The Accessible Side Hustle: Writing and Self-Publishing

Competition doesn’t matter; anyone can make money writing (if you’re willing to work)

An accessible side hustle allows lots of people to make money with their micro-business. If you do the job right, you can make money through writing and self-publishing. The gig economy is expanding, people want opportunities to develop their revenue streams. Side hustles are the bomb. They say you will never work a day if you do what you love. That makes perfect sense. Writing and self-publishing are increasingly popular side hustles that allow people to share stories, ideas, and knowledge with the world. In a broader sense, your love of writing can connect you with revenue streams that involve low-content books, digital download products, online courses, and ebooks.

The importance of passion and commitment in writing and self-publishing

Before diving into writing and self-publishing, you must explore your passion and commitment to the craft. Writing can be time-consuming and emotionally draining. It can be isolating, but it can also be advantageous. In a world filled with rules, laws, and controls, writers, especially self-published writers, have a great deal of career freedom. When considering writing as a side hustle, it’s crucial to have a genuine interest in the topics you choose to write about and the products you decide to design. Explore the possibilities, don’t just dive into a niche because someone on the Internet says there’s money in it. Pay attention to this statement: Be prepared to invest time and effort into honing your skills and planning your direction. You will NOT get rich overnight. Ok, one or two of you will, but the rest of us have to pay the dues.

Building your writing portfolio and reputation

Before you can successfully self-publish, you must establish yourself as a writer. Building a portfolio is relatively easy but is a critical step. Writing articles, blog posts, or short stories on topics you’re passionate about. It doesn’t matter what topics for now, choose a couple of ideas and set a goal to write one or two 800-word pieces a day for two weeks. That gives you 14 well-written articles to put on display. These pieces can be published on your blog or submitted to online platforms and publications — you can even set up a Facebook personal page and contain them there. The page will help you gain exposure and provide valuable writing samples to showcase your abilities. Polish these pieces to a glittering shine. Toss in an image or two.

Selecting your niche

Finding a niche that aligns with your interests and expertise is important for writing and self-publishing. Whether you’re interested in fiction, non-fiction, or a specific genre, focusing on a topic will help you stand out in a competitive market. Research your chosen niche to understand its audience and discover popular trends, which will help you create content that resonates with readers. Look at web magazines, browse Amazon or Google Books, or spend time with Google Trends to determine what people are looking for. As of this writing, popular topics include food and wine, TV, movies, entertainment, money and investing, travel, relationships, celebrities, health, sports, and crime.

Crafting a marketable manuscript or product

Once you’ve established your niche and developed your skills, work on your output. Outline ideas, create drafts, and refine your work. Identify companion products, like journal books, card decks, worksheets, practice books, or how-to posts. Pay close attention to style, grammar, and presentation to ensure your work is marketable. You may enlist the help of beta readers and professional editors or editing apps to provide feedback and polish your work.  A professional and eye-catching cover or product design is necessary to attract buyers to your work. You can choose to design by yourself or hire a professional cover designer. Similarly, proper formatting is essential for a polished final product. Many self-publishing platforms offer formatting guidelines and templates.

About self-publishing platforms for writings or digital products

Several self-publishing platforms are available today, including Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Smashwords, and Draft2Digital. You can publish your work in digital or print formats with minimal upfront costs. Take the time to research each platform to determine which one best suits your needs and preferences. Here’s a list to start you off.

1. Barnes & Noble Press lets you publish your ebooks on the Barnes & Noble website, making them available to Nook eReader users. They offer competitive royalty rates and provide various tools for formatting and marketing your ebook.
2. Apple Books (formerly iBooks Author) enables you to create and sell your ebooks on the Apple Books Store, reaching millions of iOS and macOS users. You can create your ebook using the Pages app on a Mac or iOS device and then publish it to the Apple Books Store.
3. Kobo Writing Life’s self-publishing platform, Kobo Writing Life, allows you to publish your ebooks in the Kobo Store. It offers a user-friendly interface, competitive royalty rates, and a global reach.
4. Google Play Books reaches Android users and makes your work available on multiple devices. Google Play Books offers a straightforward publishing process, allowing you to upload your manuscript and set your price.
5. IngramSpark’s global distribution network includes online retailers, libraries, and schools. Remember that, unlike most other platforms, IngramSpark charges a setup fee for publishing your ebook. Make sure you understand the terms and benefits.
6. BookBaby is a self-publishing platform that offers a range of services, including ebook publishing, print-on-demand, and book distribution. They charge an upfront fee for their services but provide extensive support and resources for authors.
7. Lulu is another platform that supports ebooks and print-on-demand. They offer a user-friendly interface, global distribution, and various tools to help you create, publish, and market your work.
8. StreetLib distributes your ebooks to multiple online retailers, including Amazon, Apple Books, Kobo, and Google Play Books. They offer competitive royalties and provide tools for formatting and marketing your ebook.

When choosing a self-publishing platform, consider royalties, distribution channels, ease of use, and associated fees. Some authors publish on multiple platforms to maximize their reach and potential income. Explore them all before you decide.

How can you make money writing ebooks and making digital downloadables?

Here are ways to generate income from ebooks:

1. Choose a profitable niche: Identify popular topics. Research what’s selling well, and commit to adding value or providing a unique perspective. Make your work personal — that’s branding.
2. Write a compelling ebook: Focus on delivering valuable content that meets audience needs. Your book should answer questions for readers. Write in a clear and engaging style, and make sure the text is well-structured, well-edited, and error-free.
3. Your ebook cover should be professional and visually appealing. Keep designs simple but colorful. Create the design with tools like Canva or hire a designer from Fiverr.com or other gig sites.
4. Format your ebook: Proper formatting is essential for a professional-looking ebook. Follow the formatting guidelines of your chosen publishing platform, or hire a professional to ensure your ebook displays correctly on various devices. Formatting can be tricky, but it has to be exact.
5. Choose a self-publishing platform.
6. Set a competitive price: Research pricing strategies and set a price that balances affordability with the value you’re providing. Run promotions or offer your ebook free temporarily to boost its visibility and attract more readers. It can be an excellent strategy to set a low price lower and raise it as you gain sales.
7. Promote your ebook: Develop a marketing plan that includes social media promotion, email marketing, guest blogging, and targeted advertising. Reach out to influencers and book bloggers for reviews, interviews, and giveaways to generate buzz and increase your ebook’s visibility. Promote in the real world, too, not just online. Tell your co-workers, friends, neighbors, and everyone you’re in contact with. People love to participate in success — your real-world social network will likely buy your products. Get some business cards to hand out. You can also explore promotional opportunities like giveaways and author interviews. I know an author who had her car wrapped with information about her books. Yes, she made sales.
8. Establish a solid online presence by creating a website or blog and engaging with readers on social media platforms. Build an email list to inform your audience about new releases, promotions, and updates. Join online groups but don’t spam them. Find forums about your topic.
9. Positive reviews can significantly impact your ebook‘s visibility and sales. Encourage your readers to leave reviews on platforms like Amazon and Goodreads and respond to feedback to show appreciation and build connections with your readers.
10. Write more books.

Continuous learning and improvement for self-publishers and writers

Writing and self-publishing are constantly evolving fields. Stay up-to-date with the latest trends, tools, and techniques. Attend workshops, conferences, webinars, and network with fellow writers and industry professionals. Stay informed about developments in the self-publishing space and be open to incorporating new strategies to grow your side hustle. Artificial intelligence is a red-hot topic, and everyone is talking about it in terms of writing and art. AI is excellent fodder for books, articles, courses, and discussions.

Diversifying your revenue streams

Explore opportunities like offering writing workshops or creating and selling related products or online courses. By diversifying, you create multiple revenue sources.

• If you have programming skills, think about widgets, apps, themes, and web plugins, all downloadable.
• You can diversify with podcasts, videos, sellable photography, or other creatives.
• Apps like Canva or MidJourney can generate graphics and digital art. People buy downloadable art like crazy if you package it right and if you take the time to research what is marketable.
• Writing an online course to augment your micro-business is easier than ever and a fantastic way to expand your passive income while strengthening your identity as an expert. 
• Make a website with unique content that customers can only access through a subscription. Keep the price low and promote your expertise. The best platform for this is GhostPro which was designed just for self-publishers and bloggers. ghostPro accommodates paid and unpaid newsletters, too. Think about having a blog and a free newsletter to drive subscriptions to a paid newsletter. Yes, it is a bit of work.
• Design and publish low-content planners and journals. Write your lifestyle tips and time-saving routines in a printable PDF for download. Write short, concise guides to teach people how to do what you do. Write great recipes, bundle them by the half dozen, and make them downloadable. But don’t expect to make a fortune; don’t believe most who say they have. But a revenue stream is a revenue stream. You paid for your groceries if you do five of these ideas, and each makes $75 monthly. 
• Set up a paid newsletter. Use your blog to drive signups and traffic. For example, what if you generate a free newsletter and blog to drive subscribers to a weekly paid newsletter?

The last words

Writing and self-publishing side hustles can be fulfilling, satisfying, and financially rewarding. Transform your love for writing into a successful side hustle with passion, discipline, and a strategic approach. Write down your ideas. Check off items you complete. Work at it every day. You’ll reap the benefits as your revenue increases. The biggest payoff is gaining personal freedom, losing your bosses, and knowing you are steering your ship. By honing your craft, selecting a niche, marketing your work, and engaging with your audience, you can make your mark and make money doing something you genuinely enjoy. If you decide at some point that it’s too much work, you’ll be well-positioned to market yourself as a freelancer. But that’s a whole different article.

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Keywords: writing and self-publishing side hustle, make money