Writing Work from Home: 20+ Websites That Will Pay for Your Words

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I talk a lot about freelancing, how to get started, and how much money there is in the freelance world. When I first started out, I had all the skills, the portfolio and the tools, but I had no idea where to go to actually land freelancing clients so that I could get writing work from home and find folks that would pay more than 3 cents per word.

Person writing with orange pen - writing work from home

Are you interested in working from home and earning money with your writing? With so many websites offering opportunities to make an income through freelance writing, it can be hard for busy moms to know where to start.

Well – guess what? It doesn’t have to be overwhelming! I will show you 25+ websites that could comfortably house your budding freelance career. I haven’t used all of these, but I will walk through my favorite ones, and then give you a list of others you can try out. If there’s one on the list you’ve tried, leave a comment and I’ll add your experience in the mix!

So put on some calming tunes and grab yourself a cup of coffee as we dive into how you can build up a successful writing-focused side hustle today.

Start a Blog and Write for Yourself

*Immediate disclaimer here. Starting a blog won’t make you money today. You’re going to need to start your blog and begin creating content as you’re also working freelance writing gigs for your main source of active income.*

For years, I have been making money from freelance writing gigs. I wrote articles and blog posts for other people and I love doing it! But there’s just something satisfying about writing for yourself, about what you love, and not worrying about whether or not your client will request a million revisions and edits. When you write for yourself and for your own audience, you call the shots and pick the topics.

Why Writing for Yourself is My Favorite Option

When you write for yourself, you are in complete control of what content you create and how much money you make. You don’t have to worry about someone else dictating what kind of topics or assignments they want you to write about; instead, you can focus on creating content that speaks directly to your target audience.

When you write on your own blog or website, you are building up an audience of loyal readers who will come back time and again as they get value from your content. This also gives you more opportunities to monetize your blog through affiliate marketing or selling digital products such as ebooks or courses.

You Decide Your Income Potential

Another great thing about writing for yourself is that it gives you freedom over how much money you can potentially make. When freelancing for others, it can be hard to know exactly how much money each assignment will bring in since many times these contracts vary from job to job.

But when it comes to blogging or writing on your own website, the potential is limitless! You’re not constrained by someone else’s budget or project scope; instead, all of the power lies in your hands—and if done correctly—can lead to a steady stream of income over time.

You Get to Be Your Own Client

Finally, my favorite reason…when you write for yourself, there’s no need to worry about finding new clients every month or worrying about whether or not they will renew their contracts with you at the end of each assignment.

Instead, once your blog takes off and starts gaining traction with readers and followers alike—you can rest assured knowing that there will be more than enough work (and money) coming in month after month. Looking for more info on how to start your own blog? Here’s a great starting point and the course I took to get my blog up and rolling.

Upwork

If you’re looking to work from home and make some extra cash, then freelancing with Upwork could be the way to go for you! It can be overwhelming to get started, but it’s definitely possible.

I made over $26,000 with my Upwork profile in 2022 — and I want to help you do the same!

Here’s what you need to know about freelancing with Upwork, including how to get started, the pros and cons of using this platform, and tips for getting your first job.

How To Get Started With Freelancing On Upwork

Getting started is easy — all you need to do is create an account on the Upwork website and fill out your profile. Start by adding any relevant information about yourself (e.g., work experience or education).

You should also upload a photo of yourself as well as any samples of your work (if applicable). Once your profile is complete, start applying for jobs that fit your skillset and interests.

Be sure to read each job description carefully before applying so that you understand what type of work will be required of you.

One thing I don’t love about Upwork is that every job requires you to spend “connects” in order to apply for the job. I think it’s something like 60 connects for $10, and the jobs cost anywhere from 1-6 connects to apply to them. However, I think it’s worth it for the leads that I’ve been able to get on the platform.

The Pros & Cons Of Freelancing On Upwork

Freelancing on Upwork has its pros and cons. The obvious pro is that you have the freedom to set your own hours and work from anywhere in the world — which makes it an attractive option for those who want more flexibility in their lives.

You can also pick up projects quickly, allowing you to earn more money faster than if you had taken traditional employment routes.

However, one con of using this platform is that there is no guaranteed payment — meaning that you may not always get paid for the work that you do if the client does not approve it or if they simply disappear without notice.

Because there is such a large pool of talent on this platform competition can be fierce at times making it difficult to land jobs.

I Made $26k In A Year On Upwork – Here’s How You Can Too

If I can make over $26k in a year on Upwork then so can you! Here are my top tips for getting started:

Make sure that your profile looks professional; ensure that all information included is accurate and up-to-date
Apply only for jobs where your skillset aligns with what’s required
Ensure that all proposals include detailed descriptions of why clients should hire you
Deliver quality results even when working under tight deadlines or against short time frames – this will show potential clients how reliable and capable you are as a freelancer.

NewsBreak

Writing for NewsBreak as an extra income stream can be a great way to blaze a unique career path. Put your writing talents to work and show the world what you’ve got! With flexible hours and the potential to earn while learning, this is one opportunity not to be missed.

You get to choose the topics that interest you or excite your creativity, meaning you’ll always be looking forward to tackling your assignments instead of doing them out of obligation.

I love writing for NewsBreak as it gives me fast insight into what my readers what to see from me, and I love that I can also get paid for writing about whatever I want to write about.

You have to have 100 registered followers before you can apply for monetization, and I have a full post here if you’re interested in learning more about this platform. And here’s my profile. 🙂

Medium

Writing for Medium is the best way to get paid to do what you love and make some extra coin on the side. While it won’t make you rich, that extra income stream can come in quite handy. Plus, posting your blog content on Medium means more eyes and traffic to your work.

You need to get those followers up before you can reap any financial rewards though – treat this like a game and rack up that hundred as quickly as possible!

I haven’t monetized my profile yet, and I am still working to build my 100 followers so I can get paid on the platform.

SteadyContent

With Steady Content, you get access to a plethora of job opportunities perfect for the content creator in all of us. Just think–no more stuffy cubicles, no having to fight rush hour traffic, and no wasting time commuting. Instead, you can focus on crafting beautifully written articles that will make your readers happy – all from the comfort of your own home.

How to Get Started with SteadyContent

Starting your freelance writing journey with SteadyContent is a smart move! This powerful platform allows you to access a variety of projects and clients, so you can join the ranks of successful freelance writers getting paid to share their expertise.

Just sign up on the website and follow the steps provided to become a member. Once approved, join communities to find potential clients and specific projects, then start submitting your pitches – but make sure they’re original and crafted to perfection.

Vocal

If you’ve got the chops to write compelling stories, articles and blog posts, Vocal is the platform for you! With Vocal you can get paid while flexing your creative muscles by writing content that interests you, in the tone of your choice.

Whether your style is serious, fun or somewhere in between – it’s up to you. No matter your writing level, Vocal gives you the chance to hone your skill and make money doing what you love.

Have you heard of LinkedIn? It’s a great platform to showcase your skills and experience, and it’s also the perfect place to find freelance writing jobs. Here are three tips to help you get started.

Make Sure Your Profile Is Up To Date

Before you start applying for jobs, take a few minutes to update your profile so that it accurately reflects your skills and experience as a writer.

Double check for typos and grammar mistakes, add any relevant certifications or awards, and make sure you have a professional-looking headshot uploaded. You want potential employers to know that you mean business!

Leverage Your Connections

LinkedIn is all about networking and building connections. If you already have contacts in the writing or publishing world, reach out and see if they have any leads or advice they can offer. You never know who might be able to help—even if it’s just someone who can pass along your information to the right person.

Find Jobs On The Job Boards

The last tip is probably the most important one: use the job boards on LinkedIn to search for freelance writing gigs that fit your interests and expertise.

Make sure to read each job description carefully, so that you don’t miss any requirements or deadlines. Once you find something you like, go ahead and apply! If all goes well, before long you’ll be making more money from home than ever before.

Additional writing platforms:

I have not personally written for these platforms, so I cannot vouch for them, but there are many out there and I wish I would’ve known about all of the options when I was first starting out as a freelance writer.

Smart Blogger Job Boards
Flex Jobs
TextBroker
ProBlogger
Freelancer
People Per Hour
Mechanical Turk
Creative Circle
Robert Half
Guru
iWriter
Contently
We Work Remotely
Fivver

How to Get Started Writing From Home

If you’re looking to make a few extra bucks from the comfort of your own home, why not try writing? Writing from home is an excellent way to make money on your own terms without having to endure long commutes or 9-5 office hours. Here’s how to get started.

Choose a Niche

The first step in becoming a successful writer working from home is nailing down a niche that you are passionate about and have experience with. This will help you find positions that fit your interests and skillset so that you can easily create quality content for clients.

Whether it’s professional blogging, web content creation, technical writing, copywriting, or any other type of writing, choose one (or more!) genre and start building your portfolio.

Create a Portfolio

Now that you’ve chosen your niche, it’s time to show off the goods! Put together a portfolio featuring some of your best work samples that demonstrate the type of writing you’d like to do for clients.

Don’t be afraid to include pieces that didn’t necessarily turn out as well as you’d hoped; use them as learning experiences in order to hone in on what works and doesn’t work for future projects.

Having both successful and unsuccessful pieces in your portfolio will make it easier for potential clients to determine if they want to hire you or not.

Start Applying For Positions

Now that you have an idea of what kind of writing gig interests you and have samples ready to go, it’s time to start applying! There are tons of job platforms online where freelancers can look for gigs.

Take some time browsing each platform’s listing according the criteria set by each website such as location, keywords, rate per hour/word etc., until you find something that suits your abilities. Apply away!

Writing from home is an extremely rewarding career path if done correctly – with patience and commitment. With the right tools at hand such as choosing a niche that fits your skillset and creating an awesome portfolio full of great samples, there’s no reason why making money from home through writing shouldn’t be possible.