You were clearheaded when you decided to go pursue this whole writing thing. You knew you weren’t going into it for the money. But there’s a difference between not being able to afford a night of overpriced cocktails at a rooftop bar and having to decide which utility to avoid paying this month.
Whether your freelance journalism gigs aren’t covering your expenses or you’re looking to pad that work with a financial cushion, you may have to supplement the work you love with work that pays better. The good thing is, you practitioner of a low-paying craft of love, you can do it and still find yourself writing.
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Pair your writing skills with some subject-specific knowledge you either already possess or are willing to develop to pick up some of these higher paying jobs.
PR Communications
Public relations is a natural sidestep for writers looking for additional work. After all, as a journalist you likely already have an inbox filled with the vCards of publicists and communications managers with whom you’ve established good working relationships. And you’re no doubt familiar with the standard styles for press releases and other industry communications. When pitching your talents to agencies or independent publicists, be sure to stress your social media fluency, as well as your knack for meeting tight deadlines, and packaging stories.
Technical Writing
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, technical writing is an industry that is growing at a faster than average rate. The projects available in this field vary and include writing instruction and how-to manuals and FAQs. The ability to take complex ideas and jargon and break it down into clear and understandable prose is already a key part of the journalist’s toolbox, making your skills a good sell in this field. When looking for jobs, play up any technical expertise you may have, especially in engineering, computer science and general science. Social media and web design experience are also key, as the world of how-to continues to migrate from in-the-box manuals to digital spaces.
Copywriting
The opportunities in this advertising and marketing field are vast. And different types of skills will be suitable for different types of copywriting work. Knowledge of a specialty subject (say fashion or beauty or home design) can be your way into some media companies, while short pithy, Twitter-length writing skills can help you land jobs like writing banner ads and product descriptions.
Business Writing
Here’s another large catchall category. Business writing can include everything from short marketing brochures and corporate speeches to white papers. The recurring theme of this article applies here as well: your ability to craft tight copy is what will get you work, and if you can demonstrate experience in the specific industry you’re targeting, all the better.
Grant Writing
From exercising legit research chops to engaging in different types of writing all tied to one proposal, there is a lot about this type of work that will feel very familiar and comfortable. Grant writing may hold extra appeal for narrative journalists. Since a key component of grant proposals involves crafting a persuasive, compelling story about the work an organization is doing, standard storytelling elements like descriptive language and character development are part of the package.
Greeting Card Writing
Offbeat, yes, but also high on the creativity scale. No days spent in research or hours spent composing required. If you have a gift for quickly spinning off a few catchy, memorable lines of birthday greetings, congratulatory offerings or condolences, it may be worth your time to send off some submissions and see what comes of it.
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