Dream of turning your experiences, passions, and unique perspectives into a paycheck? Imagine being a freelance writer, jetting off to exotic locales, documenting your adventures, and sharing the unfiltered truths of online dating. If you have a distinct outlook on life, a wealth of experiences, or invaluable advice, you can get paid to write personal essays in diverse niches. Best of all, it’s not limited to one specific area. But before you dive in, you need a roadmap to uncover these opportunities.
Recently, the gig economy has surged, with around 36% of American workers actively participating—that’s nearly 57 million people exploring new income avenues. Whether you want to tackle debt, save for a dream car, or secure a down payment for your future home, a secondary income source can work wonders. You can turn your passions into profit by writing about what sets your soul on fire. Countless platforms are eager to pay you handsomely for it. We’ve researched to bring you the top portals where you can put your pen to work and earn a substantial income.
Get Paid to Write from Magazines & Publications
1. The Alpinist
Alpinist Magazine is all about sharing the beauty of alpinism and adventure climbing straightforwardly. If you have a captivating story to share, then The Alpinist can offer you a handsome pay in exchange.
- Requirement – You must submit personal accounts from around the world and tell stories that capture the spirit of climbing in different ways.
- Payment – They will reward your storytelling at a rate of $0.25 per word for essays within the 250–500-word range.
2. The Guardian
The Guardian is a British newspaper that operates independently and is known for its fearless investigative journalism, speaking up for those without a voice and holding those in power accountable.
- Requirement – Engaging personal essays with impeccable English and grammar.
- Payment – 0.6$ per word.
3. The Change Agent
If you’re into writing about social justice topics, The Change Agent is the place for you.
- Requirement – They have specific themes and deadlines for submissions, such as “Overcoming Obstacles,” “Finding Balance,” and “Support and Inspiration”. This magazine primarily focuses on adult education and recommends articles to be between 200 and 1000 words.
- Payment – $50 for 250-1000 words
- Payment Mode – Gift cards
4. Marie Claire
If you have a captivating, enlightening, personal, humorous, relatable, or unconventional story to share about your experiences in love or sexuality, consider crafting a personal essay tailored for Marie Claire.
- Payment – $2 per word
5. Slate
Slate is an established online magazine that covers a wide spectrum of subjects, including politics, current events, health & science, business, sports, tech, and culture.
- Payment – They typically compensate writers around $300 for op-eds ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 words.
6. Glamour
Glamour is a women’s magazine with a strong emphasis on beauty, fashion, and entertainment content.
- Payment – Personal essays featured in Glamour can earn writers approximately $2 per word.
7. Brain, Child
Brain, Child is a magazine that celebrates the style and diversity of mothers.
- Payment – Brain, Child pays $300 for essays spanning 1,500 to 4,500 words.
8. SELF
The women-centric magazine offers a variety of genres to unleash your writing skills. You can submit your essays in different departments such as fitness, food, health, love, life, and beauty.
- Payment – It pays up to $700 for 2000 words.
9. The Bold Italic
This online magazine features personal essays on a diverse range of subjects, all with a unique San Francisco angle. It covers topics such as the gig economy, online dating, mental health, and more.
- Payment – The Bold Italic offers compensation of $50 per essay.
10. Allure
If you’re an accomplished writer with a published book to your name, pitching personal essays to Allure, a magazine primarily focused on women and beauty, can be highly rewarding.
- Payment – Allure offers payments ranging from $250 to $500 for personal essays of up to 2,000 words.
11. The Sun
The Sun Magazine provides writers with a promising avenue to earn income through essay writing. They encourage writers to become acquainted with their publication before submitting their work, and they welcome submissions in the categories of essays, fiction, and poetry.
- Payment – The Sun Magazine offers compensation of up to $2,000 for Personal Essays & Fiction and up to $250 for Poems.
12. Bugle Magazine
If you’re passionate about writing personal essays that delve into topics like elk hunting, land-use issues, conservation, wildlife management, and the exploration of the Rocky Mountains, consider pitching your ideas to Bugle Magazine’s
- Requirement – They seek personal essays centered around the outdoors. If this isn’t quite your niche, you can also pitch ideas for the broader “Women in Outdoors” column.
- Payment – For essays ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 words in length, Bugle Magazine compensates writers at a rate of $0.20 per word.
13. Practical Wanderlust
Practical Wanderlust offers a platform where you can pitch travel writing ideas.
- Requirement – They seek practical and informative content for readers. Though they appreciate the inclusion of personal anecdotes, they prefer that the article doesn’t revolve solely around your personal experiences. The main emphasis should be on delivering valuable travel information.
- Payment – If your pitch aligns well with their website, you can receive $300 for a 3,000-word article.
14. Buzzfeed
Buzzfeed boasts an impressive estimate of 168 million unique visitors each month.
- Requirement – You need to choose a subject that allows you to share your knowledge, insights, or unique perspective. Your chosen experience should contribute valuable insights to an ongoing and relevant cultural conversation for the readers.
- Payment – Buzzfeed offers compensation estimated at $0.13 to $0.27 per word.
15. Christian Science Monitor: Home Forum
The ideal section to submit personal essays to in this renowned publication is ‘The Home Forum.’
- Requirement – Currently, they are particularly interested in essay topics related to travel, parenting, home life, family, gardening, neighborhoods, and community experiences.
- Payment – It offers compensation ranging from $75 to $150 for essays spanning 400 to 800 words.
16. Horse Network
If you have a passion for writing about horses, then the Horse Network is the perfect platform for you.
- Requirement – The Horse Network has a special affinity for humorous and opinion-based essays, and they particularly appreciate submissions that include an image or video at the end to enhance the reader’s experience.
- Payment – You can expect to earn between $50 and $100 for essays ranging from 500 to 750 words.
17. Money Pantry
If you possess expertise in the money and finance domain, you can submit your writeups at Money Pantry.
- Payment – Write compelling articles spanning 700 to 2000 words, and you can anticipate earning up to $150.
18. Humor Press
If you have a flair for tasteful humor writing, consider participating in one of Humor Press’ various competitions.
- Payment – You can potentially win a prize of $250.
19. Dame Magazine
Dame Magazine is an edgy publication that dares to be witty, irreverent, and provocative. Their mission is to advance discussions on trending and pertinent subjects concerning women.
- Payment – Dame Magazine compensates writers at an estimated rate of $0.13 per word.
20. The Establishment
This online magazine, founded and operated by women, shares a similar edgy and unconventional spirit with Dame Magazine. It was created as a platform for people to express and exchange their unique ideas.
- Payment – The Establishment offers a payment of $125 for essays within the 800 to 1,500-word range.
21. Extra Crispy
Extra Crispy specializes in the world of breakfast, and they’re interested in hearing what people have to say about it. They’re particularly keen on receiving breakfast recipes accompanied by engaging narratives.
- Requirement – Your breakfast story should be clever, enjoyable, unconventional, or provide a fresh perspective on the morning meal.
- Payment – Extra Crispy offers an estimated compensation of $0.47 per word for essays spanning 800 to 1,000 words.
22. Motherwell
Motherwell actively seeks compelling first-person narratives that offer a distinctive perspective or take an innovative approach to some aspect of the parenting journey.
- Requirement – You can submit finished essays, with a maximum length of 1,200 words.
- Payment – Motherwell offers compensation of $50 for essays of up to 1,200 words.
23. Narratively
Narratively specializes in long-form, human-interest narratives told with flair and depth. It features various sections and topics that invite distinctive submissions, but the key is to weave compelling storytelling elements throughout your narrative nonfiction piece.
- Requirement – Your narrative should provide readers with a window into what sets your life apart, intriguing, or even unconventional. Your essay must impart a ‘takeaway’ or a lesson for the readers to contemplate. You can submit either a pitch or a fully completed essay for their consideration.
- Payment – Narratively compensates writers at a rate ranging from $200 to $300 for essays spanning 2,000 to 2,500 words
24. New York Times – Modern Love
The New York Times Modern Love column is one of the best ways to get paid to write for beginners online. Roughly 8,000 submissions are received by the Modern Love column each year.
- Requirement – To secure an assignment in the Modern Love column, you just need a fresh perspective on relationships, marriage, dating, or parenthood.
- Payment – The New York Times offers compensation of $300 for essays spanning 1,500 to 1,700 words translating to approximately $0.17 to $0.20 per word.
25. The Penny Hoarder
The Penny Hoarder, a website dedicated to frugal living and money-saving tips, offers coverage on a diverse array of topics aimed at helping people find practical ways to increase their income and savings.
- Payment – The Penny Hoarder offers an estimated compensation of $0.08 per word for essays spanning 700 to 900 words, with potential for negotiation.
26. Virginia Quarterly Review
The Virginia Quarterly Review has tackled a wide range of topics over the years, leaving virtually no issue unaddressed. This makes it an ideal platform for writers who are passionate about various subjects.
- Requirement – They are open to short fiction stories (ranging from 3,500 to 8,000 words), nonfiction essays (spanning 3,000 to 9,000 words), and poems of any length.
- Payment – Payment for poems is set at $200 each for up to four poems, with a generous rate of $1,000 for five poems or more. For fiction and nonfiction works, the compensation rate is $0.25 per word.
27. Slice
Slice Magazine aspires to assist aspiring writers in breaking into the literary world. Each issue revolves around a specific theme, making it an excellent avenue to raise your voice on various causes or issues.
- Requirement – The Slice magazine is always on the lookout for fresh voices and compelling stories—works that truly captivate their readers and hold the promise of becoming tomorrow’s literary classics.
- Payment – They offer $400 for stories, $150 for flash fiction pieces, and $100 for poetry.
28. The American Scholar
They welcome submissions in the categories of essays, fiction, and poetry, with a maximum word limit of 6,000 words for non-fiction pieces.
- Payment – This publication provides potential earnings of up to $500 per pitch.
29. The Smart Set
The magazine publishes personal essays covering a broad spectrum of topics encompassing medicine, sports, literature, food, and more.
- Payment – It offers an estimated compensation of $0.07 per word for essays ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 words.
30. The Threepenny Review
The Threepenny Review is a literary magazine featuring a diverse array of content, including critical articles, memoirs, poems, short stories, and more.
- Payment – The Threepenny Review offers a payment of $400 for each story or article they accept and $200 for each poem.
31. Vox First Person
Vox is an online magazine renowned for its dynamic coverage of world affairs, pop culture, science, business, politics, and more.
- Payment – Vox offers an estimated compensation ranging from $0.19 to $0.41 per word for essays spanning 1,200 to 3,000 words.
32. Cosmopolitan
This women’s magazine is on the lookout for writeups sharing compelling college experiences.
- Payment – They pay $100 for an 800-word essay.
33. Listverse
If you believe you have a knack for crafting engaging listicles and have an intriguing topic in mind that you think will captivate readers, Listverse is an excellent platform to explore.
- Payment – $100 per list
- Payment mode – PayPal
34. Longreads
Longreads accepts a variety of submissions, including essays, features, and investigative pieces, typically ranging from 2,000 to 6,000 words in length. They particularly appreciate personal essays with captivating headlines.
- Payment – Longreads compensates writers with $500 per essay.
35. Bustle
Bustle, a well-established online American women’s magazine with nearly a decade of history, covers a wide range of topics. Their content spans from celebrities and beauty trends to fashion and politics, ensuring they cater to a diverse audience. In addition to these topics, they actively seek pitches for personal essays, as well.
- Payment – Bustle is known to compensate writers at a rate of $0.25 per word.
36. RankPay
RankPay continually seeks writers to contribute blog posts on subjects related to small business, SEO, and digital marketing copywriting. Ensure that you adhere to the blog program submission guidelines to enhance your chances of having your pieces selected.
- Payment – Typically, $50 per blog post.
37. Reader’s Digest
Reader’s Digest, a timeless publication, has a reputation that endures for good reason. While they accept and produce a wide range of written content, they are presently interested in shorter pieces—stories spanning 100 words or fewer.
- Payment – Around $100 per piece
38. Writer’s Digest
Writer’s Digest, an instructive magazine tailored for writers, delves into industry trends, readership insights, and the success stories of fellow writers, shedding light on their journeys to achievement.
- Payment – Around 0.30 to 0.50 dollars per word for print.
39. Unemploymentville
Unemploymentville offers compensation to freelance writers for creating content on topics related to coping with job loss, exploring small business concepts, and sharing effective job search strategies.
- Payment – Typically, $25 to $75 per blog post.
40. Vibrant Life
Vibrant Life, while more niche in its approach as a lifestyle magazine centered on the Christian perspective regarding philosophy and physical health, offers substantial compensation to its writers. Generally, Vibrant Life is inclined towards shorter, in-demand articles spanning 450 to 650 words.
- Payment – Typically, $100 to $300 per article.
Earn Money by Writing from a Content Firm
1. Copyhackers
This content firm compensates writers for guest posts and other articles. Copyhackers maintains a strict adherence to its submission guidelines, so it’s crucial to precisely follow them to prevent your work from ending up in the spam folder. Being selected offers excellent exposure, as your piece is widely shared across various social media platforms.
- Payment – $300 to $1,000 per approved article
2. Copypress
This dynamic content and marketing agency welcomes numerous freelance writers and even provides complimentary training on their platform. The content requests from clients span a wide spectrum, allowing you to craft anything from true narratives and personal stories to branded pieces.
- Payment – Writers are paid between 0.6 to 0.10 dollars per word.
3. Academic Writers Online
Academic Writers Online is a platform where you can earn money by composing essays. As a writer, you have full control over your schedule and can work at your convenience. You get to select topics based on your skill set, and there are no assigned tasks or duties.
- Payment – Payments are made twice a month. For essay writing, they offer a payment structure ranging from $9 to $15 per page. For editing, the range is $7 to $12 per page, and for proofreading, it’s $5 to $11 per page.
4. AdvancedWriters
Advanced Writers collaborate with a substantial team of writers who handle a wide range of assignments, from research papers to case studies.
- Payment – Reviews suggest that they charge around $15 per page for essays, with rates potentially reaching up to $21 per page for theses or dissertations.
5. PaperHelp
To write for Paper Help, you must complete a writing test and submit a resume via email as part of the application process. If accepted, you’ll start with a lower pay rate during a probation period to determine your suitability. Over time, you can increase your earnings per page.
- Payment – Prices vary based on academic level, type of service, paper type, length, and deadline. They start as low as $12 per page for high school-level papers and go up to $20 per page for professional-level essays.
6. Essaypro
EssayPro has a comprehensive hiring process to ensure high-quality work. Applicants must provide proof of identity, diploma verification, and writing samples. You’ll also receive a test assignment before starting a trial period.
- Payment – You set your rate. They pay writers twice a month, on the 15th and the last day of the month.
- Payment Mode – Payoneer
7. Writing Creek
Writing Creek is another option for earning money by writing academic essays. Their application process involves a skill survey assessment, qualification test, sample essay submission, and identity verification.
- Payment – Writers can earn $4 per page as beginners and $12 per page as experts. Payments are made twice a month.
- Payment Mode – PayPal and Payoneer
8. EssayShark
EssayShark is a platform where freelancers can register and bid on projects that interest them. To become a writer for EssayShark, you must register, complete your profile, pass a grammar test, and undergo an evaluation process that can take 2 to 5 days. Once accepted, you can bid on projects, get paid twice a month, set your prices, and potentially receive bonuses. You can also communicate directly with clients.
- Payment – They reportedly pay between $5 and $15 per page for essays.
Get Paid to write from Job Portal
1. nDash
nDash is exclusively dedicated to writers. It boasts a roster of prestigious clients, including heavyweights like LinkedIn and Hitachi. To get started, all you need to do is sign up and create your profile. Once that’s done, you can establish your rate (with the site indicating an average range of $150-$450 per submission) and commence pitching your content ideas.
- Payment – $150-$450 per submission
- Payment Mode – Within 3-5 business days through Stripe
2. Fiverr
Fiverr stands as an excellent platform for budding writers of all kinds. It opens its doors to submissions for various writing endeavors, encompassing transcription, proofreading, editing, and article writing. Upon completion of the task, the employer remits payment to the website, which deducts a 20% service fee, with the remaining 80% credited to the freelancer’s account.
- Payment – You determine your rates
3. Scripted
Scripted is a platform akin to nDash, focusing exclusively on writers. Upon creating your profile, you’ll need to complete a proficiency test. Once you’ve passed their test, you can configure your payment preferences and start presenting your creative ideas.
- Payment – Typically averaging around $0.10 per word.
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4. Izea
Izea is an online platform with the mission of bridging the gap between companies and writers to produce captivating marketing materials. To commence your journey with Izea, you need to create a profile. Once onboard, you’ll have the chance to generate content for renowned names like Subway, Whole Foods, Target, and more.
- Payment – Ranges from $100 to $500 per post.
- Payment Mode – PayPal, Credit Card, PayPop
Freelance Writing Jobs
The Freelance Writing Jobs board serves as an excellent hub for those in search of lucrative writing opportunities, regardless of their expertise in academic essays, personal essays, blogs, articles, product descriptions, and more.
Conclusion
Whether you choose to write essays, articles, blogs, or other content, there’s a diverse world of online writing awaiting your creative talents. So, get ready to share your passion and boost your income while doing what you love – writing.