Whether you’re writing a blog, video content, scripts, or your next novel, it’s often the case that you might not be making any money from the process of writing itself, at least not at first. Depending on your trajectory, it may take you some time before you see any real financial returns from it, and those may not be enough to sustain you for some time. Writing while working a traditional full-time job can be very limiting, and as such, finding your way in a freelance role can offer the flexibility that you need. However, not every freelance role is best suited to writing alongside it. Here, we’ll look at some careers that are.

Editing And Proofreading

As a writer, you should already have the basics of editing down. In fact, if you spend a lot of time reading over, editing, and proofreading your own work, then you may already have the skills to offer your clients, as well. Whether this is in proofreading prose, non-fiction, website content, or otherwise, there are plenty who would prefer the eye of a professional to punch up their writing or at least make sure that it isn’t rife with mistakes. In today’s AI-assisted world, however, you have to make sure that you have more to offer than the standard tools available to anyone with an internet connection. Real insight and feedback driven by the human experience or reading can be a lot more valuable than simply correcting grammar or suggesting synonyms.

What About Freelance Writing?

Despite the rise of AI, there is still a good deal of demand for human-written text. Indeed, freelance writing can be a fairly reliable path if you find the right marketing agencies to work with or develop a niche for yourself. However, whether you’re copywriting, ghostwriting, or otherwise writing to the purposes of a client, it can leave a lot less room in your life for your own writing ambitions. When you’re writing so many words a day, it’s only natural that you might feel like you’re running on empty when it comes time to focus on your own projects. Some people can manage it, but it’s not an easy path.

Virtual Assistant Work

If you’re not looking to overuse your creative bandwidth, then getting into the nitty-gritty with some admin work could be the right path for you. As a virtual assistant, you tend to get the flexibility you need by choosing which clients you work with and when they need you to be on duty. As a VA, you typically handle tasks like email management, scheduling, research, customer service, and sometimes writing emails. Many of these tasks require strong communication skills, but you don’t necessarily spend a lot of your time writing. Working with entrepreneurs, online business owners, and coaches, typically remotely, can be a solid side gig for making a reliable income.

Teaching Online

If you have knowledge and the ability to teach it, then there are those who are going to be willing to learn from you. For a writer, it might be easy to slip into teaching essay writing, teaching English as a second language, or even running a creative writing workshop, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be related to your writing work at all. If you have the qualifications, you can just as successfully teach geography online. It’s just a matter of finding the platform that helps you reach students and putting together the course plans and curriculum that best suit their needs. Learning how to articulate what you know can even help you deepen your own understanding of the subject matter in the process.

Social Media Management

Freelancers can often make a sustainable living by focusing their efforts on clients in the business world, as they tend to have needs that are ongoing needs, which can lead to reliable earnings. This is especially true in the marketing world, and for writers who have a talent for storytelling, social media management can allow you to flex it in short bursts. This can involve everything from creating captions and putting out pre-existing content in the most engaging way possible, up to strategizing whole content calendars and engaging with audiences on a long-term basis. If you know how to make use of tone, voice, and clarity, and still enjoy work that has creative input without having you write hundreds of words for every piece of content, this could be the path for you.

Transcription And Captioning Work

There is a nigh endless tide of video and audio content that is being uploaded, both the brand new and older media that is being ported to new platforms. If you don’t mind a lot of typing and have a good ear, then you can make a living by transcribing rather than creating original content. This can make it a good fit for those who have the ability to type well and consistently, but want to save their creative juices for their own writing. You might work on podcasts, videos, or interviews, and the exposure to diverse topics can even spark ideas for your own writing. Since this work is mechanical yet focused, it can offer a mental break from writing while still being productive.

Graphic Design

Although it’s not a talent that every writer might have, graphic design and using tools like Canva to create visual content can offer a lot of work for those willing to put themselves out there. This can include designing ebook covers, social media graphics, or other branded content, all of which can be a good fit for your own marketing efforts as a writer, as well. However, it’s also a market with a lot of competition, so standing out may mean learning your craft particularly well or finding a niche that’s underserved using your existing expertise or experience.

Aside from needing the time, space, and mental capacity to write, the freelance career that best suits you will depend on your own skills and working preferences, so be sure to think hard about which roles fit you as an individual.