What No One Tells You About Making Money as a Writer

Spend some time on the internet and you’ll see plenty of forums saying “You can’t make money writing.” (Looking at you, Reddit.) What they don’t say is…it depends on who you’re listening to. Yes, making money as a writer is possible. Let’s look at how it’s done.

If you’ve ever looked into turning your writing skills into a sustainable income, you’ve probably heard all the discouraging voices. The starving artist myth. The gig economy horror stories about working 80-hour weeks for pennies. The 800 articles saying AI will replace us before you can even get started.

Here’s what I’ve learned after decades in the media industry: Yes, you can make money writing—but not the way most people think. The writers who struggle aren’t necessarily less talented. They’re just following outdated guidance from people who’ve never built a profitable writing business.

Let’s unpack the truth about making money as a writer, starting with the three biggest myths that keep talented people broke.

Myth #1: You Have to Be Famous or ‘Have an Audience’ to Get Paid

This might be the most damaging myth of all. Somewhere along the way, we collectively decided that “real” writers need book deals, bylines in major publications, or advanced degrees to earn decent money.

The reality? You’ve never heard of some of the highest-paid writers. They’re working behind the scenes in copywriting, content marketing, and ghostwriting. Their work appears in email sequences that generate millions in revenue. They write white papers for Fortune 500 companies, and create content strategies for seven-figure businesses. They’re reaching audiences every day, and you see their work every time you surf the web or read an email, but no one knows their names.

A freelance copywriter specializing in lead generation can charge $3,000-$10,000 for a single lead-gen project. A ghostwriter working with executives might earn $15,000-$50,000 per book project. Content strategists for SaaS companies often earn $100+ per hour for their expertise.

None of these roles require you to have an MFA or a few thousand social media followers. They require you to understand consumer behavior, solve problems, and deliver results through your writing.

Myth #2: Making Money as a Writer is All Luck

“Oh, she just got lucky with that client.” “He happened to be in the right place at the right time.”

I’m not discounting luck entirely. Your network often determines your opportunities. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: what looks like luck is usually strategy in disguise.

The writers who consistently land high-paying clients aren’t sitting around hoping someone discovers them. They’re:

• Choosing profitable niches instead of trying to write about everything
• Positioning themselves as specialists rather than generalists
• Building relationships through networking and strategic visibility
• Understanding their market and what clients actually need

In a lot of ways, your mindset matters more than your talent. Yes, you need skills. Skills can be learned. But a decent writer with excellent business sense will out-earn a brilliant writer who treats their craft like a hobby every single day of the week.

The successful writers I know approach their work like entrepreneurs. They study the sectors they’re writing in, identify gaps in the market, bring fresh ideas to clients, and position themselves as trusted content partners.

Myth #3: Freelance Writing = Low Pay

If your only experience with freelance writing comes from browsing Upwork or Fiverr, I understand why you’d think the entire industry is a race to the bottom. Those platforms are flooded with $5 blog posts and content mill mentality. If you just need some quick clips and coffee money, that’s fine. But it’s not the real story.

Here’s what those platforms don’t show you: high-value writing markets exist off the beaten path.

B2B (business-to-business) companies pay premium rates for writers who understand their industry. SaaS companies will pay $500+ for a single case study because they know it can generate thousands in new business. Personal brand clients invest $2,000-$5,000 in content because they understand the return on investment of quality writing.

It’s not just about where you look for work—it’s how you price yourself. Hourly rates create a ceiling on your income and commoditize your skills. Value-based pricing, where you charge based on the results you deliver, removes those limitations and puts you in a better financial position.

When you shift from “I write blog posts for $50 each” to “I create content strategies that increase organic traffic by 200%,” everything changes.

What They Don’t Tell You (The Real-Real)

Here’s the shift that changes everything: You’re not just a writer, you’re a business owner.

The money doesn’t come from having perfect grammar or poetic prose (although those don’t hurt). The money comes when you learn to:

• Pitch effectively to the right prospects
• Package your services in a way that solves problems
• Price based on value, not time
• Position yourself as an expert in your chosen niche

It’s about being consistent, visible, and strategic. The writers making six figures aren’t necessarily the ones with English degrees or published novels. (Although many have those things.) They’re the ones who treat writing like a business and themselves like entrepreneurs.

This mindset shift is everything. Once you start thinking like a business owner, you start delivering value. And people are willing to pay for that.

Story Time: My Breakthrough Moment

I learned this lesson the hard way. For years, even when I was an editor with a 9-to-5, I was barely making ends meet while believing my work would speak for itself. I was talented but broke, and I was burnt out from the grind of a low-paying newsroom.

Then something weird happened. Someone I’d interviewed for a story approached me about a regulatory compliance project for a corporate merger. They needed someone to write reports and technical summaries for the deal, and they remembered the depth of my reporting and thought I’d be a good candidate for the role. Their company liked hiring former journalists because the documents had to be factual, well-researched, and clearly written…skills where we excel.

I had no idea this kind of work even existed. The project paid more in three months than I’d made in the last six months at my editing job. The hours were easy. I could do what I loved best: read through documents, report on meetings, and synthesize information.

That experience opened my eyes to an entire world of corporate and technical writing opportunities I’d never considered. Suddenly, my journalism background wasn’t just a fun-to-have thing—it was exactly what these high-paying clients needed.

It wasn’t just about finding better clients. It was realizing that I’d been thinking too small about what “writing for money” could look like.

Going From Struggling Writer to Business Owner?

So, how can you stop struggling and start earning as a writer? Here are three steps you can take this week:

1. Pick a Niche and Research What Clients Actually Pay For

Stop trying to write about everything for everyone. Choose an industry or topic you’re genuinely interested in, then research what businesses in that space need help with. Are they struggling with email marketing? Do they need case studies? Are they looking for technical documentation?

Spend time on industry forums, LinkedIn groups, and company websites. What challenges are they discussing? What solutions are they willing to pay for?

2. Create a Simple Portfolio (Even with Samples)

You don’t need a fancy website or years of experience. Create a few portfolio samples that demonstrate your ability to solve real problems for your chosen niche. These can be:

• A mock email sequence for an e-commerce brand
• A case study template for a SaaS company
• A white paper outline for a B2B service

Quality matters more than quantity. Two excellent samples beat ten mediocre ones every time.

3. Start Pitching—Imperfectly, Consistently

The biggest mistake new writers make is waiting until they feel “ready” to start pitching. You’ll never feel completely ready, and that’s okay.

Send one personalized pitch per day to a company in your chosen niche. Focus on how you can solve a specific problem they’re facing, not on how great a writer you are. Be consistent, track your responses, and refine your approach based on what you learn.

Remember: every “no” gets you closer to a “yes,” and every pitch is practice for the next one.

Ready to Transform Your Writing Into a Real Business?

Making money as a writer isn’t about luck, connections, or even raw talent. It’s about approaching your craft like a business owner, understanding what clients actually need, and positioning yourself to deliver those solutions.

The opportunities are out there—they’re just not always where you expect to find them.

If you’re ready to explore freelance writing, I created a free PDF to help you get started. You can download this freelance writing toolkit here.

The writing life you’ve been dreaming of? It’s more achievable than you think. You just need to know where to look—and how to position yourself when you get there. (And before you start talking about AI, here’s why it won’t be replacing us anytime soon!)