Ways To Make Money As A Writer

One of the most commonly held misconceptions about writing and publishing books is that it's fairly easy to make money doing it. After all, how often have we seen portrayals of a writer becoming an instant bestseller able to support themselves on their writing alone?

That, however, is largely fiction. While you will certainly find exceptions, the stark reality of writing and publishing is that it isn't the lucrative endeavor some folks might believe. Between royalties if you're traditionally published and various expenses you'll be footing the bill for if you're self-published, writing doesn't bring in the big bucks. Many published writers continue to hold day jobs alongside their writing or have established additional streams of revenue to supplement book sales.

In this post, I'm looking at a few of these. Some I have already ventured into, and others that I've yet to dip my toe into.

Merch

This can be one of the most fun ways to earn a little extra income as an author. If your readers love your books, why not offer them a way to literally show off their support?

Depending on how you go about it, merch can come with costs for manufacturing and shipping.

Print-on-demand services are an easy way to get started. With these, you won't have to hold any inventory or handle shipping, making it a way to test out your designs on products and see what sells.

Merch is also good to have in general, not only for promotion and sales, but to use for things like giveaway prizes or preorder incentives.

I have a list of admittedly unconventional ideas for author merch here if you're in need of inspiration.

Content Creation

Having a social media presence as a writer isn't a requirement to be published, but it does feel increasingly expected in this day and age.

From the marketing standpoint, it's become essential. Social media can help your readers find your books and build a rapport with them even before your release date. And for some writers, it can also be a means of income.

Creating content for YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and other platforms can become a means of extra income if you're able to appease the algorithm gods. Some of these platforms have prerequisites that must be met before you can begin earning on them. YouTube requires you to have 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of watch time before you can apply for monetization through the YouTube Partner Program.

Writing and the bookish corners of the internet are pretty niche. Some niches, like finance, typically do well. But in my research ahead of starting my own YouTube channel, I've heard writers say that in a typical month, they're not making nearly as much—enough to cover their phone bill or a trip to the grocery store, perhaps. That's still fantastic, but if you're looking to make a living off of writing-related content creation, you might want to look into additional revenue streams to supplement.

And of course, there's also the matter of taxes and such.

You might have that one video take off and set everything else in motion, but even then, it's important to remain realistic in your expectations.

Sponsorships

Sponsorships are especially common on YouTube, but you'll also see them pop up on other social media platforms.

This essentially means that you are partnering with a company to promote their products.

With these sponsorships, they might send you a free product in exchange for promotion or pay you a certain amount, with the expectation that your audience might be interested in making a purchase. These might also be accompanied by a discount code offering 25% off their first order or a free item.

As a few examples, I've seen sponsored posts from writers partnering with Skillshare, Milanote, and Raycon.

One suggestion I've heard from creators (and intend to hold myself to should the opportunity arise) is to only promote products and companies you have confidence in. Your audience likely values your opinions, so promoting an unfavorable product can damage their confidence. When in doubt, do your research. If something seems off or too good to be true, it's likely better to decline the sponsorship.

Affiliate Marketing

Similar to sponsorships, affiliate marketing lets you earn commission on purchases made through your link.

Amazon is one of the more common options I've seen. If they meet the requirements, content creators can set up storefronts featuring collections of their favorite products or things their audience might find useful or noteworthy. Beauty influencers might tag the products they're using in a GRWM video, and if someone buys one through that link, they can earn a little money for that referral. For writers, you could include your go-to pens and stationery in your storefront.

Amazon isn't the only platform for affiliate marketing. Some companies have their own programs to sign up with; one of my writer friends has an affiliate link in her bio for an electrolyte drink.

As is the case with sponsorships, be mindful of the affiliate programs you're signing up for and do your due diligence.

Monetizing Your Website

In general, it's a good idea to have a website as an author because it establishes a central hub for your books and provide even more content for interested readers.

You may also be able to earn a little revenue from it.

Among the most common means of income from a website is through ads. I've had Google AdSense set up on my blog for about two years now, and that allows Google to place advertisements in certain spots on my webpage. When these ads are viewed or interacted with, it generates a tiny bit of revenue.

Emphasis on tiny, here.

I haven't reached the payout threshold at the time of writing, so my revenue is sitting in a pot that will be released when that criterion is met. On an average day, I'm bringing in just a few cents, in part because writing is such a niche topic compared to more lucrative fields like economics.

AdSense isn't the only way to monetize your website, though! Some writers might choose to place certain posts behind a paywall requiring a subscription or one-time payment to access or offer online courses (more on those in a bit).

And if you've been thinking about starting a blog, even if you haven't published any books yet, I've got a few tips in this post to get you started.

Patreon, Ko-Fi, And Co.

Another popular revenue stream for writers is Patreon, Ko-Fi, and similar platforms.

Think of them like online tip jars that allow fans to support their favorite creators. In exchange, writers might offer exclusive content only available on their Patreon or Ko-Fi pages like writing livestreams, bonus short stories, and cover reveals, and sneak previews of upcoming projects. If you're posting on YouTube, you may be able to activate channel memberships and offer these rewards in addition to exclusive icons and prioritized comments.

With any of these systems, be sure the rewards and exclusives you're offering supporters are feasible for you to deliver.

Freelancing And Guest Posts

Writing a guest post for a blog or similar outlet can be a great opportunity to broaden your reach and connect with new readers.

Sometimes, they can also be paid opportunities.

If freelancing or guest posts sound like your thing, keep an eye out for submission calls or consider setting up a profile on websites like Fiverr so those opportunities can begin to find you.

Online Courses

This one can take a little more time to put together, but it can become a means of passive income once it's set up.

If you have unique insight or writing tips that other writers might find valuable in their own process, online courses may be viable for you. They might be a single dedicated video or a series that goes in-depth on a specific topic (e.g., a guide to self-publishing your debut novel, with each video tackling a different step in the process).

I've seen these courses offered as live webinars with VOD available for a limited time, and as evergreen offerings viewers can access at their own pace.

You can find examples on platforms like Skillshare, though many writers will feature them as Patreon rewards or available for purchase on their personal websites.

Contrary to popular belief, most writers have revenue streams in addition to book sales. Between the unpredictability of the market and needing to earn out before you can receive royalties as a traditionally-published author and the costs coming out of a self-publishing author's own wallet, it's far from lucrative for the average writer.

Having multiple streams of income as a writer might make tax season a little trickier to navigate, but it helps to have that supplemental safety net—especially with so many of these ideas being passive and able to work in the background while you're working on your next book!

Have you tried any of these ideas for yourself? Are there any you'd add to the list? Let me know in the comments.