Freelance writing is hands down the ultimate side hustle. The flexibility and pay, along with the sheer amount of opportunity that comes with freelance writing, make it an easy side hustle for anyone who enjoys writing.
Besides, you don’t have to be a genius to do this. If you can write and research, you have the skills to become a freelance writer.
Especially in the post-pandemic world, where many people are losing their jobs and inflation rates are at an all-time high, surviving with only one income stream can be challenging. According to the Census, 7.8% of Americans hold more than one job to save for retirement, get out of debt, or have some financial stability.
Writing freelance as your side hustle can be easy. It doesn’t take much to start, and once you get the hang of it, you can begin getting high-paying projects. In fact, some who do it as their full-time job are earning a six-digit annual income.
So regardless if you’re a fresh graduate or someone who is simply looking for a second job, you can get started with freelance writing right away. In fact, here are four ways you can get paid to write.
Become an Academic Essay Writer
If you thought that your life was done with essays once you graduated high school or college, think again. Becoming an essay writer is one of the easier writing tasks you can start with in the very beginning.
After all, we have the existing skills and experience thanks to your countless essay assignments, so why not put them to good use?
Some writers prefer working for an agency that offers an essay writing service as constant gigs or projects are available. You will usually need to first submit some samples for review before working with them.
If you want to work for yourself, maybe you could begin by looking for high school or college students—as they would have a lot of essay assignments on hand and may need the help to meet a deadline!
Write and Edit Dissertations
A dissertation is probably the longest piece of writing students undertake. It can be intimidating to start. Many students recall this as their worst nightmares associated with a great sense of agony and countless sleepless nights.
That’s why there’s also a market for this. Many students desperately need help with writing and editing their dissertations, as it can mean passing or failing their course.
Suppose you are great at writing a dissertation. In that case, you can consider working with an agency that offers dissertation writing services as the pay can be very rewarding. There is less competition, and in some cases you can put your samples on websites like Textbroker or Linkedin, which will help connect you with potential clients down the track.
Ultimately, college or university students would be your main clientele. It is simply a more financially sound choice for them, rather than failing the research altogether and rewriting the whole dissertation.
Write Blogs and Articles for Websites
Blog and article writing is probably the most popular and sought-after freelance writing approach, with the increasing need for digital marketing and SEO.
It doesn’t require much skills or experience. The most important is that you are willing to learn and research to write on various niches and topics. However, we still recommend becoming a specialized blogger instead of a generalist writer to command higher pay.
To get started, you first need to pick a niche. Be it beauty, food, lifestyle, or tech – as long as you are well-versed in that field. Though you probably don’t have any writing samples to show off to your potential clients if you’re just starting out. What you can do is either start your own blog in that niche or provide a free writing trial for the client of your choice.
Become a Sales Copywriter
You’ve probably heard of this but are not entirely sure what copywriting is. Basically, a copywriter creates a copy such as adverts, attention-grabbing headlines, sales emails, digital media, or blog posts for commercial purposes. The copy will hold a specific aim to persuade or inform the audiences, hoping to convert them into buying customers.
Some claims suggest that good copywriters can earn up to five figures with just one gig. That being said, copywriting is a skill that is in demand.
You don’t need to be a powerful writer, just as long as you get your message across without using many words. That will take someone who is creative, imaginative, and likes flexibility to actually have success in it. However, with good practice, especially with long-term blog writing, your copywriting skill will improve unconsciously.
What Are You Waiting For? Start Getting Paid to Write Now
Stop thinking about it and start taking action now! The more you overthink, the more you’ll procrastinate on starting out. There’s no need to doubt yourself as everybody has to start from somewhere.
Start by offering to do the gig for free or by creating your own blog. When you have great content, it won’t be that hard to apply for more writing jobs or offer copywriting services, essay writing services, etc.
This way, you will also have a chance to build up your portfolio and start landing high-paying projects in a short amount of time!