by Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes, Ed.D. @khutch0767

When people ask me what I do, and I tell them I’m an editor and author, I often hear their stories about their ideas for writing a book. Many people believe they have novels inside, and they’re probably right. But most people never act on their dreams of authoring a book despite their lifelong aspirations. Other goals and the general distractions in life get in the way, and those desires to write become nothing more than a dream.

However, there are ways to pursue writing as a career or a side hustle. While most of us may never reach the superstar status of successful, wealthy authors like Stephen King and J.K. Rowling, we can make money writing. Here are four types of profitable writing.

1. Copywriting — Businesses are constantly looking for writers to create laser-focused copy to reach a specific target audience and convert them into clients. This is one of the most sought-after writers in the corporate world because it helps businesses increase their profit margins. While there are different types of copywriters, advertising, marketing, and the art of persuasion are usually the everyday skills needed to resonate with a company’s target audience.
2. Content Editing — Content editors specialize in writing content for websites and blogs and general ghostwriting for corporations. If authors have a good grasp of SEO and keyword research, they are in a great position to market and generate lucrative content for businesses. Often, these kinds of writers produce taglines, catchy slogans, adverts, marketing material, one-liners, and content for comedians and greeting card companies.
3. Scriptwriting — This type of writing does require specialized training. However, if an author loves theater, movies, and all things film, they can learn scriptwriting by committing to enroll in a part-time college course or evening class. Often, this type of writing isn’t necessarily mainstream; instead, it involves writing for companies that want to produce TV commercials or radio adverts. This type of writing is incredibly lucrative if an author has a business or marketing background.
4. Content mills — Sometimes, this type of writing may seem mundane, but if an author can speedily produce high-quality material, it may pay off in building a portfolio while earning a few bucks. The work varies a lot in this arena. Writers may be required daily to write several articles, blog posts, or product descriptions.

As writers, there may not be an all-knowing-how guide to becoming successful. Yet, there are ways to earn money using our talents in writing words. Often, these jobs help us pay the bills as we write our novels. They also sharpen our skills, help us network, and create a path to our dreams of writing either full-time or as a part-time freelancer.

Author, speaker, educational consultant, and editor–Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes, Ed. D. has had her hand in leadership for many years. She loves speaking to groups and delivering messages with a quick wit and real-life stories. Katherine is a freelance writer/content editor, a content editor/writing coach for Iron Stream Media, and a sensitivity reader for Sensitivity Between the Lines. She is a review board member and contributor to Inkspirations (an online magazine for Christian writers), and her writing has been published in Guideposts. Her work in art/writing is distinguished by awards, including the New York Mayor’s Contribution to the Arts, Outstanding Resident Artist of Arizona, and the Foundations Awards at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer’s Conference (2016, 2019, 2021, 2022). She was a finalist in the Genesis Contest ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers/Romantic Suspense 2022). She is a finalist for the Claymore Award 2022 (Thriller Division) for the best-unpublished manuscript. She is a member of Word Weavers International and serves as an online chapter president and mentor. She belongs to FWA (Florida Writers Association), ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers), CWoC (Crime Writers of Color), AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association), and AASA (American Association of School Administrators). She serves on the board of the nonprofit organization Submersion 14 and is an art instructor and virtual exhibition specialist for the nonprofit organization Light for the Future. Katherine is the host of the podcast Murder, Mystery & Mayhem Laced with Morality. She has authored a Christian Bible study for women and is currently working on the sequel and prequel to her first general market thriller novel, “A Fifth of the Story.”