Just started my first fantasy novel but clueless about freelancing rates or making money from serials. Need tips from published authors.
2026-07-29 18:17:11
1.8K
Follow144
Share
TomHall
Visitor
Sales
ABO Personality Quiz
Take a quick quiz to find out whether you‘re Alpha, Beta, or Omega.
Scent
Personality
Ideal Love Pattern
Secret Desire
Your Dark Side
Start Test
6 Answers
Best Answer
Lauren
Helpful Reader
Office Worker
The most direct path is to build a portfolio by writing for established sites, contests, or magazines that pay per piece, and then pitch publishers or agents with a complete manuscript. Many authors start by serializing their work online to gather a reader base, which can lead to direct monetization through platforms or attract traditional publishing deals. I recently saw a novel taking that route, 'Dripping Forbidden: 100 Ways to Make Yourself Wet', where the author's unconventional premise about societal taboos and personal liberation built a dedicated following through its provocative, serialized format before gaining wider attention.
2026-07-30 14:49:43
539
Trent
Book Guide
Translator
If one is a wordsmith at heart like me, there are many different angles from which to extract a living! To start with, start a blog—no matter how fashionable and specific it is, the better. Earnings methods such as Google AdSense or partnerships with businesses linked to your area of expertise could be making money on its way in to you! For my part, I like to write eBooks. With platforms like Amazon`s Kindle Direct Publishing now available, publishing and promoting our work to a worldwide audience is a breeze. Alternatively, freelance writing gigs, copywriting tasks, or even ghostwriting enable us to earn from the comfort of our own homes. In addition to such sites as 'Upwork' or 'Fiverr,' where a multitude of projects are reported with both short-term duties and permanent employment available for handymen at any price point. For budding scribes looking to get their name out there and perhaps a few dollars in the deal, short stories or poetry submitted to magazines can make a contribution. And there are platforms such as 'Medium' which pay per clap (similar to a 'Like' ) on each of our articles. Finally, I have always been fascinated by pushing the envelope of creativity. Writing contests often have cash prizes and are an excellent recognition of our writing ability. In summary, the writing profession has a wealth of choices open to us; the challenge is to find what suits us best. Here patience is key, because it may be some time before you see any substantial income. But if we keep on striving and keep refining our skills, then the sky's limit, buddy! Good writing!
2026-07-30 19:40:53
144
Scarlett
Contributor
Receptionist
To make a worthy profit from writing, explore diverse avenues such as writing a blog and enabling ads via Google AdSense or affiliate marketing. You can also pen eBooks or print books and sell them via platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing or IngramSpark. Freelance writing is another viable option; find gigs on platforms like 'Fiverr', 'Upwork', or 'Freelancer'. Engaging in content writing, copywriting, or ghostwriting is also profitable. Magazines or online publications such as 'Medium' can pay well per article. Finally, entering writing contests can yield a sweet cash prize! Remember, it takes time and relentless effort to start profiting. Enjoy the journey!
2026-08-01 21:35:58
162
GreenPath
Contributor
Nurse
Honestly? I temped as an administrative assistant for a year and saved every penny. Then I used that savings to take three months off and write my first novel draft with zero income pressure. Having that runway was the only reason I finished it. That finished draft became my sample, which got me an agent, which led to an advance. Sometimes the 'how to get paid for writing' answer is to get paid to do something else first, to buy yourself the time and mental space to create the writing sample that will actually launch your career. There's no shame in the day job.
2026-08-02 11:54:13
54
AidenKent
Book Clue Finder
Nurse
Oh wow, I was just wondering this myself. Been scribbling in notebooks for years but the idea of someone actually paying me for it feels so distant. Following this thread for ideas—some of these suggestions are wild! I never even thought of half these angles. The chatbot writing one sounds kind of fun, in a dystopian way.
2026-08-02 23:59:36
108
View All Answers
Scan code to download App
Related Books
All for the Money
Angela Lynn Carver
9.6
23.4K
To save her family from being homeless, Faith Williams decided to steal from her company. She thought she got away with it until one day, her cold, stoic and unforgiving boss Anthony DeMarco caught up to her scheme and threatened to send her to prison.In a desperate attempt to save herself, she offers her body to him which angers him even more. How will she ever get out of this troublesome situation?
Find my interview with Goodnovel: https://tinyurl.com/yxmz84q2
The night I spent with him was a mistake I paid for with everything I had.
My family. My name. My son.
He gave me money and a contract and told me to disappear. So I did. I built a quiet life from the wreckage he left behind and I never looked back.
Until the job offer came. Until I walked into that office and saw his face staring back at me.
He doesn’t remember me. Not my name, not my face, not what he took from me.
But I remember everything. And I am not the same woman he paid off four years ago.
I'm the top salesperson at a tutoring center. Payday comes, and my commission is 50 cents.
I'm so furious that I march straight to my boss to demand answers, but his secretary, Sasha Watson, steps in front of me.
She digs through her pocket, pulls out 50 cents, and flicks it straight at my face in front of everyone. "Here's your 50 cents!"
My ears ring. Heat crawls up my neck and into my skull.
"Ms. Watson, this has to be a mistake. I closed 1.5 million dollars on my own last month. My team pulls in over three million dollars. My commission should be at least 200 grand."
Sasha rolls her eyes. She reaches into her wallet, pulls out a dollar bill, and slaps it against my cheek. "Stop barking! Fine, I'll throw you a dollar. Keep the change!"
I'm about to lose it. "My mom is still waiting on that 200 grand for her surgery. Without it, she could die."
The coworkers around us start whispering.
"50 cents? For the top salesperson? That's insane!"
"Lower your voice. She's the boss's niece! What she says goes. Unless you want to get fired, pretend you didn't hear anything."
I turn away, pull out my phone, and dial our biggest competitor. "I'm in. Five million dollars a year."
My Boss Has Been Secretly Leaving Me Money Every Day
Bright Lights
0
97
For three consecutive months, an extra five hundred dollars mysteriously appeared in my desk drawer.
Attached to each stack of cash was the same brief note:
“Overtime Pay.”
The only problem? Our company didn’t offer overtime pay.
It wasn’t until I finally checked the security camera footage that I uncovered the truth.
Every single night, my boss was sneaking over to my desk and slipping cash into my drawer.
I went to the bank to report a lost debit card.
The teller casually asked, "Sir, there's a recurring patent royalty payment under your name. Would you like to link it to your new card?"
Stunned, I froze. "What patent royalties?"
The screen revealed that one of the accounts showed a quarterly deposit of $300 thousand in patent royalties.
My mind went blank for a full three seconds. Then I remembered that, five years ago, my wife, Danica Pearson, had handed me a stack of documents, saying it was part of the company registration process.
She said I "only understood technology, not business", effectively turning me into a figurehead consultant.
I took a deep breath and told the teller, "Link it to the new card. From now on, transfer every payment directly to my personal account."
That night, while Danica was overseas on a business trip, she booked the earliest flight home.
At 2 a.m., she pounded on my bedroom door.
Three days after divorcing my ex-husband, Julian Hendricks, I receive a message from him.
"Why haven't you wired your salary for this month to me yet?"
I assume that he's pulling my leg and reply, "We're already divorced."
"So what?" he retorts. "You're supposed to transfer 19,000 dollars out of your 20,000-dollar salary to me every month. You can spend the remaining 1,000 dollars however you want, just like before.
"I took care of you when you weren't working in the past. How dare you stop giving me money just because we're divorced?"
I stare at his messages in stunned silence.
Throughout our three years of marriage, I give 19,000 dollars of my 20,000 dollar salary to Julian every month.
Julian claims he's using the money to plan our overall household expenses, when in reality, he's using it to pay for his civil service exam, cover his meals with his friends, and treat his "study buddy" whom I've never even met.
He scolds me when he catches me playing games after work, criticizing my lack of desire to improve myself even though I'm the one who cooks, cleans, and does the laundry.
The audacity of this man. How dare he think that I'm still obligated to give him money when we're already divorced?
The reason that Julian gives me is that he's worried that I'll spend my money frivolously.
I block his number.
Three seconds later, he calls me from a different number.
"You'll regret this. This is the last time I'm ever helping you."
I burst out laughing.
Help me?
No one has ever extended a helping hand to me in the last three years.
If you're looking to monetize your writing skills, there are quite a few platforms out there that can help you turn words into cash. One of my favorites is Medium’s Partner Program—you get paid based on how much engagement your articles receive from paying members. It’s a great way to share your thoughts while earning some side income. Another solid option is Upwork, where you can freelance for clients needing blog posts, copywriting, or even technical writing. The pay varies wildly depending on your experience, but it’s a flexible way to build a portfolio.
Then there’s HubPages, which pays through ad revenue sharing. It’s not a get-rich-quick scheme, but if you consistently produce quality content, the earnings can add up over time. I’ve also dabbled in Textbroker, which connects writers with clients for smaller gigs—perfect if you want quick assignments. And let’s not forget about niche sites like Listverse, which pays for listicles on quirky topics. The key is diversifying your efforts so you aren’t reliant on just one income stream.
Writing online has so many avenues it’s almost overwhelming, but let’s break it down in a way that feels real. Freelancing platforms like Upwork or Fiverr are solid starting points—I landed my first gig by pitching niche topics I was obsessed with, like deep dives into obscure indie games. Building a portfolio mattered more than experience. Then there’s self-publishing. Platforms like Amazon KDP let you monetize passion projects; I know someone who turned their fanfiction into a cozy fantasy series that now pays their rent. Patreon’s another beast—if you cultivate a loyal audience (say, through serialized horror stories on Tumblr), subscriptions can snowball. The key? Consistency and knowing your weird little corner of the internet.
Content mills pay peanuts, but they’re low-stress practice. I used them to test viral hooks before launching my newsletter. Speaking of: Substack’s been huge for me. Writing analysis threads about shows like 'Succession' built a following that translated into paid subscriptions. Don’t sleep on affiliate links either—those 'best cozy mystery novels' listicles? They’ve funded my book habit for years. It’s about stitching together income streams like a patchwork quilt until one takes off.
Freelance writing is such a wild, varied world—it’s like a buffet where you can pick and choose what suits your taste. One of the most common ways is through content mills, though they pay peanuts compared to direct clients. I’ve written blog posts for as little as $10 a pop when I was starting out, but once you build a portfolio, landing gigs with startups or mid-sized companies becomes way more lucrative. They often need SEO-optimized articles, product descriptions, or even white papers.
Another path is pitching to magazines or online publications. It’s competitive, but a single feature in a decent outlet can pay $200–$1,000. I once landed a long-form piece about indie game developers that took weeks to research, but the paycheck and clout were worth it. Then there’s ghostwriting—books, speeches, even social media content for CEOs. It’s anonymous but pays well if you network right. The key is diversifying so one dry spell doesn’t wreck you.