In this post, I cover:
- Why writing a book may not be the best route
- A note on monetizing a hobby
- 3 different platforms to write and monetize your writing
Let me start off with this: YOU DO NOT NEED TO WRITE A BOOK!
If you are a passionate writer and see the only way of making money writing is through publishing a book, you are wrong. In fact, there are so many other — lower commitment — ways to make money writing!
Why a Book Might Not Be Your Best Bet
- You have to commit to writing multiple chapters
- Daily self-promotion for your work in progress and not the finished project
- You may have to sell at a high price as an indie author, a price many may not be willing to pay
- If the book reviews are bad, sales go down
Books are variable reward. They are time-consuming and hard to gauge how popular they would be.
But if writing is your passion, and specifically writing books, then go for it! It is a lot easier to put your time and effort into something you have an interest in.
A Note on Monetizing a Hobby
Your hobby is your passion. It’s what you get to spend your undivided attention on, and it is without control from others.
But when you are looking to monetize that hobby, you may quickly lose your love for it.
You might need the money or see your skill as something to be shared. It comes with burnout, however, when you expand on your hobby for your audience and not yourself.
If you are worried you might find yourself feeling this way, check out this post:
How to Love What You Do When Monetizing Your Hobby.
This post can give you guidance and clarity when navigating the monetization period of your writing.
Now, Let’s Jump Into the Different Platforms to Monetize Your Writing
1. Wattpad- For Creative Writers
Wattpad is a platform where creative writers can release short stories, fanfiction, and original content to a large platform of readers.
Creators can release their work in mini chapters or sections and directly see reactions via the comments provided under the chapters. It’s perfect to understand how the audience feels about your work, and you can write newer chapters based on audience interest for better engagement.
Wattpad also has a variety of monetization programs, from Wattpad Originals, Wattpad Creator Programs, and Wattpad Brand Partnerships.
If you feel like you still want to write a longform work and get immediate feedback on each chapter, then Wattpad is for you!
Tips before you start writing for monetization:
Review the three program guides, as each has specific requirements before you are ready for monetization! This will help you save time.
2. Medium– For Bloggers
Do you have valuable knowledge or ideas you believe should be shared? Then Medium is for you!
Medium has a simple design and carries a large user population (~100 million monthly active users), so it’s great for outreach on your specific ideas!
Medium has a Partner Program which pays based on member reading time, post interactions, followers, and quality.
If you’re still unsure about Medium, check out some posts by established writers on the platform. Medium is perfect to share your knowledge and detailed ideas with everyone.
3. Self-Hosted Website– For Creative Writers and Bloggers
Last but not least, this option is my personal choice, as you can see with this website.
Evergreen Musings is a platform where I share my writing knowledge with others while also promoting my own creative works.
Having your own self-hosted website gives you the flexibility to design your platform and brand, curate content completely of your own interest, and build a very niche and powerful audience.
The best part is, monetizing is very easy!
- The first option is through running ads on your website, and you can choose how to display ads without destroying your user experience.
- The second option is brand partnerships and sponsorships, where you promote brands for a payment.
- The third option is affiliate links, which is the real moneymaker for many personal brands and websites. Affiliate links are outside links to a listing of a product, and you receive payment for every click or purchase through your link. It’s that simple!
If you want to know more about this option and my personal journey to monetizing my site, check out this post to get started:
How to Start a Creative Writing Blog
Thanks for reading till the end!
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