There are Multiple Ways to Earn Income From Writing

I've spend the past couple of months researching freelance writing and writing fields overall in an attempt to discover just how many different types and styles of writing careers there actually are.

The results were kind of surprising and kind of not - I mean if you think about it words are absolutely everywhere from descriptions on menus and in catalogs, to magazine articles, new stories, and even technical manuals (yes some people do read them ;) )

In fact there are so many writing fields and ways to find gigs as a freelance writer that I dedicated a whole website to it with all the information. There is even a forum there where I encourage you to join for free and post a link to your own portfolio.

Learn about the many types of writing careers, the average salaries, the training required, how to break into that particular field and even where to look for jobs.

You can also learn a bit about why it is NEVER a good idea to accept a pittance for writing work. Writers I have come to believe devalue themselves WAY too often, and people are out there ready to prey on that.

Do we have to compete with writers from foreign countries who will write for a buck an article - yes. It's a fact of life, does that mean that we can no longer find writing gigs that pay a decent rate? Absolutely not! There are many ways to find decent paying gigs and actually earn a living wage and decent or above average income AS A WRITER.

So join me over at the Income from Writing website which we are going to devote solely to professional writing, finding work, and creating your image etc. This site and blog will remain dedicated to writing of all kinds and encouraging you and inspiring your creativity - but the nuts and bolts belong in their own place where others can easily find this information - and it's all free!

http://www.IncomeFromWriting.com - please join, share, tell your friends. I think this can be a great resource to help put people to work and once you see it you'll know there is enough work out there for ALL of us :) I hope you will use, enjoy and help me promote this resource!

6 Best Paying Websites for Talented Writers

Below are the best options I have found for websites that offer up-front pay to writers for quality content.  

I have just recently applied to a few of these and I am still waiting on the results.  I am impressed that these sites pay an up-front fee for assigned articles and also participate in revenue-sharing.  I thought I would share a few of them here for any of you looking for higher-paying, freelance writing work.  My primary focus of course is still going to be print magazines :) - and other obligations I currently have, but these may be useful to someone so here you go! :) enjoy. 

Love to Know  Love to Know requires writer's to have some experience.  The application process will take awhile.  Have a current "writing focused" resume as well as 2 samples of relevant work.  On this site you can apply to specific channels where you have knowledge which I thought was very nice.  You can apply to as many channels as you like, but in the third part of the application process be prepared to share what makes you an expert in those areas with working examples.  

Writer's are expected to be very knowledgeable and have the willingness to contribute regularly.  In return they offer up-front payment for accepted articles, a professional team of editor's to work with you, and you also earn a share of ad revenue from your pages. 

Demand Studios: This is another website that is highly competitive and accepts only the best writer's.  When you apply be sure to have your "best stuff" on hand and be able to demonstrate your knowledge in the areas you are interested in writing about.  Demand Studios offers up-front pay ($16.00 per accepted article the last I heard) and also continued profit sharing for your content.  Very nice gig if you can get it. 

Bright Hub: I have been accepted here very recently and I am looking forward to writing for them.  They offer excellent training materials, up-front pay for assigned articles when you write for an editorial community channel. (I'll be writing about green living - one of my passions :) )  and the ability to also write about whatever you like in a "self-publish" area and earn ad revenue (without an up-front payment). 

If you are accepted, you will be limited to 5 articles per month the first month.  This is to ensure that writer's don't just dive in and get in over their heads.  I am very impressed with how Bright Hub seems to genuinely want their writers to succeed.  A team of editors to support and guide you is always a good thing when really digging into freelance writing.

About.com Contributing Writer:  High competition here, but for good reason.  About.com is the place to be as a freelancer.  Guides and even contributing writer's are compensated very well.   The contributing writer process - like the Guide process, is very extensive.  You choose from topics that are available and send in your application.  If your application is accepted, you are put through a training process with other writers and at the end of the training period a team of editors decides whether or not to accept you.  About.com is by far the place where one must jump through the most hoops to prove themselves - but what a resume builder if you can get it.  Many About.com Guides and Writers do only that full time and earn a very nice living.

Yahoo Contributing Writer: Associated Content was purchased by Yahoo and now is the Yahoo Contributor Network.  I have not looked at this very extensively yet since being accepted, but they offer several ways to earn money.  Up-front offers, assignments, performance, and distribution.  Yahoo states their typical up-front payment ranges from $2 - $25.  

You can choose work from their assignment desk, or you may write your own content and have them make an offer. 

Constant-Content: This website allows you to answer requests for articles or to simply publish articles and name your own price.  You can offer everything from only usage rights to exclusive rights.  Articles and content can sell for varying ranges here.  I haven't published any articles here in over a year due to other engagements, however I have sold some of my work through them before.  

The article acceptance is quite slow and they are very rigorous in their editing - so you must write, proofread, and edit any work thoroughly before submission to save yourself time and headaches.  I appreciate this though, because people who go here to purchase writing know they are getting high-quality work and they are willing to pay for it!