How to Make Money As A Freelance Writer 2025

Last Updated on May 1, 2025 by Jan Barley

Freelance writer? Is that what you want? If so, whoo hooo!It is easier than you might think for how to make money by writing.

I started my freelance writing business in December 2020, and it quickly transitioned into SEO writing. The income was great for three years before I found myself in a toxic environment, got burnt out and pivoted 50% of my time to digital and affiliate marketing. I was making around £295+ per 2,000-word article at the time.

I write regularly for a pet publication and features for other companies. I’ve worked in crypto, recruitment, marketing, and others. There are so many ways for how to make money writing.

Regardless of ChatGPT and other AI writers, many companies still want an actual human to write good quality content for their websites, blogs, marketing material, etc. Yes, many companies are using AI to save costs so it’s more important than ever to learn how to make money as a writer.

When you’re a new freelance writer and want to make money from writing, knowing where to look for work can be tricky. Most beginners end up on Upwork, and that can scar you for life. Many writers get messed about by clients on the platform, which can be a race to the bottom for the lowest fees. If you chose Upwork, apply to clients with payment history and good reviews because that’s how to earn money by writing without the stress of worrying whether you’ll get paid.

These days, I write primarily for my website and social media content as I am pivoting to digital and affiliate marketing. Words have power, so you will always find a way to make money as a freelance writer.

The Pros Of Freelance Writing

• No boss
• High demand
• Work from home
• Flexible workload
• Choose your hours
• Make a good income
• Work with various niches

The Cons Of Freelance Writing

• Feast & Famine: You’ve either got too much work or not enough. I was earning almost £40k a year working 20 hours a week, and overnight, I lost 90% of my income when two clients could no longer afford me.
• Competition: There are more applicants for writing jobs these days than when I started. There also seem to be fewer writing roles on job sites.
• Burnout: Writing long-form content can be exhausting, especially if the job requires research. The way around that is to write about something you know and love. As a qualified dog behaviourist, I love writing for a pet publication.
• Finding Clients: It’s an ongoing hunt for business. If you don’t pitch, people forget about you. They’re busy people.
• Dealing With Clients: They’re not all wonderful. I have worked with some fantastic people, but last year was horrible, putting me off working with clients for the rest of my life. Sorry, but it’s true.
• Declining Budgets: I’ve spoken to many writers who find getting the same fees they’ve been paid for years difficult.

What Is Freelance Writing?

A freelance writer isn’t tied to one client. You can write for multiple companies and invoice them for your work. You could write website copy, blog posts, ghostwrite a book, articles for online publications, magazines, newsletters, press releases, email sequences, SEO content and more.

Typically, it is your job to research the content. The client may provide an outline or leave it to you. After submission, you may need to make edits.

How Much Can A Freelance Writer Make?

There are enormous variables in writing fees. Content mills may pay $0.01 per word (do not EVER work for such low pay), but some publications may pay $500+ for a 1,000-word article. Content mills are not the best route for how to earn money from writing but it can be a start for beginner writers.

The SaS (software as a service) industry is among the highest-paid niches because fewer people are applying for SaS writing roles. Ghostwriting someone’s book can be $5k+, but it’s a tricky role. That was my first-ever gig. It paid well, but with 164k words of gibberish, it was hard work.

I advise trying to arrange a monthly retainer with your long-term clients. That provides some stability in knowing how much money comes in each month.

How Much Should I Charge for Freelance Writing?

Many new writers start with a price per word. I’d advise against that, even though that is how I started. My first freelance role paid £0.03 per word (I’m in the UK), and I had to bust a gut to earn enough to pay the bills.

Of course, your work needs to be excellent to command a higher fee. Aim for a price per project and avoid exchanging time for money. You are exchanging a skill for money.

Note: Build a portfolio as quickly as possible and put it online. Start a blog or a Medium account to show potential clients the standard of your work.

If someone asks you to do a FREE writing trial, say no. Decent clients do not expect you to work for nothing.

How Do Freelance Writers Get Paid?

Every company has a different payment method. Below are some of the ways I have received payment

• PayPal
• Stripe
• Lumanu
• Bank transfer

Remember that some payment processors like PayPal charge processing or a currency exchange fee (around 3%)

Before accepting the work, clarify the payment schedule. Many writers get caught out and never get paid. If in doubt, ask for 50% upfront. Indeed, confirm everything before you put pen to paper.

How Do I Approach Prospective Clients?

Don’t be afraid to express your personality. Most applicants will follow a stereotypical approach that lacks punch. I once got hired on the spot after messaging an editor and saying, “I’m standing on a box and waving at you so you can see me above all the applicants who got ahead of the queue.”

• Share your portfolio
• Be confident
• Add links to published client work (if your name is on the article)
• Tell them how you can help
• Add your availability
• No need to mention rates

Where Do I Find Companies I’d Like To Write For?

In Google search, type “write for us: your niche” For me, that would be “write for us: pet publications” You can also add “paid” to the search.

Make a list, find out who the editor is, and send out your pitches. That can be as simple as asking if they need additional writers and sharing your portfolio—no need to overthink it.

I’ve put together a list of 38 websites that pay bloggers to write. Some of these websites pay well, such as $1 per word or up to $700 per blog post.

How Else Can I Find Freelance Writing Work?

1. Start a blog: That gets you into the habit of writing regularly. You can monetise your blog and tailor it to your chosen niche.
2. Upwork: OK, I’m not a fan of Upwork, but if you want experience, it can be a place to start
3. Fiverr: A bit like Upwork. It wouldn’t be my first choice, but you can find entry-level gigs.
4. Facebook Writing Groups: Most of my freelance work came from Facebook groups. Search for copywriting, freelance writing, content writing, etc., and look for established groups that engage in regular activity. Be careful of scammers.
5. Job Sites: FlexJobs is specifically for remote work. I got some clients from Indeed.
6. Contact Companies/Bloggers in your Niche: Keep at it, and you will find work.
7. ProBlogger Job Board: I’ve never found work here, but I have colleagues who have.
8. LinkedIn: Optimise your profile and post daily. It can be slow, but if you share niche-specific content, you will attract clients.
9. Freelance Writing: Freelance Writing has regular updated writers jobs
10. Publications: Search for publications in your niche

Do You Need A Qualification To Be A Freelance Writer?

Nobody asks for qualifications unless it’s an employed position that ridiculously asks for a degree. The main criterion is writing compelling copy that people want to read.

If you want to improve your writing and learn how to make money as a writer, taking a course can help.

How About Proofreading My Copy?

I use Grammarly Premium, and it has massively helped improve my writing. I follow a strict protocol before submitting my work and rarely get asked to edit anything.

1. Research
2. Write the first draft in Microsoft Word
3. Open Grammarly and edit
4. Check for plagiarism (Grammarly has this built-in)
5. Go to “Review” and “Read Aloud” You will be amazed at how sticky some of your sentences are when you “hear” them. It also picks up mistakes you cannot see
6. If the copy is for US English, I upload it to Google Drive, change the language to US English and run a spell and grammar check

The goal to get repeat work is to make your editor’s job as easy as possible. If you aren’t getting work returned, you’re doing a great job.

So, what are you waiting for? Get started with your freelance writing career and see where it takes you!

If you’re struggling getting writing work, do as I am and start a DFU business.

Disclaimer: There are affiliate links on this page. If you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission.

FAQs

How Can I Make Money from Writing?

Firstly, decide what niche you’d like to write for. Secondly, approach companies and ask if you can submit a pitch or article. Build a portfolio by writing on a free platform like Medium or Substack, and have something to show potential clients. The next thing to focus on is specialism. I am an SEO writer, so that is my specialism. I get content ranked on Google page one SERPs (search engine results). You might prefer copywriting or ad writing. Choosing a niche you enjoy makes life a lot easier.

How to Get Paid Writing?

The easiest thing for freelance writer income is to check out my blog post “38 websites that pay bloggers to write” as that is a great list with multiple niches and companies looking for writers. Register with writing platforms like paid online writing jobs

How to Earn Money Writing?

Just keep going. There are plenty of companies that need good writers, so keep perfecting your writing skills. I started writing at £.0.03 per word. Now, my average fee is £250 per 1,000 word SEO blog post. It took time to build my skills and reputation, but it’s worth the effort.

How to Write and Make Money Online?

I’m not going to tell you writing online is a bed of roses. I’ve had some challenging experiences. What I’m doing now is building and monetising this blog and starting a new blog for a trending topic I can promote on Pinterest. I write content for a few companies still, but if you want a long-term future as a writer, start writing content for yourself. Start with affiliate marketing, work towards ad partnerships and make money without relying on clients. Work from home freelance writing offers multiple opportunies. For instance, I make a small monthly income from selling my Amazon books.