The best side hustles for writers are freelance blog writing, copywriting, editing and proofreading, ghostwriting, technical writing, newsletters, self-published ebooks and resume writing. Writing is one of the cheapest skills to turn into income because you need little more than a laptop, but pay varies enormously with the niche you choose. This guide compares eight options so you can pick one that matches your time and experience.
Quick comparison
| Side hustle | Upfront cost | Speed to first payment (estimate)* | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freelance blog writing | None | Weeks | Beginners |
| Copywriting | None | Weeks to months | Persuasive writers |
| Editing and proofreading | None | Weeks | Detail-minded people |
| Ghostwriting | None | Months | Writers with a network |
| Technical writing | None | Weeks to months | Explainers of complex topics |
| Newsletter | Low | Many months | Patient builders |
| Self-published ebooks | Low | Months | Long-form writers |
| Resume writing | None | Weeks | Career-focused writers |
*Our estimates. Results depend on your niche, samples and effort, and none of these are guaranteed.
1. Freelance blog writing
Businesses need regular articles and often outsource them. Pick a topic you actually know, such as personal finance, health, technology or travel, and write three samples on a free blog or document site. Specialists who understand a subject usually win better rates than generalists.
2. Copywriting
Copywriters write websites, product pages, ads and emails meant to get a reader to act. It is more demanding than blog writing and usually pays better. Study a few well-known landing pages, rewrite them in your own words, and use those rewrites as practice samples (not as public work for hire).
3. Editing and proofreading
If you spot typos and clumsy sentences easily, editing is a low-risk start. Authors, students, small businesses and non-native English writers all pay for a clean final draft. Be clear about whether you are offering light proofreading or heavier line editing, because the effort differs a lot.
4. Ghostwriting
Ghostwriters write under someone else’s name: LinkedIn posts, newsletters, books, speeches. Trust and discretion matter more than a public portfolio, so most work arrives through referrals. Start by offering a founder or consultant you know a month of posts.
5. Technical writing
Documentation, tutorials and product guides suit writers who can understand a tool and explain it simply. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $90,390 for technical writers (May 2025), which gives a sense of the field’s pay, though side hustle rates differ.
6. A paid or free newsletter
A focused newsletter can grow into income from subscriptions, sponsorships or your own products. It is slow: expect a long stretch of writing for a small audience first. Pick one specific topic and publish on a fixed schedule.
7. Self-published ebooks
Short, practical guides on one problem can be published through self-publishing platforms with no upfront cost. See our guide to Amazon Kindle publishing for the basics. Most books sell few copies, so choose a clear audience and write for a problem people already search for.
8. Resume and LinkedIn writing
Job seekers pay for resumes, cover letters and LinkedIn profiles that present their experience clearly. The work is fast and repeatable, and it suits writers who are good at interviewing people about their achievements.
How to start this week
- Choose one option and one niche.
- Write two or three samples and put them on a simple page or document.
- Pitch ten potential clients with a short, specific message, not a mass template.
- Track replies and improve the pitch after every ten.
Compare where to find clients in our list of freelance platforms, and see related ideas in side hustles for software developers.
Find your best fit
If you are unsure which of these suits your time and goals, the free Side Hustle Finder ranks side hustles against your answers in about two minutes.
Where to find your first clients
- Your own network. Tell former colleagues, classmates and friends that you now write for businesses. The first client often comes from someone who already trusts you.
- Small businesses with weak content. Look for companies whose blog has not been updated in months. A specific offer, such as two posts a month, is easier to accept than a general pitch.
- Freelance platforms. They bring volume but also competition and fees. Compare them in our guide to freelance platforms.
- Professional networks. A clear headline and two or three published samples make it easy for people to refer you.
What a good pitch email contains
- One sentence showing you looked at their business, for example a specific article or page.
- One idea or problem you noticed, such as a topic their customers search for that they have not covered.
- One short offer with a clear deliverable and timeframe.
- Links to two relevant samples.
- A simple question to finish, such as whether they would like to see an outline.
Keep it under 120 words. A personal, specific message beats a long general introduction every time.
How to build samples when you have none
Write on your own site or a free blogging platform. Choose topics from the niche you want to work in and write them as if for a client: a clear headline, a useful structure and real details. Two or three strong samples in one niche are worth more than ten scattered ones. If you offer editing, edit a public-domain text or your own earlier draft and show a short before-and-after.
Mistakes beginners make
- Writing for exposure. Unpaid work rarely turns into paid work.
- Skipping the brief. Ask about audience, tone, length and examples before you start.
- Underpricing. Work out a rate that covers your time using our freelance rate formula.
- Not proofreading. Typos in a writer’s pitch cost jobs.
- Relying on one client. Keep pitching even when you are busy.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest writing side hustle to start?
Freelance blog writing and proofreading have the lowest barriers, since they need no investment and samples are quick to produce.
Do I need a portfolio?
You need two or three good samples. They do not have to be paid work.
How much can writers earn on the side?
It depends on niche, speed and client type. Treat figures you find online as examples, not guarantees.
Should I write for free first?
Write your own samples instead of working unpaid for others. Unpaid trials for real clients are best avoided.
This article is general information, not financial advice.
