Still thinking writing jobs are all about crafting blog posts for $20?
Think again.
Listen, I get it. You’re probably picturing yourself churning out endless “10 Best Ways to Organize Your Sock Drawer” articles.
Spoiler alert: That’s not what we’re doing here.
Let’s talk about the writing jobs your English teacher never mentioned. (Sorry, Mrs. Johnson, but that Shakespeare analysis isn’t paying the bills.)
Want the truth?
Companies are desperately throwing money at writers right now.
And not just any writers – they need specialists who can write things like:
- SaaS documentation (fancy way of saying “explain how stuff works”)
- Case studies (success stories for businesses that are too busy to write their own)
- SOPs (teaching people how to do things without messing up)
Here’s what’s wild: Most of these jobs don’t even require “professional” writing experience.
You just need to:
- Write clear sentences (if you can text, you’re halfway there)
- Meet deadlines (your Netflix binge can wait)
- Actually care about what you’re writing (fake it till you make it)
Ready to see how you can piece together $5,000 a month without writing a single “Top 10” article?
Let’s break this down into bite-sized pieces that actually make sense.
First Things First: Let’s Talk Money
Here’s what $5,000 a month actually looks like:
- 5 case studies at $500 each = $2,500
- 3 SOP documents at $400 each = $1,200
- 2 video scripts at $300 each = $600
- A handful of real estate descriptions at $50 each = $700
Look familiar?
No? Perfect.
That’s exactly why we’re here.
Job #1: SaaS Documentation Writer ($50-100/hour)
(AKA: Teaching People How to Click Buttons)
Ever rage-quit an app because you couldn’t figure out how to do something simple? That’s why SaaS companies need you.
What You’ll Actually Do:
- Explain features in human language
- Write step-by-step guides
- Create help center articles
- Prevent user meltdowns
Requirements:
- Basic tech understanding (if you can find the Netflix settings, you’re good)
- Patience to explain things multiple times
- Ability to translate tech-speak into normal-person language
Where to Find These Gigs:
- LinkedIn (search for “technical writer” or “documentation specialist”)
- Indeed (filter for remote jobs)
- Software company job boards
- That tech-savvy friend who keeps complaining about their company’s documentation
Pro Tip: Companies love writers who can take screenshots.
Yes, really. That’s sometimes all it takes to stand out.
Mind-blowing, right?
Job #2: Case Study Writer ($200-500/piece)
(Or: Getting Paid to Tell Success Stories)
Remember book reports? This is like that, but you get paid way better, and nobody cares about symbolic meanings.
What You’re Really Doing:
- Interviewing happy customers
- Writing their success stories
- Making businesses look good
- Getting paid to be nosy (professionally)
The Secret Sauce:
- Find the problem
- Explain the solution
- Show the results
- Get paid
- Repeat
Here’s the fun part: Most businesses are TERRIBLE at telling their own success stories.
They’re sitting on goldmines of case studies but are too busy to write them.
That’s where you swoop in.
Quick Reality Check:
✓ You don’t need a journalism degree
✓ You don’t need to be an expert in the industry
✓ You DO need to be curious and ask good questions
✗ You can’t be shy about asking for numbers and results
Job #3: SOP Writer ($75-150/hour)
(Because People Need Instructions for Everything)
Think about it: Every business needs someone to write down how things are done. Otherwise, chaos ensues.
What You’re Writing:
- How to do specific tasks
- Company processes
- Training materials
- “Don’t mess this up” guides
The Beautiful Part:
- Companies pay premium rates
- Work is usually recurring
- You can template most of it
- Nobody expects Shakespeare
Actual conversation with a client:
Client: “Can you make our processes more clear?”
You: “Sure, what do you have so far?”
Client: “It’s all in Bob’s head, and Bob’s retiring next month.”
You: cha-ching
Job #4: UX Writing/Microcopy ($60-100/hour)
(Getting Paid to Write Tiny Words That Matter)
You know those little messages that pop up when you’re using an app? Someone gets paid to write those. And that someone could be you.
What You’re Actually Writing:
- Button text (“Click Me!” but fancier)
- Error messages (“Oops” but professional)
- Menu items (making “Settings” sound exciting)
- Form field labels (making “Enter Password” less boring)
The Fun Part:
- You get to be creative with very few words
- Every word matters (and pays)
- You can brag about apps you’ve written for
- Tech companies love UX writers
Real Talk:
Companies will pay you $100/hour to decide if a button should say “Get Started” or “Begin Here.”
Yes, really. Welcome to the future.
Job #5: Financial Newsletter Writer ($200-800/newsletter)
(Making Money Writing About Money)
Plot twist: You don’t need to be a Wall Street expert. You just need to know how to explain things without putting people to sleep.
What It Actually Involves:
- Breaking down financial news
- Explaining market trends
- Writing investment summaries
- Making numbers sound interesting
Required Skills:
- Basic math (calculator allowed)
- Ability to stay awake while reading financial news
- Talent for explaining things to your grandma
- Google-fu for fact-checking
Pro Tip: Start by writing about topics you understand. Like why your coffee addiction is actually an “investment in personal productivity.”
Job #6: Real Estate Description Writer ($50-150/listing)
(Professional House Hype Creator)
Your job? Make every property sound like a dream home. Even if it’s a mess.
What You’re Really Writing:
- “Cozy” (small)
- “Charming” (old)
- “Unique” (weird layout)
- “Opportunity” (needs work)
The Truth About This Gig:
- Real estate agents are too busy to write
- They need descriptions yesterday
- They’ll love you if you’re fast
- They’ll keep you forever if you’re good
Actual Translation Guide:
- “Investor’s dream” = Needs everything replaced
- “Natural setting” = Overgrown yard
- “Open concept potential” = Some walls might be missing
- “Lots of character” = Nothing is level
Job #7: Video Script Writer ($100-300/script)
(Like Screenwriting, But People Actually Pay You)
Everyone’s making videos. Most people hate writing scripts. See where this is going?
What You’ll Write:
- YouTube scripts
- TikTok outlines
- Training videos
- Explainer videos
- Product demos
The Secret:
- Write how people talk
- Keep it simple
- Time it right (literally – read it out loud)
- Add [Pause for dramatic effect] when needed
Fun Fact: Half your job is just writing [SCENE] and [CUT TO] in the right places.
The other half is making sure nobody has to say “cryptocurrency blockchain NFT metaverse” in one breath.
Job #8: White Label Blog Writer ($75-200/post)
(Ghost Writing, But Not The Spooky Kind)
This is where you write for agencies who pretend they wrote it. Like being a secret agent, but with more typing and less danger.
The Deal:
- Agencies need content
- Their clients need content
- Nobody has time to write content
- Enter: You, the content ninja
Why It’s Sweet:
- Consistent work
- Bulk projects
- Regular income
- No client hunting
Reality Check:
You’ll write about everything from pet food to plumbing.
Hope you like research. And yes, you’ll become weirdly knowledgeable about random industries.
(Just wait until you catch yourself explaining drain cleaning at a party.)
Job #9: E-learning Content Writer ($80-120/hour)
(Teaching People Stuff You Just Learned)
Plot twist: Companies need someone to write training materials.
Another plot twist: It could be you.
What You’ll Create:
- Online courses
- Training modules
- Quizzes (revenge time!)
- Interactive content
The Truth:
- You don’t need to be an expert
- You just need to write clearly
- Research skills are your BFF
- Templates are your secret weapon
Pro Tip: Once you write one course about “Effective Email Communication,” you can write it for 50 different companies. Just saying.
Okay, But How Do You Actually Start?
Week 1: The “Getting Your Act Together” Phase
- Pick your writing
- Make a LinkedIn profile that doesn’t scream “HIRE ME I’M DESPERATE”
- Write some samples (no, your high school essays don’t count)
- Learn how to use Grammarly (because typing ‘their’ instead of ‘there’ is so 2005)
Week 2: The “Looking Professional” Phase
- Create portfolio (Copy other writers but make it better)
- Set up a simple website (WordPress is fine, no need to get fancy)
- Make business email (sorry, hotdogluver99@hotmail.com won’t cut it)
- Practice your “I’ve been doing this forever” face
Week 3: The “Finding Clients” Phase
- Start pitching (it’s like dating, but for work)
- Join writing groups (Facebook has some good ones, shocking, I know)
- Set up job alerts (because refreshing job boards manually is so last decade)
- Follow companies you like (stalk them professionally)
Week 4: The “Actually Making Money” Phase
- Start small projects (yes, even if they’re not perfect)
- Over-deliver (but don’t overwork)
- Ask for testimonials (bribe with good work, not cookies)
- Track everything (spreadsheets are your new best friend)
The “Please Don’t Mess This Up” Tips
Basic Don’ts:
- Don’t miss deadlines (seriously, just don’t)
- Don’t copy other writers (Google exists, you’ll get caught)
- Don’t work for exposure (your landlord doesn’t accept exposure as payment)
- Don’t undersell yourself (you’re not a dollar store)
Basic Do’s:
- Do meet deadlines (worth mentioning twice)
- Do create templates (work smarter, not harder)
- Do keep learning (YouTube is free education)
- Do raise your rates (especially when you’re busy)
Your First Month Money Plan
Week 1: $500
- 2-3 small projects
- Get your feet wet
- Don’t panic
Week 2: $1,000
- Take on bigger projects
- Start specializing
- Still don’t panic
Week 3: $1,500
- Regular clients emerging
- Systems in place
- Panic a little less
Week 4: $2,000
- Now you’re rolling
- Raise your rates
- What panic?
The “Get Started Right Now” Checklist
✓ Pick your top 2 writing types from this list
✓ Create samples (yes, right now)
✓ Set up a LinkedIn profile that doesn’t suck
✓ Join 3 writing groups
✓ Send 5 pitches tomorrow (yes, tomorrow)
✓ Start calling yourself a writer (fake it till you make it)
Remember: Every $5,000/month writer started with a $50 project.
Usually a bad one. But they started.
Your turn.