Have you wanted to start freelance writing but have no clue where to find your first client? Or maybe you’re already a writer but want to find the best freelance writing jobs online.
Trust me, I get it. In late 2017 I had no clue what I was doing as a freelance writer. That’s why I created this freelance writing jobs for beginners resource to help you avoid the pain and frustration of finding clients.
I was able to go from $0 to $4,000+ in less than six months as a part-time freelance writer. I know you can do it too.
What is Freelance Writing?
Freelance writing is getting paid to write words for your clients online.
Yes, the definition of freelance writing sounds super basic but that’s what it is at the end of the day.
You can write about anything that is in demand. Naturally, some niches earn much more money than others.
You can enjoy all of these freelance writings jobs from home! No more commuting, dealing with traffic or coworkers you don’t care about. These paid writing jobs can help you earn more money as a side hustle or become your full-time gig!
Before you keep reading to find the best-paid writing gigs, make sure to read “How to Become a Freelance Writer” if you’re not sure how this all works.
The Main Types of Freelance Writing Jobs Online
If you’re a beginner freelancer, it’s important to learn about the different types of websites that offer freelance writing jobs. Here’s a quick overview of the three types so you’re familiar when you start looking for your first client.
Content Mill Jobs
A content mill is basically a website where clients post work for freelance writers to write. The client will post details about the project and requirements from the writer. Sometimes this will include past writing samples, Q&A and other one-off requests from the client.
When you get paid through a content mill the client will fund them and the content mill then pays you. Almost always the content mill takes a cut of the funds, either before or after you submit everything. Upwork is the best example of the content mill for freelancers.
Are Content Mills Bad?
Content mills get a bad name but don’t confuse them with puppy mills. Yes, the pay is low sometimes but it’s a great place to start your freelance writing careers. It’s how I got started freelance writing as a beginner and I’m grateful for the opportunity.
While they aren’t great for building your portfolio they can help you start making money online. The more experience, the more income, and the more seasoned you can become a freelance writer.
Plus, it gives you a great idea of how the entire cycle of freelance writing works. You can learn about different writing niches, how to research, and learning how to manage your time for deadlines.
Ignore people who say you shouldn’t ever use content mills. While you shouldn’t use them forever, it’s great to gain experience and gain your confidence as a beginner freelance writer.
Freelance Marketplaces
The second resource is a freelance marketplace. They are kind of like content mills as they act as a middleman between you and the client. Freelance marketplaces usually get paid by employers or take a fraction of the amount from your payment.
Freelance marketplaces are a slight upgrade from content mills. You can choose what type of work and the amount of money you want to earn. Overall, there’s more control with freelance marketplaces than content mills.
Clients post assignments or jobs to the marketplace and freelancers can bid on them through a contact form or email. Typically you will include resumes, portfolios, and other resources to the client. A great example of a freelance marketplace is ProBlogger.com.
How Freelance Marketplaces Work
Then, clients will sift through the applications and choose the freelancer he wants to hire.
When you are filling out marketplace applications, make sure you are as detailed as possible. Try to fit the description of what they are looking because it’s competitive. You need to find a way to stand out in the crowd of other freelancers
Make the client understand how your work will help his job and list, or attach, any related published works.
I found some of my freelance writing jobs from these type of listings include my two favorite clients that I’ve been working with for 7+ months!
Job Boards
As you gain more experience as a freelance writer you can start using job boards. The jobs usually have more strict requirements than those from content mills or freelance marketplaces, so more experience is a plus.
But if you are seasoned in a specific niche don’t count out using these from the beginning of your writing journey. Make sure you stick to what you know.
Applying for jobs way out of your areas of expertise may make you seem desperate and needy to the client. Save your range for when you have a more built-up portfolio.
Build A Portfolio
Before you start applying for freelance writing jobs, it’s important to have a home base for your writing samples. This is known as a freelance writing portfolio. If you’re a blogger, I recommend having a separate portfolio other than a contact page on your blog.
You can create a basic website for low-cost using Bluehost or start with a free portfolio at Clippings.me.
You can link to your published works and Clippings will do the rest, like add a description and photo. Or, upload your own, unpublished articles.
Now that you know all the types of freelance writing job websites, let’s start getting you clients and money!
Here is an extensive list of the most trusted job boards to find freelance writing jobs for beginners:
Top 5 Freelance Writing Jobs Online
There are so many places to land freelance writing jobs for beginners but these are my top five. I used these five sites to start building my portfolio and earn thousands online.
1. ProBlogger
ProBlogger has a job board where any blogger looking for freelance work can usually find it. Jobs here aren’t screened, so make sure you do some due diligence on your clients.
There’s no sign-up process and you don’t create a profile. Just find a job that fits your skills and apply online. Another cool feature – the site includes resources that bloggers can use to improve their own blog. You can share your experiences and promote the blogging medium. It’s really a one-stop shop for current and aspiring bloggers.
2. Contenta
Contenta is another great place to find a ton f freelance writing jobs online. This is a paid membership site but it’s well worth it. I landed a client in the first month that paid for the entire membership alone. Not to mention it’s been one of my favorite clients yet.
Content is a great site because they provide you with the most up to date job listing information without making you scour job boards. Plus, when you sign up with Contenta you get access to their experienced freelance writing coaches and resources.
Your coach can review your portfolio, make recommendations, and even send pitch samples too. And they have an extensive amount of resources which makes it a great way to hone your skills as a freelance writer.
Get started with Contenta today!
3. Upwork
Upwork has a fee structure based on how long you’ve worked with a client that ranges between 5% and 20% of your earnings. The longer you work with a client, the fewer fees Upwork Includes payment protection, and payments typically take between 5-7 days to process.
4. BloggingPro
Blogging Pro is a great job board that very easy to find new freelance writing gigs. The site gets updated almost daily with new online writing jobs for all areas of expertise. I used this site to help land some of my first clients and have found it super helpful.
You can use their easy to search tool to find writer positions, editors, and even long-term jobs. Plus, they also have a good amount of resources to help beginning freelance writers get started as well.
5. Freelance Writing Jobs
Freelance Writing Jobs (FWJ), formerly Freelance Writing Gigs, simplifies writing jobs from Craigslist into one daily blog post. This is huge as it’s a massive pain to try and find writing jobs on Craigslist. Plus, you can still search for different categories and different locations, too.
While the site tries to reduce bogus listings, make sure you’re still looking into the client hiring you so you aren’t scammed. There is always some sketchy listings on Craigslist so make sure that you do the research, send out contracts, and finalize everything before starting.
Clients place ads on this job board almost daily so make sure that you update frequently. You can find a variety of freelance writing gigs here with much less hassle.
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50+ More Freelance Writing Jobs For Beginners
While those have been my top five in my freelance writing career don’t limit yourself. If you’re just starting out you should have a relentless attitude to find your first few clients.
In fact, I recommend setting a number of pitch goals when you’re just getting started. Hold yourself accountable to land your first few clients. Once you get some momentum and experience it will continue to build.
6. All Freelance Writing Job Board
All Freelance Writing job board posts jobs within the last 30 days. This is helpful as it makes it easy to find the most up to date jobs. Some boards do 90 days which is a huge waste of time.
Another huge perk is using their price filter. You can quickly scan the pay range and see if clicking on the listing is even worth it. The site’s very clean and easy to use as well!
7. Angel
Angel has over 800,000 starts up companies. This list is entirely made up of startup companies so it could be an opportunity to get started at the ground level.
Click on “Market” to see if your niche topic is represented. Not all niches are available on this one. You can also search your niche topic like “blog writing” or “email marketing” in the search function.
Another way to find jobs is using the “browse by job” feature as well. Once on their homepage, scroll down to the bottom to find more writing gigs.
8. Article Document
Article Document is another great resource to find freelance writing jobs from home. It has a need for writers in hundreds of niches.
Additionally, you receive feedback and guidance from professional editors to learn and improve your skills. Article Document pay is based on your overall writing quality. Some of them will even offer you an author byline as well.
9. Barefoot Writer
Ready to make some serious money writing online? Barefoot Writer is a site that can pay between $100-$300 per article!
Barefoot Writer is a magazine for writers. It’s more than just a place to find writing jobs as they have a ton of resources to help you become an expert freelance writer. Barefoot share tips to make money, work from home and how to land a freelance writing job as a beginner.
It’s recommended that you become familiar with their issue and writing style. There are several categories you can write for:
- Monthly motivator
- Productivity secrets
- Cool tools
- Glicken (personal essays)
- Thinking like a writer
- Become a better writer
10. Verblio (Formerly Blogmutt)
Verblio, former Blogmutt, is a great place to find freelance writing jobs. They pay every Monday after you send an invoice (I like Freshbooks or Quickbooks for sending invoices). You earn more money as you gain higher levels from writing articles and getting articles accepted by clients.
Here’s the six-step process to finding freelance writing jobs on Verblio:
- Find a job from their 1,300 clients
- Do your research. They want SEO Friendly articles and “industry experts” writing these types of posts
- Create your content
- Get more jobs after you earn reviews. More experience gives you more access to more jobs.
- Build client relationships. As Verblio is a subscription, customers need content every month.
- Get Paid. You can invoice weekly or save up for that vacation goal in your future. There is no minimum or maximum invoice.
Please note, depending on when you read this article they might not accept new writer submissions. But sign up so you can get alerts for future updates as well.
11. Cold Pitch
One of the most tried and true ways to land freelance writing jobs online is the old-school, cold pitch. If you don’t know what cold pitching is, it’s the act of finding businesses online and pitching them your services. This requires more courage and diligence on your end than other jobs.
But, cold pitching is one of the best ways to find high-paying freelance writing jobs. When it comes to cold pitching I recommend being relentless but not pushy. You have to go out of your way to grab their attention and pitch your services. If you can land some of these, often times they can end up very lucrative.
I only recommend cold pitching if you already have samples created and preferably a personal website so you look professional.
12. Constant Content
Constant Content is a content writing and sourcing site where you can register as a freelance writer. There is a lot of opportunities to find new jobs. Make sure that you use the different categories and subcategories where you can write unique and custom content.
To register as a writer you need to create a profile and mark any relevant skills. Then you will take a short quiz an after you pass you’re approved.
13. Contently
Contently is a blog for marketers but they also have a portfolio platform for freelance writers.
I’ve personally never been patient enough for this site, it is a good resource to help you find high paying freelance writing jobs. To land work from Contently (or their network of brands), you first need to apply for a portfolio.
From every Facebook group and job board, I’ve read nothing but good things from Contently. But this isn’t a great option if you’re just getting started. I recommend creating a portfolio and checking back once a month. The more experienced you become the more likely you are to land a job with Contently.
14. ClearVoice
ClearVoice slogan says it all, “More than freelance writing jobs. An entrepreneurial ladder.” This is a very professional site that is more than some generic job board.
Brands, marketing companies, and freelance writers can all use this listing. You can use ClearVoice to help build your personal brand, secure awesome jobs, and share your CV portfolio.
You can set your own rate and use their services to communicate with clients (via in-app message). Plus, you get paid immediately upon assignment acceptance by the client via Paypal. No unnecessary waiting periods!
15. Craigslist
Yes, you can find writing jobs on Craigslist. There is one major downfall though – it’s Craigslist.
Jobs aren’t verified… hardly anything is. It doesn’t mean you can’t find great freelance writing jobs though.
Just make sure you do your due diligence and check into every prospective client. All you need to do to get started is to find your location and select ‘writing jobs’ to get started.
Check your local area for local online writing jobs, or look at metropolitan areas for ones that can be done from anywhere.
16. Domainite
Domainite is marketing platform more than a job board but you can submit applications or writing samples to see if you’re a good fit. There isn’t much information online on pay or types of clients. But I’ve read on other freelance writing for they pay weekly, $1.00 per 100 words written (.10 cents per word).
17. Facebook
Facebook is so much more than a social media site anymore. It’s a great place to network and start warm pitching to get some new freelance writing gigs.
Check out these pages for jobs:
- Canadian Freelance Writing Jobs
- Freelance Writing Jobs
- Write Jobs
- Online Writing Jobs
- High-Paying Freelance Writing Jobs
18. eByline
eByline matches content creators with the world’s biggest brands. This site is mostly for journalists or writers that have been published on big sites or magazines. This is not a great site for beginner freelance writing jobs.
If you’re experienced and have been featured it’s definitely worth it. When you fill out your profile, you’ll be asked to list those publications or sites and see if it’s recognized in their platform.
They have a pitch board but it’s rarely full so make sure to sign in occasionally and see if you can land a sweet gig with an epic brand.
19. Flexjobs
Flexjobs, as the name implies, is all about flexibility. They have a single goal of making your job as flexible as your life. They have job listings in 55 different career categories. These jobs range from part-time or full-time and at entry or executive level.
All the job listings are thoroughly screened to ensure there are no scams which don’t happen on all sites. The one downside is that it is a subscription site but well worth it in my opinion. Sometimes you have to invest in yourself and invest in your business to see big gains.
20. Layout by FlyWheel
Layout by Flywheel is another spot to find some great content writing gigs. As they said on their site,
We’re proud to publish content written both by our in-house creative team and a collective of dedicated freelance contributors. If you’re interested in working closely with our editorial team, have a vast amount of experience in your creative field, and love writing polished, easy-to-read pieces, we’d love to talk!”
On another job board, I read they pay up to $150 for posts between 700-1200 words.
21. Freelancer.com
Freelancer is another job board that offers over 100 different types of job listings. You can get work in 3 steps:
- Browse jobs matching your skills
- Apply for the job on their site (which is super easy)
- Get hired and get paid!
Freelancer also integrates with Facebook so you can sign up directly with your app as well. Employers will go for the best bidder, which is usually the lowest price for the highest quality.
Depending on the type of project you choose, some are huge compared to others. If you’re looking for more long-term work this is a great option!
The fees vary between types of projects and sometimes even have offers for extra money making opportunities.
22. FreelanceWriting.com
Freelance Writing is a very well established place to find freelance writing jobs online as they’ve been around since 1997. All of the job listings are well researched and handpicked from other popular sites.
It’s a quality site that doesn’t even make you pay a membership fee! All you need to do is browse listings to find jobs that are great for your skills. Follow the specific instructions to pitch your services and you can get started quickly!
Morning Coffee Newsletter
This is a feature of Freelance Writing.com. When I first got started writing in 2017 I loved when I would get the Morning Coffee Newsletter.
They vet the best jobs and deliver them straight to your inbox. But make sure to apply fast as jobs go quickly!
23. Genuine Jobs
Genuine Jobs is a clean and easy to use website to find more writing gigs. On their homepage just find ‘apply now’ button to get started.
Browse through until you find one that interests you, and apply. You can also search for jobs using keywords on the search provided. Another awesome site that you don’t have to pay to use!
24. Google
While this sounds kind of generic it’s true. Sometimes you might want a specific job instead of a cookie cutter one. If this is the case, type in “given topic” + “freelance writing” to do a detailed Google search. Sometimes you’ll find jobs on company websites or forums that is exactly what you’re looking for!
25. Guru
With Guru, all you do is create a profile and define the freelance services you want to offer. Employers will then find you by these services when they search for freelancers to hire.
The site also allows you to search and apply for jobs that interest you, in any category that you want to write in. I love how easy it is to use the site and follow up on any proposals that you submit.
Plus, the site makes it easy to showcase all of your previous writing samples so you look like an expert to clients. And the even send you a daily email to make sure you don’t miss out on any job writing opportunities.
You get such good service because Guru is a membership platform. All fees are based on your membership status. If you choose to pay monthly the transaction fees are lower as well. Lastly, all invoicing is also done through their platform.
26. Hire Writers
Hire Writers is another great site for beginner freelance writers. Here’s what you can expect writing for Hire Writers:
- Membership is 100% free
- You get paid up to $20 per article you write once establish
- Work and earn as much as you want
- Write about the topics you want
- Get bonus payments from clients when you do an awesome job
- Ability to complete other jobs like research, proofreading, ideas, and rewriting existing articles
- You get paid every week on Friday – awesome way to start the weekend!
27. Internet Brands
Internet Brands is an awesome platform that allows you to work with giant brands all across the internet. Their clients reach over 100 million people each month! Gigs aren’t always available so I recommend checking back on their current openings so you don’t miss out on an amazing opportunity.
28. iWriter
iWriter is another platform to connect people who need content with your writing skills. Their motto,
“iWriter is the fastest, easiest and most reliable way to have content written for your website. You’ll be able to post a project and 1000s of freelance writers from across the globe will have instant access to write your content quickly, professionally, and affordably.”
You can write all kinds of topics including blog posts, Amazon sales pages, article rewrites press releases and Kindle ebooks. This is a great starting point for freelance writers but doesn’t always pay the most.
29. iFreelance.com
iFreelance.com is a membership site to help you awesome freelance writing jobs online. As a freelancer on this site, you can bid on projects or an employer can contact you directly.
One perk is that the site doesn’t charge commissions, just your monthly subscription. But the biggest perk of iFreelance and most membership sites is that they do the vetting for you. There’s nothing worse than wasting your time applying for a job only to end up super sketchy.
30. Income Diary
Income Diary is “where the pros make money online.” This is more than just a job board but a great website to help you build better websites, get more traffic, and make money online. Enter your information in the box and get alerted each time a new gig is offered.
You can earn up to $200 per article! If you’re into internet marketing, this is a great spot for you. Common topics include
- Interviews with experts
- Buying/Selling websites
- Make money from blogs
- Driving traffic to websites
- Search engine optimization
- How to create great content
- How to create aerating awesome websites
- The art of creating information & digital products
- Affiliate marketing and selling things through websites as an affiliate
- Social media and algorithm changes (Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, etc)
31. Indeed
Indeed can also help you find freelance writing jobs even though it’s more abroad job searching tool. To find remote positions search for “freelance writing” in the job search, and add “remote” as the location to find online writing jobs.
Indeed adds new jobs, and some you can apply for using your Indeed Resume. Make sure your resume also details your writing skills as well!
32. Journalismjobs.com
JournalismJobs.com is the largest and most viewed journalism job resource. Its trusted by some of the top news companies and founded in 1998!
For this job board, you can create an account, upload a resume, and subscribe to different categories. Job listings are more in the entertainment, media, and technical writing side of things. You’ll most likely find things for
- Public relations
- Trade publications
- Non-profit, academia, financial, and technology writing gigs
- TV, radio, and digital media magazines television, radio, digital media magazines
Plus, you don’t have to be a registered user to see the job listings on the job board.
33. Krop Jobs
Krop is a creative job board for freelancers with a more techy background. For a freelance writer, you can find copywriting jobs here but most gigs are all about design, developer, and mobile app creation.
If you’re trying to get into copywriting instead of content writing this is a great site to possibly land a huge gig!
34. LinkedIn Jobs
LinkedIn is a goldmine for finding freelance writing jobs online! They have their own job board to help you find gigs that can pay very well.
Just type in your job title or keyword and see what comes up. Make sure to pick the “search worldwide” option.
Speaking of Linkedin, make sure that you update your LinkedIn profile to include information about your writing career. You want to make yourself findable in these searches if a client is doing them. Make sure to update titles, job descriptions, and have writing samples.
Make it easy for the client to say yes once they land on your page. And please delete all those jobs from 8 years ago. No one cares if you were the best server at Applebee’s in college.
35. Media Bistro
Mediabistro is another free freelance writing job board that curates jobs from all over online. I just discovered this gem of a site and love how easy it is to navigate. The jobs range from blogging jobs to staff news writer.
36. MoneyPantry
MoneyPantry is a site all about saving and earning more money. So if you’re a freelance writer who loves personal finance, side hustles, and making money online (which you clearly do), this is a great option.
To guest post, they stress you write in an engaging way which they called “bloggy style.” They also encourage your posts helps their readers with a problem. The pay is really good and up to $150 for 700-2,000 words!
37. Need an Article
Need an Article does not always accept new writer applications. However, when they do- it can be a great way to get started writing online content.
38. Online Writing Jobs
Online Writing Jobs is a free site to find work in the internet marketing niche. They have jobs for SEO content writers, copywriters, bloggers, and subject matter experts in a variety of industries. The only thing you must verify is your US residency. Otherwise, you’re good to get started making money writing about stuff you love!
The pay is weekly and the pay rate is based on your topic expertise, complexity of the article, the length of the article, and deadline. It’s not the highest paying job but a good start for freelance writer beginners. The pay is generally between $15 and $50 per article.
39. Paid Guest Posts
Ironically, this was one of my first type of paid writing assignments. If you’re a blogger you might find paid guest posts if you’re searching for guest posts on fellow blogger sites.
If you don’t want to wait to find a freelance writing client, you can always get paid to write a guest post. One post, one payment. This is a great way to build your portfolio and get paid to do it. Plus, if you’re a blogger you can use guest posting to get backlinks for free!
More Paid Online Writing Jobs
40. PeoplePerHour
Peopleperhour is a site very similar to Upwork and other content mill type sites. You can create your own “hourlies” for writing, or respond to others. They have more opportunities than just writing too.
If you respond to others, you can ask for a down payment, or receive all money upon completion of an assignment. Check this site out to get your side hustle game on point!
41. Pure Content
Pure Content provides quality writing to their clients and therefore look for writers with skill. However, it is not necessary to have previous experience.
42. SimplyHired
SimplyHired is a job board listing more than 900 jobs, including freelance writing, in the United States. You don’t have to be a member to view job listings either.
All you do is a simple search using a keyword and location where you’ll usually get plenty of results for jobs meeting your expertise.
This is very similar to using Indeed. Once you find one you like, apply for the job. You can also sign up and create a profile so customize your profile and get job alerts in the future.
43. Textbroker
Textbroker started in 2005 and “Is the leading provider of unique, custom content.” As stated on their website,
Thousands of registered authors and customers from around the globe execute more than 100,000 content orders through Textbroker every month. Our clients, including publicly traded corporations, small business owners, e-commerce websites, social media communities, and publishing houses, require a broad variety of content.”
If you are just starting out or are an experienced professional, Textbroker gives you access to thousands of writing opportunities for each topic. Choose when and how much content you write. There is no limit to how much you can earn!
Once you submit a writing sample, your writing will get rated, which affects the quality of the assignments you can choose from. Higher-quality assignments mean more money, but you can work your way up to a higher rating. Pay rate ranges from 0.7 cents to 50 cents per word.
Whether you’re a beginner or a professional, this is a great way to find high paying freelance writing jobs online.
44. The Content Authority
The Content Authority kept coming up in my research for this post but seems very generic. The website looks like I made it in 2005 so I’m not 100% sure about this one. It says they offer opportunities for
- Copywriting
- Blog writing
- Press releases
- Article Marketing
- Ebook Ghostwriting
- Social Engagement
Here are the generic writing requirements per their website:
- Read and comprehend English.
- Able to be paid through PayPal.
- Capable and willing to write articles within specified deadlines.
- Write formal articles using proper English grammar at a high school level.
- Follow the instructions of our clients as well as the requirements posted by The Content Authority.
- Willing to accept critiques about your work from both Clients and The Content Authority staff.
- The ability to do accurate research about a variety of topics dependent on the requirements of our clients.
45. TextMaster
TextMaster is a translation service. While it’s technically a type of writing, it’s not your normal job board for freelance writing. But it’s a great place to get started and easy money once you have steady work and want to make some extra money on the side.
46. Twitter
No fake news here, there are even job boards on Twitter. I recommend following these accounts so you can see the most up to date listing on your social media feed.
Follow these job boards:
47. Ed2010 (Whisper Jobs)
Whisper jobs (also known as Ed’s Jobs) show freelance jobs as well as full-time and paid internships. To get started you do need an account but otherwise, it’s free to use. They have all kind of writing positions from wellness, fashion, editing, and other positions available.
48. Writers Bay
Writerbay.com is another easy to use platform to launch your freelance writing career. Begin by filling out an application. Then you’ll take a grammar and formatting test, followed by a short essay sample (this kind of sucks I won’t lie).
Lastly, upload any higher level education or certificates you have, to polish the resume. There are no registration fees and earnings on this site are competitive.
49. Writers Domain
WritersDomain is how “get paid to write at home.” All you do is register, submit a writing sample, and earn money for your writing.
Don’t get too excited though, this is extremely cheap writing. So cheap I barely wanted to include in this epic post. Project rates range from .02 cents to .05 cents per word. All payments are made via Paypal on the 5th of the month or when you hit the $100 mark (which can take some serious time).
To get started, you’ll need to register, submit a writing sample, and take a grammar test. Once your sample is submitted, we’ll go over your entire application and make their final decision. Typically, you’ll hear back from them in 2–3 business days.
50. Wordgigs
Wordgigs is another place to find freelance writing jobs online. There isn’t much info on their site other than it’s a good opportunity for writers to make money online. It’s a free site that you can use but must live in the United States.
51. Writer Access
Writer Access is a growing site that has a need for more freelance writer positions. Not only can you write on Writer Access, but you can do things like editing, photography, graphic design, and translation.
Like most other writing platforms, you’ll have to go through an assessment to determine the level of writer you are. Once you reach a certain level, you can begin pricing your work at whatever you want.
It’s quick and easy, and you keep 70 percent of whatever the cost of the content is, which is pretty competitive in this space. Writer Access allows their freelance writers the ability to move up and be offered more opportunities based on their skill level.
This is another low priced option as pay only ranges from 1-7 cents per word, depending on your star rating.
52. Work At Home Adventures
Work at Home Adventures is a job board that updates featured work at home jobs on a regular basis. They tend to have 3-10 new listings per day. Some of them are writing related while others are more generic things like customer experience specialist.
53. Work From Home Happiness
Work from Home Happiness adds freelance writing gigs as they come available. This is manually updated from the site’s owner so it won’t always be updated. Plus, it’s not just freelance writing but also all other work at home jobs.
54. Write Naked
Write Naked is a site that allows guest writers in several categories and different types of writing. They include:
- Interviews
- Writing Essentials
- Online publishing trends
- Day-in-the-life of a writer
The pay is okay and generally ranges from $50 for up to 600 words.
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Online Magazines Looking For Writers
While this is an extensive list I also wanted to include magazines that accept freelance submissions as well. I’m sure you’ve visited some of your favorite websites and seen a “Write for Us” tab in the footer or header menu.
Don’t think you don’t have enough experience, in fact, you probably have more than enough. I first got started doing this as a writer for Fearless Motivation. I sent a few guest posts and then became a full-time writer because I loved the topics so much!
Remember, if your article catches their attention and it’s well-written, you absolutely have a shot at getting published. Of course, the biggest downside is that if you don’t’ get accepted you don’t get paid. But oftentimes you can shop around the piece to other relevant sites as well.
How to Publish an Article Online
Remember, as a beginner freelance writer you’re going to have to build your skills and portfolio. Essentially, this means working for free at the beginning. I recommend spending some time and pitching these sites to get the hang of it.
Try to build rapport with editors and learn the ins and outs of navigating everything. The rest of the week, focus on the work you know you’re getting paid for.
Here’s a list of website that pays writers for accepted articles without any necessary requirements or prior expertise:
1. Michelle Pippin
Michelle Pippin provides sharp and high-quality business and marketing content to a wide audience. If you have some original work, a great idea or a hack for the business, marketing niche, this could be a site to consider.
The site focuses on women in business, it also provides an even-handed mix of articles on profit, entrepreneurial topics, marketing, case study articles, and business news.
Here are the requirements to get started:
- 800 word or more articles
- All work must be original and unique
And if your work gets published in the members only (print) newsletter, you’ll get paid more money. If this does happen you can’t republish your article elsewhere.
Payment for Michelle Pippin is on a per article basis and will be paid via Paypal on the 1st of the month following the month it is posted.
2. Back to College
Back to College is a blog for older students. They are looking for posts to help older students in college. If you’re going back to school at an older age this is a great way to share your experience and make some extra money.
3. Backpacker Magazine
Backpacker is a hiking and outdoors magazine. If you’re a camping writer or nature type of writer, then you can pith to Backpacker.
The magazine also covers kayaking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and more. If you’re an outdoor or travel writer I recommend checking this one out!
4. Cracked.Com
Cracked.com is a comedy site that allows people to earn some extra money for article writing.
Plus, you don’t need to have any experience to get started.
If your writing is good, they will pay you! You get to talk directly to the editors and get feedback as well once you start writing.
How to Get Started
- Register for the site
- Click on the writer’s workshop
- Pitch an article idea by writing the article idea, along with the five subtopics under the idea, a full column, and the information.
Check out the perks too:
- $100 per article
- If you get up to five published articles, your rate increases to $200 per article.
- $100 bonus if your articles finish in the top 10 articles of the month (According to website traffic)
5. College Humor
College Humor pays between $35 and $50 if you want to write easy, fun to read college type content.
They attract more than 15 million monthly unique visitors online and more than 100 million video views per month so if anything it’s great exposure!
How To Get Started:
- Make a free account.
- Go to the article submission page.
- Put in your funny article idea and hit “submit.”
- Wait for the editors to review your article. If they like it, they will send you an email
The pay depends on where your article ends up. They pay $25 -$50 total. Plus, if it ends up on the homepage with over 100,000 views you get another $50!
6. Cooking Detective
Cooking Detective is another cool place to get paid to write online. If you’re a foodie who loves to write about cooking, recipes or anything food related, this is a great gig! They publish articles, tips, how to guides, expert interviews and a ton more. They have so many topics including:
- Cooking
- Nutrition tips
- Healthy recipes and entertaining menus
- Fitness guides and other related products
If published, you’ll receive an author page and short bio on every post you publish. For ultimate guides of 3,000-4,000 words, you’ll receive $120-$160 and 2,000-word articles around $75. All payments are made via Paypal.
7. Cosmopolitan
Cosmopolitan magazine is always looking for fresh, memorable, crazy and hilarious content. They pay $100 per accepted essay, 800 words or less. Plus, they’ll hit you up for future assignments as well!
8. Digital Ocean
Digital Ocean is for all you tech people out there. This platform is a great way to write about software, developers, and all kinds of things I don’t understand. If you want to write out tutorial based posts, they’ll probably be interested. Not to mention it’s up to $300 per post!
9. Dollar Stretcher
Dollar Stretcher is all about helping readers “living better … for less.” If you’re a personal finance guru or blogger I recommend writing for them. It’s good pay at .10 cents per word and great exposure as it’s a very popular site.
10. Eating Well
Eating Well is a national food magazine that pays you to write about nutrition and cooking. They will require more research as their articles are newsworthy and backed up by science.
11. Her View From Home
Her View From Home is a lifestyle site for women and moms. They have over 700 contributors in a number of categories and topics including:
- Kids
- Parenting
- Relationships
- Faith and grief
All articles are between 600-800 words. You get paid based on the total number of social media shares which usually ranges from $5-$100 per article.
12. Horse Network
Yes, you can get paid to even write about horses with the Horse Network. They cover nearly all areas including news, sports, health, lifestyle, and opinion pieces. They publish per content and even give bonuses depending on the number of social media shares as well.
13. International Living
International Living is about living overseas and abroad. If you’re a travel enthusiast or a travel blogger this is an awesome way to get paid writing about stuff you love.
14. Listverse
Listverse is another funny site and an easy way to make money online. The pay is $100 per listicle article as long as it fits the humorous writing style of the website.
15. HomeSchool World
Homeschool World is a magazine is a homeschool magazine. They share tips on doing homeschooling or the challenges with homeschooling. Simply fill out the form on the page and they will review your application for submission.
Each article will pay $50 per post and does need to include images that you find as well.
16. Money Pantry
Money Pantry is another awesome personal finance site. They pay between $30 and $150 per accepted article even if you don’t have any writing experience. All of the articles must be about earning and saving money.
17. Parent Co
Parent Co focuses on family and parenthood. If you’re a mom blogger, this is a great place to get paid writing about your niche. You can get paid on a variety of topics as well.
18. Petcha
If you’re still reading this far I’m impressed and clearly, you’re a hustler. Because now you can get paid to write about bird-related topics. Proving, that you can make money in so many creative ways online!
Petcha has a Bird Talk column in their magazine. They are interested in bird-related topics around parrots, canaries, finches, and doves. Their articles are centered around taking care of such birds.
19. Radish
Radish is a monthly magazine about improving health through natural foods. Here are the topics covered:
- Health
- Cooking
- Diet advice
- Lifestyle choices
Currently, no rates available online but this is a big publication so it seems like a great opportunity.
20. SlickWP
Slick WP is a blog that focuses on teaching others WordPress and the Genesis Theme Framework. I personally use both WordPress and Genesis so it’s a good resource to learn how to optimize your site and blog.
21. Starting Business
Starting Business lets you build your reputation as an expert in your field and getting your name in front of a global audience. You can get paid $50 per accepted article that relates to starting or maintaining a business.
22. SitePoint
Sitepoint features topics around WordPress and web development. If you have a knack for coding and WordPress, you can guest post on here.
Sitepoint likes:
- Quick tips
- Articles
- Tutorials
- Video content
23. Strong Whispers
Strong Whispers offers readers a range of articles about lifestyle, environment and other social issues. Here’s how you can get started:
- Send them a topic and outline for the article. Also, link to any blog URL or writing portfolio
- Once reviewed, they’ll invite you Strong Whispers and given more details on the writing project.
- After you submit the article and its approved, you’ll get paid via PayPal.
24. Sun Magazine
The Sun Magazine is an ad-free magazine that has a ton of potential to help you make big money! Check out their rates:
- Poetry: $150 to $250
- Fiction: $300 to $2,000
- Nonfiction Sample Essay: $300 to $2,000
While the writing is very long, the pay is insane compared to most of the others on this list (or anywhere)!
25. The Change Agent
The Change Agent is an adult education magazine for social justice. Most articles range from 200 to 1,000 words and pay is $50 per post.
26. The Penny Hoarder
The Penny Hoarder is another massive personal finance site that can help you grow your clout as a personal finance writer. All posts are between 700-900 words and want them easy to implement for readers. You have to pitch first and then you’ll get approval.
While I didn’t see anything about payment on their site, I remember it being roughly $50 per article.
27. Transition Abroad
Transition Abroad is a site about living, studying, and working abroad. They also write about the cultural experience in different places. They have an extensive writer and topic requirement so make sure to double check everything.
The payment for freelance articles ranges from $75-$150 for an article 1,250-2,5000 words. Most average around $100 per post. This is a great place to start as a travel blogger!
28. WOW! Women Writing
Wow Women on Writing does one thing really well: They look after female writers, encourage them and genuinely seek to offer opportunities to budding freelancers. Their audience is diverse and all focused on providing excellent content for women.
Wow Women focus on innovative business, freelancing, and training. The articles are generally detailed and designed to help writers improve their skills and showcase their work. You have an option of either asking for a payment by Paypal or, if in the USA, by Check.
How To Get Started
Read the site as they have a unique tone that you’ll have to match as a freelancer.
- Make sure that you are not duplicating their content and re-editing an old idea.
- Focus on being useful and ask yourself, how will your post help their readers?
- Practical, actionable advice is what readers want with easy to follow steps.
- They pay up to $150.00 for a 3,000-word feature article.
Please note that they do not open attachments so don’t make this freelance writing mistake! Your article or pitch needs to be presented in plain text in the body of the email.
How to Market Yourself as a Freelance Writer
If you’ve read this far, you clearly want to kill it as a freelance writer. Let me applaud you for the hustle! Once your site is set up, and samples are made it’s time to go out there and put in the work.
Jobs won’t magically find you (at least in the beginning), you need to go out there and pursue them. I highly recommend setting goals for pitches, emails, job boards, etc so you hold yourself accountable in the beginning.
This is your chance to get clients coming to you and asking you for your writing skills. This is exactly what you’ve been working toward.
Get Over the Fear of Failure and Rejection
I’ve been there so I 100% know what you’re going through. You want to submit articles and send pitches but you feel fear. Let me tell you that it’s normal and part of the process.
You have to feel the fear and do it anyway!
And get over rejection, it’s part of the process. The more no’s will lead to more yes responses in the future. Remember, as Jack Canfield said, “Rejection is a myth. You never had it in the first place.”
Unfortunately, that also means you have to really put yourself out there. It can be uncomfortable and time-consuming. But, it’s worth it once you gain your own established business as a result.
Be Relentless With Your Marketing
You need to let friends, family, social media, and anyone else know that you are a freelance writer and looking for more work. Start by doing these things:
- Change your social media pictures to let people know you’re a writer (Twitter, Facebook, etc)
- Update bios on social media
- Use hashtags in your social media posts, like #freelance writer or freelance writer for hire
- Create a “Work with Me” page on your website. This will help potential clients learn more about you and your services. Make this super friendly and easy to read. Check out mine for an example. Use pictures that show you’re a human being, people like relatability!
- Always update your portfolio with your biggest and best pieces of work.
- Add interviews from Youtube or podcast interviews as well
After you successfully complete assignments, kindly ask your clients to keep you in mind for future work and referrals to other clients. Those who really enjoy your work will be happy to do so.
Create a Niche Website
I put this step as n optional for one reason. Beginning freelance writers will see this and stop dead in their tracks. I can already hear “I don’t know how to build a website.”
If that’s the case, you can always hire someone for a minimal fee to build a basic website for you. Ultimately, having your own website makes you look much more professional to potential clients.
You can also build your own site for cheap. With Bluehost and WordPress, it’s only $3.95/month.
If you are intimidated by this, hire someone to do it so you don’t procrastinate any longer.
Remember, your portfolio isn’t just for work samples but to also help potential clients learn more about you. Clients hire people they trust.
Make your personal website user-friendly by adding pictures of yourself, significant other, pet or family. Showcase yourself, your work, and your likeability!
Here is my personal freelance writing site for an example. Your site doesn’t need to be elaborate and should include:
- About Page
- Portfolio: Link to your articles or downloadable PDFs Page
- Contact Page
- Hire Me/My Services Page
Create Your Social Media Accounts
You need to have a presence on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. You don’t have to be overly active on all of them but you want a strong social presence when someone searches your name on Google. This is a great way to build trust before ever speaking with a client.
If you have a blog, make sure you write new, engaging content at least twice per week. This offers the best chance for more views and engagement. The more engaging your content is to your audience, the more impact it will have on potential clients.
Still Need Some Help?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed it’s only natural. The one thing I don’t want to do is make this feel like its too hard that you don’t take any action. Because information without action is pointless.
If you want to start earning money (or more money) you have to set goals and be consistent and persistent in your efforts. Start with:
- Creating portfolio pieces of content
- Start a personal website (or pay someone to do it). Or create an Upwork portfolio if you’re trying to cut costs.
- Start pitching from this endless list of job boards and magazines that pay contributors.
- Keep going! Stay consistent, build your network, build your portfolio and keep getting higher cost clients
Don’t forget that your career won’t be a replica of someone else’s career. Mine is very different than everyone else I first started following. It’s all about doing what you love to do and making money from your house.
There is no wrong way to make it as a freelance writer. Get over the fear, put in the work, and I promise you can make it happen.
Want more side hustle ideas? Enroll in my 100% FREE 7-Day Side Hustle Course to Earn Your First $1,000 Online!
How to Earn Your First $1,000 Online
Michael Leonard
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