How to Earn $100–$500 Per Month as an Article Writer



How to Earn $100–$500 Per Month as an Article Writer

Earning money as a writer online has never been more accessible. With the rise of digital media platforms, blogs, and freelance marketplaces, aspiring writers can make a consistent income—even if they're starting from scratch. While building a full-time career takes time, earning $100–$500 per month as an article writer is an achievable and realistic goal. Here's how to get started and grow your income gradually.

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1. Understand What Article Writing Pays

Writing rates vary widely depending on experience, niche, platform, and word count. Beginners can expect to earn around $0.01–$0.05 per word, while experienced writers might earn $0.10–$1.00+ per word. For example:

A 500-word blog post at $0.05/word = $25

Four of these per month = $100

Writing just one 1,000-word article per week at $0.10/word = $400/month

The key is consistency and stacking multiple small projects.

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2. Choose Your Writing Platform(s)

There are several legitimate platforms where you can start earning money writing articles:

Freelance Marketplaces

Upwork – Competitive, but reliable for beginners.

Fiverr – Set your own gigs and rates.

Freelancer.com – Wide variety of writing jobs, often low-paying to start.

Content Mills (for beginners)

Textbroker or iWriter – Good for practice, but low rates.

Use these only as a stepping stone.

Revenue-Sharing Sites

Vocal Media

Medium Partner Program

NewsBreak Contributor

These sites pay based on views or engagement, which can grow as your audience grows.

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3. Pick a Niche You Can Write About Easily

You don’t need to be an expert—just pick topics you’re familiar with or can research easily. Examples include:

Personal development

Health & wellness

Parenting

Technology

Productivity

Finance (budgeting, side hustles)

Relationships

Writing in a specific niche can help build credibility and make pitching easier later on.

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4. Create a Simple Portfolio

Before clients hire you, they’ll want to see your work. Create 2–3 sample articles (500–800 words each) in your chosen niche. You can:

Publish them for free on Medium, Vocal, or Substack

Share them as Google Docs or PDFs

Build a free website on WordPress.com or Wix

Your portfolio is your proof of skill.

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5. Apply for Small Gigs and Build Relationships

Start by applying for small, one-off gigs with clear deadlines and topics. Sites like Upwork let you filter for beginner-friendly jobs.

Here’s how to increase your chances:

Write short, personalized proposals

Mention specific knowledge of the topic

Deliver on time and ask for feedback

A good client relationship can lead to repeat work—which means recurring income.

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6. Try Submitting to Paying Blogs or Websites

Many blogs pay for quality content, and you don’t need a huge name to get published. Examples include:

Listverse ($100 per list article)

Metro Parent ($50–$150)

Cracked (humor-based)

Transcend Blog, A List Apart, and many others

Google: "blogs that pay for guest posts + your niche."

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7. Join Writing Communities

Being part of a community helps you learn and find new job leads. Join:

Facebook groups (like “Freelance Writers Den” or “Write to 1K”)

Reddit communities (r/freelanceWriters, r/WorkOnline)

Writing Discords or LinkedIn groups

Writers often share gigs they can’t take, or tips on who’s hiring.

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8. Set Monthly Goals

To reach $100–$500/month, break it down:

$100/month: One $25 article/week, or one Medium/Vocal post that earns $25/week

$500/month: Two $50 articles/week, or one big client at $125/week

Track your pitches, hours, and earnings so you can scale smartly.

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Final Thoughts

Earning your first $100–$500 per month as a writer takes persistence, patience, and practice. You don’t need a degree or fancy website—just a willingness to write, learn, and deliver quality content. Start small, stay consistent, and you’ll build a writing income that opens up even more opportunities down the road.

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