If you're in need of a little extra cash and are handy with a pen (or keyboard these days, let's face it), the idea of getting paid to write can seem pretty great. And it is. You get to be your own boss, pick your own hours and do something you actually enjoy. But it's not easy. You'll experience a lot of rejection, you'll need to learn to check for plagiarism and sometimes it'll feel like you're the only person working while your friends are out having fun. However, if you're looking for a bit of extra money and you're a literary whizz, don't let the negatives put you off. There are plenty of ways to make money from writing.
Blogging
Making money from blogging can be a great way to get some extra money and be your own boss. To make money from blogging, you'll need to have a solid action plan, and it takes some time. Initially, you'll need to start blogging on a free blogging platform, and develop interest from visitors. You'll need to find your niche – whether that's travel writing, beauty tips or food ideas. Once you've got the hang of blogging and are getting regular traffic, you can start making money by adding banners to your site and writing sponsored content.
Social media
In our modern world, everyone's looking for someone to manage their social media account. Knowing how to get clicks and followers is something that requires a lot of skill, understanding and knowledge. So, if this is something you're good at, you can get paid to write content for social media pages. Check out small companies or startups that might be looking for help, and send out some emails.
Reviews
If you're an opinionated person with a lot to say, why not make money from writing reviews? Whether it's films, restaurants or products that spark your interest, people are always looking at reviews before they dedicate to something – and this means that there's plenty of demand for reviews. You can do this on third party sites or on your own blog.
Subtitling
Writing subtitles or captions for videos is another great way to earn a little extra money. Most websites require you to take a grammar test and submit a captioning sample, which will then be reviewed by the team. If you're approved, you can select which projects you'd like to work on and get started almost instantly. You'll get a little extra money, and you might get to watch some cool videos!
Personal essays
If you've got something original and interesting to say, you could make money writing personal essays. Many websites such as Buzzfeed work with freelance writers and are looking for pitches. You'll need a solid plan of what you're going to write, and proof that you'll deliver the goods. Plus, these platforms are competitive, so you'll need to make sure that your idea has a strong voice and is compelling to readers. No pressure!
