Can anyone recommend me freelance writing jobs for beginners with decent pay?

[Talia Bates]

Hey all🖐️, I’m new to the freelance writing world and looking to earn a side income. I’ve done some blog writing for college clubs, and I really enjoy it. I’m not expecting crazy money right away, but I’d like to find something that pays decently and doesn’t take advantage of beginners. Any suggestions on where to start? Open to all ideas!

 

[Pen2Paper]

Welcome, @Talia Bates ! We all start somewhere, and it's great that you’ve got some writing experience already. If you’re just getting your feet wet, I’d recommend checking out Upwork. The competition is tough, yes, but if you create a solid profile and start with lower-priced gigs, you’ll build momentum.

I got my first article job on Upwork for $30 for 1,000 words. Not amazing, but not horrible either. Just avoid those $5 for 2,000-word posts — it’s not worth your time or sanity. Once you get a few positive reviews, things get better fast.

 

[Tatiana Leach]

@Pen2Paper I second Upwork — but only with a strategy! Don’t apply to everything. Target gigs that are tagged “entry-level” but still pay at least $0.03–$0.05 per word. Also, write custom cover letters! Clients notice.

I also recommend FlexJobs — it's paid, but every listing is legit. No scams or shady gigs. I landed a part-time editing job through them that pays $20/hr. It's a nice supplement to my main writing projects.

 

[Juanita Estrada]

Personally, I started with Textbroker, and while it’s not the highest paying, it gave me confidence and helped me learn about SEO and different writing styles. The pay is around 1.3 to 4.3 cents per word depending on your star rating.

Once I hit a 4-star level, I started getting direct order clients who paid better. The best part? You don’t need to pitch — just grab assignments. For a beginner, it’s a great sandbox to experiment in.

That said, as soon as you feel confident, start looking beyond platforms like that. Long-term, you want to build your own client base.

 

[Anne Padilla]

I’ve been freelancing for almost 6 years now, and the biggest mistake I see beginners make is sticking to “content mills” for too long. They’re good for experience, yes, but the pay rarely scales. My advice: learn while you earn, but have an exit strategy.

Create a basic portfolio (3–5 samples in different niches — blogs, listicles, product descriptions, etc.). Then start pitching to niche job boards like ProBlogger, FreelanceWriting.com, and Who Pays Writers?. That’s where I found one of my best clients, who still pays me $75/post today.

 

[EliseLang]

Does anyone here write in a specific niche? I keep reading that niching down can help you earn more, but I’m not sure where to start. I’m into travel, mental health, and pet care, but I don’t know if those are too broad or competitive.

 

[KateCopy]

@EliseLang Niching definitely helps, especially for pitching directly to clients. I started out writing general wellness content, but once I niched into mental health content for therapists, my rates doubled.

Look for smaller businesses in your niche — like therapy clinics or pet product brands — and reach out with a short, value-packed cold email. Offer to write a sample blog or do a content audit.

Pro tip: having a niche doesn’t mean you can’t write other things. It just helps you market yourself better.

 

[Coral Bolton]

If you're still building confidence, you might want to try Medium’s Partner Program, too. You don’t need approval to start writing, and while the pay isn’t predictable, I’ve made anywhere from $10 to $100 on a single story.

Plus, it gives you published pieces you can link to in your portfolio, and it teaches you how to write for real audiences. Just don’t rely on it for consistent income at the start.

 

[Elias Schultz]

Another underrated path for beginners? Local businesses. I got my first paid writing gig by offering to rewrite my cousin’s café menu and then blog posts for their site. That turned into referrals.

Reach out to people in your own network — friends who own small businesses, nonprofits, artists who need bios, etc. Sometimes people want content help but don’t even know what to ask for until you offer.

 

[Stevie Meyer]

Don’t underestimate the power of LinkedIn. I created a basic profile, posted a few sample write-ups about SEO and blog strategy, and a content agency found me within three weeks. They started me on smaller assignments and then gave me long-term work.

Also: invest in tools that help you grow. Grammarly, Hemingway App, and Canva (for visual samples) can level up your presentation. Even beginners can look pro with the right toolkit.

 

[Talia Bates]

Wow, I wasn’t expecting so much support and detail! Thanks everyone for these insights — seriously bookmarking this thread. Going to update my LinkedIn, test out Medium, and maybe give FlexJobs a try. Also going to start putting together a tiny portfolio this weekend. You’ve all given me a much clearer path. Appreciate it!