Writing: Getting Paid for Words Online

Writing as an eSide hustle means being paid for articles, blog posts, web copy, lists, translations or stories. Content platforms match you with business clients; publications pay a fixed fee per accepted article; reading platforms pay you based on how many people read your work. Job boards list freelance and part-time writing roles.

See all 17 Writing listings

In this guide

1. What online writing work is
2. How writing platforms work
3. What writing really pays
4. The kinds of writing platforms
5. How to choose a platform
6. Your first steps
7. Costs, taxes and risks
8. Red flags to watch for
9. How to build your skills
10. Recommended resources
11. Owen’s take
12. FAQ

1. What online writing work is

Businesses need words all the time: blog posts, product descriptions, emails, guides, case studies and social posts. Publications need articles. Readers pay for stories and newsletters. All of that creates paid work for people who can write clearly.

Writing is also a skill that pays more as you get better at it. Across all US employers, the Bureau of Labor Statistics put the median annual wage for writers and authors at $72,270 in May 2024. Freelance and side income is far more uneven, but the gap between a beginner and an experienced, specialised writer is large on every platform.

The rise of AI writing tools has changed the market. Simple, generic content pays less than it used to; expertise, original research, interviews, strong editing and a clear voice are what clients still pay for.

What clients buy

Writing work comes in many shapes. Blog posts and articles are the most common, but businesses also pay for product descriptions, landing pages, email newsletters and sequences, social media posts, case studies, white papers, scripts for videos and podcasts, and help documentation. Some writers specialise in one format, such as email or technical writing, and charge more for it. Others specialise in one industry and write every format for it. Either way, specialising makes you easier to find and easier to pay well.

2. How writing platforms work

Writing platforms follow four main models.

Content platforms. Businesses post orders or briefs, and approved writers pick them up or are matched to them. The platform handles payment and takes a margin. Textbroker, WriterAccess, Scripted and Verblio work this way.

Pay-per-article publications. You pitch or submit an article; if it’s accepted, you’re paid a fixed fee. Listverse, for example, pays $100 for each list it publishes. Smashing Magazine pays for articles on web design and development.

Reading platforms. You publish your own stories and earn from readers’ engagement or subscriptions. Medium and Vocal work this way.

Job boards. Clients post freelance or part-time writing roles, and you apply directly. ProBlogger, BloggingPro and Mediabistro are examples.

3. What writing really pays

Rates depend on the platform model, your level and your niche.

• Content platforms often pay per word, with higher rates as your quality level rises.
• Pay-per-article publications pay a flat fee, but only for accepted pieces. Rejected work earns nothing.
• Reading platforms pay small, variable amounts that grow only if your work finds a regular audience.
• Direct clients found through job boards usually pay the most, because no platform takes a cut.

A few patterns hold:

• Niche expertise pays. Finance, health, technology, law and B2B software usually pay more than general lifestyle topics.
• Speed and reliability matter. Clients come back to writers who deliver on time and need little editing.
• Specialised formats pay more. White papers, case studies, email sequences and technical documentation command higher rates than blog posts.

Per word, per project or per hour

Content platforms usually pay per word, which rewards speed but not research. Direct clients often pay per project, which lets you price the value of the work rather than its length. Some ongoing roles pay per hour or a monthly retainer. As you gain experience, quoting per project is usually the better deal: a short piece that needs a lot of research or interviews is worth more than its word count suggests.

4. The kinds of writing platforms

Content platforms and agencies

Steady orders from business clients.

• Textbroker for US-based authors, with star levels that set your pay
• WriterAccess, Scripted, Verblio and Contently for vetted writers
• Constant Content to sell articles from a catalogue
• nDash to pitch ideas to brands and set your own rates

Publications that pay per article

• Listverse for top 10 lists
• Smashing Magazine for web design and front-end articles

Reading and publishing platforms

• Medium through its Partner Program
• Vocal, which pays per reads and runs writing challenges

Writing job boards

• ProBlogger, BloggingPro and Mediabistro

Translation and academic writing

• Gengo for freelance translators
• WriterBay for research and academic writing orders

Learning and advice

• Make a Living Writing for guidance on building a freelance writing career

5. How to choose a platform

Ask five questions first.

1. Who can join? Some platforms only accept writers from certain countries or require tests.
2. How is pay set? Per word, per article, per read or by your own rate.
3. Who owns the work? Content platforms usually transfer rights to the client; reading platforms let you keep them.
4. How steady is the work? Order volume varies by platform and level.
5. How do they pay? Check payout methods, minimums and timing.

Many writers combine a content platform for steady orders with job boards and pitches for better-paid direct clients.

6. Your first steps

1. Pick a niche. Choose topics you know well enough to write about with authority.
2. Build three samples. Publish them on your own site, Medium or a free portfolio.
3. Pass a platform’s test. Content platforms often grade your first submissions; take them seriously.
4. Pitch publications. Read what they publish, follow their guidelines and send focused ideas.
5. Apply to job board posts quickly. Good listings attract many applicants within hours.
6. Raise your rates. As your level and portfolio grow, move toward direct clients and better-paid work.

Writing a pitch that gets accepted

Editors receive far more pitches than they can use. A good pitch is short: a working title, two or three sentences on what the piece covers and why it matters to their readers now, and a line on why you’re the right person to write it. Read several recent articles first and match the publication’s style and length. Send one idea per email, follow up once after a week or two, and move on if there’s no reply.

Building a portfolio

Clients hire from samples. Three to five strong pieces in your niche are enough to start. Host them on a simple website or a free portfolio page, and include a short bio that says who you write for. Replace weaker samples as better work is published, and ask happy clients for a short testimonial you can add.

7. Costs, taxes and risks

Rejected work. On pay-per-article sites and some content platforms, you can write a piece and not be paid if it’s rejected.

Rights and bylines. Ghostwriting for clients means you usually can’t claim the work. Check whether you can show it in your portfolio.

AI policies. Many platforms and clients ban or restrict AI-generated text and use detection tools. Follow each client’s rules.

Taxes. Writing income is self-employment income in most countries. In the US, self-employment tax is 15.3% on top of income tax.

Uneven income. Orders and acceptances come and go. Build a buffer before relying on writing income.

8. Red flags to watch for

• Unpaid “test” articles that look like real orders. Short tests are normal; full articles for free are not.
• Fees to join a writing site. Legitimate platforms don’t charge writers to apply.
• Clients who disappear after delivery. Use platforms with escrow or ask for a deposit from direct clients.
• Requests to write students’ assignments. Many schools treat it as misconduct, and it can expose you to risk.
• Rates far below your market. If a job pays very little per word, it rarely leads to anything better.

9. How to build your skills

• Read widely in your niche. Good writing starts with understanding the subject.
• Learn to edit yourself. Cutting, simplifying and checking facts are where good writing comes from.
• Learn SEO basics. Many clients want content that ranks in search.
• Learn to interview. Original quotes and expert input set your work apart from AI content.
• Learn to pitch. A clear, short pitch wins more work than a long one.

10. Recommended resources

These are listed in our Resources section.

• Contena and Freedom With Writing for writing job leads and paid publication lists
• Proofread Anywhere for training in proofreading, a related skill clients pay for
• Coursera for courses in writing, editing and content marketing

11. Owen’s take

Writing is the most flexible skill an eSide hustler can have, because almost every other hustle needs it: listings, emails, pitches and product pages. Start on a content platform to learn deadlines and briefs, but don’t stay at the bottom level for long. Pick a niche, build a few strong samples and move toward direct clients who pay for expertise rather than word count.

FAQ

How do beginners get paid to write online?
Start on content platforms that accept new writers, submit to publications that pay per article, and build a portfolio as you go.

How much does Listverse pay?
Listverse pays $100 for each list it publishes.

Can I make money writing on Medium?
Yes, through its Partner Program, but earnings depend on members reading your work and are usually small at first.

Do I need a degree to be a freelance writer?
No. Clients care about your samples, expertise and reliability more than formal qualifications.

Can I use AI to write for clients?
Only if the client allows it. Many platforms restrict AI-generated content.

Sources

• US Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Writers and Authors”, Occupational Outlook Handbook: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/writers-and-authors.htm
• Listverse, “Write & Get Paid”: https://listverse.com/write-get-paid/

All 17 Writing listings