I don't know where to begin, but I'm determined to begin.

Rennet · Mar 30, 2013

annaspargoryan said:
Where to begin?

There is nothing wrong with wanting to make money from writing. Plenty of people do it. I am a full-time freelancer, and I won't tell you my income but it is a lot more than $50,000.

There are SO many ways to make money out of writing. Features writing (magazine and newspapers) is one way, but it is hard work and the pay varies wildly; I've been paid anywhere between 20c and 80c per word for features, and sometimes that equates to $400 for a piece that takes 15 minutes to write, whereas others might pay $1000 but take 5 full days to research and write. The pitching process can also be time consuming, frustrating and fruitless. So on the whole, it's unpredictable and earning a living from it (solely) is very hard work.

So, combine it with other kinds of writing. More lucrative options are corporate copywriting, technical writing, tender/proposal writing, content development, marketing/advertising copy ... there are so many options. These are all completely legitimate, necessary and rewarding ways to get paid to write. And they are "real jobs", incidentally.

You don't have to fall on the writerly sword and live a life of poverty for your art. Besides, corporate writing (especially proposal writing) gives me time for creative writing without starving my children. Everybody wins!

So true re: magazine pay rates, and how pay does not correspond at all to difficulty.

Sometimes I kick myself for queries I end up selling because they end up taking so much effort with research, reporting, etc. But I'm a newbie so if it's a clip it's a clip I need to do it. Example I'm spending a week flying someplace and covering a story for around $150. But it's a magazine I highly respect so I'll do it.

So far my easiest piece has also been the highest paying. And the most difficult the lowest paying (worked on it for two months for $50).

Some of this can be alleviated by experience I think.. if I want to I can come up with ideas that are easier to write for higher paying markets. But sometimes the harder stuff is more interesting. And over time you filter out the cheaper markets.

But I am seeing that developing consistent income can be really helpful. I stumbled upon some corporate work that will be ongoing, and it's nice because it's the equivalent of one less 'big break' I need per month. The inconsistency is the hardest part of this job and it helps with that.

Lynnetteviii · Mar 30, 2013

Oh I like that...look for some consistent work for a base income and then other perhaps more interesting things can add to that. I do like to eat every day.

*Amel* · Mar 31, 2013

I agree that $50,000 is a realistic goal and very doable for a skilled writer. If you wrote solely for magazines, you would need to write an average of 2,000 words per week for markets that pay 50 cents per word. Plenty of magazines pay this rate and even higher, so it is just a matter of connecting with editors and getting regular assignments. This obviously takes time but becomes easier once you get your foot in the door. As others have suggested, there are other kinds of writing you can do, too. From your postings, it seems that you have excellent credentials and professional experience/contacts that should help you greatly as you forge ahead.

Melina · Apr 1, 2013

annaspargoryan said:
Where to begin?

There is nothing wrong with wanting to make money from writing. Plenty of people do it. I am a full-time freelancer, and I won't tell you my income but it is a lot more than $50,000.

There are SO many ways to make money out of writing. Features writing (magazine and newspapers) is one way, but it is hard work and the pay varies wildly; I've been paid anywhere between 20c and 80c per word for features, and sometimes that equates to $400 for a piece that takes 15 minutes to write, whereas others might pay $1000 but take 5 full days to research and write. The pitching process can also be time consuming, frustrating and fruitless. So on the whole, it's unpredictable and earning a living from it (solely) is very hard work.

So, combine it with other kinds of writing. More lucrative options are corporate copywriting, technical writing, tender/proposal writing, content development, marketing/advertising copy ... there are so many options. These are all completely legitimate, necessary and rewarding ways to get paid to write. And they are "real jobs", incidentally.

You don't have to fall on the writerly sword and live a life of poverty for your art. Besides, corporate writing (especially proposal writing) gives me time for creative writing without starving my children. Everybody wins!

^^This^^

Thank you, Anna.

quacktaculaura · Apr 16, 2013

I'm no real help. I do freelance work for the local newspaper, but it certainly doesn't pay me even close to $50k a year.

I don't know where to begin, but I'm determined to begin.

Rennet

Lynnetteviii

*Amel*

Melina

Getting better all the time

quacktaculaura

Amel