I am inspired to express myself through the written word again. I am new to blogging, but excited to get my feet wet learning about it.

August 19, 2015 at 9:51 am

hey there holly, always love the info you send! ps-elance & odesk are now upwork.com keep up the great work! best, jo-anna

August 26, 2015 at 12:40 pm

Thanks for letting me know, I’ll get that corrected.

July 17, 2015 at 7:56 pm

This is very helpful. Writing for a living is something I’ve always wanted to do, but finding legitimate resources is a difficult tasks. You’ve made this journey easier to bear. Thanks!

April 29, 2015 at 10:54 am

So going to check all this out.

February 26, 2015 at 7:31 am

Holly, thanks for including Write Naked on your list of blogs that compensate writers. Just wanted to let you know the rate posted is incorrect. I do not pay $100. (I ran a promotion a few years ago for that rate, so perhaps you saw an old page.) I pay $50 per guest post, but if I am particularly wowed with a pitch I pay $200. Thanks again–really appreciate the exposure and love the site you have built here.

February 26, 2015 at 11:14 am

You’re welcome, Tara. I’ll update that information =)

March 22, 2016 at 6:36 am

Are you still looking for writers?

December 4, 2016 at 4:59 am

I need aa job

January 11, 2017 at 1:35 pm

I would like to help you, first you read and then decided to how much pay.

November 17, 2017 at 4:30 am

I need job..my Gmail I’d is [email protected]

January 21, 2017 at 4:14 am

I’m an enthusiast guy and currently looking for writing jobs. I’m available at all times and would really appreciate for working with you Tara.regards

May 10, 2017 at 5:57 pm

If there is any alert me please

May 10, 2017 at 5:56 pm

Okay no problem with that

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Creative writers opportunities.

A page for posts of interest to writers of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Curated by Allison Joseph

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A Seriously Long List of Jobs That Involve Creative Writing

Who says you can’t make any money from creative writing?

Okay, so a lot of people. But they’re wrong. If you’re a creative writing major, have a degree in writing, or simply identify this skill as the best thing you’ve got to offer the world, there are a ton of ways to build a career with your talents.

In fact, writing skills are way more valuable than your Uncle Richie realizes (or whichever relative scoffed at your dreams last Thanksgiving). Anyone with a gift for words has the ability to communicate vital information, motivate others into action, and help others feel seen and understood.

The survival of many industries depends on their ability to connect with human beings. They need brilliant wordsmiths. And here’s the really exciting part: not everyone can do what you do as well as you can do it.

So no, being a writer does not mean you’re sentenced to a life as a “starving artist.” 

That said, some creative writing jobs are easier to snag than others. There’s also a difference in pay across different writing gigs. Some jobs will be easier to fill with AI in the future, and—the important detail—some will be more in line with your vision for your writing career. 

So here’s a comprehensive list of opportunities and considerations to help you narrow down your focus. You’re about to find out:

• What writing jobs are out there
• The skills you need to land work in the creative writing field
• Which industries are looking for folks like you
• What type of education or experience you need to get started

Let’s start by taking a look at your many, many options.

Career Opportunities in Creative Writing

Before we launch into this very long list of creative writing jobs, I’d like to clarify the term “freelance writer.”

A freelance writer is a contractor. Rather than hiring them on as employees, an individual or business hires a freelance writer to complete specific tasks within their area of expertise. 

If you choose to work as a freelancer rather than an employee, you’d be your own boss. You’d set your own rates, determine your own schedule, and decide which projects to take on and which to skip. You’d also be free to work with as many different clients as you’d like.

The downside is that you don’t get benefits like paid time off, health insurance, and employer contributions to your retirement fund. You’re responsible for paying quarterly taxes directly to the government, as no one withdraws them from your paycheck. 

Depending on the specific creative writing career you’re building, you might also need to look into professional liability insurance or setting up an LLC. These topics get complicated and vary according to where you live, so I’m not even going to try to give you advice on any of that. It’s better to consult your accountant, mentor, and/or fellow freelance writers in your area.

The main thing I want to convey is that if you choose to freelance, you have to think of yourself as an actual business. That’s what you are after all. It comes with a lot of freedom and extra responsibilities. So weigh your options carefully.

One more quick note:

Salary Ranges Are Tough to Nail Down

I’ve included an average salary range for each of the job descriptions below. These ranges are huge and the numbers are almost meaningless. I put them there because if I were you, I’d want to see them so I could at least get a sense of the income one might make from these different writing jobs.

But the standard salary for each job can vary widely depending on the size of the company hiring you and the cost of living in your (or their) area.

The income range gets massive when you add freelancers to the mix. A rookie freelance copywriter who’s just building their portfolio and client list might make $20,000 in a year. Meanwhile, an in-demand freelance writer could make well into six figures and out-earn an in-house copywriter.

So use the salary information I provide to get a general idea of what’s possible. For more concrete numbers, check out job listings in your area and talk to people who already do the kind of work you want to do.  

And what kind of work is that? Let’s decide! Here are a ton of ways you can make money as a writer.

Content Writing Jobs

Content is all the media that encourages consumers to engage with a brand—blogs, videos, social media, podcasts, you name it. Creative writers like you and I might prefer to think of those things as art, but in business-speak, it’s content.

And as a professional content writer, you’ll have to ride that line between creativity and capitalism. After some looking around, you should be able to find an employer or client who wants you to bring some creative vision to your work. But you’ll also have to care about which creative strategies get buyers to bite. 

More on that in a bit, though. For now, here are the most common content writing jobs.

Content Writer

A content writer focuses more on long-form writing that builds a relationship with the target audience. In other words, content writing is less about making a sales pitch and more about being helpful and conveying the brand’s personality.

Common content writing tasks include:

• Email newsletters
• Articles and blogs
• Case studies

Average Salary: $40,000-$70,000 per year

A copywriter is more involved with the kind of creative writing that says, “Hey, you should spend money on this.” They compose things like:

• Website copy
• Landing pages
• Print and online ads
• Sales emails
• Sales pages and mailers

In many businesses, the content writer and the copywriter are the same person. But if you freelance as a copywriter specializing in one specific area—sales emails, for example—get familiar with the other materials your client is putting out to make sure your sales copy builds on the relationship they're already building through content.

Average Salary: $60,000-$120,000 per year

Technical Writer

Technical writing is basically “how-to” writing. It includes:

• Instruction manuals
• Explainer video scripts
• White papers
• Spec sheets

Technical writing might be your jam if you’re great at grasping complex concepts and clarifying them for the rest of us. It’s truly a magical writing skill that involves simplifying and being thorough at the same time. 

If you can pull that off, it’s only a matter of time before you’re considered an irreplaceable rockstar in someone’s business.

Annual Salary: $60,000-$90,000 per year

Social Media Writer

You’ll sometimes see social media fall under the umbrella of content writing, but it’s also its own position in many businesses.

As you can probably guess, a great social media writer comes up with brilliant captions that engage audiences on social platforms. But there’s more to it than that.

To do this job well, you have to be on top of social media trends so you can jump on challenges and hashtags while they’re still fresh. You also need to understand which customer segments are more likely to be on which platforms and how to engage with them.

Depending on the size of the company you’re working with, there’s a good chance you’ll also have to come up with the visuals and create the videos that accompany your brilliant captions.

If you love social media, you’ll be in heaven. If you don’t, you probably won’t be able to fake it. 

Average Salary: $50,000-$80,000 per year

Journalism and Media Jobs

In this category of creative writing jobs, we’re looking at everything that has to do with news and mass communication.

I know. That includes a lot. So let’s get to it.

A journalist investigates, researches, and writes the news for print and/or online publications. That’s a tidy little sentence to describe a writing job that involves a lot of specialized skills and a strict code of ethics.

While journalism absolutely belongs under the heading of “creative writing careers,” it’s an area where you can’t get fast and loose with your creativity. Journalists are responsible for revealing the truth to the public. Ideally , they do this without guiding the reader’s opinion or embellishing actual events. 

The ability to compose engaging articles that inspire thoughtful questions without pushing an agenda is a remarkable skill in and of itself. Successful journalists also tend to be curious, driven, resourceful, and fast writers.

This is one of the few writing jobs where having a degree (usually in journalism) is relatively important, especially if you hope to work for a notable publication. 

Average Salary: $60,000-100,000 per year

Broadcast Writer

A broadcast writer prepares the news for television, radio, and online media. In other words, they take all the deets about what’s going on in the world and turn them into scripts to be read by news anchors.

Like a journalist, a broadcast writer faces the challenging task of conveying information in an unbiased way. They also need to be adept at writing pieces intended to be read aloud—scripts that flow naturally for the speaker and can be quickly understood by the audience. 

Much like journalists, broadcast writers must be able to work quickly, often under pressure. If you like the idea of being in front of the camera yourself, this creative writing career path can include conducting interviews, attending press conferences, and reporting the news.

Average Salary: $40,000-$100,000 per year

Scriptwriter

A scriptwriter is anyone who writes a script for a play, movie, radio show, podcast, video game, or television show. Scriptwriters who write plays are called playwrights, movie writers are more commonly called screenwriters, and television writers are best known as—get this—television writers.

Playwrights and screenwriters almost always work on a freelance basis. Much like traditionally published book authors, they work with a literary agent and are constantly trying to sell their next project.

Television authors also need representation, though they’re usually hired onto the writing staff of a TV show as an employee. There is such a thing as freelance television writing where a writer steps in to pen a single episode of a show, but this practice isn’t as common as it used to be.

All of these jobs have the potential to be deeply fulfilling for a creative writer. They come with fun challenges like learning how to tell a great story purely through visuals and dialogue. 

Keep in mind that—much like becoming a successful author—it takes a long time to build a solid career in this field. There are a lot of gatekeepers and frequent rejection .

Film, theater, and television are also much more collaborative art forms than book publishing. Whatever you write, you have to be prepared for producers, directors, set designers, sound designers, actors, and editors to put their fingerprints on it, too. It’s entirely possible that the end product will be quite different from what you imagined.

In other words, if you’re precious about your work, this might not be your field.

Average Salary: $40,000-$80,000 per year

Publishing and Editing Jobs

Feel like your true home is in the book world? Then you’re looking for something in publishing.

When we think about creative writing jobs in publishing, we usually think of authors first. After all, that’s the dream for a lot of creative writers. But it’s no secret that authorship comes with rejection, requires a ton of patience, and doesn’t always cover the bills.

The good news is, you can still build your career around books even if you’d prefer to pass on all the uncertainty that comes with being an author. This field has plenty of other opportunities to flex those creative writing skills.

But we’ll get to those in a moment. First, let’s look at the best-known writing job in publishing.

As I mentioned before, authors are almost always freelance writers. This means that whether you plan to publish traditionally or self-publish, you have to think of yourself as a business.

Publishing traditionally means working with a publishing house to release your book into the world. This process usually involves finding an agent who then pitches your book to publishers and negotiates a book deal for you. We have a guide to the entire process right here .

Self-publishing means you produce and market your book yourself. This publishing model has boomed in both popularity and earning potential in the past decade and change. You must have an entrepreneurial spirit to succeed on this publishing path, though. You can learn more about it here . 

Whichever path they choose, successful authors build platforms and a following through channels like social media , email newsletters, and speaking engagements. Those platforms help them develop relationships with readers, give them more visibility, and make them more appealing to publishers.

You also need to some degree of sales smarts, whether you self-publish and take on the full responsibility of marketing your book or you decide to publish traditionally, which requires creating a compelling book pitch that gets agents and publishers onboard.

Average Salary: I can’t even give you a range in good conscience. So many factors influence author earnings, and only a small percentage of authors make a living on books alone. I recommend checking out this article for a clearer understanding of what you can make as an author. 

As Doug can tell you , there are several kinds of editing you could do, including:

• Developmental editing
• Line editing
• Sensitivity reading
• Fact-checking

Each type of editing evaluates a different aspect of a written work. These options also allow you to zero in on your greatest strength as a creative writer. Are you the sultan of story structure ? You might be interested in developmental editing . Are you a research rockstar and a stickler for accuracy? Maybe fact-checking is for you. 

This is a job you can do as an employee of a publishing house or as a freelancer. If you go the freelance route, you’ll likely be working with a lot of indie authors.

Average Salary: $60,000-$80,000 per year

Copy Editor or Proofreader

Copy editors are magical beings who have the kind of superhuman focus that allows them to catch tiny issues like grammar errors, misspelled words, inconsistencies in story details, and the like.

It’s true that AI is getting better and better at catching these mistakes. That’s why Dabble uses ProWritingAid to power grammar, spelling, and style checks. It helps creative writers prepare a draft that isn’t utterly riddled with errors.

But at this moment in time, we still can’t count on AI to catch nuanced errors, recognize clever word play, or appreciate an author’s deliberate decision to shirk old grammar rules. We still need human eyes to do this job.

Often confused with a copy editor, a proofreader is the very last person to review a book, and they look for any and all errors. If there’s a missed typo, a messed up margin, or a wonky image, they’ll flag it. Think of them as quality control.

As you likely guessed, both jobs require you to be extremely detail oriented.

Average Salary: $50,000-$90,000 per year

Literary agent

You probably associate this career path with sales more than creative writing. But the literary agents who succeed are the ones who understand what makes a book great . 

This job is best suited for someone who’s ready to do a ton of reading and enjoys rubbing elbows. You can expect to spend plenty of time on the phone, in lunch meetings, at publishing events, and in pitch meetings. You have to be good at building relationships and love talking books. 

What many creative writers don’t realize about agents is that their job also involves giving feedback on current projects and helping their clients talk through new ideas. The advice of a good agent can mean the difference between a book deal and a manuscript that never graduates beyond PDF status. 

Keep in mind that it takes time to succeed in this career. As a literary agent, you’ll make 15% of what your authors earn from their books. Expect some lean years as you build your client list.

Average Salary: $50,000-$70,000 per year

Book Reviewer

As a creative writer, you’re probably great at explaining why books work. You have smart things to say about character development , plot structure, and pacing. And if you’re a fast reader—and would love to make reading part of your creative writing career—you’d probably enjoy being a book reviewer.

Book reviewers do exactly what you think they do: they review books. Many choose to specialize in a specific genre or two. Specializing can be an effective strategy when it comes to building a name for yourself and giving readers a reason to value your opinion. It’s a way of establishing yourself as a genre expert.

Just note that this isn’t an easy career to just plop into. While you can find job listings for book reviewers, there aren’t many of them. Most people who do this for a living start by writing reviews on a freelance basis or even for their own blog/social media platform.

As you build your portfolio and reputation, you can submit your reviews to other publications, monetize your own review website/podcast/vlog, or possibly land a job as an in-house reviewer for a magazine, newspaper, or online platform.

Average Salary: $20,000-$80,000 per year

We already covered what a copywriter is, so I won’t go too deep on the subject here. I just want to make sure you know that it’s possible to do copywriting work within the world of publishing.

Publishing houses have copywriters on staff to handle things like press releases, media kits, author bios, social media content, and marketing materials.

In this role, you’d be able to enjoy the stability of a marketing-focused creative writing job while still getting to think about books all day. Not too shabby.

Average Salary: $50,000-$120,000 per year

Advertising and Marketing Jobs

If you’re on the lookout for creative writing jobs that make your value as an employee easy to quantify, advertising is the place to be. 

The goal of all advertising is to persuade your audience to make a purchase or take some other action that benefits the business you work for. 

Modern technology makes it easier than ever to track the success of your ad copy and marketing campaigns, which means you often have access to numbers that demonstrate what the return on investment is when someone hires you.

Now, all this might sound very cold and business-y, but this is an area where creative writers thrive because your goal is the same as it would be if you were writing a novel or screenplay. You’re trying to find the best words to connect emotionally with your audience.

Not everyone can do that. You can.

Let’s take a closer look at the different ways you can do that.

Advertising Copywriter

Oh, look! We’re talking about copywriters again. Since we’ve already covered this, I’ll give the abbreviated explanation for the article skimmers.

An advertising copywriter writes copy (go figure) advertising a product or service to potential buyers. This includes anything that could potentially lead to a purchase, including:

• Marketing emails
• Print or online ads

Brand Strategist

If you already know what a brand strategist is, you might be surprised to see this position appear on a list of creative writing jobs. Brand strategists don’t write as much as they, well, strategize brands.

This person is responsible for conducting market research, analyzing trends, creating buyer avatars, planning campaigns, and overseeing the production of marketing materials. 

Depending on the size of the marketing team, a brand strategist might also write copy and content. But what makes this career a decent option for a creative writer is the storytelling aspect.

Brand strategists are responsible for translating the business’s message into a story that resonates with buyers. They also need to understand their consumer on a deeper level—a skill that comes more naturally to someone who’s spent time studying character development.

Creative Director

Much like a brand strategist, a creative director looks at the big picture of a company’s marketing efforts. What story is being told? How can they best use the creative resources available to tell that story in an emotionally compelling way?

The creative director leads all the creative professionals on a marketing team, including copywriters, designers, and social media content creators. They make sure everyone is on the same page, telling the same story and communicating the same message.

Average Salary: $120,000-$200,000 per year

Content Marketing Specialist

Remember when we talked about content writing? This is that, plus some added responsibility.

While a content writer is usually told what to write, a content marketing specialist is the person who decides what type of content will be most effective for the business. 

They strategize content like emails, blog posts, videos, and social media depending on which formats and messaging are most likely to help buyers connect with the brand. 

This person also selects the SEO and analytics tools to help them make sure their strategy is effective. They watch the results closely and regularly optimize their content marketing efforts to get better performance.

And yes, a content marketing specialist might also write some or all of the content themselves.

Skills Required for Creative Writing Jobs

I tried to give you some sense of the skills required to stand out in each of the creative writing jobs we just went over. 

Nevertheless, if you’ve found something that interests you, I strongly suggest researching it further and connecting with someone who’s already killing it in that field. Get a sense of what it means to excel and you’ll be in a good spot to pursue your creative writing career seriously.

If you’re still not sure where you want this journey to lead, no problem! Follow your curiosity and let yourself gravitate towards the work that excites you. In the meantime nurture the following skills essential for every creative writing career.

Writing Skills

Okay, so I’m not exactly dropping a bone-rattling truth bomb here. Of course you need strong writing skills to build a career as a creative writer. You know that. That said, some writers underestimate the importance of building on the skills they already have. 

This is an issue I think tends to plague young writers the most. We catch wind of the fact that we’re “good writers” from teachers and peers and get attached to the idea that a good writer is something we already are. Like inherently.

I know I wasted a lot of energy in my early adult years worrying about whether or not people thought I was a talented writer instead of working to continuously become a better writer.  Ongoing improvement is how you’ll stand out from the crowd, especially as you zero in on the type of creative writing you want to do. 

If you want to be a copywriter, find a mentor and start a course on copywriting. If you dream of being a bestselling author who makes a living from books alone, join a writing group, attend writing conferences, and download this free e-book on writing a novel that rocks.

Keep sharpening those writing skills, no matter how exceptional you already are.

Research and Analysis Skills

Research and analysis sounds like a skill set that only applies in marketing and technical writing. But in all creative writing jobs, research and analysis have the same goal: understanding what it takes to connect with an audience.

Now, if you become a screenwriter or a novelist, you might not pore over metrics the way you would if you were a brand strategist. What you will do (hopefully) is consume a ton of art in your genre to understand what works.

Constantly refresh your understanding of what speaks to readers, which trends are hot, and why current bestsellers are selling so well. It’s also important to stay on top of new developments in the publishing industry and strategize your career accordingly.

And if you plan to be a self-published author, your research and analysis skills will help you make important marketing decisions.                                                                                                                              

Creativity and Imagination

If there’s one area where you have a leg-up on AI, it’s this one. Everything AI creates comes from ideas and structures that already exist. As an adaptable, creative human being, you can find unique ways to express ideas that haven’t been explored before.

This skill is essential for all the creative writing jobs we’ve discussed. The best ad writers figure out how to write copy that stands out from the competition. Great editors help writers tap into their own original voices. Even in technical writing, imagination is crucial for finding new ways to simplify complicated topics.

Communication and Collaboration Skills

There are no writing jobs that allow you to compose brilliance alone in your cave and release it into the world with no input from anyone else. 

You have to be open to feedback, and in ultra-collaborative fields like screenwriting, you must be ready for the possibility that your vision won’t often be everyone’s top priority. (It hurts, I know.)

If you’re still working on building your collaboration skills, I can offer a few suggestions.

One is to make a habit of identifying what’s important to you about every project you work on. What’s motivating you? What are your goals? When you can answer those questions, you’ll be more confident gently pushing back on things you care about and more open to offering compromising when it comes to less important issues.

Another tip is to cultivate a genuine appreciation for what others can contribute. As a writer who regularly wrestles with a stubborn, foot-stomping ego, I often return to this interview with Dolly Parton for a reminder of the kind of artist I want to be—someone humble enough to celebrate when another person makes my good thing better.

And of course, working with people you respect helps boost that collaborative spirit, too.

Finally, clear communication is absolutely essential. Make sure you know what clients, employers, or team members expect from you. Also manage their expectations by being frank about your availability, timeline, and expertise.

Adaptability and Time Management

Most writing jobs involve deadlines and your reputation as a reliable writer hinges on your ability to meet those deadlines. That means you’ve got to get good at managing your time.

This can be especially difficult if you’re a freelance writer, because there’s no one dictating your schedule. There’s just today, a deadline in the future, and all this space in between that can be whatever you want it to be.

Time management takes practice, and a quick Google search will take you to loads of suggestions for making the process easier. You can try time blocking , the Pomodoro Technique , deep work strategies … test whatever you think will do the trick.

For me, the most effective method is to remember two things. First, I need to maintain my reputation as a reliable writer if I want to pay my rent and gradually increase my income. Second, I don’t want to be stuck at my desk when my husband comes home from work or friends are inviting me out on the weekend.

Those two limits help me draw time boundaries on that wide-open calendar and keep me motivated to stick to it.

Even as you create structure for yourself, however, you have to keep in mind that things might change. A client might shift direction. A project could fall through. You might find yourself partnering with a collaborator on something you thought would be a solo situation.

It’s important to know your own work boundaries so you don’t get walked on. But being adaptable (within reason) is also crucial for building positive, long-term professional relationships.

Industries That Hire Creative Writers

We’ve examined your professional opportunities by looking at the most common creative writing jobs. Now let’s take a look at them by industry.

If you’re already in the workforce, you might discover that there are writing jobs within your current industry—jobs you never even knew were there. If you’re in school pursuing something other than a creative writing major, you might discover that you can totally flex your wordsmith skills in your field of study.

And if you still have no idea how you want to put your talents to work, this list might help you uncover some less obvious job opportunities.

Entertainment Industry

You already know that the entertainment industry needs scriptwriters. You can probably guess that there’s a need for copywriters in those massive marketing departments, too. 

But there’s also song writing, video game writing, script reading/analysis, and script consulting. Every single thing you see on TV has a writer behind it—usually an entire writing staff —including award shows and reality television.

You can even get hired to rewrite or “punch-up” someone else’s script. 

Publishing and Journalism

We covered the big writing jobs in this industry earlier, so for now, I’ll just add this:

As technology advances, these creative writing careers are more accessible than ever. You develop specialized skills online, build your own platform, and publish your own work. It’s entirely possible to forge your own path in these industries that used to be heavily guarded by gatekeepers.

That’s not to say it’ll be easy to make a name for yourself, nor is it to say that I think everyone with a Wordpress account should feel free to market themselves as a journalist. 

What I mean to say is that if you want a career in these traditionally intimidating fields, there’s space for you. There are more ways than ever to learn what you need to learn and create what you want to create.

Advertising and Marketing

Again, we’ve talked about these writing jobs, so I’ll just tell you a quick story.

When I first moved to Los Angeles, I took an improv class (it’s mandatory here) with a woman who was a freelance namer. That was her whole job. She named products for major companies and made a whole entire L.A. living doing it.

While I can’t help but wonder if AI has taken over her job yet, it’s an important reminder that writing skills are worth a lot in marketing. The right words are straight-up gold . 

Education and E-learning

Creative writing is a teachable skill. If you enjoy guiding others, teaching might be a solid career option for you. You could teach creative writing in a formal education environment (you’ll need a degree), at a local community center, or even online.

The education world also needs creative writers to put together written materials like textbooks, discussion guides, glossaries, and study guides. You could even write scripts for educational videos.

This is an area of creative writing that doesn’t get a lot of attention, but there’s an increasing demand for it. Not only do modern students turn to the Internet for information and homework help, the digital world has made self-directed learning easier than ever. You can find an online course for almost anything from auto repair to world literature. 

What’s great about this industry is that it allows you to combine your passion for creative writing with your interest in another subject. Plus, there’s the business about inspiring curious minds and all that.

Nonprofit Organizations

If you’re intrigued by the challenges of a job in marketing but want to feel like your work serves a greater purpose, consider writing for a nonprofit.

You’d be doing many of the same things you’d do for a for-profit business: email marketing, advertising, blogging, video creation, and the like. The goal is similar—you want to get the word out about the organization and create a positive association in people’s minds.

But there’s also a strong fundraising element, since that’s how a nonprofit stays afloat (and covers your paycheck). This means you can also expect to write grant proposals and oversee donor communications. 

You can do all of this as part of the team or on a contract basis. Grant writing in particular is a good option if you’re looking to set up shop as a freelance writer.

Corporate Communications

Corporate communications is an oversized novelty umbrella that covers a lot of stuff. Simply put, this term refers to the many ways a corporation communicates its mission, goals, successes, and functions to everyone. 

Seriously, everyone . The public, employees, shareholders, partners… every person who exists.

Now, if you work with a small startup, “corporate communications” could be your entire job. For larger companies, however, you’re more likely to work in a specific department. You might be on the marketing team or you could be responsible for internal communications like employee manuals and reports.

Bottom line: if you’re dreaming of a creative writing career in the corporate world, the job opportunities are definitely there.

Career Development and Education Options

You know what creative writing jobs are out there. You know what skills these different industries are looking for. What about education? What kind of training do you need in order to land the job and crush it?

It depends on the specific job as well as what kind of time and money you have to invest in your creative writing education. 

The good news is that you don’t have to rack up insane student loans in order to make a good living as a writer. There are certain positions where a degree is mandatory, but there are plenty of hiring managers who don’t care where you got your creative writing skills as long as you have them.

And it’s never been easier to find training as a writer. Let’s look at your options.

Degree Programs in Creative Writing

If you plan to get a four-year degree to boost your knowledge as a writer, you might be eyeballing a creative writing major. This area of study is most useful if you plan to become a fiction writer, screenwriter, poet, or the like.

If you’re mapping out a career that’s a little more predictable and a little less “artsy,” consider majors like journalism, communications, technical writing, or marketing.

Industries that are most likely to have a mandatory college degree requirement include journalism, academia, and large corporations or nonprofits.

If you plan to go into entertainment or work as a freelance writer, a formal education can help you develop essential skills. Although—real talk—many of those skills can be learned through the less expensive educational avenues we’re about to go over. 

Many folks who earned creative writing degrees will tell you that the biggest benefit of their program was the network it provided when they left college. That’s no small thing, but it’s also not what we think we’re going to college for. 

Writing Workshops and Online Courses

You can easily find live workshops, online courses, and writing groups to help you sharpen your skills or develop new ones. 

This option is a good compromise between a formal education and fully self-directed learning. There’s often a fee, but it’s tens of thousands of dollars less than you’d spend on a creative writing degree. There’s a structure to keep you on track but you don’t have to show up at a physical location multiple times a week for months at a time.

Whatever type of creative writing skill you want to work on, a quick Google search will help you find courses you can take. You can also search the course selection at sites like Coursera , Udemy , and Masterclass .

Finally, a lot of folks who sell online writing courses offer free webinars as a way to get you on their mailing list and pitch their full program. If you don’t feel like you have a clear enough goal to invest in an entire course, these webinars provide a great opportunity to pick up some basic insights and start practicing new skills.

Networking and Professional Associations

Look for networking events and professional associations specific to the field you wish to enter. You absorb so much information just by being around experts and peers, plus you’ll have access to seminars, boot camps, training programs, and more.

Many organizations also hold or participate in conferences. These conferences provide learning opportunities that not only sharpen your creative writing skills but also educate you about your chosen industry. If you don’t have the travel budget, you can attend many conferences online at a discount.

And don’t forget to build your own little network of creative writers! Even fiction-focused communities like Dabble’s Story Craft Café are full of writers who rely on more predictable writing work like copywriting and communications to pay their rent. These are great places to share information about building creative writing careers of all kinds.

Building a Portfolio and Gaining Experience

Finally, we learn best by doing. As you pick up new advice and information through your chosen educational channels, put that insight to work immediately.

Offer to write the press release for your cousin’s startup. Ask a strapped-for-cash nonprofit if they’d be interested in letting you write your first grant proposal on their behalf. Create a blog that allows you to showcase the kind of content you hope to one day get paid to write.

These things help you build a portfolio to show prospective clients or employers. They also give you an opportunity to learn from your mistakes, get feedback early, and discover the challenges that are unique to different writing jobs. 

The faster you experience those things, the faster you learn and the sooner you’re ready to make a living as a creative writer.

Writing is an in-demand skill. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. If you dream of paying your bills with your words—either as a full-time job or a side hustle—you absolutely can. It may take patience, diligence, and a lot of learning, but the work is out there.

The last bit of advice I’ll offer you is to find a community of writers who have your back. No one understands the journey like another writer. You can count on your network of fellow wordsmiths for moral support, job leads, feedback, and more.

If you’re still in the process of finding those friends, join us at the Story Craft Café—especially if fiction is part of your writerly aspirations. The community is free to join and a great place to talk craft, share your work, and stay productive with daily word sprints. Follow this link to get started.

Abi Wurdeman is the author of Cross-Section of a Human Heart: A Memoir of Early Adulthood, as well as the novella, Holiday Gifts for Insufferable People. She also writes for film and television with her brother and writing partner, Phil Wurdeman. On occasion, Abi pretends to be a poet. One of her poems is (legally) stamped into a sidewalk in Santa Clarita, California. When she’s not writing, Abi is most likely hiking, reading, or texting her mother pictures of her houseplants to ask why they look like that.

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