I started as an SEO specialist and became a content writer in March 2020. Honestly, I thought writing would be too complicated for me.
However, with persistence and a drive to give more value to my clients, I learned this skill and even turned it into a profitable gig.
Many creators say they can write, but not everyone knows how to create content that actually sells.
Below, I’m sharing a few side hustles for writers that I’ve been doing for years, and the ones that have brought me some solid results.
Top side hustles for writers in 2025 (my take)
I believe the best writing side hustles are the ones that pay well, don’t give you headaches, and have real long-term potential.
For me, these are my website, which has already made me $20,000 in 8 months of 2025, a newsletter, and selling my own digital products.
Even with all the constant Google updates, AI-powered search, and everything else changing, I still believe building a website is doable for niche experts, and it can be rewarding financially.
Here are two guides I’ve published that show how to get the most out of a high-performing website:
I’ll walk you through how to start and monetize a WordPress blog.
Actually, I’ve put together an Affiliate Report library with monthly updates starting from January 2025, showing exactly how much my website has earned from affiliate income and brand partnerships.
Make money writing short stories
If you like creating short content, I’d recommend starting a newsletter and growing an email list.
With the right tools, like beehiiv, you can even start making money from day one. I’ve put together a detailed review of beehiiv’s growth and monetization features for content creators, plus I share my own journey and results.
If you’re just getting started, check out Medium.
Medium has a built-in audience, so you can practice your writing, grow followers, and see what your readers really enjoy. I’ve made over $25,000 from writing on Medium as a writing side hustle, and you can get all the details in my guide linked below.
How much I’ve made from the beehiiv Partner Program, Boosts, and ads.
I’ve published 350+ stories. But consistency and persistence paid off.
More side hustle ideas for writers:
Tools for getting started
These are my favorite tools for creating content quickly and staying productive.
If you are looking for tools to help you generate content, edit your copy, create visuals, optimize content for rankings, and more, these are the tools that I use to grow my website and help my clients.
These tools are to make your life easier and more efficient.
I use a few tools for freelance writers that I can personally recommend.
More tools:
FAQ
How to make money writing from home?
I started writing as a side hustle in the middle of the pandemic in 2020. Suddenly, I had at least four extra hours every day and no idea what to do with them. Not having to commute felt amazing! I could focus on getting results instead of just staying busy.
I also realized relying on a single income is risky, so I knew I had to start a side hustle that could earn me more than a regular salary.
At the time, I had zero experience with writing or blogging. English isn’t my first language, and I never imagined my writing could actually capture readers’ attention.
Even with those fears, I started writing from home. I thought I’d quickly get the hang of it and make a fortune writing case studies and blog posts for clients. Spoiler: it wasn’t that easy!
The truth is, I spent way more time writing and revising articles than I expected. I worked weekends with no breaks and zero motivation. My clients seemed happy, but the only person who wasn’t happy with the outcome was me.
Here’s what I learned the hard way:
- You don’t need “talent” to get paid for writing. Anyone can do it. It’s all about persistence and consistency.
- Even as a beginner, there are plenty of ways to make money writing from home.
For example:
- Writing on Medium brought me $25,000.
- My website made $8,800 in 2024 and over $20,000 in the first half of 2025.
- My paid newsletter earns me $7 per subscriber.
If you want a part-time writing job and get paid to write about anything, the options that helped me could help you hit your goals, too.
How to make money on Upwork?
Writing for money on Upwork, a marketplace to find freelance jobs, is another side hustle for writers.
You might have heard various opinions about Upwork that formed a negative attitude toward this platform. However, don’t scroll down just yet. Let me share my story about freelancing on Upwork.
I joined Upwork at the end of 2020 because I wanted to find more writing gigs.
The Upwork myth: You won’t find full-time and part-time writing jobs if you are just starting.
If anyone tells you so, they do not put in enough effort!
My very first hourly rate was $25. I had no experience with Upwork, nor did I have client testimonials displayed on my profile.
Nevertheless, I found a fixed-time writing gig for $200 and helped one of my clients proofread his course content.
I’d submitted around five proposals before I landed my first part-time writing job on Upwork. Once I’ve finished my first collaboration, the second one appeared out of the blue.
The client needed a case study written with a UX background. It turned out I was a perfect fit, and the new writing side job was arranged in just one day.
Having a few successful projects in my portfolio has allowed me to increase my hourly rate to $35 and decide whether I want to accept incoming offers or not.
Upwork is a reliable freelance marketplace that won’t disappear overnight with your money. According to Backlinko stats, Upwork has over 851,000 active clients, and its 2023 revenue was $689.14 million.
Surprisingly, content writing is one of the most popular side jobs, according to Upwork. The content writers’ hourly rate varies from $15 to $40, giving you room for experimenting.
If you decide to start writing from home on Upwork, I have a few decent points for you to remember:
- Your profile sells your expertise. Make sure to add as many relevant details as possible, such as your former work experience and examples of your work.
- What you achieved is more important than what you did. Highlight the impact of your work and how you helped your client/employer reach their goals.
- Apply to the most recent jobs only. This way, you’ll catch the juiciest offers and make sure they are not taken yet.
- Take a one-time writing gig with the possibility of extension. Clients often look for long-term collaborations, but you should not necessarily agree to it right away. First, make sure you feel comfortable and that the work is paid per your agreement.
- Don’t worry about the number of connects. You need to connects to apply for jobs. However, Upwork gives many opportunities to earn them, such as “rate the conversation with the client.”
- 20% of your earnings will be deducted as an Upwork fee. You have to pay this fee apart from the taxes. It costs a lot! However, the fee will go down to 10% once you make over $500 with one client.
- Don’t move your first collaboration off Upwork. Some freelancers find writing gigs on Upwork and negotiate the conditions off the platform. This way, you are not protected! The client can stop responding at any time or disappear without paying for your work. Keep it in mind.
How to make money with ghostwriting
Ghostwriting is a way to get paid to write articles without being credited as an author.
The logic is simple. You write content for businesses that post it on behalf of their name or for individuals who want to use it for particular needs, like e-book creation.
In the case of ghostwriting, you write for money. Nothing else. No fame, no author mentions, no backlinks to your site, nothing. Once you deliver the required work, the content is not yours anymore. The client can use it according to their needs.
It’s similar to Upwork, and you can definitely use this platform to search for ghostwriting gigs.
Reedsy, an online British author service firm, shares its estimates on how much you can get paid for ghostwriting:
Per word
- Rate: $0.15 to $4 per word
- Applies to: articles, blog posts, primarily short content
Per hour
- Rate: $50 to $150 per hour
- Applies to: editing, proofreading, consulting
Flat fee
- Rate: $2,000 to $80,000+ per project
- Applies to: book proposal writing
If you wonder whether it’s worth joining the ghostwriters’ club, here is what Dr. Jennifer Banash, an author, editor, and a New York Times-bestselling ghostwriter, says about ghostwriting:
“I’ve been ghosting fiction for 15 years now, so I think the demand has always been there to some extent.”
The creator economy has been booming in the past years, and the demand will only continue growing. Why? Because every solid business needs to communicate with its audience. How do they do it? Through content.
Consumers can’t touch, wear, or smell the products online. This is why we make buying decisions based on the product description. The more good-looking and persuasive it is, the higher the sales might be. This is why content creators will never run out of writing jobs.
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You are welcome, Sara! 🙂