I Tried Every “Make Money Online” Scheme and Here’s the Only One That Works (Spoiler: It’s Writing)

And yes, I’m about to tell you exactly how much I’ve made so far.

I’ve been there. The 3 A.M. Google searches for “how to make money online fast.” The clickbait course promising 6 figures in 6 weeks. The failed drop-shipping attempts and abandoned affiliate marketing dreams.

But after countless failures and empty bank accounts, I kept coming back to one thing: writing.

Here’s the truth nobody talks about: writing isn’t just some romantic pursuit for starving artists. It’s a legit goldmine if you know how to dig.

And I’m about to share four digging methods that have put money in my purse. No lies, just results.

1. Make Money Writing as a KDP Author (Yes, Even Complete Beginners)

Let me tell you the truth: forget about that literary masterpiece you’ve been writing. Okay, maybe don’t forget it, but we are not using that fantasy novel right now.

I know it hurts.

I had dreams of writing the next great teen novel too. There’s literal evidence of the book’s failure. HaHaHa. But if you want to make money now, you need to think differently.

The Genre That Actually Pays: Erotic Romance

I can already hear you groaning. “But that’s not real writing.”

Yeah, right. Listen, I thought the same thing until I made 1500 dollars from January to March.

Here’s what you’ll do:

Method 1: Short Story Collections (2,000+ words each)

Write short stories every week. Think reverse harem, billionaire romance, or group sex. I did this one, and it was very nice. I can assure you it’s the most common strategy for erotica writers.

Method 2: The Series Strategy

This is my personal favorite. Write connected stories that can stand alone but work better together. Write 5–6 short stories featuring the same character having different romantic adventures. Trust me, readers will eat this up!

Method 3: The 50k Novel

Write a full-length erotic romance novel in a month. I know that’ll be tough, but you want to make money, so you have to put in the work. Also, release 1k words of a short story every week. This method is harder but has the highest earning potential if you publish these novels monthly.

The Keywords That Convert

Research these subgenres on KDP:

• Reverse harem romance

• Billionaire bad boy romance

• Motorcycle club romance

• Mafia romance

Pro tip: Sign up for KDP Unlimited. Your readers pay a monthly subscription, and you get paid per page read. With methods 2 and 3, loyal fans will devour everything you write.

2. Make Money Writing Digital Products (The Pinterest Goldmine)

Ok, this one’s tough. But it works if you’re patient.

The Platform Strategy

A lot of people always suggest Amazon, but hmmm… but forget it. TikTok or Pinterest are your best friends here. Create a Linktree landing page using Canva and drive traffic there.

The secret sauce? Free value first.

So start posting helpful tips (I forgot to tell you to choose a genre, but you know you have to, right?) on TikTok. Build your Pinterest by sharing Pinterest-worthy graphics. Look, Pinterest takes time but is also easier and quicker to gain followers. So soft-sell your courses.

Ahem…

Write a solution to your audience’s problem.

3. Make Money Writing Articles (The LinkedIn Hustle)

LinkedIn posts are the bait. Client work is the fish.

The Strategy That Works

• Post valuable content consistently

• Research small businesses on LinkedIn and Google that need website copy, blog posts, or marketing materials.

You know what? For the small businesses, use Google, and for the CEO or whoever is in charge of recruitment, use LinkedIn.

• Use your posts as a portfolio and reach out with your samples.

Your ability to communicate well might determine your success.

4. Make Money Writing Long Stories on Royal Road (The Dark Horse Method)

No, Royal Road doesn’t pay writers directly.

But here’s what you can do: put your Patreon integration.

The Advanced Chapter Strategy

1. Post daily on Royal Road (consistency is everything)

2. Upload 10–20 advanced chapters on Patreon

3. End each Royal Road chapter on a cliffhanger

4. Watch desperate readers subscribe for early access

I’ve seen writers make $2,000+ monthly with popular serials using this exact method.

I mean, take a good look at these writers:

Alternative: Chinese Platforms

Webnovel and similar platforms require daily posting but offer contract opportunities and premium chapter unlocks. The pay can be substantial, ahem… good, but Royal Roads might be better. I’m always uncomfortable with these contracts.

What Actually Works

After trying everything, erotic romance on KDP remains my most reliable income stream. It’s not glamorous, but it pays the bills while I work on passion projects.

Which method will you try first?

P.S. – I’m planning to dive back into erotic romance myself. Sometimes you have to follow the money to fund your dreams.

What’s your biggest writing income challenge? Drop a comment below. Please drop it. :)

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