The writing profession can seem like a lucrative one, and for good reason. After all, it is possible to make a living off of what you love doing. However, just because writing is a lucrative field, it does not mean that it is easy to become financially independent as a writer. In fact, it can be rather difficult. Hopefully, this article will shed some light on just how much effort you need to be making to ensure that your writing career is bringing in money and not just your friends and family.
Choose Your Platform
If you are looking to make money as a writer, the first thing you need to do is determine how you plan on doing it. There are several different ways in which you can go about doing this, and each one of them has its perks. For example, if you are good with words and can string them together nicely, you may consider looking into writing non-fiction. Although, this does not mean that you have to limit yourself to writing only about facts, it can certainly be a profitable choice if you are able to pull it off. On the other hand, if you have a specific audience in mind when you are writing, you may consider looking into pitching your fiction to television networks or investing in newspaper chains where you can publish your work. It is essential to understand that different platforms have different monetization schemes, and figuring out how much you will earn per piece or per hour can be rather difficult. Unless, of course, you are interested in a full-time career, in which case, you may want to look into the freelance writing market.
Find Your Niche
Once you have chosen your platform, the next step is to determine the kind of content that you will be producing. You have a variety of options here, but the one that usually makes the most money is content that is highly topical and deals with current events or social issues. For example, if you are living in America and the conversation regarding national parks turns personal, you may consider writing an article regarding this subject. Alternatively, if you are interested in breaking news, you may want to look into becoming a journalist and pursuing freelance writing as a means of supporting yourself while you are exploring a promising career in the field.
Get To Work
Now that you have a general idea of the kind of content that you will be producing and the form in which you will be presenting it, the next step is to begin looking for potential clients. Although, in a perfect world, this step would not have to be done, the truth is that even the best writers can’t always land the contracts they want. Therefore, it is essential that you are also pursuing other means of monetization to make up for this. The most viable and effective means of doing this is by becoming a freelancer. It is essential to understand that as a freelancer, you will be approaching businesses and organizations across the globe for work. There are various advantages to this. For example, you can develop your own schedule and produce the content that you want, when you want to. You also have the advantage of being able to choose your clients and the projects that you will work on. Finally, you will be able to set your own prices, which can be highly lucrative if done correctly. In addition to this, you will also be able to get to work remotely, which can be incredibly convenient for those who love traveling or for those who want to be able to work from home.
The Importance Of Being Unique
If there is one thing that successful writers can agree upon it is that being unique is the key to making it in this industry. Although, this can seem like an obvious point to make, it is nonetheless one that is often overlooked by aspiring writers. Coming up with a unique way of presenting your skills to potential clients can help you land that elusive first contract, and it is never easy to get that first contract. One of the best pieces of advice that any writer can offer is to develop their own unique selling point. This could be anything from the way that they write to the kind of content that they produce. An excellent starting point for you would be to develop a series of blog posts or a book outline that is entirely original and does not resemble any content that is already out there. Coming up with a unique angle on the familiar can be a powerful way to gain some traction in a crowded marketplace, and it certainly does not hurt to try. Furthermore, make sure to develop a solid platform that can stand out among the rest. In addition to this, develop a following on social media or through your email list. Finally, make sure to look into using online marketplaces like Amazon, where you can find editors, publishers, and other content creators who are willing to work with one or two individuals who are seeking to break into the field.
Ultimately, as a writer, you can find various ways to make money. As long as you have a platform and a story to tell, you can develop a freelance writing career that can bring in a steady stream of income. In addition to this, you can also develop a following on social media or through your email list, where you can share your stories and eventually monetize them. If you have a specific interest in a certain subject, you can also write and publish an article regarding this subject or develop a blog series on the subject matter. Finally, if you are seeking to become a full-time writer, you can pursue the traditional path and look into joining a magazine or newspaper as an intern or as a staff writer. In any case, just remember to develop a unique selling point that will make you stand out among the rest.