How you can make $$$ as a writer

Don’t expect to roll in the dough being a self-published author. You would be setting yourself up for disappointment if you did. Being self-published does not equate to full-time pay because selling books without the marketing machine of a traditional publisher makes creating a sustainable and livable income challenging. Your efforts to market your book just don’t compare to what a marketing agency can offer. It’s that simple. Or you could go broke hiring a marketing agency if you don’t have the sales to support paying for them. Either way, you need to find a more appropriate solution to making money with writing that supports your cost of living.

There is more than one way to skin a cat. Writing can be diversified into multiple streams of income outside of just publishing books. It’s just about choosing the right option (s) for you that you have the time and energy to do. So, let’s talk money and some ways you can make more of it as a writer:

Ghostwriting

Writing books for other people can generate a sizable income because people are willing to pay upwards to take credit for another’s writing skills. The income is guaranteed and you don’t have to market to generate sales like you would if you self-published your book. Ghostwriting is actually something that I have been interested in for awhile but have not pursued just yet because I am more focused on other endeavors. Also, I’m not sure if I can give up a book I wrote and allow another author to ‘adopt’ my book and put their name on it. However, given the inconsistency of sales with self-published books, it is something I am strongly considering in the near future.

Author coaching

Coaching prospective authors is something I have been doing since 2023 and it is rewarding work. It also offers a higher rate of pay than book sales can generate in a shorter period of time. However, getting consistent clients can be challenging. You will have to invest in marketing yourself as much as possible to gain more visibility for your business. This can feel very much like marketing for your books, which can be draining. Most writers don’t get into publishing for the marketing but moreso control over the creative process. Marketing can be a deterrent for some authors who genuinely want to help other authors publish their books but don’t want to market because it is too much of a headache. Most author coaches depend on referrals from the authors they previously assist to generate more business for them as word of mouth can be an effective marketing strategy.

Editing

This is another option for writers looking to supplement their income. Whether it is copy editing or line editing, if you feel like you want to try your hand at editing someone’s book because of your strong writing skills, then go ahead and start your editing business. I have hired editors in the past for my books because editing is a necessary step in getting a book published. While editing for children's books was affordable, editing my 15-page adult book cost a few hundred dollars. So, I would say, start off with editing adult books if you are looking for a higher price point. If you are looking for flexibility in moving through more projects at a faster rate, then I would recommend sticking with editing children’s books because the volume will make up for the difference in what you can charge.

Blogging

Blogging has become increasingly popular given the creation of Substack and Medium. These are two of the biggest platforms out there so you can gain the most visibility and get paid for your blogging. You get paid when people subscribe to your blog or for each time they view a post that you have marked as private. I have been hearing more about Substack in the recent year and it seems to be where everyone is going to make a name for themselves. Even celebrities are trying their hand at blogging on that platform. So, regardless of which platform you try, you are in good hands.

In addition, your blog can be a way to gain customers for any books you plan to write. It informs users of your writing style and can drum up buzz on works in progress to create a customer base for when you do launch that book project. Think of it as a creative way to market your book doing what you already enjoy doing, which is writing. If you have a website, you can also create a blog there which is a great way to drive traffic to what you are selling on your website.

Grant writing

Writing to obtain money for grants requires a special skill set. Not everyone has the knack for completing winning applications for grants that get money for their businesses. However, there are writers attune to what grantors are looking for and know how to provide the right verbiage for applications. Writers can get hired to help businesses tailor their answers based on the grant they are seeking. Businesses see hiring these skilled writers as an investment since it frees up their time to develop other areas of their business. As the writer, you can set a rate that compensates you for your time and energy on this project. Other things to consider when it comes to setting your rate are how big (or small) is the business you are completing the application for and how much funding is at stake for the application. Being flexible with your rates gives the client options, especially those with less money at their disposable.

Be open to pivoting

Although, there are other ways to make money with writing. I think I have covered what I see trending right now. It is crucial as a self-published author that you are open to pivoting. As I said earlier, I might be looking to pivot into ghostwriting for children’s books. Both the author coaching and book selling businesses have been slow and I need to start making money. This was to be expected in the summer months so I emotionally prepared myself for this. However, things need to pick up in September so I am looking for ways to include additional offerings to my service array.

If you love to write but you are finding the writing business to be taxing, don’t give up. Just take a break from it, regroup, and find a new way to fulfill your passion. You can’t give up on writing; it is part of you. Taking a moment to figure out your lane can sometimes be what you need in order to become profitable.

Take good care,

Kira