Details on 5 websites that pay you to write original, high-quality content — and a list of additional platforms to consider.
Published in · 6 min read · May 22, 2020
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The internet is flooded with clickbait and it is difficult to find genuine websites. But there are still many websites that actually pay writers for well-written content.
Medium is one such website that provides a platform to writers and rewards them for their genuine work. It connects you with avid readers who appreciate quality work.
Anyone can join Medium’s Partner Program and earn money when any Medium member reads their articles. All you need to do is write on topics close to your heart and present a unique perspective to readers.
Once you become a member and submit your idea, an editorial team will review your article. If it passes their quality standards, they will recommend it to readers interested in that topic.
You will earn a monthly payment based on the number of Medium members who read your posts. Also, the longer a member reads your article, the more money you will earn.
I enrolled in Medium’s Membership Program in May 2019. Since then, I’ve been writing on various topics such as business growth strategies, writing tips, and marketing hacks.
Here’s one example of a post that did really well on Medium and helped me earn good money:
However, it isn’t wise to put all your eggs in one basket. So, I understand that as writers, you’re always looking for more websites that can publish your content and pay you for it.
I’ve got good news for you.
Here is a list of websites that pay you to write original, high-quality content.
Listverse gives you a platform to write for various genres like entertainment, lifestyle, science, society, and general awareness. It even gives you an option to write about bizarre topics ranging from creepy and weird stuff to mysteries.
Whatever topic you choose, their only requirement is that your post needs to be in the form of a list and it should have at least ten items per list. Content should be original and not copied from anywhere else. And all the references mentioned in the article should be legit.
The best thing about this website is that you need not be a professional writer to get your article published here. It is a popular website so you can get millions of viewers to read your article.
By contributing highly-engaging content regularly, you can become one of their paid contributing staff writers. You can start receiving payments immediately.
WritersWeekly purchases articles from freelance writers and authors worldwide. All you need to do is read their guidelines, pitch ideas, and subscribe to their website.
They do not publish guest posts, poetry, cartoons, book reviews, product/service reviews, company or individual profiles, how-to articles, and ongoing columns or series by one writer.
You can get paid for writing content such as:
Feature Articles
If your article can help other writers make money with content writing, then the site is likely to accept it. However, it should be original and give unique insights to writers.
You will get $60 on acceptance of your article via PayPal for first rights only. For reprints, you’ll get $30.
Marketing Secrets
Your article should have innovative methods to promote a book or writing business. You can share your own success story or write ideas that are not covered on the site already.
You will get $60 on acceptance of your article via PayPal for first rights only. For reprints, you’ll get $30.
Backstories
You can share your story about how you came up with the idea for your book. You can also write an interesting article about how you achieved your goal of writing a book.
You can do some self-promotions by sharing your own story. WritersWeekly does not charge you for publishing it.
If you have a knack for writing humorous content, then Cracked.com is the platform for you. You don’t need any writing experience to be a part of their community. You just need to sign up on their writer’s forum to get started.
Along with blog posts, you can also create and submit image-based and video-based content. They accept listicles as that is what they are famous for.
They have content about a wide variety of topics on their website and millions of viewers. Your article will get good exposure if it gets accepted by their editorial team.
There is no specific amount mentioned on their website, but they assure good payments for well-written, funny, and original content.
SitePoint is a website that focuses on informative and technical content. Each month they focus on one topic and publish content that gives actionable advice to readers. Their main focus is on web development and analytics.
They accept content on topics related to:
- HTML and CSS
- JavaScript
- PHP
- Design & UX
- Web
- WordPress
- SEO by WooRank
- Microsoft Tech
- And more
They also welcome pitch ideas from all writers who may be interested in contributing to their site.
To be a part of their community, you will have to fill out a form where you need to describe yourself. They will evaluate your profile and add you to their contributors’ group if you are a good fit for them. They demand punctuality and commitment.
So, if you are dedicated, hard-working, have original content, and looking to write for web professionals, then this is the website for you.
Their site does not tell exactly how much they pay their writers, but they do say that it is above average. You should give it a try yourself.
Copyhackers is a website where you can pitch ideas about how to start a business, copywriting, networking, digital marketing, web development, and more. Your post should be well-researched and should be at least 2,000 words long.
They accept posts that tell a story in the first person. You should back your post with relevant data and your article should have a compelling title to pique readers’ interest.
Copyhackers pays $300 to $1,000 for every accepted and completed post (amount at the editor’s discretion). You can send your pitch email to their content strategist to get started but make sure that you read all of their guidelines before you email them.
Here is a list of some other websites that can pay you for your original work.
It is not easy for new writers to start making money immediately. It may take some time before you actually start earning a decent amount of money by contributing to third-party sites. However, it is worth your time and effort. I hope this list of websites will help you have a good start.
Always remember that you are most likely to be rewarded for your high-quality work. So, never compromise quality for quantity.
FAQs
5 Platforms That Pay Writers in 2020? ›
Goodreads is a recognized and respected platform that millions of readers use worldwide. Not just for reading original work, but reading and writing book reviews, and following their favourite published authors.
What writing platform pays the most? ›- Narratively.
- ModernLove. ...
- Incomediary. ...
- Textbroker. ...
- Contently. Contently is the promising writing site that pays exorbitant money to talented writers. ...
- 5 Online Platforms That Pay Writers for Their Writing. Putting all your eggs in one basket is not always wise. ...
Goodreads is a recognized and respected platform that millions of readers use worldwide. Not just for reading original work, but reading and writing book reviews, and following their favourite published authors.
Where can I write and get paid? ›- Upwork. Upwork is one of the most popular platforms freelancers use to find work online. ...
- Copyhackers. ...
- Fiverr. ...
- Listverse. ...
- Vibrant Life. ...
- Narratively. ...
- FreelanceMom. ...
- nDash.
WordPress is number one on our list of the best blogging platforms for writers. WordPress is far and away one of the most popular blogging platforms on the web. It's currently being used by over 60 million websites viewed by over 250 million people worldwide.
What apps pay writers? ›- Listverse. Image via Listverse. Listverse gives you a platform to write for various genres like entertainment, lifestyle, science, society, and general awareness. ...
- WritersWeekly.com. Image via WritersWeekly.com. ...
- Cracked.com. Image via Cracked. ...
- SitePoint. Image via SitePoint. ...
- Copyhackers. Image via Copyhackers.
After introducing its Paid Stories project in 2019, Wattpad has paid more than $3 million to writers on the platform to date. With its new creator program, it plans to pay $2.6 million to writers just this year.
How can I sell my writing? ›- Write Articles for Popular Blogs, Magazines and Journals.
- Create Collateral for Content-Hungry Businesses.
- Become a Best-Selling Kindle Author.
- Sell Yourself as a Conversion-Focused Copywriter.
- Build a Niche Blog and Promote Third Party Products.
- ProWritingAid (Best Writing Software for Books)
- Scrivener.
- Google Docs.
- NovelPad.
- Reedsy Book Editor.
- Squibler.
- Microsoft Word.
- Grammarly.
- Amazon KDP. If you're familiar with the topic of self-publishing, then you know Amazon KDP is THE place to publish as an indie author or publisher. ...
- PublishDrive. ...
- Barnes & Noble Press. ...
- Apple Books. ...
- Google Play Books. ...
- IngramSpark. ...
- Kobo Writing Life. ...
- Dreame.
Where can I write online for money? ›
- ClearVoice is a platform to connect bloggers with brands in various niches, as well as commissioning posts for its own blog. ...
- Contently pays about 35 cents a word for their freelancer-focused online magazine. ...
- Freedom with Writing pays $50+ for lists of paying publishers. ...
- Make a Living Writing. ...
- WOW!
- Guest Post on High-Paying Publications and Magazines. ...
- Become a Copywriter. ...
- Do Freelance Content Writing for Businesses. ...
- Ghostwrite Stories. ...
- Get Paid to Write on Medium. ...
- Self-Publish on Amazon Kindle. ...
- Blog and Make Money Through Affiliate Marketing. ...
- Find Paid Writing Internships.
- Complete your education. ...
- Determine your niche. ...
- Ensure you have the appropriate tools. ...
- Build a portfolio. ...
- Earn professional experience. ...
- Market your services. ...
- Improve your writing skills. ...
- Find freelancing jobs.
Being connected to your readers is one of the most satisfying and rewarding parts of Wattpad. With Paid Stories, your audience can also reward you with monetary support. Paid Stories allows readers to support selected authors by purchasing access to entire stories or paying to unlock portions as they go.
What companies do writers work for? ›Company | Salary for Content Writers |
---|---|
Indeed | $54,875 |
BuzzFeed | $50,623 |
Freelancer.com | $53,534 |
Brafton | $37,380 |
It is very possible thanks to the Light Reader Creator benefit. For a complete story you can earn between $60- $600. This is the chance to show off your writing skills and make some money while at it.
Does Amazon pay writers? ›Amazon offers two ebook royalty plans: the 70% option and the 35% option. In both plans, your royalty cut is calculated as a percentage of your list price, minus VAT. To be eligible for the 70% plan, you'll need to do all of the following: Publish something that's not in the public domain.
Can I earn money by writing programs? ›Coders can mostly make money by working full-time roles, freelancing, or by publishing apps, eBooks and online courses. In general, you can make money by either writing code, or teaching others how to do it.
Who will pay me to read novels? ›- Kirkus Review. Payment: Undisclosed. ...
- Booklist. Pay: $15 per review. ...
- ACX. Pay: Hourly rate or 50% royalty share. ...
- Findaway Voices. Pay: Undisclosed. ...
- Voices. Pay: Varies. ...
- The US Review of Books. Pay: Undisclosed. ...
- Reedsy Discovery. Pay: Tips from $1 to $5 from those who read your reviews. ...
- BookBrowse.
- Write a lot, and to market.
- Polish your manuscript with an editor.
- Keep as many of the royalties as possible.
- Build up your author platform.
- Make your books accessible to more readers.
- Promote new releases as well as your backlist.
- Offer services related to your product.
- Study how other authors make money.
Does Kindle pay writers? ›
Authors are able to earn a maximum of 3,000 Kindle Edition Normalized Pages (KENP) Read per title per customer. This means that each time your Kindle eBook is borrowed and read, you can receive credit for up to 3,000 pages. We believe this results in an equitable distribution of the KDP Select Global Fund.
How much do barefoot writers get paid? ›How Much Do Barefoot Writer Jobs Pay per Hour? $17.07 is the 25th percentile. Wages below this are outliers.
How do I make my first $1000 as a content writer? ›- Introduce yourself (1 sentence)
- Tell them you want to write content for them.
- Give them 3 examples of articles you can write for them.
- Tell them you're available for a quick call any day this week to talk further.
The Korean alphabet of Hangeul (한글) has a legitimate claim as being the world's best writing system. Language learners and linguists widely recognize Hangeul for its intuitiveness and ease of learning. Let's explore in more detail why many consider 한글 as the world's best writing system!
What software does Stephen King write on? ›Interesting fact: Stephen King uses MS Word writing software to draft his book manuscripts. He uses Final Draft to write screenplays. How much does MS Word cost? Microsoft Word costs $139.99 as a one-time purchase.
Where is the best place to write a book? ›According to my calculations, the best place to write a book is: in a shed. It's like a mini-home outside your home, but without the home-based distractions. No wonder Dahl was so prolific. The second best place is among Lawrence's "angels", the trees.
How many books do you need to publish to make money? ›You need to publish one book to make money. Making money as an author isn't dependent on how many books you publish but on the quality of your books and how well you market them. You could self-publish 10 books and not earn anything, but publish one well-crafted book, and you could earn thousands.
Would a book publisher ask you for money? ›Reputable publishers don't usually ask for money, but they don't work for free. They take a percentage of every book sold that they publish. The publisher also assumes all initial publication costs and pays the author. Although the author doesn't pay the publisher directly, they make money through royalties.
Can you publish a book and not sell it? ›Some authors may not be totally convinced to publish their book through a traditional stream to get their work out there. You don't have to traditionally publish a book in order to sell it. Although it can be a difficult undertaking, self-publishing is possible.
How to make $100 dollars a day online? ›- -Tutor students in online classes.
- -Become a virtual assistant.
- -Affiliate marketing.
- -Sponsored posts on your website or blog.
- -Freelance data entry or graphic design.
Where can I write stories online and get paid? ›
- Reader's Digest.
- Boulevard.
- The People's Friend.
- The Sun Magazine.
- The Barefoot Writer.
- Fireside Magazine.
- One Story.
- Take a Break.
Job Title | Salary |
---|---|
Content Writer salaries - 1 salaries reported | $66,523/yr |
Copywriter salaries - 1 salaries reported | $78,961/yr |
Freelance Writer salaries - 1 salaries reported | $69,869/yr |
Entry Level Creative Writer Salary. $38,000 is the 25th percentile. Salaries below this are outliers. $66,000 is the 90th percentile.
How do you become a writer online and get paid? ›- Become a full-time writer for a company.
- Hop onto freelancing platforms like Upwork and Fiverr.
- Check out different content mills/agencies.
- Get paid to write directly by clients who find you.
- Cold email or DM the brands you want to write for. ...
- Get paid to write on Medium.
- Write on Vocal.
- Start a Patreon.
Verdict: SCAM, not worth the money
All the information inside can be found for free online (check the end of this post to learn about alternatives). The training is okay, if you don't know what Freelance Writing is you will learn, but there are no secret tips that are going to make you a successful Freelance Writer.
- Step 1: Develop your skills. You probably already have an idea of what type of content creator you want to be. ...
- Step 2: Create a portfolio. Once you've started building those skills, it's time to show off your work. ...
- Step 3: Start hustling. ...
- Step 4: Get paid.
You can unlock 2 Paid Stories/month with a monthly plan, 12 Paid Stories with a 6-month plan, and 24 Paid Stories/year with an annual plan. Paid Stories are currently available in English, Filipino, French, Spanish, German, and Indonesian.
How much can Wattpad pay? ›Wattpad, the user-contributed fiction platform, will pay writers cash stipends of up to $25,000 — if they meet certain criteria — in return for making their stories exclusive to the platform. The company's Wattpad Creators Program plans to pay out a total of $2.6 million to writers in 2022.
Does ao3 pay you? ›Who profits from the Archive of Our Own? Do users have to pay? No one, including the OTW as an organization, makes money from the archive or its content; in fact, the opposite is true because the OTW pays to host the archive.
Can I trust Upwork? ›Upwork itself is not a scam. The website is legitimate, and freelancers can find actual work on the platform. However, as with any business transaction, one must exercise caution when using the website. While Upwork itself can be useful, that doesn't stop scammers from infiltrating the network.
Who do freelance writers work for? ›
Freelance writing is when you write for clients, rather than for an employer. As a freelance writer, you can choose your own hours and work from anywhere you want.
Can I make a career out of writing? ›Graduates can pursue writing careers in education, public relations, and multimedia communication. Online writing bachelor's degrees also offer students the opportunity to specialize in a specific type of writing. Options include creative writing, technical and scientific writing, and business writing.
How much does Readict pay writers? ›All writers who sign with Readict get a $100 signing bonus and *up to $10,000. Successfully contracted writers can also receive *up to $500 for every writer they refer to the program. The fee will be negotiated, pending acceptance into the program. Note that they do no pay royalties; this is a one-time fee.
Does Webnovel pay writers? ›Royalty Contract— Yours is yours
Authors sign a royalty contract with Webnovel. Authors will share the revenue earned from subscriptions on the website, direct sales from other platforms, and other monetization of the copyright.
There are two ways that you can make money on Commaful: by promoting your own content or by creating sponsored content. To promote your own content, you need to post it on the site and then pay a fee in order for it to appear at the top of people's feeds.
What type of freelance writing pays the most? ›The healthcare and medical sector is one of the highest-paying niches in freelance writing. Content in this niche requires similar skill sets to technical writing—as well as extensive knowledge of the healthcare industry.
How much do wattpad writers get paid? ›Wattpad, the user-contributed fiction platform, will pay writers cash stipends of up to $25,000 — if they meet certain criteria — in return for making their stories exclusive to the platform. The company's Wattpad Creators Program plans to pay out a total of $2.6 million to writers in 2022.
What is the highest paying publishing company? ›- SM&A. 3.7 $137,673per year. 22 reviews33 salaries reported.
- Cadence Counsel. 3.6 $137,008per year. 7 reviews6 salaries reported.
- Tellus Solutions. 4.1 $99,600per year. 7 reviews5 salaries reported.
- DISYS. 3.5 $94,317per year. ...
- Sierra Nevada Corporation. 3.6 $88,480per year.
It just so happens that romance is the most profitable book genre! But if romance isn't your jam, here is a list of other genres below!
Can I make $1000 a month freelance writing? ›Even with little or no experience, you can make $1,000 or more per month as a freelance writer in a short period of time. But that's just the beginning! Some of the go getters I know earn as much as $100K- $200K a year from freelance copywriting jobs (more about that below)!
What type of content writing is in demand? ›
What Type of Content Writers Are in Demand? Some of the most in-demand content writer jobs out there right now are: Blog Writers: Professionals in this position take their research and turn it into easily digestible pieces of content for readers.
How can I start writing for money? ›- Guest Post on High-Paying Publications and Magazines. ...
- Become a Copywriter. ...
- Do Freelance Content Writing for Businesses. ...
- Ghostwrite Stories. ...
- Get Paid to Write on Medium. ...
- Self-Publish on Amazon Kindle. ...
- Blog and Make Money Through Affiliate Marketing. ...
- Find Paid Writing Internships.
- Write a lot, and to market.
- Polish your manuscript with an editor.
- Keep as many of the royalties as possible.
- Build up your author platform.
- Make your books accessible to more readers.
- Promote new releases as well as your backlist.
- Offer services related to your product.
- Study how other authors make money.
It is very possible thanks to the Light Reader Creator benefit. For a complete story you can earn between $60- $600. This is the chance to show off your writing skills and make some money while at it.
What are the big 5 in publishing? ›- Penguin/Random House.
- Hachette Book Group.
- Harper Collins.
- Simon and Schuster.
- Macmillan.
Thankfully, self-published books have a much, much higher royalty rate than traditional publishers because you get to keep anywhere from 50-70% of your book's profits. With a traditional publisher, they take much more and you only end up with 10% maybe 12% after years of proving yourself as an author.
What book genre is easiest to sell? ›Romance. Romance books are easily the most profitable genre, with no sign of slowing down.
What is the hardest genre to write? ›Historical or Period Dramas
Any film be it a drama, a thriller, a murder mystery or a comedy can also be a period piece, so you'd better be sure you know the beats of your primary genre first, and then add the period details on top and that's where it gets difficult. LA CONFIDENTIAL – a labyrinthine period piece.
Almost every writer hopes to become a best-selling millionaire someday. However, the cold, hard fact is that writing is not the easiest industry to become rich in. There are many talented writers who can barely make ends meet, while there are many good writers who become best-selling authors.