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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.