CREATIVE WRITING JOBS YOU CAN DO ONLINE OR AT HOME: Ghostwriting, Scriptwriting, Fan-fiction, Short stories, Editing, Novels or Novellas
Often, we struggle with paying bills and coping with life’s responsibilities in general. Most of the time, people fix themselves into white-collar jobs because that’s the easiest way to ensure you don’t have a trail of debts piled behind you. But what if I told you that you could make pretty bucks from the comfort of your home, and I’m not talking about some job that would bore you or need you to have certifications before you start.
I am sure you wonder what this thing might be, possibly you may have already guessed right. The answer is simple; Writing. It truly is fascinating to learn how much you can make from writing. I admit, in the beginning, it won’t be all roses. However, with constant practice and determination to hone the skill, you can make enough money to take care of your bills and have some extra to take care of yourself. Luckily for you, over the years, the gig economy has increased in relevance. In essence, there already exists a market for you to explore, learn, and make money.
Steps to Get Creative Writing Jobs
The next question would be on the steps to take. I will be providing some insight into the things you will need to do to be on your way to make some money.
STEP 1: RESEARCH
The first thing you should do is grab your device and do some research. One thing you should check for is the various writing jobs you can do. I will give you a head start and list some of them below. Another thing to check for is the different rates for writing jobs and, this will give you an idea of how much you can make from jobs. Additionally, it will help you decide whether you would pursue just one kind of writing job or combine a few.
STEP 2: ASK QUESTIONS/ JOIN A COMMUNITY
I know how overwhelming it can be entering into a new space and, sometimes it might be too much for you to handle; remember to ask questions. There are various writing communities on the internet; pick the one you could join and learn more about creative writing. Don’t be afraid to ask about things you don’t understand.
STEP 3: PRACTICE
It might have been a while since you have had to do creative writing; it helps when you practice. Try writing drafts on various topics, then share them with friends or family to read. Before you decide to transition into creative writing, practice, and know the basics of writing; It will help improve your chances of landing gigs when you start.
STEP 4: LEARN DISCIPLINE
As a person venturing into the creative writing industry, you must learn discipline. Depending on the inflow of requests, you will need to learn how to prioritize and manage time. Have a headstart, start planning your day and, sticking to your plans. By doing this, you will get used to planning and management. Commit these steps to memory so you can have a great start in creative writing. As promised, I will share creative jobs you can do from home. To make it easier to grasp, I divided them into sections; freelance fiction writing and online creative writing jobs.
FREELANCE FICTION WRITING JOBS:
- Ghostwriting
- Scriptwriting
- Fan-fiction
- Short stories
- Editing
- Novels or Novellas
- Ghostwriting: A ghostwriter writes copy like books, blog posts, articles, email newsletters, web copy, speeches for people. The credit for the work goes to either the client or someone in the company that hired you. In essence, you are a behind-the-scenes writer. Some struggle with choosing this kind of job; they imagine putting a lot of effort into writing a copy, article, or speech and not get credit for it. This particular job needs you to be open to letting your work go. For the sensitive copies, clients require writers to fill a Non-Disclosure Form so they can never claim ownership of the work. Tough luck! If this is something you can do; here are websites you can check out:
- Fiverr
- Upwork
- Freedom with writing
- BlogMutt
- Guru
- Freelancer
- Writology
- HireWriters
- Toptal
Scriptwriting:
A scriptwriter is a writer who focuses on writing screenplays for broadcasting purposes. Being a scriptwriter entails you having background knowledge on plays and the sort. It requires a person to have prior knowledge or experience for you to get the job. In case you are interested, here are some apps that would help:
- Fade In
- Studio Binder
- Celtx Script
- Causality
- Contour
Fan-Fiction:
This is a fun way to enjoy writing. You pick already written stories, screenplays, films, anything and rewrite it like it’s yours. The writer maintains the characters but changes the story entirely. Although there are a few tweaks, however, the story is written from the writer’s perspective. Here are some fan fiction sites to check out:
- WattPad
- Commaful
- Fanfiction.net
- Kindle Worlds
- Archive of our own
Short Stories:
A short story is a story that comprises fully developed themes but is notably more concise and less detailed than a novel. It is a fun way to exercise the mini novelist in you. If you find it hard to write long prose, you can stick to making a collection of short stories; it usually helps you learn how to write intricate prose in the long run. Here are sites you can learn from and join their community:
- Fiction Press
- Smashwords
- Quote
- WritersCafe
- Books
Editing:
As an editor, you prepare already written, visual or audible materials to share information with a target audience. The primary duty of an editor is to improve the written material. Being an editor entails, you have the proper vocabulary and use of English. You must brush up on your writing by reading books, learning new words, and expanding your vocabulary. The more fluent you are in the use of English, you will make an excellent editor. Some tools that can assist with editing are:
- Grammarly
- Ginger
- PapersGear
- Essays Capital
- Grammar Base
Novels or Novellas:
This is also for my short story lovers. A novel is a fictitious prose narrative that contains great word lengths and spans a variety of genres. On the other hand, Novellas are narrative prose texts shorter than novels but longer than short stories. So, if you think you write a bit more than the length of short stories, then these are for you. You have the opportunity to intensify your plots and make your account intricate. If you need help with structuring your novel or novella, here are some famous works you can draw inspiration from:
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
- 1984 by George Orwell
- The Stranger by Albert Camus
- The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemmingway
So that brings our freelance fiction writing jobs list to an end. You can do further research and find other online writing jobs. Next, I will be highlighting Online creative writing jobs. These jobs involve you to work online. Although the positions I listed earlier also include working online, they can be done in person, unlike these other jobs. These jobs are:
- Blogging
- Copywriting and web content
- Essays
- Online magazine articles
Blogging:
A blog is a website published on the internet to share information or start discussions. It comprises writing and other media. These posts are often presented in reverse chronological order. The idea behind blogging stemmed from the need to share information with larger communities while also sustaining the homey feeling and comfort of talking with peers. However, over time, blogging has transcended this narrative to now include business corporations, medical fields/topics, sports, and so many more. The main focus of blogs is to share information with a broader audience. Some individuals blog for the fun of it or just as a hobby; others have found ways of making money through blogging. Imagine using your passion for writing to make money; that’s superb. Some tips on monetizing your blog are;
- Learn how to be an affiliate marketer
- Advertisements are good ways to boost traffic to your site
- Sell digital products
- Bag sponsorships
- Try email marketing
Copy Writing and Web Content:
This is also called ‘writing for the web.’ It is writing content online, running ads, media, and other marketing posts. This is a delicate job requiring honed writing skills to create engaging copies that the audience will be interested in. Brush up on your skills, and you are good to go. You can refer to the sites I shared earlier to access opportunities to try out your copywriting skills.
Essays:
Essays are relatively the most comfortable texts you can write. We all wrote a piece or two in school, making it possible for anyone to try it out. There are annual essay competitions you can join just to have a feel of it and brush up on your skills. The more you write, the better you get at it. Give it a try, and you just might win some good money!
Online Magazine Articles:
Due to magazines’ need to release articles as fast as they can breathe, there is a vast market for writing articles. Do some research and ask around; you’ll be surprised how many magazines need people to write essays. What better way to get close to stardom if not by writing articles for famous magazines and getting credit for it. Plus, you get to get better at writing and get a higher-paying job sooner or later.
With this, I hope I have provided some insight into creative writing jobs you can do online or at home. Remember, take your time, do your research, and know your strengths. Also, practice makes perfect, keep writing, and you will get better at it.
SOURCES:
- https://www.studiobinder.com/
- https://medium.com/
- https://mention.com/
- https://owlcation.com/
- https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/293808
- https://backlinko.com/hub/content/web-copywriting
also read: Taking a Job with Less Money to be Happy
