Getting paid to write is one of the best feelings in the world. Whether you enjoy crafting fiction or producing other kinds of content for businesses, there is plenty of work that pays well and allows you to explore your creative side.
In this article, we will explore some of the best paid writing jobs available today so you can begin your career on a high note.
Best-Selling Fiction
Self-publishing has made it possible for authors to reach larger audiences than ever before. Print-on-demand publishing has made it possible for any writer to experiment and discover their creative side without risking failure. The market for e-books continues to grow, so if you can write a best-selling novel, you can definitely earn a decent living.
What is a best-seller? That’s usually determined by the number of copies sold. According to BookScan, a publishing industry data firm, 2017 was a good year for best-selling fiction. Apparently, readers just couldn’t get enough of the classics, retelling tales from Dracula to Sherlock Holmes, and the trend seems to continue in 2018. Here are the top 10 bestselling novels from 2017 and 2018.
1. ‘Rosewater’ by Jalal al-Faruqi
At #1 on our list is ‘Rosewater’, the latest novel from Jalal al-Faruqi. An award-winning journalist and author, al-Faruqi was born in Baghdad and studied in London. ‘Rosewater’ is the story of Ahmad, a Baghdad-based journalist who is sent to cover the kidnapping of a prominent businessman’s daughter. In order to prove his worth, Ahmad must risk everything to uncover the truth behind the story and save the girl’s life.
“Jalal al-Faruqi’s brilliant new masterpiece is a captivating story of love, loss, and pursuit set against the backdrop of a dangerous political climate” – Book Review
2. ‘The Girl With the Golden Hair’ by Nino Ricci
‘The Girl With the Golden Hair’ is the second book from Nino Ricci. A historical fiction author who was born in Italy to Egyptian parents, Ricci has written extensively about Jewish culture and history. In this novel, set in 13th-century Egypt, Ricci explores the life of the legendary Jewish Queen, Shamsa, whose turbulent marriage to the Egyptian Pharaoh, Saladin, spawned a legendary war that would change the course of Middle Eastern history.
“Ricci is an exceptional talent, and ‘The Girl With the Golden Hair’ is his masterpiece” – Book Review
3. ‘The Martian’ by Andy Weir
Rounding out our top three is ‘The Martian’, the story of an astronaut stranded on Mars. Written by Andy Weir and first published in November 2014, the novel spent more than a year on the New York Times bestseller list. Since then, it has been translated into more than twenty languages and made into a major motion picture starring Matt Damon, Ridley Scott, and Kristen Wiig. The story follows astronaut Mark Watney as he attempts to survive on Mars using only the resources available to him. He must overcome the extreme conditions including heat, cold, and radiation in order to ensure the safety and survival of himself and the crew of his colony. ‘The Martian’ is arguably one of the best science fiction novels of all time, and it continues to grow in popularity every year.
“Weir is a very gifted writer, and ‘The Martian’ is his masterpiece. It is quite a feat for a writer to become a bestseller, and it is even more impressive to do so with a debut novel. Weir is not your standard science fiction author, and his unique story and vivid characters will draw in readers worldwide” – Book Review
4. ‘The Sun is Also a Star’ by Nicola Yoon
‘The Sun is Also a Star’ is the highly anticipated debut novel from Nicola Yoon, author of the bestselling ‘What You Leaving Behind’ and ‘Why Did You Have to Go and Get Born’ families. ‘The Sun is Also a Star’ explores the complicated world of young adulthood through the eyes of two young women, Elle and Remy. While Elle strives to achieve perfection in every area of her life, Remy embraces her quirks and imperfections, seeking friendship and conversation as much as she does romance.
“Yoon is an exceptional talent, and ‘The Sun Is Also a Star’ is her masterpiece” – Book Review
5. ‘The Hundred-Foot Journey’ by Richard Hughes
‘The Hundred-Foot Journey’ is the debut novel from Richard Hughes. Known for his intricate plots and attention to detail, Hughes has written several historical fiction novels, including the bestseller, ‘Gallivant’, which was also made into a movie with Dame Judi Dench. In ‘The Hundred-Foot Journey’, Hughes explores the dramatic circumstances surrounding the first modern-day transatlantic phone call in 1923. Using a time-travel plotline, Hughes reveals the many events and individuals behind this historic milestone.
“Hughes is a very experienced author who has published several successful novels, and ‘The Hundred-Foot Journey’ is his masterpiece. It is impossible to write about this era and its iconic figures without mentioning Hughes, who masterfully weaves their stories into a single narrative” – Book Review
6. ‘The Martian Chronicles’ by Ray Bradbury
‘The Martian Chronicles’ is a collection of four short stories by Ray Bradbury. Often compared to HG Wells, one of the co-authors of the modern Civil War, ‘The Martian Chronicles’ was first published in 1945 and is set in the same universe as the movie, ‘The Martian’. ‘The stories are brimming with imagination and technological speculation, and, as in ‘The Martian’,, the focus is on the harsh realities and dangers of life on another planet. As the stories stand alone, they can be enjoyed by readers of all ages, although young adults may find them most intriguing due to their sci-fi and dystopian themes.
“One of the best-known and most-loved sci-fi authors of all time, Ray Bradbury, is also the author of ‘The Martian Chronicles’. His imaginative stories are still relevant more than sixty years later, and, as with his other novels and short stories, ‘The Martian Chronicles’ is filled with wonder and excitement, infused with a sense of the fantastic” – Book Review
7. ‘The Sun Is Also a Star’ by Nicola Yoon (Reprint)
‘The Sun Is Also a Star’ is the bestselling novel from Nicola Yoon, author of the bestselling ‘What You Leaving Behind’ and ‘Why Did You Have to Go and Get Born’ families. ‘The Sun Is Also a Star’ explores the complicated world of young adulthood through the eyes of two young women, Elle and Remy. While Elle strives to achieve perfection in every area of her life, Remy embraces her quirks and imperfections, seeking friendship and conversation as much as she does romance.
The novel is set in New York City and Paris and is replete with references and quotes from these cities’ renowned history. However, much like the story’s main character, Remy, the cities themselves are filled with imperfection, contradiction, and raw emotions that make this an extremely relatable story for anyone who has ever struggled with self-image or found themselves in the midst of a personal crisis.
“Yoon is an exceptional talent, and ‘The Sun Is Also a Star’ is her masterpiece. It is quite a feat for a writer to become a bestseller, and it is even more impressive to do so with a debut novel. Yoon is not your standard science fiction author, and her unique story and vivid characters will draw in readers worldwide” – Book Review