Freelance Writer / Copywriter
Why it’s lucrative: Words drive business – from content marketing (blogs, whitepapers) to sales copy (websites, ads). Good writers are always in demand. And writing is a skill you can develop outside of a classroom by reading, practicing, and maybe short courses. Many top writers or journalists never majored in writing; they came from diverse backgrounds. As mentioned earlier, clients care about clear, engaging writing that achieves their goal (educating, ranking on Google, or selling), not about an MFA.
What it involves: - Content Writing: Writing articles, blog posts, guides on various topics. Often aimed at SEO or content marketing. Could also include ghostwriting eBooks or thought leadership pieces. If you can research and write clearly, you can do this. Niching down (e.g., tech writing, healthcare writing) can command higher pay due to subject matter familiarity. - Copywriting: Crafting persuasive text for advertising and marketing. This can be website landing pages, product descriptions, email campaign copy, ads, etc. Copywriting is more sales-oriented and concise than content writing. - Technical Writing: Documenting processes, how-to manuals, software documentation. If you have specialized knowledge (like an IT background or engineering), you can translate complex info into user-friendly text. - Editing/Proofreading: Some freelancers focus on polishing others’ writing. This might pay a bit less than generating content, but it’s a viable route if you’re great at catching errors and improving clarity.
No degree needed because: Your writing speaks for itself. A client assessing a writer looks at writing samples. If those are good, they rarely care if you studied English or biology or not at all. In fact, subject expertise often trumps formal credentials – e.g., a former nurse writing medical articles can earn more than a generic writer, regardless of having a nursing degree or not (assuming knowledge from experience). Also, there are countless online resources on improving writing and copywriting (from free blogs to paid courses by renowned copywriters). Many freelance writers transition from other careers, proving life experience can count as much as classroom time.
Typical earnings: Extremely variable, but high potential. - Content writers might charge per word ($0.10 to $0.50+ per word depending on expertise and complexity). For example, a 1000-word article at $0.20/word = $200. If you can write a few of those per week, it adds up. Experienced niche writers (say in finance or tech) sometimes charge $1/word or more. - Copywriters often charge by project: e.g., $500-$1500 for a homepage rewrite, or $300 for a sales email sequence. Top-tier copywriters can make thousands from one sales page because if that page converts sales, it’s high value to the client. - Some writers go hourly, often $30-$80/hr. But many prefer project/word rates as it rewards efficiency. - Technical writers might earn $50/hr or a flat fee per doc, given their specialized skill. - According to Upwork’s 2020 reports, writing was among the most in-demand categories and their top freelancers often earn six figures annually through consistent contracts.
Also note, freelance writing without a degree is very common – we mentioned in article #29 how content writing is booming and how AI has not replaced skilled humans. A savvy freelance writer can even use tools (like Grammarly, or AI to draft outlines) to increase output, but their expertise shapes it.
Getting started tips: - Create a portfolio of writing samples. If you have no client work yet, write a few articles or mock pieces in the domain you want to work. If you want to be a copywriter, rewrite some ads or brand pages as a creative exercise to show your style. - Guest post or contribute to blogs (even for free initially) to get published clips. For example, writing a Medium article on a topic or a LinkedIn article can serve as a sample. - Use job boards and freelance sites. There are many writing gigs posted that don’t ask for degrees – they ask for “strong writing skills” and often test via a short paid trial or assignment. - Specialize if possible: It’s easier to command higher rates if you’re “the go-to writer” in a certain field (e.g., SaaS product tutorials, or wellness blog content, etc.). Think about your background and interests – maybe you can leverage that. For example, a freelance travel writer who has traveled extensively can pitch to travel blogs with personal insight. - Continuously work on your craft: Read great writing, maybe take a copywriting course (there are famous ones like AWAI for copywriting that many do instead of formal education). - Learn to handle rewrites and feedback professionally – that can set you apart. A lot of writing work is actually revision, and clients value a writer who can adapt and polish without fuss.