I make my living as a professional writer. I’m so excited to have received this question because many people are often understandably too shy to ask. However, it’s an important one to think about if you are considering the idea of becoming a full-time professional writer. Here are the details you need to know!

The profitability of professional writing

So, the first thing that you should know is that earning money as a professional writer has no recipe for success or a “shortcut” to get your way to financial stability. But, here’s a look behind the curtain.

• Your success won’t be overnight: This is where the fear takes over for most people, and they start scrambling for something else. But think about it this way. Anyone on a creative career path has always had to struggle for a while longer than they want to just to find their way to success. However you define it, your success will take a while, and you’ll have moments of doubt. But it’s there, and it’s waiting for you. You just need to give it time.

• Someone will always be making more than you are: This is such a hard part to explain. I’ll see ads all the time for “plentiful” jobs with high pay in them. It makes me wonder what I’m doing wrong. But, the expression “the grass is always greener on the other side” comes into play here. Sure, someone else will be making more than you, but they’ll have to sacrifice differently than you are. What’s right for them is not right for you, and vice versa. If you’re okay with what you’re making and you are happy with your sacrifices, you’ve made it! Your grass is plenty green; it’s just a different shade.

• Success will look different than you might think: This is probably my own most challenging part. I didn’t understand what success would look like at first because I was coming at it from the wrong angle. So, I’ll tell you what I learned along the way: Success is never going to be in a number. It’s going to be in getting up each morning, having writing jobs in the queue, and feeling excited that you get to write and get paid for it. It really is that simple. Does that number still matter? Of course. But not as much as you’d think!

The bottom line: profitability is more than possible

What I guess this all comes down to is that being a professional writer is profitable. I’ve enjoyed my career as a business content writer for 7 years and counting. While earning a living from writing certainly looks and feels different than I thought it would, the most essential detail to think about is that it is, in fact, working.

There will be plenty of people who tell you that there’s no money in writing. The market is saturated, it’s true. But no one’s heard your words yet. There will always be competition out there in the professional writing marketplace. Still, no one can do it quite like you can. In an industry all about finding new ways to use the same words, that’s a pretty great selling point, don’t you think?

Have a question of your own? Please feel free to post it below in the comments or send me a message directly, and I’ll be happy to add it to the list of upcoming posts!

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