best online writing websites

19 Best Freelance Writing Sites: Earn More This Year

In a rush?   Writers Work is one of the best freelance writing sites . This article round-ups some of the best freelance writing sites for finding paid work fast

Freelance writing is an unpredictable profession. It’s hard to break into the industry when starting out, as many clients require writers with experience and testimonials. But how can you get either if you’re new to a niche?

Even after becoming a freelance writer , figuring out how you will earn each month is hard. Even if you earn $10000 this month, there’s no guarantee you’ll make the same amount next month. Often freelance writers spend weeks working with a client only to find they’ve no work lined up after that contract ends. It’s a real writing challenge . This can cause a lot of anxiety and sleepless nights.

But luckily, countless websites are offering thousands of freelancing gigs, and all you have to do is pitch them. Some of these sites are free, while others require paying a small monthly subscription. Obviously, the free sites take more time to use.

Whatever your budget, these sites can help when you need extra money, or you’re trying to meet a monthly income goal. So, what are the best freelance writing sites to pitch if you’re a new freelance writer and need quick cash? And which sites should you use if you’re looking to build ongoing writing opportunities? Let’s find out!

Where Do Beginners Get Writing Jobs?

1. writers work, 2. blogging pro, 3. freelance writing job board, 4. contently, 7. problogger job board, 8. people per hour, 12. craigslist, 13. flexjobs, 14. linkedin, 15. mediabistro, 16. freelancer.com, 17. writer access, 18. glassdoor, 19. indeed.com, final word on best freelance writing sites, what is the best way of pitching a freelance writing gig, how much should i charge for a freelance job when starting out, how do i start my own freelance writing website.

Writers Work contains freelance writing opportunities for writers who want to start their career

New writers land gigs through their personal or professional network or by using entry-level freelance writing websites like Fiverr or UpWork. Starting on these sites can help beginners land experience, and get paid to write and launch their careers.

The big benefit of freelance writing sites is that you can pitch thousands of jobs. No need to gather email addresses of potential clients and cold email them or create a content marketing strategy to bring in leads.

Although both these strategies are essential for making a living as a freelance writer, they are time-consuming, and sometimes you need money immediately. And that’s where freelance writing sites can make your search much easier.

Some might criticize freelance writing sites as a place where employers look to get the cheapest possible deal. While this can be true, some writing gems are on these sites, especially when you specialize in a specific field like computers, marketing, and personal finance.

Writers Work is a jobs board and also a site full of resources and tools for freelancers. Writers Work aggregates writing gigs from across the web in one place and surfaces them on a single dashboard so you can apply for suitable opportunities and manage submissions.

We found freelance writing gigs in areas like copywriting, ghostwriting, content writing, journalism and more. You’ll need to pay a monthly or annual fee to use it. It’s a good time-saver for new freelance writers and the fee is nominal. However, you can always cancel once you’ve found enough relevant job opportunities.

Unlike other freelance writing sites on this list, Blogging Pro is a job board with more than just content writing jobs on offer. People are looking for;

• Copywriting
• And magazine writing.

This makes it a great option if you’re looking to expand from content writing into another field. Niches that are popular on the Blogging Pro job board include;

• Social media content writing
• Stock market writing
• Poker news writing
• And celeb writing.

And if you’re a busy freelance writer with many clients, this job site is perfect since they’ll let you know 24 to 48 hours after you’ve applied if you’re approved. They also have a blog where they help freelance writers with everything from getting more clients, writing articles , and asking for referrals from existing clients. So if you’re new in the freelance writing industry, Blogging Pro is super helpful.

• Interesting writing gigs
• Ads indicate rate-per-word
• Focuses on the lower end of the market

This freelance writing website is one of the older on this list. It’s been in existence since 1997! What I love about the Freelance Writing job board is that it has advanced search and navigation options that make it easy to look for jobs in your niche. After a cursory search, we found jobs for copywriters, movie and TV freelancers and e-commerce writers.

This job board is different from others because it contains jobs on other listing sites like Indeed and LinkedIn. However, if you don’t feel like going to other sites to apply for jobs, you can choose to filter out listings that aren’t on Freelance Writing.

• Ideal for freelancers
• Great search
• Established
• Contains resources for freelancers
• US-focused (may not be a con for US-based users)

Contently isn’t your typical freelance writing site since they actively help writers join with big-name international companies like Coca-Cola, GM, Walmart, and Google. It is great since you’re earning more by working with these big brands, and you get to put their name on your portfolio website, which can bring in more clients in the future.

The con about Contently is that you can’t pitch your writing services directly to these companies. Contently has talent scouts that look through writer’s portfolios and see which writer fits best with which brand. Once Contently has selected you, you negotiate a rate and they’ll forward you everything you need to get started.

But Contently isn’t a website for beginner freelancers since they’re looking for an in-depth writing portfolio. But once you’ve got a few gigs under your belt, feel free to give Contently a try.

• Features high-paying clients
• Specialist content writing gigs available
• Not for beginners
• Free to use

iWriter is a convenient way for writers of all experience levels to earn some extra cash. All you need to do is create content that clients love and deliver it on or before the agreed-upon deadline.

Unlike other sites, clients on iWriter are specific with what they want since they are required to specify details like keywords, layout, and special requests. This makes it difficult to deliver content that’s not up to scratch since it feels like you’re just filling in blanks.

They also have an extra feature that allows clients to tip you if you’ve delivered great work. And you can receive this money along with your usual rate via PayPal. You choose how often you feel like getting paid, for example, once a week or twice a week.

If you use iWriter, you’ll need to level up from standard to premium, elite and elite plus to access higher-paying gigs. This requires landing good average ratings from your clients and frequently writing for the service.

• Easy to join
• Pay relatively good for new writers
• Many niches on offer
• Mixed reviews for users
• Not all jobs open to application
• Not suitable for once-off gigs

Contena is a freelance writing site that compresses the best gigs from all around the web. This can save you a lot of time if you don’t have much time to look for quality gigs and pitch them.

Contena also has an academy where they teach you how to get more writing clients, write better pitches, get more referrals, and manage your clients better. This isn’t only great for beginners but advanced writers who’re looking to get higher quality clients and simplify their writing process. 

The only con to Contena is that it’s quite expensive. It’s one of the few paid job boards on this list, costing $497 for a one-year membership and $997 for a two-year membership. This can easily throw the other pros out the window since you can get the same benefits at no cost with other job boards.

• Good writing opportunities
• Reduces time spent applying for writing jobs
• Mixed user reviews

ProBlogger is a website that offers a writing job board that hosts remote gigs which freelancers can pitch. I feel like the freelance writing work posted on this site is of far better quality than other job boards since employers must pay $75 to post a job. The drawback to this is that there isn’t so much volume on ProBlogger. And if you write in a niche like gaming, you’ll have to wait a few days before a job pops up.

But what I love about ProBlogger is that the job site is easy and simple. The website never lags, and the process of pitching for a writing job is straightforward. You must register as a candidate before creating a resume and applying for a gig.

Darren Rowse, the founder of ProBlogger, also runs a blog and email newsletter that provides helpful and in-depth tips, tricks, and tutorials on increasing blog traffic, writing higher-quality posts, and making money writing about what you love. 

• Lots of gigs with small companies
• Ease to use
• Job quality can vary
• Less popular with brands

People Per Hour is a micro gig economy website offering thousands of jobs to freelancers. Writing gigs are popular on People Per Hour since most businesses need to communicate their value to their audience. Interestingly, one of the few websites here featured job ads for writers who can translate content. It also includes other exceptional opportunities like research writing gigs and proofreading.

If you have other skills like graphic design, video editing, or voiceovers, businesses are also looking for those services. Over 7 million businesses, to be exact.

And the process of getting jobs on this site couldn’t be more straightforward. Simply go to their website and sign up for an account as a freelancer. Next, search for the type of job you want, for example, “freelance writing” and pitch your services to whatever business needs your writing.

• Lots of smaller writing gigs
• Good for beginners
• Not specifically focused on writing

Upwork is a helpful site for freelance writers who’re just starting and would like to get their feet wet. There are many things to consider, like designing a freelance website and promoting your services. But with Upwork, all you have to worry about is landing clients.

Upwork’s commissions start at 20% until you’ve earned $500, and it goes down to 10%. Once you’ve earned over $10000 with the platform, you only pay a 5% commission. It also has an advance payment protection fee, so if you’ve completed a project and a client refuses to pay, Upwork will transfer the amount to your account.

UpWork is a good choice for writers looking for new clients or testimonials. But I suggest you only stay on Upwork for as long as you need to since your freelance career can stagnate, and you have to pay a cut to UpWork. Once you start making money, invest in inbound leads since you don’t want to put all your eggs in one basket. At Become a Writer Today, we’ve regularly sourced freelance writers on this site, as have many entrepreneurs running content publishing businesses.

• Ideal for entry-level and mid-level gigs
• Ideal for freelancers without a website or profile
• UpWork takes a cut of your fees
• Locks you into the platform

Fiverr is a global online marketplace where buyers and sellers of various services come together and trade. Services that you’ll find on Fiverr include;

• Content writing
• Video editing
• Proofreading

Obviously, this is all low-paying work. The biggest benefit of Fiverr is the volume of work available on their platform. Almost every company uses Fiverr to outsource tasks, including freelance writing jobs. Simply sign up for an account and create a gig. Once a client finds your work compelling, they’ll hire you, and you’re good to go.

But just like with Upwork, I suggest not staying on Fiverr for long. It’s a good choice for beginners looking for experience and testimonials. When you’re done, transition to high-paying methods of attracting clients like inbound marketing.

• Ideal for entry-level gigs
• Lots of work
• Less suitable for established freelancers

Guru is another micro-gig economy site like Upwork and Fiverr with its own set of unique strengths and weaknesses.  Setting up your profile is easy, head over to its website and sign up for a free account. From there you can find countless writing projects available for you to bid on. 

You can also get paid per milestone, hour, or task. Unlike other micro-gig economy websites, Guru requires employees to fund their projects before they start. And their methods of payment include:

• Direct transfer for US banks
• Wire Transfer for banks outside the US

When starting, I suggest using Guru alongside similar websites like Fiverr and Upwork since it’ll give you access to the highest number of jobs possible.

• Free to use and or low fees
• Fewer jobs than other listings

Craigslist is one of the biggest userbases in the world, with over ten million users. But when you think of Craigslist, you probably think of scams and other shady dealings.

And although the user experience leaves much to be desired, there are some writing gems if you’re prepared to look. Unfortunately, depending on your location, this may take a lot of time and effort.

If you live in a big city, finding clients on Craigslist is easier. Typically, these are US-focused and have a low bar regarding a writer’s experience level. Keep an eye out for scams and don’t give out personal information or click on unsolicited links. Still, it’s free.

• Lousy user interface

The FlexJobs freelance platform is geared toward people looking to work from home, like freelancers and part-time workers.

Signing up for FlexJobs only takes a few minutes, and they have over 60 categories and subcategories for every type of job like content writing, editing , copywriting, and more. You’ll need to pay a monthly subscription though.

FlexJobs also has tests freelancers can take; if you pass, they’ll display that to potential employers looking for a freelancer. This makes it easy to stand out amongst your peers. Like many sites here, you can set up job alerts, so you don’t miss an opportunity while offline or working on another project. It’s a good choice for new and more experienced freelance writers. To learn more, read our Flexjobs review .

• Wide variety of gigs
• Ideal for home workers
• Emphasis on US jobs only

LinkedIn contains opportunities for freelance writers comfortable with applications and pitching.

Chances are you already use LinkedIn for building out your professional network. But it’s also an excellent choice for freelance writers working in the business-to-business (B2B) space. That’s because many companies are looking for full-time and part-time writers to produce content for their sites and advertise job listings directly here.

Don’t always expect job ads to feature the word “freelance writer” or “freelance writing gig”. Instead, a good LinkedIn ad for content writers typically uses job titles like:”

• Content writer
• Content manager
• Content strategist
• Content marketer

All of these new jobs involve various forms of writing, albeit in a business context. The terms are often negotiable too. So apply, and you may land yourself a lucrative ongoing gig. Alternatively, you could contact people in your professional network and pitch your services.

When tailoring your freelance writing profile on LinkedIn, include skills that B2B companies look for, like search engine optimization (SEO). For more, read our guide to social media marketing for beginners .

• Ideal for freelancers in B2B
• Easy to apply
• Great for outreach
• Less suitable for once-off gigs
• LinkedIn InMail not free

If you want to work as a freelancer for media companies, check out MediaBistro. MediaBistro focuses on job opportunities with well-known digital media brands like the Daily Mail, NBC Universal, Bloomberg, CNN and others. Considering its focus on media companies, it’s also a good place for landing journalism jobs.

That said, finding freelance writing gigs on this site involves paying a monthly subscription. Membership unlocks valuable tools for freelancers like resources for pitching editors and discounts for industry events and resources. You can always cancel once you’ve landed enough clients to pay the bills.

• Interesting jobs with media companies
• Good for aspiring journalists and PR professionals
• Limited amount of jobs (perhaps due to its focus)
• Jobs board only, no other resources for freelancers

Freelancer.com is a similar jobs board to UpWork, built for freelancers. On Freelancer , you can create a profile, apply for a job and then place a bid. Employers can accept then review your work and accept a bid.

Here, employers also post a project, invite multiple freelancers to apply, and hire the best one. As a freelance writer, expect to pay a fee on hours and projects: currently 10%.

Like UpWork, it includes a mobile app and live chat for users. It’s a good choice for more experienced freelancers. This site offers freelance writing gigs in these areas:

• Ghostwriting
• Article writing

We’d also recommend checking out the other categories including SEO and digital marketing as these often relate to the work of a good freelance writer.

• Wide variety of work
• Many high-profile clients
• Freelancer takes a cut of your fees
• Only 8 free bids allowed per month

Writer Access is an established writing platform with 40,000 clients and thousands of freelance writers. Founded in 2000, Writer Access is a premier content creation platform used by large companies, agencies and small business owners. Tens of thousands of experienced writers work for this platform across a variety of niches and with varying levels of expertise.

Rates range from three-four cents per word to more than ten cents, depending on the topic and expertise required. It’s a great place to find long-term clients you want to work with as many place repeat orders. You’ll need to apply, provide a high-quality writing sample, and demonstrate competence before being accepted. Writer Access also takes a cut of your freelance writing fees.

• Covers a wide variety of niches
• Lots of paying work
• Rate vary widely
• Writers must apply

If you’re looking to land a freelance or part-time writing big with a company or well-known brand, it’s a good idea to research them on Glassdoor . You can search and filter by job type and industry.

This website features hundreds of reviews and testimonials from current and past employees with well-known companies. That way, you can gauge what the work culture is like and if they’re a suitable fit for your skills.

It also provides information about how much companies pay across various teams, departments and experience levels. This type of information is a gold mine for setting freelance writing rates .

Glassdoor also often provides links to suitable writing gigs on sites, so it can save you time applying for jobs. To use it, you’ll need to create a profile via your email or Facebook profile. Then you must post an anonymous review of a well-known employer you worked for.

• Ideal for client research
• Provides salary/pay rates
• Tailored towards well-known brands
• You must write a review to use it
• Less suitable for smaller gigs

As freelancer sites go, Indeed is a popular search engine for jobs that often features writing gigs. It’s also good if you’re tired of using UpWork or LinkedIn for finding work. Small businesses, content publishers, and even media companies increasingly advertise writing gigs here too. The jobs advertised on Indeed often appear on the other premium websites featured here.

Bear in mind that many of these jobs are full-time rather than freelance but apply anyway and see if you negotiate terms for yourself.

You can search by job type and industry. As noted previously, search for terms like “content writer,” “SEO writer”, “content manager”, “content marketer”, and so on. That way, you can cast a wider net of jobs to apply for.

I also like this site as it provides a pay range for jobs, saving time figuring out what to apply for. Even if you’re not doing to apply here, you can. Use this site to set your rates for an industry or niche.

• Lots of writing opportunities
• Stiff competition
• Requires some work to use

Freelancing is an unpredictable profession since you never know how much you’re going to earn in any given month. But by pitching on freelance writing sites regularly, you’ll bring in more clients, build lasting writing opportunities and earn a more predictable income.

FAQs About The Best Freelance Writing Sites

The best way to stand out is to attach a link to an article similar to what your client wants. This gives them peace of mind knowing you’re familiar with the industry and know how to write a compelling article.

New freelancer writers typically charge three to four cents per word. You shouldn’t care about making money on your first freelance job. You have no experience, and your client has little reason to hire you, so the only thing you should care about is getting better. Once you’ve become an above-average writer, you can focus on charging more for your work.

To start your freelance writing website, create a WordPress site around your niche or personal brand. Populate it with testimonials from happy clients and employers. Post examples of your work and case studies if you have permission. Create a page detailing what niche you work in and your pricing or services. Finally, promote your website on social media, via email and after pitching a client.

Where to find easy part-time jobs

Where to find writing jobs

The best side hustle ideas for creatives

Top freelance job ideas

Bryan Collins is the owner of Become a Writer Today. He's an author from Ireland who helps writers build authority and earn a living from their creative work. He's also a former Forbes columnist and his work has appeared in publications like Lifehacker and Fast Company.

View all posts

• Free Course
• Creative Elements Podcast
• Creator Science Newsletter
• Marketing for Freelancers
• Selling for Freelancers
• Business for Freelancers
• Course Bundle

The 15 Best Freelance Writing Sites

In Freelance Jobs , All Posts by Jay Clouse November 22, 2020 Leave a Comment

Freelance writers will often ask me for the best freelance writing sites to find paid work online.

And while there are a ton of sites that can help you find freelance work generally, you’re better served looking to freelance writing sites specifically.

Instead of playing the networking game, waiting for referrals, or playing the content creation game and hoping something comes through eventually, these freelance writing sites put thousands of online writing jobs at your fingertips today.

So let’s jump into my favorites!

Table of Contents

The 15 best freelance sites for writers

Contena is a premium freelance writing website that aims to be more than “just another job board.”

It’s one of my best recommendations for freelance writing sites.

First, they have what they call their “writing job finder” that automatically collects the best freelance writing gigs from around the web.

Then you can search and sort through them to find the best opportunities – whether that’s a $10,000 a month full time eBook writing gig or a one off blog post in the sports niche.

That saves you a ton of time trying to go to a bunch of different sites to find jobs.

But their Alerts emails, sent to your inbox daily, save you even more time by showing you just the jobs that meet your criteria, like rates and niche.

Some of the other features that makes this one of the best freelance writing websites for beginners and veterans alike:

• Courses – learn how to get started freelance writing in a weekend, and continue to grow afterwards
• Coaching – access to pro help in leveling up your freelance writing career
• Pro Rates – shows you the average rates writers earn so you can price your work accordingly
• Publish – lets you build your portfolio with their beautiful and easy to use tools

Even though you need to apply and pay for their platform, they provide such high-quality work that it easily pays for itself.

• Writing job finder that collects the best available from around the web
• Comes with other helpful tools and courses to get started and grow your freelancing
• Application required
• Paid service

Check Out Contena

Back in the old days of online freelancing (aka circa 2015) two of the largest freelance job sites at the time, oDesk and Elance, joined forces.

The result was Upwork , which is now home to over 12 million freelancers, 5 million clients, and 3 million freelance job listings per year.

While the marketplace features freelance jobs of all sorts, there are plenty of freelance writing jobs available – from blogging to resume writing, website copywriting to technical documentation.

They offer short-term contracts, long-term contracts, hourly work, or project-based payments.

If you’re just starting your journey as a freelance writer, you’ll have more of an uphill climb to build a portfolio and your reputation on the site (experienced freelancers can just add their existing portfolio items to get jobs and reviews more quickly).

But the availability of jobs on the site means you’ll always be able to find work if you’re willing to put in the effort to submit proposals.

The biggest downside here is the 20% fee Upwork charges for the first $500 you make with any client. You must also pay up to $0.90 per proposal that you weren’t specifically invited to apply for. So if you’re just getting started, you may have to pay-to-play in order to build your portfolio

• A seemingly bottomless supply of leads
• Payment management
• Highest fees for freelance writing sites
• Can take a while to build your reputation on the platform

Check Out Upwork

3. FlexJobs

FlexJobs is an online jobs marketplace both for freelancers and people looking for flexible full-time employment positions.

The biggest difference from the competition?

FlexJobs screens and verifies all their jobs so you won’t find any scams or low-paying gigs.

This is great for more experienced freelance writers since you won’t waste your time filtering through junk. But if you’re just starting out and need to build a portfolio, you’ll have a harder time finding jobs for that purpose.

FlexJobs also makes it easy to find the perfect gig for you with their custom job search.

This lets you select the categories of work (there are several kinds of “writing” jobs available), your preferred work schedule, experience level, and so on so you can see and apply for just the jobs you’re actually interested in.

To get access to the freelance writing jobs available on FlexJobs, you’ll have to sign up for a subscription.

Flexjobs is typically priced at $14.95/month or $49.95 for the year.

But you can try it out with our link for less than $7 .

• Job postings are screened for quality
• Jobs are remote-friendly
• Subscription membership means lower competition
• Exclusive member discounts and deals
• Requires a subscription
• Not as useful for building a portfolio

Click here to check out FlexJobs

4. Freelance Writing Jobs

Freelance Writing Jobs (FWJ) , previously Freelance Writing Gigs (hence the URL) is basically a well-curated job board for writers.

Updated Monday through Friday with gigs from around the web, they’ll save you some of the time and stress of filtering through tons of options (some of which will be bogus) on other freelance writing sites.

That being said, you’ll still need to do your own due diligence when looking to get hired.

And it’s not a platform like FlexJobs or Upwork, so the exact process for applying, landing, and getting paid for a job will vary depending on the specific opportunity.

But they offer an awesome archive of posts offering tips for beginner and expert freelance writers and are definitely worth adding to your “places to find writing jobs” checklist.

• Freelance job board specific to writing
• Includes jobs from around the web as well as their board
• Not a platform – no universal way to submit applications/get hired
• Not as many opportunities as other freelance writing websites

Check Out Freelance Writing Jobs

5. Textbroker

Textbroker is a freelance writing website that operates sort of like a large scale agency.

They vet freelance writers (like you) for quality, then give you access to the tons of product descriptions, press releases, web copy, blogs, and other writing jobs their customers post (they claim they deliver on over 100,000 content orders a month).

Signing up as a writer is completely free – just verify your U.S. citizenship and submit a writing sample. They’ll give you a 2-5 star rating and it’s off to the races!

You can get work by jumping into an open order (first come, first serve) which is nice because you don’t have to “sell” a client on hiring you first.

You can also get placed on a team of other writers to be hired together or have clients send you work directly – all while Textbroker does the heavy lifting of managing payments and project workflows.

All of this is great for beginners, though the relatively low pay means more experienced writers will probably want to look elsewhere.

• Easy to get started – just need a writing sample and you can get freelance writing jobs
• Great for building a portfolio when getting started
• Work doesn’t pay as well as other freelance writing sites
• Write up front model means you may do work without getting paid

Check Out Textbroker

6. Contently

Contently is another agency-style freelance writing site that connects freelancers with bigger brands they might otherwise have a hard time landing gigs with.

To do this, they work hard to screen new freelancers who join their platform and select the right freelancers to invite to the various job opportunities.

What does that mean?

You really have to have a solid portfolio to get started, and you won’t be able to have as active a role in searching for work as you can be on other platforms.

BUT that tradeoff comes with the opportunity to work with big brands on high paying projects.

Which means this freelance writing website is best for experienced writers looking to supplement their other work-finding efforts.

• Access to projects with big brands like Microsoft and Coca Cola
• Projects tend to pay well
• Have to wait to receive job opportunities
• Requires a solid portfolio of existing work to be approved

Check Out Contently

7. MediaBistro

MediaBistro is a solid freelance writing job board for those looking to work specifically with media companies.

Think TV channels like HBO, digital media sites like VeryWell, and old school papers like the Daily Mail.

And they offer a membership that gets you access to online courses to hone your skills, tools to help you pitch editors and showcase your work, and perks like discounts to industry events and a free LinkedIn profile evaluation.

Downsides here are that there aren’t as many freelance writing gigs as other sites because they’re so industry focused.

And because it’s more of a job board for big brands rather than a freelance writing site, you’ll have to do a lot of “resume sending” rather than making connections with clients and relying on the strength of your portfolio.

• Access to freelance writing jobs with big brands like HBO and PBS
• Focuses specifically on gigs in the PR and journalism space
• More traditional job board – “submit your resume” rather than have a killer portfolio
• Just a job board – no platform to help with landing jobs/getting payments

Check Out MediaBistro

8. ProBlogger

With the ProBlogger job board , created by blogging veteran Darren Rowse, you know two things going in: the jobs are probably solid, and they’ll likely be focused on blogging.

When you dig in, you’ll find that largely to be the case…though there are a few copywriting jobs sprinkled in the mix.

The board itself is pretty straight forward – it’s free to browse and apply for jobs as a writer.

No sign up needed, just find a job you’re interested in and apply. But if you want, they have a Candidate dashboard you can join (for free) to add your resume, manage applications and get job alerts.

Downsides here are there aren’t a ton of jobs available. I found 2-6 jobs a day when I was checking, but this is a well known site in the blogosphere so it’s a fairly competitive spot.

And the jobs aren’t screened, so you’ll have to do your own due diligence (though they have tips for that right in the applications).

• Well-known brand that attracts some solid clients
• Free to use, no sign up necessary
• Competitive (it’s a well known stop for new and veteran freelance writers)
• No screening

Check Out ProBlogger

9. Freelancer.com

er.com is an online jobs marketplace very similar to Upwork.

That means you’ll create a profile, apply to jobs, get hired and paid through their platform, rinse, and repeat.

There are thousands of jobs available at any given time (including online writing jobs), both by the hour and fixed project rate.

Freelancer also offers a third “Contest” option where clients post their job needs, freelancers create the requested content, and the client chooses and pays for their favorite(s).

This might not be very attractive for seasoned freelancers who can rely on their existing portfolios, testimonials, and sales skills. But it’s great for new freelance writers as you can build your portfolio while having a shot at getting paid – without needing a ton of experience!

The downsides here are in the fees: you’ll have to pay to apply to jobs after your first 8 bids each month.

And you’ll have to pay 10% for all the hours and project fees you bill through them.

• Fees are cheaper than Upwork
• Contests offer an interesting way to build a portfolio
• Only get 8 free bids/month
• Have to pay fees on all the work you find/bill through them

Check Out Freelancer

10. Constant Content

Constant Content is a content creation service that’s helped over 50,000 businesses find freelance writers to create all sorts of web content: from social media posts and product pages to blog posts and ebooks.

To get freelance writing jobs through Constant Content, you’ll need to create a profile to showcase your experience and skills, take a quiz, and submit a 100-250 word writing sample.

If you’re approved, you’ll be able to apply to projects that interest you, work by yourself or on a team, and build up a reputation to get clients asking to work with you!

Overall this is a great place to get started and get a baseline amount of work for yourself.

But Constant Content doesn’t allow you to contact the companies you work with at all outside of their platform. So you won’t be able to build your own relationship with clients to expand your role or get referrals.

• Potential for ongoing work with big brands like Uber and Zulily
• Build up your reputation to get clients requesting to work with you
• You must be approved to join
• Can’t contact clients outside their platform to build your own relationship

Check Out Constant Content

11. Guru.com

Guru.com is another one of the big freelance job marketplaces. You create a profile, apply to jobs, land work, and get paid through the platform just like Upwork and Freelancer.

Unique features here include their “Guru Work Rooms” to help you manage communications on all your projects and their daily job matches so you can spend less time searching for potential jobs and more time applying to, winning, and working on projects.

Guru also offers the most free bids I’ve seen on one of these platforms (10 per month) and the lowest fees on money billed through them (9%).

But, you’re still paying for the privilege of using their platform to land clients and of the big three freelancing jobs platforms (Freelancer and Upwork included), they had the fewest freelance writing gigs available when I checked.

• Daily Job Match makes it easier to find the right projects to apply to
• Lowest fees/most free matches of the big freelancer jobs marketplaces
• …still have to pay fees for all your work found/billed through them
• Fewest jobs for writers available among the big three freelancing websites

Check Out Guru

12. Writer Access

Writer Access is another one of the content creation services that offers writers access to online freelance jobs.

Companies join their platform and commission content of all sorts, from lead magnets to case studies, blog posts and direct mail letters.

To join as a freelance writer, you’ll have to live in one of the following countries:

• United States
• New Zealand
• South Africa
• United Kingdom

If that’s you, you’ll start by creating a profile and taking a writing test, which the Writer Access team will then check and give you a star rating from 2-6.

This star rating determines what kind of projects you can work on and how much you can earn through their platform, with 2-star orders paying 2 cents a word and 6-star orders paying 7 cents at minimum (up to $2).

If you don’t start with the star-rating you wanted, you’ll be able to improve it over time by doing great work that gets you great ratings from clients.

The biggest benefit here is access to steady work from big brands like Lids, Carmax, and Microsoft, but even their highest paying projects are on the low end of what you could potentially earn as a freelance writer.

Which is why I’d say this is a great place to find freelance writing jobs online for beginners, but more experienced writers will probably want to look elsewhere.

• Steady work from big brands like Lids and Carmax
• Can work your way up through their star system to earn more as you improve
• Have to be accepted onto their platform
• Lower end of the pay scale (most projects offer $25-50 for a 1000 word article)

Check Out Writer Access

13. Craigslist

OK, I know that Craigslist might not be the first place you’d think of when looking for the best freelance writing sites. It’s moreso the place you went in college to get that cheap (free?) dusty old couch grandma was giving away.

And I wouldn’t say it’s the highest quality source of freelance writing jobs, either.

BUT with some patience and perseverance, you can find some solid clients here by filtering through the lower-paying jobs and scams.

Or at the very least, this can be a good start if you’re looking for freelance writing jobs for beginners to get your portfolio going.

Definitely recommend searching in bigger cities like New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Houston, etc for more opportunities than may be available in your local area.

• Very easy to search/apply for jobs
• Familiar user interface
• More junk jobs to filter through
• Have to search city by city instead of just in one place

Check Out Craigslist

14. BloggingPro

The BloggingPro is another free online job board – it’s free to browse for jobs you’re interested in based on the type of job (content writing, copywriting, etc) and type of contract (full time, freelance, etc). and apply to them.

Unlike sites like FlexJobs, there’s no client screening process, though, so you’ll have to be careful to avoid scams. And you’ll apply with potential clients directly so there’s no single process to get hired. Some might ask for a resume, some for portfolio examples, some might have a form, or ask you to email them.

As the name implies, a lot of what you’ll find here are blogging-related gigs, but there are other opportunities as well so it’s worth including on your “to check list” even if blogging isn’t what gets you going.

• Free to use, no need to sign up necessary
• Includes jobs from around the web as well as those posted to their board
• Not a platform so there’s no universal way to submit applications/get hired
• No screening of posted jobs – some might be scams

Check Out Blogging Pro

15. FreelanceWriting.com

Founded in 1997, the FreelanceWriting.com job board features journalism, content, copywriting, and blogging gigs from around the web including sites like Indeed, Craigslist, and BloggingPro!

There’s no signup needed, just browse through their handpicked list of available jobs and filter by source, skills needed, location (including remote freelance writing jobs), keyword, and date added.

One other cool thing about Freelance Writing’s site is that they also have a list of writing contests around the web

These are great for beginners wondering how to get started in freelance writing as you can build your portfolio by creating pieces for these contents. You might even win and earn some real cash doing it!

At the end of the day, the only real drawback is one you’ll find with just about any writing job board: there’s not a streamlined process for submitting an application, getting hired, and getting paid.

• Free to use and no need to sign up
• Saves you time digging for writing jobs on other job boards
• It’s a popular site so you’ll likely face a good bit of competition for jobs
• It’s just a job board – you must figure out the application and getting hired process on your own.

Check Out Freelance Writing

Tips for finding freelance writing jobs online

Obviously I couldn’t cover every last place to find freelance writing gigs in this post, but even this list of the 15 best freelance writing sites give you the sense that there are a lot of options out there.

How do you know which ones are legit or worth investing your time in?

What does it take to find success (or more success) as a freelance writer?

There’s a lot to say, but here are a few key tips.

1. Pitch and apply every day

This is especially important when you’re getting started, but I really recommend even the most experienced freelancers keep a steady schedule of submitting pitches or applications for new work.

Especially when you’re just getting starting, you’re just going to have to play the numbers game to some extent. Even the best writers in the world won’t have a perfect success rate of turning applications to jobs into work.

The more you pitch, the more the numbers are going to work in your favor, and the more you’ll build the resilience and confidence you need to keep going.

And even when you do have some client work, keep pitching and keep applying.

New jobs are posted every day, and at some point your projects will end or your clients might not need help anymore.

The more practiced you are at pitching, the more used to it you are, the better prepared you’ll be.

2. Niches can be great, but you don’t need one to start

Lots of “how to become a freelance writer” advice you’ll find online will mention picking a niche.

Do you want to write about technology or are you more interested in finance?

Do you want to write blog posts or website copy?

Niches are great, and those are good questions to ask and answer for yourself – they’ll help you sort out which jobs to apply for and where you can find the right clients.

But you don’t necessarily need to pick one to get work, and getting too specific too fast may limit the jobs you’re applying for.

For example, there are a lot of topics you could write blog posts on, and in many cases you can learn what you need to know through research – no background knowledge necessary.

By writing lots of blog posts on a variety of subjects, you might find you don’t really like blog writing but you do like writing for the medical industry.

Now you can look for other kinds of writing projects in that industry, and you have some experience to help you land jobs.

If you start by deciding you want to write email campaigns for law firms that specialize in class action lawsuits for mesothelioma sufferers…

You might find out that there just aren’t any of those jobs available, you picked too small of a niche, and are that much more likely to give up in frustration.

3. “Experience” isn’t necessarily a number of years

If you’re a new freelance writer with no experience at all, you’ll be particularly keen to notice many jobs will include some sort of “experience” criteria, often times in the form of “x years of experience required.”

If you just started freelancing two days ago, there’s no way you could get that job that requires four years of experience right?

There are a few corporate HR departments that will have strict hiring requirements where four years of experience needed literally means you better have four years or you’re not at all qualified.

Most of the time, years of experience just means “we need someone who:”

• Doesn’t need to know much about what they’re doing (“no experience necessary”)
• Needs to know something (“1-2 years”)
• Needs to know a good bit (“3-4 years”)
• Has to know a lot (“5+ years”)

The key phrases here being “needs to know” and “what they’re doing.”

If you know how to write well and can demonstrate that with portfolio pieces and, even better portfolio pieces with testimonials from past clients, you should absolutely apply for the job if you want it.

4. Freelance sites that let you create a profile are worth joining

Some of the best freelance writing sites on our list are just job boards – places you’ll find jobs you can apply to, with no signup required.

These are definitely great to have on your list of places to look for work as they’re easy to use and give you that much more opportunity to find a perfect fit.

But freelance writing sites like FlexJobs and Contena that let you create a profile are worth joining, too, for a couple of reasons.

In the case of FlexJobs, in addition to giving you access to more exclusive freelance writing jobs, you’ll also be able to build a reputation within their platform so that potential clients can find you and reach out to you specifically and directly.

Other sites like Contena do the same, and can also serve as an online home for your portfolio so you can easily share your past work with clients you find on other writer jobs sites.

5. Don’t forget about good ol’ fashioned networking

These freelance writing websites, job boards, and platforms are a great place to start (and continue) to find online writing jobs – but it’s important to also build up other channels throughout your journey!

These days, networking obviously includes social media on top of the old standard, in-person “shake hands and exchange business cards” events.

In the world of freelancing, you’ll also find forums like Reddit’s r/freelance or Freelancing School’s own community can be invaluable resources for you.

Sometimes for finding online freelance jobs, sometimes to make connections with fellow freelancers who you can collaborate with, and sometimes to just share your successes and frustrations along the way.

Freelance writing websites FAQ

What is freelance writing?

A freelance writer is someone who earns an income by writing and is paid as a 1099 misc contractor, rather than a W2 employee.

As a freelancer, you’re a self-employed independent business owner, responsible for finding clients who need help, selling them on your services, completing the work, and ensuring you and your client end the project satisfied.

Check out my what is freelancing post for more info on freelancing as a profession!

What types of freelance writing jobs are there?

Writing is probably one of the most “freelance-able” skills around.

While some companies prefer to hire full time employees, all kinds of writing are also done by freelancers.

A few examples of freelance writing jobs you can find online for inspiration:

• Blog writing: creating content for business blogs
• Copywriting: creating sales pages, landing pages, product pages, or emails designed to sell products and services
• Content writing: creating content for white papers and ebooks; overlaps with blog writing and social media writing
• SEO writing: creating blog posts and website copy focused on ranking in search engines like Google
• Web content: writing for website pages; overlaps with blog writing, copywriting, and SEO writing
• Social media writing:  creating written content to post on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.
• Video script writing:  creating scripts for videos
• Email writing:  creating email newsletters and sales emails

What are the highest paying freelance writing jobs?

The amount you’ll earn depends on a few factors like:

• Where you’re finding the writing job
• What type of freelance writing job you’re applying for
• What industry your potential client is in
• How much revenue your potential client’s business generates
• Your level of writing skill
• The quality of your portfolio and testimonials
• Your sales skills

That being said, I took a look through Upwork to get you some more concrete numbers.

Here are a few ranges I’d estimate for the most popular kinds of online writing jobs:

• Landing/Sales page writing: $100 – $1,000 per page
• Website content writing: $50 – $250 per page
• Blog Post writing: $25 – $250
• Ebook/white paper writing: $100 – $1,000 each
• Email writing: $25 – $250 each
• Social media writing: $1 to $10 per post

Which sites have the best freelance writing jobs for beginners?

The most important thing for beginners looking to land freelance writing jobs is to know that it’s a numbers game. You’ll have to apply to a lot of jobs before you land one, and after that it’s still going to take a lot of work.

As a reference point, you’re absolutely crushing it if you get a response to 3 out of every 10 applications you send. And if 1 of those 10 turns into a freelance writing gig, that’s a win.

It takes time and persistence to get started and keep going as a freelance writer.

While all of the freelance writing websites I included above are worth checking out, I’d most recommend:

• Contena – the additional support and resources you get on top of their online writing job board (the coaching, courses, rates tool, etc) are super valuable to help you get your freelancing legs under you.
• Textbroker – you won’t be able to earn a lot in the grand scheme of things through this site, but it can be a good place to earn your first few freelance writing dollars while you start to build a portfolio you can use to get better/higher paying work.
• Upwork – I have a few friends who have had a lot of success with this platform, even though the fees aren’t great. They’re the biggest freelancing marketplace which means there’s always plenty of work available, and the fact that you can get testimonials to build up your credibility and eventually have clients find and reach out to you is super valuable.
• FlexJobs – This is a fantastic, vetted alternative to Upwork. And the subscription will cost you less in the long-run than the cost of applying for projects. These jobs are high-quality and flexible.

How do I start freelance writing if I have no experience?

Check out my how to start freelancing article for the complete 9-step plan I recommend (tons of actionable details in there for you.

Some particular tips for how to become a freelance writer :

• Your portfolio and testimonials are two of the most important tools you’ll have for getting online writing jobs. Create a few samples for the kind of writing work you want to do, then use them to land more work. Always ask your clients for a testimonial!
• You’re going to have to pitch a lot, no matter which freelance writing website you use. Set a goal to send so many applications/proposals out every day and stick to it. Only scale back when you start to run out of time to actually do project work.
• Blog writing is probably the best/easiest type of freelance writing to start with. Plenty of people want to pay freelancers for them, they’re relatively small projects (so there’s less risk for your clients if things don’t work out – that makes them easier to sell), and they’re a good stepping stone to start client relationships, and branch off into other kinds of online writing.
• Student login

Free Course: 5 Ways in 5 Days to Make More Money Freelancing

Looking to publish? Meet your dream editor, designer and marketer on Reedsy.

Find the perfect marketer for your next book

1 million authors trust the professionals on Reedsy. Come meet them.

Guides • Book Marketing

Last updated on Oct 25, 2022

13 Author Websites That Get It Right

Most professional authors will have their own website , both as a way to market themselves and connect with their readership. It's the one corner of the internet that the author fully controls — without interference from publishers or social media rules.

In this short guide, we'll show you some examples of effective author websites before giving you a step-by-step process for building your own. By the end, you'll be ready to take on the world (wide web).

Here are 13 examples of excellent author websites: 

1. Austin Kleon

New York Times bestselling author Austin Kleon identifies himself as “an author who draws” and uses his website to talk not only about his own books, but also about art and writing in general, offering creative inspiration to fans and casual visitors alike. 

Simple to navigate, and signposting all the relevant information — from blog posts, to his books, a newsletter mailing list , an author bio , and contact information — one of the main advantages of Kleon’s website is that it’s kept up-to-date with seasonal posts and frequent life updates. 

FREE COURSE

How to Build Your Author Mailing List

Learn how to connect with your audience and sell more books with email.

Takeaway: Keep your website up-to-date

Knock, knock. Who’s there? You should be. Unless you’ve got a ghostwriter on your team or you can uncannily churn out quality books constantly, you probably won’t always have new bookish updates. However, when people visit your site, you don’t want it to seem like it’s been idly collecting dust for years between publication dates. You want it to seem as though someone is home.

Austin Kleon’s website achieves this with fresh blog posts displayed front and center. Straight away, you know that he’s active behind the keyboard. Not only does it feel like he’s talking directly to you, but it also incentivizes you to come back, which can be handy for your next book launch . Studies confirm this: businesses that run blogs have 55% more website visitors than those that don’t.

Something as simple as an up-to-date Twitter feed or a list of upcoming events can keep your website fresh and show that you’re committed to interacting with your readers. If you're able to blog regularly, all the better! If your blog gets popular enough, it could become the foundation for your next book . 

How to Build an Amazing Author Blog

10 lessons to help you start your blog and boost your book sales.

2. Rupi Kaur

You’d expect nothing less than a well-designed website from the queen of Instapoetry herself, Rupi Kaur . Her elegant homepage immediately exudes “Rupi Kaur” and the message she wants her readers to receive. It’s on brand — aesthetically pleasing, with short guiding phrases, and creative with form (here through typography ) — and much like her poetry, it sticks to the essentials to deliver a core message in just a few words.

But make no mistake; this is no minimalist, bare-bones version of a website. With customized stickers, an integrated webshop for merchandise, and links to both an Amazon Prime special and a world tour, it’s clear that Kaur has invested some time and dollars on making this a comfortable browsing experience for her readers.

Takeaway: Invest in branding and user experience

Granted, not every author can inject cash into a website like social media sensation Rupi Kaur. However, her online presence features several practices that are good takeaways for any author website. Kaur, for instance, doesn’t send her subscribers “newsletters” like Kleon does. Instead, she sends “love notes”. Readers can also follow the journey of her third book, Home Body , as it travels across the US, “sisterhood of the traveling pants” style. These touches make her website feel authentic and true to her brand. 

Paying a bit extra to get a custom-made website that fits your needs perfectly and appeals to your target audience can improve user experience significantly, making it not only pleasing to the eye, but also easy to navigate.

Tell us about your book and we'll match you with a website style!

It'll only take a minute!

You can make your website stand out from the crowd by adding dynamic and interactive elements, and self-published author LJ Ross is no stranger to this strategy. Just like in her bestselling mystery series DCI Ryan, LJ Ross’s website takes inspiration from the atmospheric landscape of Lindisfarne (also known as Holy Island), located on the northeast coast of England. 

This eye-catching website is brought to life with some well-chosen dynamic elements: a bird flying across the landing page, mist rolling in as you hover your cursor, and a hamburger menu that folds out to direct you where you need to go, to name a few. 

LJ Ross also gets a bonus point for subverting the expectations for what a crime and mystery author’s website should look like, with a sunny background picture and a lighter color scale throughout the site. 

Takeaway: Bring your site to life

If your site is a pretty-but-static thing, you may be missing an opportunity. With some simple dynamic elements that draw the eyes, you can elevate your website and give visitors a reason to extend their session on your site. And the longer they stay, the more likely they are to engage with what your website offers. 

Start by capturing people’s attention with cool visuals, highlighting what you want visitors to see first (in this case: Ross’s different books series and a link to an audio drama production on Audible), and then invite them to engage by linking to your social media.

4. Miquel Reina

Another author who incorporates some movement into their author website to really bring it to life is Miquel Reina . This can be a risky maneuver — more often than not, flashy gifs and scrolling text scream “tacky.” But when it pays off, it creates a beautiful effect that will impress and entrance readers who stumble upon your page.

Upon first glance at the homepage of Miquel Reina's author website, nothing appears out of the ordinary... until the first image begins to change. As you can see, each translation ( and gorgeous new cover ) of Reina's book Lights on the Sea morphs into the next, providing a beautifully comprehensive sense of his accomplishments.

If you’re not a web designer , this tactic could easily go awry, but Reina ensures that all his images are carefully sized and timed to create a calibrated effect. The transitions are calmly paced to give you enough time with each cover, but not so slow that you risk missing the effect entirely. He also wisely avoids cluttering the rest of his homepage with additional text and images, so the viewer focuses solely on the slow-moving book covers.

Takeaway: Keep it simple (but sophisticated)

Again, it's easy to go overboard with this tactic; you don't want your author website to look like a carnival. To keep things interesting yet professional, bring your site to life with just one or two smoothly transitioning GIFs.

Fun fact: You can find Miquel Reina, who designed his own website (!), right here on Reedsy. Click here to check out his other projects .

💡Pro tip: Keep site speed in mind! On the technical side, a simple setup will help your site load faster. Heavy images will slow a site down and frustrate visitors. They came to find out about your book, not wait around watching their fingernails grow.

5. David Sedaris

Authors sometimes make the mistake of thinking that people visit their websites just to read their bio. Are you, the author, important? Sure, but your books are way more important. Let people know they’re on an author’s website by making your product the star of the show, as David Sedaris does. A minimalist setup makes it impossible not to notice the main event: Sedaris’ newest book.

Takeaway: Put your book front and center

If a reader visits your site and doesn’t immediately realize that you’re an author with a book to sell, you’re probably doing something wrong. Placing your book front and center announces that, whatever else you may be offering through your site, you’re first and foremost an author who wants to share their stories with the world. 

Also important: are the buttons that urge people to buy your book and steer folks to their retailer of choice. To build the perfect author website , it’s important to generate retailer links to your books and make sure people can easily add them to their basket.

6. Brit Bennett

Another author who has embraced the idea of putting their book front and center is Brit Bennett . Her hugely successful upmarket fiction novel The Vanishing Half is clearly the star of the show as you enter her landing page, and unlike David Sedaris’ lengthy book description, Bennett focuses on some strong endorsements in the form of quotes to sell her book. 

Takeaway: Include testimonials and reviews

There’s nothing quite as effective as word-of-mouth marketing when it comes to book sales. With a well-chosen quote from the right person, you may see your book sales soar, so it would be wasteful not to use the prime real estate of your website to let others highlight your writing prowess through testimonials and reviews. 

💡Pro tip: Testimonials and reviews are a great way to market your work and authorship so make sure to leave some space for that on your website.

For more marketing insights, check out our course on the fundamentals of book marketing:

Book Marketing 101

Learn seven tried-and-true strategies for boosting book sales.

7. Lesley M. M. Blume

When you first land on Lesley M.M. Blume’s website , you are met with an old, faded picture of an atomic bomb, held up by tape and a short journalistic description This documentary approach quickly envelopes readers into the topic material that Blume — an award-winning journalist — has written about in her latest book, Fallout: The Hiroshima Cover-up and the Reporter Who Revealed it to the World . 

Within moments of arriving on Lesley’s site, you become aware that she is a writer and journalist. This quick preview of her book grabs your attention and sets the tone.

Takeaway: Give readers a visual taste of your book

As an author, your medium of choice is often the written word, but your website is an excellent opportunity to expand on the imagery you’re trying to capture and make your messaging more vivid. By focusing on the visual aspects of your website rather than the textual, you allow readers to get an idea of what your book is all about straight off the bat — and you can present it in a way that is quicker and easier to consume than a full synopsis. 

Is your book a fluffy romcom, or is it hard facts? Offer a glimpse of what readers can expect of your writing, and don’t fall for the temptation to clutter your website with too much text; instead, use the power of images to elevate your message.

8. Maggie Stiefvater

Your author website should always include a good reason or two for visitors to offer up their email addresses. When you navigate your way to Maggie Steifvater’s website , you’re immediately presented with the opportunity to sign up for her newsletter. But the opt-in choices on her email list are plenty. For instance, you can sign up for an 8-hour seminar to improve your writing craft, led by Stiefvater herself! 

In marketing, this is known as lead magnets 一 offering something of genuine value in return for an email address — a marketing strategy we highly encourage authors to use..

Takeaway: Use a lead magnet

In publishing, a lead magnet usually means offering free content in exchange for an email address, such as downloadable PDF prints, exclusive interviews, or bonus chapters of your upcoming release. This helps you build your mailing list so that when you publish another book, you already have a group of people to advertise it to. 

💡Pro tip: A free sample does more than just incentivize people to offer their contact info. If you’ve read our Reedsy Learning course on how to run a price promotion , you’ll know that offering a free book is also a great way to hook readers and create a loyal fanbase for future publications. A free preview can work similarly, giving readers a commitment-free chance to get drawn into your book, leaving them more likely to pay to read the rest.

9. Megan McDonald and Peter H. Reynolds (Judy Moody)

Using images is perhaps even more essential when you’re in the picture book genre. The illustrative style on the Judy Moody website gets the brand across almost immediately: fun children’s books! And if there were ever any doubts, it cements the message that the best author websites are extensions of the author’s novels and wider brand. 

The creators of the website know the Judy Moody audience, with nudges and winks in the direction of teachers and parents, as well as younger readers with playful phrasing such as “Way-Not-Boring Stuff,” which links to several fun lead magnets, in the shape of games and downloadable PDFs, perfect for kids’ birthday parties. 

Takeaway: Speak to your target audience

When designing your own website, some of the questions you should ask yourself, like Judy Moody’s publicist clearly has, are all about personal branding: 

• Are you branding yourself or a series? 
• What’s the voice and tone of your book?
• Who is your target audience ; and 
• Would your site resonate with them? 

Judy Moody's authors have chosen to highlight the eponymous character of the series rather than themselvces, but whichever way you lean, there should always be a recognizable red thread that runs between your books and your website. Keep the voice and tone of your website distinctive and consistent, so people immediately recognize the relation to your work. 

🎨 If you’re thinking about how you can develop your own author brand, check out this article about how Lara Coates enlisted a Reedsy designer to help establish hers.

10. Fonda Lee

One way to ensure that you’re speaking to your target audience is to match your website to the genre you’re writing in. Fonda Lee leaves no room for doubt with her Y2K style logo and dark color pallet. But just in case you missed it, she makes sure to signpost herself as a “science fiction and fantasy author,” and uses a gallery of pictures to highlight her catalog of published works. 

Takeaway: Signpost your genre

While many visitors to your website may already know what genre you’re working in, it’s always a good idea to make sure you match your website to the content you’re publishing. This goes hand in hand with author branding, but the visual elements of your website can also add another dimension to the worlds you’re building in your books. 

11. Neon Yang

Whether you’re a maximalist or a minimalist when it comes to design, the use of bold or contrasting colors is another way to make your website pop and highlight something particularly important you want to draw attention to. And you don’t have to have a name like Neon Yang in order to do so. But choose your colors wisely, and stick to one or two for the best effect.

Takeaway: Be selective in your use of colors

The psychology of color can have a big impact on how people perceive something, but don’t make the mistake of trying to catch ‘em all; using all of the colors of the rainbow together at once is unlikely to have the desired effect of drawing the eye to one thing. Instead, too many colors can be distracting and more confusing than helpful, making the message you want to communicate murky and sometimes even hard to read. 

When using bold colors, one or two is enough to draw visitors’ focus toward the most important things. Neon Yang fittingly uses neon lime green to contrast against a darker background, which effectively highlights key information, fits their unique brand, and adds a tongue-in-cheek touch to the whole website. 

💡Pro tip: When using accent colors, choose them carefully, and avoid writing huge chunks of texts in colors that are hard to read to make your website more accessible to all visitors.

12. Brené Brown

Speaking of accessibility, no matter how beautiful and well-crafted your homepage is, or how nicely your logo fits on the corner of that picture you’ve chosen, here’s your official reminder to make your website compatible with all types of devices. Brené Brown has made sure her website will meet everyone’s needs, regardless of their browsing weapon of choice:

Takeaway: Optimize for mobile navigation

Nothing is as frustrating as a clunky website that you can’t read, especially when you’re on the go. Today mobile traffic accounts for almost 60% of all web traffic , so your website should be made to fit all devices to make it as easy as possible for visitors to explore.

13. Angie Thomas

Finally, one of the biggest reasons people visit author websites is to get a better sense of who the person behind the words on the page is, so don’t be afraid to show your face. Angie Thomas goes straight for the kill with a beautiful, professional headshot that is both inviting and confident. This, paired with some hand-picked words to the left, is a strong introduction to Thomas both as a person and as an author. 

Takeaway: Show your face

Whether you want your brand to focus on you as an author or on your books, it’s a good rule of thumb to use your website to introduce yourself to the world. Unless, of course you’re a ghostwriter or writing under a pen name and prefer to work in anonymity. But even then, your writing website should include an avatar at the very least.

You don’t have to place your author photo front and center, but your site should contain some indication that your work was written by an actual human and not an AI . Your ‘About’ section is a good place to start, but sprinkling a few photos that show who you are throughout your different sections is a good way to make your readers feel connected to you. 

In the next part of this guide, we'll show you how to create your very own website using some of the most popular tools in the internet.

11 responses

Brent Jones says:

02/06/2017 – 12:29

Well, never did I ever think I'd appear on the same list of authors as JK Rowling for something. Wow! You guys over at Reedsy made my day. Thanks!

Kristen Steele says:

21/06/2017 – 15:29

Great examples! Branding is a powerful element, but works best if all of your books follow a specific theme.

arushi says:

30/08/2018 – 05:47

Nice Article www.booksoul.in

Zain Khan says:

06/12/2018 – 09:28

Thanks for the awesome blog post. keep it up. Recycling Media

Michael Barrett says:

05/03/2019 – 15:00

mbbarrett.com

christopher sparacino says:

08/05/2019 – 12:28

I wrote a book i'm trying to get out there, feel free to read it! it's free, about 70 pages... http://bit.ly/evolveordiebook enjoy

Oohgirlbybk says:

Good info! Thank you! My website is live, but I will be contacting my web designer :)

Sayli@digitalmarketing says:

22/05/2019 – 10:25

This the list every digital marketer and web designer should have! Thanks for this amazing list!

Paul Nieto says:

23/05/2019 – 17:00

Thank you for the ideas and examples. I signed up for the checklist also.

amber says:

05/09/2019 – 09:50

wow, what a great example. branding is the most powerful tool. I am also an author

David Evans says:

17/11/2019 – 10:05

The Lesley M. M. Blume site and the Austin Kleon site are pretty good , i often find that alot of sites go for design over typography which mostly doesnt work , your right about having blog posts front and centre , problem is most authors ive encountered never want that ( customer is always right etc ) .. which is a shame

Comments are currently closed.

Join a community of over 1 million authors

Reedsy is more than just a blog. Become a member today to discover how we can help you publish a beautiful book.

Only on Reedsy

View their portfolios and get free quotes today when you create your account.

1 million authors trust the professionals on Reedsy. Come meet them.

Enter your email or get started with a social account:

21 Freelance Writing Websites That Pay Well! (2023 Update)

Are you looking for freelance writing websites for beginners or content writing sites for beginners?

I remember when I began my freelance writing journey, I wanted to get paid to write but I didn’t have a journalism degree, nor did I have writing experience.

I’m not going to lie, the fear and doubt was there when I first started because I had no idea where to find the jobs!

Nevertheless, I still went on to become a full-time freelance writer and travel the world.

If I can do it, you can too!

In this article, I will share all the places that advertise freelance writing jobs for beginners , the 3 best FREE sites to promote your freelance writer portfolio , plus tips to increase your rates. 

Freelance Writing Websites To Get Paid (For Beginners)

• Freelance Writing
• Blogging Pro
• PRO Blogger
• All Freelance Writing
• Journalism Jobs
• Media Bistro
• Morning Coffee Newsletter
•   Flexjobs
• PeoplePerHour
• Writer Access
• Online Writing Jobs
•   Verblio
•   Constant Content
•   Great Content
•   Hire Writers
•   Word Gigs

Disclosure : This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Thank you for your support 🙂

If you are having trouble knowing how to apply to freelance writing websites and how to come across as more experienced, so you can get paid higher.

I can recommend a super-duper freelance writing course I took, which helped me land 3 new clients in 3 weeks .

I spent ages googling FREE information and googling articles (like you are doing now) and I needed to keep my costs down as I wasn’t being paid for my writing just yet.

But I got sick of reading conflicting or confusing information and took the freelance writing course .

It taught me how to pitch to new clients and come across as experienced. Just look at this review:

I also learned how to set up a freelance writing website, where to find jobs, and what to charge.

The  Write to $1K course has a 30-day template you just need to follow to get to your first $1k from writing.

If you are ever going to invest in one writing course – please let it be this one . It’s the most useful thing you can do if you want to know how to be a freelance writer with no experience.

There is no way you will finish the 30 days and not win a new client. Her training is THAT good. And I am not making this up, because I took the course myself.

1. Freelance Writing

Known as one of the top best freelance writing websites, especially for its ease of use, and was established over 2 decades ago!

On this platform, you can find freelance writing jobs online for beginners and also hire freelance writers.

You can refine your search to only include certain locations or job types.

Plus, this is one of the best content writing websites for beginners. 

Why? This is because you will also find written resources to succeed as a freelance blog writer , creative writer, copywriter, ghostwriter, and other types of writing!

It even allows you to participate in writing contests to improve your writing while earning money, and a Free E-book to become a better writer and author.

#ifitsfreeitsforME

2. Blogging Pro

Also considered one of the best freelance writing sites for beginners, this website is ideal for bloggers and freelance writers looking for work.

Blogging Pro advertises blog writing jobs that are perfect for freelance writing beginners. Blog posts are easy to write and can earn you decent money. Many are aware of this fact and turn to content writing for beginners to start generating extra income.

A lot of my writing income comes from blog writing.

7 FREE Writing Tools That Will Help You Make More Money!

Download the free guide.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.

3. Pro Blogger

PRO Blogger is great. One of the best freelance writing websites out there.

I have found a few jobs through them. You can filter down to the niche you are in and it has a good variety of jobs. Oh, it is also one of the free article writing websites. you do not have to pay anything to find jobs on this platform.

The key is to apply early every morning, but having said that, I have applied and heard back from clients sometimes 2 months later.

In addition, this is one of the best article websites to use for FREE. You just have to look for the writing jobs on your job board and voila!

4. All Freelance Writing

All Freelance Writing posts fresh new writing jobs in the last 30 days and it is one of the most widely used article writing sites. I really like how they also advertise the rate you will be paid.

So you can scan the niche and pay and decide which freelance writing jobs for beginners best suits you, to save you time.

5. Journalism Jobs

Journalism Jobs is a great place to find freelance writing jobs if you want to be a journalist or copywriter. Just create an article writing account and start browsing!

You’ll find job posts, which describe the company, type of job, geographic location, and time commitment of the freelance article writing job.

One of the best freelance writing websites if you are looking got journalism specific jobs.

6. Media Bistro

Media Bistro curates online writing jobs and there is a big range of jobs on content writing for website there.

It is one of the best content writing websites to find jobs in online magazines, news sites, and big content publications. 

For example, I just looked and it is advertising for a sports writer, women’s lifestyle writer, and gossip column writer. Random eh?

7. Morning Coffee Newsletter

Morning Coffee Newsletter is great and it is among the best online writing sites because you can subscribe for free and writing jobs are sent to your inbox every morning.

I have secured a few jobs using this newsletter.

Considered one of the most widely known freelance platforms, Upwork is undoubtedly one of the best article writing sites where you can find different types of freelance jobs including writing.

It is free to register as a freelance and you can filter jobs based on:

• Client rating
• Clients spent
• Verified payment
• Level of expertise
• Skill category
• Job Type (Fixed or hourly paid)

For example, you can see here different types of entry-level freelance writing jobs , including an interesting gig about creating funny slogans for t-shirts for $200. 

9. Flexjobs

Flexjobs stands out as a freelance job site that offers verified jobs to prevent scams, this gives freelancers the confidence to apply for legit jobs. You will find multiple posts on articles writers for hire on this platform.

Registration is paid, it is a membership-based job site starting from $14.95 per month. 

However, Flexjobs is labelled as an excellent site to get freelance scam-free jobs and has membership benefits such as discounts for Career Coaching or a Resume Review. 

10. PeoplePerHour

Peopleperhour is a similar website to Upwork to get freelance jobs for beginners, so it is a good site to check out for article writing jobs or other types of writing. 

You can find jobs from proofreading , to investigative writer, cool for a beginner writing gig, right? 

11. Contena

Among the best article websites is Contena . It is a paid membership site starting at $497 for a 1-year membership and $997 for a 2-year membership . 

So, though it is not cheap, it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and offers good paid freelance article writing jobs, even for beginners. Despite the price tag, many freelancers engage with this platform, which shows that this is one of the best writing websites.

Freelance Writing Content Mills To Get Paid For Beginners

So above are 11 freelance writing websites that advertise freelance writing jobs for beginners.

But let’s say, you tried applying and received no response or you want to get some experience and you are sick of writing for free?

As a last resort, it might be worth looking into content mills.

Writing content mills don’t pay that well but the level of expertise required won’t be high. Also, if you are doing content writing for websites for free anyway, you might as well get paid and get some experience.

Having said that, make sure you move on to better-paying jobs once you have experience writing for content mills. Don’t get stuck on lower-paid jobs, but instead, use content mills to get some writing experience.

Sometimes content mills will advertise,  ‘freelance writing jobs no experience’

Here is a list of freelance writing websites which are content mills you can apply to:

12 . iwriter

This is one of the essential sites you have to head to if you want to land article writing jobs in content mills.

You can register for free, then you need to complete a form and a 250-word writing test. Based on these results, you will be accepted to work on article writing jobs in iwriter.

How much you will earn will be based on the level you are, starting from Standard, then Premium, Elite, and the highest rank Elite Plus. 

All of this will depend on the writing skills in each job and your rating as a writer.

Rates start from approx. $3 for 500 words at the starter level and $30 for 500 words at the Elite plus level. 

It may not be much but as a beginner, this platform is one of the good online writing sites that pay.

13. Writer Access

Writer Access is another one of the sought-after online writing websites for business owners that want to hire content writers.

So, this is a great content mill if you want to grab some writing experience and get paid for it! 

Plus, they offer benefits for their writers such as:

• Access to 250M stock images
• Content strategy certification
• Content marketing tools
• Portfolio gallery promotion
• A ticket to their annual content marketing conference and the recordings from the last 4 years.

You can apply for free, however, some things Writer Access will ask you to do is:

• Choose a niche you want to write about or consider yourself an expert in that field 
• Provide at least 2 public web pages to analyse your work experience and skills. Can be your Linkedin profile, blog, or portfolio site. 

Also, it is worth mentioning they have a web page where you can look for the different types of freelancers Writer Access are looking for . 

These gigs are high paying, as they are looking for people with experience in that field. So even if you are a beginner but have experience in comedy or type fast and accurately you could have a chance to get hired! 

14. Online Writing Jobs

Online Writing Jobs is a content mill that only offers freelance writing jobs for United States of America residents and you get paid weekly, through PayPal 

To apply as a freelance writer you need to:

• Complete the writer application form
• Submit a custom writing sample 
• Submit a completed W9 tax form
• Submit a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID as proof of U.S. residency (e.g. driver’s license, passport, non-driver ID card, etc.)

15. WriterBay

Among the best freelance writing sites is Writer Bay. 

Here you will find a wide variety of freelance writing fields of interest such as:

• Sports 
• Music 

One of the most important requirements to work in this content mill is to have a bachelor’s degree. 

To apply you just need to follow 4 simple steps, which are:

• Fill out the application form
• Pass their grammar test 
• Write a short prompt and upload an essay sample
• Upload a photo of your CV as well as your academic certificate.

Here is a current example of what they are paying and looking for:

16. Textbroker

Textbroker is a content mill that accepts writers from different countries, it is one of the best freelance writing websites for beginners .

To sign up you need to submit a 200-word writing sample , which will determine your writing skills. 

As for how the platform works, it is rating-based, from 2 stars to 5 stars. You can request payment any time of the week, as long as your earnings are equal to or more than $10. 

Here is an example of how much you can earn based on your rating:

Other freelance content mill websites to consider are:

17. Verblio

18. Constant Content  

19. Great Content  

20. Hire Writers

21. Word Gigs 

Plus, SEO is not as difficult as some gurus make it sound, and you don’t have to pay TONS of money to learn it. 

I have extensive SEO experience managing 4 blogs, and with this knowledge, I have created this affordable SEO Masterclass where you will learn the foundations of SEO to skyrocket your blog or client’s blog traffic!

Freelance Portfolio Sites For Freelance Writers 

If you don’t have a website, or would like to increase the exposure of your writing expertise, creating a portfolio is key to displaying your writing abilities and skills. 

Some of the best FREE writing portfolio websites to show your writing work are:

• The freelancer by Contently
• Clippings.me
• Journo Portfolio

Want to get inspired? Here are some examples of freelance writing profiles on each site:

• Contently profile example 
• Clippings.me profile example
• Journo Portfolio profile example  

FAQs on Freelance Writing Websites

What Is The Best Website For Freelance Writers?

One of the online writing websites for freelance writers is Freelance Writing , in this website you can find jobs with rates and divided by level of expertise. 

However, other good alternatives are:

All the best articles websites mentioned above are ideal for you to look for a freelance writer job for beginners!

How Do I Start Freelance Writing If I Have No Experience?  

If you don’t have writing experience, some pro tips to get online writing jobs are: 

• Decide on the type of writing you want to offer.
• Create writing samples 
• Create a portfolio and ask for recommendations.
• Create a professional profile on LinkedIn . 
• Take writing courses to upskill and learn the best tactics to attract clients. 

What Types Of Freelance Writing Jobs Are There?

There are different types of freelance writing jobs, some examples are:

• Blog writer
• Email writer
• Copywriters
•  Sales page writer
•  Ghostwriter
•  E-book writer
• Social media content creation
•  Article writing
•  SEO writing

If you want to find out the most profitable types of freelance writing niches, check out my article: 21 Most Profitable Freelance Writing Niches (In 2021)

What Are The Best Freelance Writing Websites That Don’t Charge A Subscription? 

The best freelance writing sites for beginners that don’t charge a subscription are:

How Do I Get Clients To Visit My Site And Place Orders?

To attract clients to your freelance writer website one of the most important things to master is:

• Content promotion 
• Having client testimonials on your site
• A clear package of services 

Note: If you are eager to start your freelance writing career or are looking to find a freelance job as a beginner check out my masterclasses: 

• How To Become A Freelance Writer (In 60 Days)
• Finding Freelance Jobs (For Beginners)

Plus, you will get FREE bonuses such as pitch templates and pro tips to land jobs in Upwork from an expert!

What Do You Charge?

Sometimes when you go on freelance writing websites and apply for freelance writing jobs, the client will ask you ‘ what is your rate?’

When I was a freelance writing beginner, I didn’t know what to charge, but I took that online writing course and it guided me on what the going rate was.

The writing course recommends at last USD0.10 per word but at the beginning, I think I charged USD0.05 per word and increased it with every new client and as I became more confident.

Where Can I Practice Freelance Writing?

• Copyblogger
• Become A Writer Today
• Online Courses

1. Copyblogger

Copyblogger is a content writing site for beginners that has been educating individuals on how to produce top-notch written content since January 2006. 

Copyblogger began as a straightforward one-man blog. It grew into a highly lucrative business with 8 figures in yearly sales because of the helpful material, clever copywriting, and leading services.

If you need help figuring out where to start, look into their articles feature and check their useful resources such as the ones below:

• How to Start Writing: Zap Your Reaction to Criticism and Grow from ‘Good Enough’
• Writing Voice 101: Add Color and Richness … Without Making Us Want to Barf
• 3 Critical Tips for Beginner Writers Who Don’t Have an Audience Yet

2. Become A Writer Today

This site has got everything covered when it comes to article writing for beginners.

From courses to writing apps, writing tips, and even writing jobs, Become A Writer Today helps budding writers set the tone for their writing careers. 

3. Online Courses

Online classes are another excellent technique to educate yourself on how to write better content. You can select from a wide variety of content writing courses that are offered online. 

Regardless of where you are at with your writing journey, there is something for everyone. 

Websites like Udemy offers a ton of useful guide on how to start writing, the trick and trips to keep in mind, and mistakes to avoid when writing. Start with these videos to ease your way into becoming a better writer. 

• Writing With Confidence: Writing Beginner To Writing Pro
• Writing With Flair: How To Become An Exceptional Writer
• Ninja Writing: The Four Levels Of Writing Mastery

Can I Make 1000 A Month Freelance Writing?

Yes, you can make $1000 a month with online article writing. 

There is a tonne of get-rich-quick programs on the internet that claim it’s simple to earn hundreds of thousands of dollars a year writing.

Despite the fact that a small number of extremely wealthy writers exist, what the internet fails to show is the work it takes to earn such an amount. A decent starting point that is both practical and doable is $1000 per month.

Earning $1000 per month demonstrates that you have gained significant proficiency in writing. 

Query Hunter

How To Write Articles For Beginners?

Master good research skills, focus on the content, have content ideas at hand, get rid of distractions.

Let’s face it, it is difficult to write an article that is both intriguing and interesting. Regardless of how some writers may portray it, to make a piece of article stand out, extensive research is required.

Extensive research requires time and effort. 

There are numerous techniques to carry out research for articles. While some writers prefer to conduct their own research, others use keywords to discover information online. 

Choosing whether to write a long-form piece or a series of shorter postings is the first step in guaranteeing that your article is thoroughly researched.

Longform articles demand more time researching and assembling information into a gripping story with a solid ending that is both educational and enjoyable.

However, bear in mind that it is simple to get caught up in the trap of doing too much research instead of typing the words out to form the article.

One of the things you could do during your research is to try and be as detailed as you can in your search keywords if you’re seeking data or statistics to back up your claim.

This way, you already have a goal for the type of content you would like to produce. 

The process of writing articles for search engines like Google’s first page is known as SEO writing. This is accomplished by conducting keyword research on key terms and producing optimized content that addresses the user’s purpose.

For example, say you are searching on how to solo travel in Bangkok , the articles that pop up on the first page are articles that have been optimized to give you the exact results you are looking for. 

You may ask – Aisha, why is it important for me to write content that appears on the first page?

According to a study , when an article is on the first page of a search engine, it has a much higher chance of being clicked and read compared to articles that are not

More than 28% of users who conduct searches click on the first link on the first page. The percentages decrease after that first outcome for each placement on the page.

Writing for SEO is crucial since it is an advertising strategy that works as long as your website does. Having an article that is on the first page means more views, and more views mean more advertising revenue. 

As a freelancer, it is your job to deliver content that will bring in revenue to your clients. By having sufficient SEO knowledge, you can help them boost their ranking and increase their revenue.

You can browse through as many online writing sites as you want, but if there is one skill that can help you stand out amongst other writers, it is SEO knowledge. Here are some resources to help you get started.

• SEO Success For Beginners

It is a typical assumption that excellent grammar and punctuation equate to outstanding writing. In actuality, the content is what matters most in good writing.

All the jobs posted on these article writing websites have one thing in common, it is to find a writer who can produce content that is interesting, entertaining, and educational.

You could get sidetracked from the writing process if you’re always looking for errors, and your thoughts might grow stagnant as a result.

You will also note that it is challenging to put out fresh content when your full attention is constantly on finding errors.

The appearance of writer’s block is unpredictable and let me tell you that it can be the most frustrating feeling in the world especially if you have deadlines to catch!

Keeping a list of topics for prospective news pieces or short articles that could be developed into long-form content is important for this reason. Write down ideas as soon as you have them in a notebook or Google Doc. 

This way, once you have landed a job from any one of the freelance writing websites that pay , you can whip up content ideas to impress your client!

This may be a no-brainer but get rid of the distractions.

You did not spend your precious time scrolling through multiple content writing sites and landing a job only to fail at producing the articles because you are distracted. 

Many states that multitasking helps them operate more effectively.  However, when writing a whole piece of article in a short period of time, you will need to be laser-focused to produce the best outcome.

Turn off the television and notifications of any social media account before you write your first line so that you can concentrate completely on producing the piece. I personally like the Pomodoro technique in staying focused, perhaps you can give that a shot too.

How Do You Increase Your Rate?

Want to increase your rate as a freelance writer?  Check the following tips:

1. Niche Down 

To get the best paying freelance writing jobs, the best tactic is to upskill and niche down. For example, you can be an expert in a type of writing such as email writing or in a topic like SAAS.

By being an expert you will know the ins and outs of a topic. 

So, your writing will be of better quality which your audience and clients will immediately notice and therefore be more valuable!

2. Go The Extra Mile!

By going the extra mile, your client will notice that you care for their business and value their success, this will make you a valuable asset for them and keep coming back for your writing services.

3. Writing Testimonials 

Showing your writing clients testimonials on your website will increase your credibility and authority, this helps you demand a higher paying rate because clients see you are trustworthy. 

4. Offer Free Photos 

Speaking from personal experience, you can increase your rate by mentioning that you can include some free photos to accommodate the article.

You can source FREE images from these websites:

• Gratisography
• Offer SEO optimized articles

5. Offer SEO Services 

Also, I recently learned about SEO, Search Engine Optimization.

I read some free articles and bought a book on it and straight away my rate increased when I went on freelance writing websites and said:

‘I can offer SEO optimized articles.’

This just means I can use a free keyword tool (Ubersuggest) to find good keywords and place them in the appropriate places in the article.

If you are looking for a list of best SEO practices to include in your article, get in touch and I will send it to you.

I use it every time I write SEO optimized articles for a client.

If you found this article useful, save it and pin it!

Related post:

• Freelance Writing For Beginners: 8 Steps To Land Your First Job In 2021
• How To Sell Short Stories For Money
• How to Become a Well-Paid Freelance Writer
• How to Become a Freelance Writer with No Experience
• 17 Places Hiring Freelance Writers Who are Beginners
• 21 Most Profitable Writing Niches
• Best Freelance Jobs for Beginners: All You Need To Know

21 Best Freelance Writing Websites To Get Paid For Beginners

Similar Posts

Upwork Vs Freelancer : Which Platform Is Best?[2023]

When you’re trying to choose between Upwork vs Freelancer as a platform of choice, there might be many factors pulling you towards each side.  You might be more familiar with one site or the other in your freelancing journey, whether it’s Upwork or Freelancer.  But one thing’s for sure is that both Upwork and Freelancer…

Upwork Vs Fiverr : What’s Best For Biz Owners & Freelancers? [2023] 

You’ve probably landed here because you’ve searched ‘Upwork vs Fiverr’ and you’re curious as to which platform is better for you as a freelancer and as an employer. Both platforms are well-established marketplaces for both freelancers and employers, and given their popularity, both definitely have their pros. But what about their cons and what are…

Upwork Fees : How To Reduce Upwork Fees By 10%?

Are you one of those who absolutely adores Upwork for the clients and work but hate the Upwork fees? We’re in the same boat! Upwork is an amazing platform that has helped me and many of those in my community find freelance jobs, but one of the downsides is that Upwork fees for freelancers aren’t…

How To Become A Freelance Copywriter [ + Boost Your Writing Income!]

Do you want to know how to become a freelance copywriter even without any experience or a portfolio? There has been an increasing number of people asking me how to become a freelance copywriter in private messages and emails, so I decided to come up with a blog post detailing the exact process, plus tips!…

Upwork vs Toptal: Which Is Best For Freelancers? (2023 Guide)

Upwork vs Toptal, the battle of the best freelancing marketplace continues through multiple debates and reviews from both freelancers and businesses alike.  But which one is right for you?  I know you are trying to decide which platform has the best clients, which takes the fees, and which platforms are the ones where you are…

Upwork Test Answers: Ace The Test With Flying Colours! (2023)

Do you want to know the Upwork test answers? This article has got you covered on Upwork readiness test answers. So, you have just joined Upwork and you are looking to ace the test so that you can move on to securing clients for your freelance gig.  Now, do not start getting nervous thinking you…

Become a Bestseller

Follow our 5-step publishing path.

Fundamentals of Fiction & Story

Bring your story to life with a proven plan.

Market Your Book

Learn how to sell more copies.

Edit Your Book

Get professional editing support.

Author Advantage Accelerator Nonfiction

Grow your business, authority, and income.

Author Advantage Accelerator Fiction

Become a full-time fiction author.

Author Accelerator Elite

Take the fast-track to publishing success.

Take the Quiz

Let us pair you with the right fit.

Free Copy of Published.

Book title generator, nonfiction outline template, writing software quiz, book royalties calculator.

Learn how to write your book

Learn how to edit your book

Learn how to self-publish your book

Learn how to sell more books

Learn how to grow your business

Learn about self-help books

Learn about nonfiction writing

Learn about fiction writing

How to Get An ISBN Number

A Beginner’s Guide to Self-Publishing

How Much Do Self-Published Authors Make on Amazon?

Book Template: 9 Free Layouts

How to Write a Book in 12 Steps

The 15 Best Book Writing Software Tools

The 25 Best Writing Websites for Authors in 2024

POSTED ON Feb 12, 2024

Written by Linda Cartwright

There are many writing websites that are useful hubs of information for aspiring authors of all types and genres.

Apart from the desire to become an author and a bit of determination, what makes a successful writer? According to veterans of the industry, it’s lots of reading, writing, and a supportive community . 

The writing websites in this blog can provide you with all three. So, without further ado and in no particular order, let me introduce these top book writing websites to learn more about the craft, stay up-to-date with industry news, and find fellow writers in your network.

The blog on the best writing websites will cover:

The 25 best writing websites.

Here are our favorite writing websites that can help you perfect your craft:

1. selfpublishing.com

What kind of writing website would we be if we didn't include ourselves in this list of writing websites?

At selfpublishing.com , we are proud of our educational blog and are always creating new content to help writers turn their dream of publishing a book into reality.

If you're looking to improve your writing skills, learn how to self-publish a book , market a book , or even create your own author website – this is the ideal place to learn.

2. Self-Publishing School

Self-Publishing School is the leading educational self-publishing company . It's our second choice for the best writing websites to keep on your radar.

If you're interested in learning all about Amazon self-publishing to how to create an online course to build your author brand, Self-Publishing School produces informational articles, videos, and podcast content on a variety of topics.

In addition, there are several author education programs offered, depending on what your goals look like.

3. Self-Publishing Advice

Self-Publishing Advice is a watchdog community organized by the Alliance of Independent Authors. It aims to protect self-publishing writers from untrustworthy publishers. It also reviews other writing websites (mostly in the independent and self-publishing services spaces).

The site has a collection of reviews on various publishers, with rating scores ranging from “excellent” to “watchdog advisory”. The authors themselves report dishonest publishers and regularly update their base. However, the site’s usefulness isn’t restricted to that. 

There is also a blog with loads of advice on self-publishing (obviously!), audiobook creation, inspiration, and everything of interest to an indie author.

4. The Book Designer

Joel Friedlander is a graphic designer with an extensive background in book design and advertising. He has created The Book Designer , which is a treasure trove of articles on book marketing, self-publishing, and, of course, book design (including book covers , typography basics, and text layout).

His series “eBook Cover Design Awards” is particularly instructive, since every nominated book cover is dissected with respect to genre aesthetics, intended audience, and all the minute details that can make a difference between a bestseller and an obscure title no one notices.

Even if you don’t create covers yourself, it’s always good to know what to look for when you outsource the task to a designer, which is what makes this one of the best writing websites.

Apart from valuable advice, Friedlander shares free book cover templates, a book launch toolkit, and a media kit for authors to optimize the marketing of your book.

5. Paper Help

Typos are the worst. I have yet to meet a writer who could be 100 percent sure their text was absolutely typo-free, even after rounds of editing. Because it never is.

Authors are notorious for their typo blindness because by the third draft, they know the text like the back of their hand and familiarization handicaps your ability to pick out mistakes.

That’s why we need editors – or at least editing services that will comb through the text for misspelled words and other pesky oopsies. 

Paper Help is a service that specializes in writing and editing of all sorts of papers. If you need a second pair of eyes to go through your manuscript before its debut, it can be a nice low-cost compromise between a literary editor and doing it yourself, which has earned it a spot on our list of the best writing websites.

6. Grammar Girl

Of course, to make your editing less of a struggle, it’s better to make fewer mistakes in the first place. That’s why one has to have go-to writing websites for all things grammar. Mignon Fogarty’s blog is just the right sort of resource for that. 

Grammar Girl is a section on the Quick and Dirty Tips portal devoted to everything that a writer needs to know about spelling and grammar.

You can read your daily dose of nicely summed-up linguistic wisdom and build your competency bit by bit – and have lots of fun in the process.

7. AutoCrit

Okay, with grammar off the table, you still need to edit your drafts with regard to consistency, adverbs, repetition, readability, useless filler words, etc. Here is where AutoCrit comes in.

This is not so much a book writing website, but a word-processing tool with editing features and guidance based on real-world publishing standards.

AutoCrit makes our list of writing websites because it analyzes your text and gives recommendations on how to improve it. For example, it can flag poor dialogue , misuse of adverbs, or relying on clichés. This tool has subscription plans with more robust professional features, but they also offer a free option with essentials that every author needs. 

Plus, the site has a collection of articles with tips about the craft and the business of writing, from adding depth to your characters to DIY proofreading techniques.

8. Janice Hardy’s Fiction University

Janice Hardy, a teen fantasy novelist, is the founder of Fiction University . With the help of fellow writers and guest contributors, she has amassed more than 2,500 articles on fiction writing. They deal with every stage of penning a novel – from brainstorming ideas and developing a story to self-publishing your finished opus.

Starting soon the creators of the website plan to organize workshops where they will introduce some practice to go with the theory. Still, the scope of the material on the website is impressive as is, making it one of the best writing websites.

Fiction University is comprehensively organized by relevant topics, making it a true writing encyclopedia and a go-to place for anyone who starts their writing career or simply wishes to improve their skills.

9. 750 Words

You know what makes you a better writer? More writing. 750 Words is a simple website for writers that has just one goal – helping you to build a good habit of writing every day. 

You have probably heard about the technique called “morning pages”. Morning pages are three pages of text (or 750 words) that you write, preferably in the morning to get everything distracting out of your head and shift focus on putting thoughts into words.

With gamification devices like badges and competitiveness (via anonymous statistics), 750 Words encourages you to stick to a schedule and write those pages every day. It’s minimalistic and private – no one will see your writing but you.

10. Build Book Buzz

Marketing strategy is often overlooked by self-publishing authors. Too bad, even the best books don’t sell themselves.

This website for writers has some tips on how to prepare the launch and how to promote a book when it’s already out and about. The blog section is full of detailed how-to guides on working with beta readers, coming up with promotion strategy, boosting sales via various social media channels, partnering up with influencers, and more.

Build Book Buzz is one of the best writing websites with just the right ratio of figures and statistics vs. insider tips on how to build an online presence.

11. Language is a Virus

With writing games and exercises galore, Language is a Virus makes a perfect playground for word enthusiasts. It never fails to spark imagination and get your creative juices flowing.

From the prompt of the day greeting you on the homepage, to avant-garde techniques of Jack Kerouac and Salvador Dali, this is one of those writing websites that is truly committed to getting you writing.

Poem visualization, surrealistic word definitions, generating reverse poetry from your text, or adding your line to a never-ending story by thousands of other writers – not one bizarrely mesmerizing activity here will leave you indifferent.

So next time you need a little writer's block help , don’t waste your time and head here straight away.

12. Six-Words Memoirs

Six-Word Memoirs is a charming little project with a big goal. It aims to inspire the participants to get to the essence of who they are and what matters most. To do that, they have to answer some pretty existential questions in six words – no more, no less.

This can be quite a challenge even for experienced writers, which means it's a great writing tool to get down to the basics. Sci-fi and fantasy stories in six words, seismic shifts in six words, your personal paradise in six words – a nice exercise in eloquence and one of the best writer’s block remedies I’ve seen. 

13. The Writing Cooperative

The Writing Cooperative is a diverse resource for writers by writers. A piece of advice on any situation under the sun from writer’s block to existential crisis and burnout. Everything is specifically tailored for a fellow writer like yourself, so this is a true hub for diverse topics.

Anyone with something to say can submit a post and the community is quite diverse and supportive. There are also some secrets of the craft shared here, from where it is best to share your writing to why digression can sometimes be a boon for your story. These tips make The Writing Cooperative one of the best writing websites.

14. The Write Life

At first glance, The Write Life seems geared more towards bloggers and freelancers, yet it has much to offer to anyone whose livelihood depends on their writing talent. How to come up with great titles, how to find a critic to improve your text, how to self-publish your book, how to market it, how to hire a freelance editor , how to prevent burnout, and other secrets of the craft.

In the tools section, there are eBooks and courses for writing professionals as well as some handy tools, such as editing apps, invoicing software, marketplaces, and communities for freelance writers.

15. Helping Writers Become Authors

For those of you who have long been creating content for a living but never dipped your toes into long-form prose, Helping Writers Become Authors is a perfect boot camp.

Award-winning author K.M. Weiland tells how to create a compelling character with a story arc, what mistakes authors most often make, how to make readers love every page of your novel, and why even movies falling short of our expectations is always a bad writing problem.

If for some reason blog is not your preferred format, there are instructional eBooks, vlogs, and a podcast.

16. Association of Ghostwriters

If you want to find a ghostwriter or are just curious to know more about this particular specialization, Association of Ghostwriters has answers to your questions. Although it has paid membership plans, lots of valuable information is free for grabs, making it one of the best writing websites.

How to write a memoir , what to do when your work on a big project slows down, and why ghostwriting might be an intermediate step between freelancing and getting a good publishing deal on your own book. If you want to learn how to publish a book traditionally, Association of Ghostwriters has you covered. 

17. NaNoWriMo

NaNoWriMo (National Novel-Writing Month) is an epic creative writing event where participants work towards writing a 50,000-word novel in the month of November. Although professional writers are ambiguous about this marathon, it can work for some authors who understand how speed drafts fit into the entire writing process.

The NaNoWriMo website was created especially for the event. Here you can track your progress, set milestones, and get pep talks and support from other writers in an ever-growing community. There are online and offline events that help you finish your novel.

Whether you are a seasoned writer or an enthusiastic beginner, NaNoWriMo is one of the best writing websites, with inspirational posts, a company of fellow contestants, tips, tools, resources, and encouragement. Just remember, if your word count is lower and you didn’t get that badge – you are still a writer. It’s only a game!

18. Scribophile

Every writer needs feedback to improve, and it’s always better when this feedback is detailed, informed, and comes from someone who knows what they are talking about.

Better still, if you get this feedback before you publish your work and start receiving bad reviews from underwhelmed readers. (That’s what beta-readers and writing workshops are for.)

At Scribophile , you will find a supportive community of writers like yourself. Here, they are willing to give you feedback to improve your text with their critique instead of tearing you down.

If you are still tentative, there are writing tutorials and publishing tips available without even signing in.

Do clichés and passive voice actually have a place in your prose?

How to start writing poetry if you never had done it before?

Come and have a look at one of the best writing websites.

19. Self-Publishing Formula

Mark Dawson is an author who makes a living by self-publishing . On Self-Publishing Formula , he shares his journey with other writers who want to take this path.

Blog posts with valuable tips, resources, and guides are available for everyone and there are free, paid, or limited-access courses you can subscribe to.

Mark also co-hosts weekly free podcasts with James Blatch where they interview top-selling indie authors, successful debutants from traditional publishing , and industry insiders to shed light on the process of publishing and promoting a book independently.

20. Almost An Author

Almost An Author provides a wealth of resources for writers at various stages of their careers. It has new content every day, from writing tips and craft advice to publishing insights and author interviews. You can get genre-specific advice or emotional support to get you through your publishing journey.

21. Creativity Portal

As the name suggests, Creativity Portal is a treasure trove of inspiration and resources for writers looking to tap into their creativity. It offers writing prompts, exercises, and articles on topics like mindfulness and overcoming creative blocks, making it an invaluable resource for writers and one of the best writing websites around.

22. Writer's Digest

Writer's Digest might just have more resources than any of the other writing websites on this list. It's like an encyclopedia of knowledge for writers, after all, the magazine has been around for almost a century! You'll discover a plethora of articles, events, competitions, webinars, templates, tutorials, and various other resources neatly organized by genre and vocation.

23. Insecure Writer's Support Group

Writing can be a solitary and often daunting endeavor, and the Insecure Writer's Support Group aims to provide a supportive community for writers grappling with self-doubt and insecurity.

Through blog posts, forums, and online events, members of the group can connect with fellow writers, share their experiences, and receive encouragement and advice, creating a nurturing environment for writers to grow and thrive.

24. LitReactor

With its focus on the craft and business of writing, LitReactor offers a range of courses, workshops, and articles designed to help writers hone their skills and navigate the publishing industry. Whether you're looking to improve your writing craft, learn about the latest trends in publishing, or connect with other writers, LitReactor provides a valuable platform for writers at all levels.

25. Now Novel

Now Novel is a comprehensive platform that helps writers plan, outline, and write their novels. With tools like step-by-step writing courses, personalized feedback from experienced coaches, and a supportive community of fellow writers, Now Novel provides the structure and guidance that writers need to turn their ideas into finished manuscripts.

Make use of the best websites for writers

So there you have it! Those are 25 writing websites that you should absolutely be following.

Of course, in the sea of online blogs, there are plenty of other valuable writing websites to follow. We just had to choose our favorites.

Related posts

Business, Writing

You Don’t Need to Hire a Business Book Ghostwriter – Here’s Why

Reviews, Uncategorized

Alliance Of Independent Authors Review

A 100% honest hawes and jenkins review.

Type words, put them on the internet.

Write an essay without signing up, or sign up now.

View your posts

Welcome back to the internet

The internet is for connecting with people. Write.as helps you reach them no matter where they live online.

Friends and family can read your words without creating yet another account online. They can read in their browser, via email or RSS, on their e-reader, and on federated platforms like Mastodon.

Starting a newsletter →

Enabling eBook downloads →

Joining the fediverse →

Read this blog →

Focus on your words

Write.as is a pared-down blogging platform — a distraction-free place for you to write, and a clean space for your audience to read.

Instead of content management, we focus on writing. You'll see our editor screen first, every time you open the app. You can write in Markdown or switch to our friendly Rich Text editor. Your work is automatically saved to your browser as you write.

Try it out →

Made for writing

Not complex websites, not e-commerce, not content man­age­ment. Just writing.

Easy publishing

Press "Pub­lish" to send your words to the web, social me­dia, and sub­scri­bers.

You'll never see ads while you're focused on your work, and neither will your readers.

Stay independent

Build a home for your writing, outside of walled gardens and locked-down platforms.

Add your domain name to keep control of your web presence. Make it your own with a custom theme. Then, know you're never stuck here — you can always export your work, or self-host your site with WriteFreely , the open source software that powers Write.as.

Free your thoughts

Built entirely around privacy , we don't track you or gather excessive data, so you can write exactly what you feel.

Create a professional blog next to one written under a pen name. Publicize your work, or keep it quiet. Write anonymously , or create as many identities as you like. On Write.as, you have full control over who knows what about you.

Build a home for your writing

Write.as helps you create a blog, journal, or news­letter that readers will love to read. Create a home for your words, then fill it with writing — by yourself or with others.

$6 per month, billed yearly

For prolific writers. Cus­tomize, build a read­er­ship, and publish however you like.

• Up to three blogs on write.as or your own domain
• ActivityPub integration
• Micropayments
• Unlimited posts
• Unlimited social cross-posts
• Password-protected blogs
• Private blogs
• Publish to Read Write.as
• Rich text editing
• Email subscriptions
• Photo hosting
• Pinned pages
• Full design customization
• Command-line publishing
• Email publishing
• Team support

Start free 14-day trial

Subscribe monthly, yearly, or every five years .

$25 per month, billed yearly

For serious publishers. Gather your team and manage content with our op­ti­mized work­flow.

• Everything in Pro
• One shared blog
• Asynchronous collaborative editing
• Team blog access
• Team photo hosting
• Five team members
• Post signatures
• E-book export
• Priority support

Start free 30-day trial

Subscribe monthly or yearly.

Learn more about us

Write.as is part of Musing Studio , a suite of simple tools for creating and sharing on the open web. You can also gather writing submissions with Submit.as , share photos with Snap.as , and socialize with Remark.as .

Read about our company and our principles , and subscribe to our blog .

Your private 100% customizable online journal.

Loved by over 2 million journalers around the world..

• Unlimited entries

Unlike other journaling platforms, you can write as much and as often as you like, all for free.

• Mobile apps

You can write in your journal when not at your computer with our iOS and Android apps.

Saves as you go

Never worry about losing your work — Penzu saves as you type at your computer or on the go.

Custom journals

Choose different covers, backgrounds, fonts and more for each of your journals and entries.

Set daily, weekly or custom reminders to ensure that you never forget to write in your journal.

So much more...

Enjoy unlimited devices, encryption, tagging, search, prompts, journal and entry locking, entry sharing and more.

Built for journaling

Penzu was built specifically for recording your daily life in a reflective journal , keeping track of milestones in a food diary or pregnancy journal , or even recording your dreams in a dream journal — or just write freely.

With you at all times, home or away

Unlike other platforms, Penzu works well on every device. You can write in any web browser or use our custom built apps for iOS and Android.

Privacy is our #1 concern

Even when carefully kept, paper journals can be read by anyone who happens upon them. Penzu keeps your journals safe with double password protection and military strength encryption so you can rest easy knowing that your entries are secure in the Penzu Vault.

Loved by millions of people around the world

@anafricandiva

I really love the emails Penzu sends me about my past journal entries. It's so good to see where I was then and where I am now.

Journaling is life-saving.

@thisismeihere

On rainy days, Headspace + Penzu are the best combo to tap back into that feeling wherever you are.

@sunoppositemoon

Going to get a work journal this week because I'm really so tired of wondering what happened with my day. I keep trying apps I don't like, but just going to invest in Penzu because I like it the best.

Start your journey today

Journaling is a proven way to completely change your life, especially when you stick with it over time. Each time you write you'll get unparalleled clarity and life perspective.

• 1. Start writing All you have to do is start. Take 5 minutes to write in your journal about how you're feeling or reflect on the day.
• 2. Keep it going The more you write the easier it will be. Set reminders to keep a regular daily, weekly, or monthly cadence.
• 3. Reflect and grow Links to your entries will be sent to you in the future so you can get see through clear window into the past.

Choose your plan

Penzu is always free but our Pro plans offer more flexibility, customization, and features to maximize your journaling experience.

• Basic journal covers and fonts
• Simple writing reminders
• Encryption locking
• Custom journal covers, fonts & colors
• Entry tagging
• Writing prompts
• Write via email (Penzu Post)
• Premium handwritten fonts
• Fullscreen zen-mode
• Versions & entry recovery
• Premium support
• Military grade encryption locking

Start writing today and change your life

People who keep a journal report being happier and healthier. Read more about the benefits of journaling .

Diary and Journal Writing Resources

Journaling basics.

• What is a Journal?
• What is a Journal Entry?
• Benefits of Journaling
• Journal Types
• How to Write a Journal
• Journal Examples
• Journal Prompts

Types of Journals

• Bible Journal
• Dream Journal
• Prayer Journal
• Pregnancy Journal
• Reflective Journal
• Travel Journal
• 5 Year Journal
• Gratitude Journal

Diary Basics

• What is a Diary?
• What is a Diary Entry?
• How to Write Diary
• Diary Types
• Diary Software
• Diary Templates
• Digital Diaries

Types of Diaries

• Academic Diary
• Health Diary
• School Diary
• Secret Diary
• Wedding Diary

• Share full article

For more audio journalism and storytelling, download New York Times Audio , a new iOS app available for news subscribers.

The Evolving Danger of the New Bird Flu

An unusual outbreak of the disease has spread to dairy herds in multiple u.s. states..

This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and email [email protected] with any questions.

From “The New York Times,” I’m Sabrina Tavernise, and this is “The Daily.”

[MUSIC PLAYING]

The outbreak of bird flu that is tearing through the nation’s poultry farms is the worst in US history. But scientists say it’s now starting to spread into places and species it’s never been before.

Today, my colleague, Emily Anthes, explains.

It’s Monday, April 22.

Emily, welcome back to the show.

Thanks for having me. Happy to be here.

So, Emily, we’ve been talking here on “The Daily” about prices of things and how they’ve gotten so high, mostly in the context of inflation episodes. And one of the items that keeps coming up is eggs. Egg prices were through the roof last year, and we learned it was related to this. Avian flu has been surging in the United States. You’ve been covering this. Tell us what’s happening.

Yes, so I have been covering this virus for the last few years. And the bird flu is absolutely tearing through poultry flocks, and that is affecting egg prices. That’s a concern for everyone, for me and for my family. But when it comes to scientists, egg prices are pretty low on their list of concerns. Because they see this bird flu virus behaving differently than previous versions have. And they’re getting nervous, in particular, about the fact that this virus is reaching places and species where it’s never been before.

OK, so bird flu, though, isn’t new. I mean I remember hearing about cases in Asia in the ‘90s. Remind us how it began.

Bird flu refers to a bunch of different viruses that are adapted to spread best in birds. Wild water birds, in particular, are known for carrying these viruses. And flu viruses are famous for also being shapeshifters. So they’re constantly swapping genes around and evolving into new strains. And as you mentioned back in the ‘90s, a new version of bird flu, a virus known as H5N1, emerged in Asia. And it has been spreading on and off around the world since then, causing periodic outbreaks.

And how are these outbreaks caused?

So wild birds are the reservoir for the virus, which means they carry it in their bodies with them around the world as they fly and travel and migrate. And most of the time, these wild birds, like ducks and geese, don’t even get very sick from this virus. But they shed it. So as they’re traveling over a poultry farm maybe, if they happen to go to the bathroom in a pond that the chickens on the farm are using or eat some of the feed that chickens on the farm are eating, they can leave the virus behind.

And the virus can get into chickens. In some cases, it causes mild illness. It’s what’s known as low pathogenic avian influenza. But sometimes the virus mutates and evolves, and it can become extremely contagious and extremely fatal in poultry.

OK, so the virus comes through wild birds, but gets into farms like this, as you’re describing. How have farms traditionally handled outbreaks, when they do happen?

Well, because this threat isn’t new, there is a pretty well-established playbook for containing outbreaks. It’s sometimes known as stamping out. And brutally, what it means is killing the birds. So the virus is so deadly in this highly pathogenic form that it’s sort of destined to kill all the birds on a farm anyway once it gets in. So the response has traditionally been to proactively depopulate or cull all the birds, so it doesn’t have a chance to spread.

So that’s pretty costly for farmers.

It is. Although the US has a program where it will reimburse farmers for their losses. And the way these reimbursements work is they will reimburse farmers only for the birds that are proactively culled, and not for those who die naturally from the virus. And the thinking behind that is it’s a way to incentivize farmers to report outbreaks early.

So, OK, lots of chickens are killed in a way to manage these outbreaks. So we know how to deal with them. But what about now? Tell me about this new strain.

So this new version of the virus, it emerged in 2020.

After the deadly outbreak of the novel coronavirus, authorities have now confirmed an outbreak of the H5N1 strain of influenza, a kind of bird flu.

And pretty quickly it became clear that a couple things set it apart.

A bald eagle found dead at Carvins Cove has tested positive for the highly contagious bird flu.

This virus, for whatever reason, seemed very good at infecting all sorts of wild birds that we don’t normally associate with bird flu.

[BIRD CRYING]

He was kind of stepping, and then falling over, and using its wing to right itself.

Things like eagles and condors and pelicans.

We just lost a parliament of owls in Minneapolis.

Yeah, a couple of high profile nests.

And also in the past, wild birds have not traditionally gotten very sick from this virus. And this version of the virus not only spread widely through the wild bird population, but it proved to be devastating.

The washing up along the East Coast of the country from Scotland down to Suffolk.

We were hearing about mass die-offs of seabirds in Europe by the hundreds and the thousands.

And the bodies of the dead dot the island wherever you look.

Wow. OK. So then as we know, this strain, like previous ones, makes its way from wild animals to farmed animals, namely to chickens. But it’s even more deadly.

Absolutely. And in fact, it has already caused the worst bird flu outbreak in US history. So more than 90 million birds in the US have died as a result of this virus.

90 million birds.

Yes, and I should be clear that represents two things. So some of those birds are birds who naturally got infected and died from the virus. But the vast majority of them are birds that were proactively culled. What it adds up to is, is 90 million farmed birds in the US have died since this virus emerged. And it’s not just a chicken problem. Another thing that has been weird about this virus is it has jumped into other kinds of farms. It is the first time we’ve seen a bird flu virus jump into US livestock.

And it’s now been reported on a number of dairy farms across eight US states. And that’s just something that’s totally unprecedented.

So it’s showing up at Dairy farms now. You’re saying that bird flu has now spread to cows. How did that happen?

So we don’t know exactly how cows were first infected, but most scientists’ best guess is that maybe an infected wild bird that was migrating shed the virus into some cattle feed or a pasture or a pond, and cattle picked it up. The good news is they don’t seem to get nearly as sick as chickens do. They are generally making full recoveries on their own in a couple of weeks.

OK, so no mass culling of cows?

No, that doesn’t seem to be necessary at this point. But the bad news is that it’s starting to look like we’re seeing this virus spread from cow to cow. We don’t know exactly how that’s happening yet. But anytime you see cow-to-cow or mammal-to-mammal transmission, that’s a big concern.

And why is that exactly?

Well, there are a bunch of reasons. First, it could allow the outbreak to get much bigger, much faster, which might increase the risk to the food supply. And we might also expect it to increase the risk to farm workers, people who might be in contact with these sick cows.

Right now, the likelihood that a farmer who gets this virus passes it on is pretty low. But any time you see mammal-to-mammal transmission, it increases the chance that the virus will adapt and possibly, maybe one day get good at spreading between humans. To be clear, that’s not something that there’s any evidence happening in cows right now. But the fact that there’s any cow-to-cow transmission happening at all is enough to have scientists a bit concerned.

And then if we think more expansively beyond what’s happening on farms, there’s another big danger lurking out there. And that’s what happens when this virus gets into wild animals, vast populations that we can’t control.

We’ll be right back.

So, Emily, you said that another threat was the threat of flu in wild animal populations. Clearly, of course, it’s already in wild birds. Where else has it gone?

Well, the reason it’s become such a threat is because of how widespread it’s become in wild birds. So they keep reintroducing it to wild animal populations pretty much anywhere they go. So we’ve seen the virus repeatedly pop up in all sorts of animals that you might figure would eat a wild bird, so foxes, bobcats, bears. We actually saw it in a polar bear, raccoons. So a lot of carnivores and scavengers.

The thinking is that these animals might stumble across a sick or dead bird, eat it, and contract the virus that way. But we’re also seeing it show up in some more surprising places, too. We’ve seen the virus in a bottle-nosed dolphin, of all places.

And most devastatingly, we’ve seen enormous outbreaks in other sorts of marine mammals, especially sea lions and seals.

So elephant seals, in particular in South America, were just devastated by this virus last fall. My colleague Apoorva Mandavilli and I were talking to some scientists in South America who described to us what they called a scene from hell, of walking out onto a beach in Argentina that is normally crowded with chaotic, living, breathing, breeding, elephant seals — and the beach just being covered by carcass, after carcass, after carcass.

Mostly carcasses of young newborn pups. The virus seemed to have a mortality rate of 95 percent in these elephant seal pups, and they estimated that it might have killed more than 17,000 of the pups that were born last year. So almost the entire new generation of this colony. These are scientists that have studied these seals for decades. And they said they’ve never seen anything like it before.

And why is it so far reaching, Emily? I mean, what explains these mass die-offs?

There are probably a few explanations. One is just how much virus is out there in the environment being shed by wild birds into water and onto beaches. These are also places that viruses like this haven’t been before. So it’s reaching elephant seals and sea lions in South America that have no prior immunity.

There’s also the fact that these particular species, these sea lions and seals, tend to breed in these huge colonies all crowded together on beaches. And so what that means is if a virus makes its way into the colony, it’s very conducive conditions for it to spread. And scientists think that that’s actually what’s happening now. That it’s not just that all these seals are picking up the virus from individual birds, but that they’re actually passing it to each other.

So basically, this virus is spreading to places it’s never been before, kind of virgin snow territory, where animals just don’t have the immunity against it. And once it gets into a population packed on a beach, say, of elephant seals, it’s just like a knife through butter.

Absolutely. And an even more extreme example of that is what we’re starting to see happen in Antarctica, where there’s never been a bird flu outbreak before until last fall, for the first time, this virus reached the Antarctic mainland. And we are now seeing the virus move through colonies of not only seabirds and seals, but penguin colonies, which have not been exposed to these viruses before.

And it’s too soon to say what the toll will be. But penguins also, of course, are known for breeding in these large colonies.

Probably. don’t have many immune defenses against this virus, and of course, are facing all these other environmental threats. And so there’s a lot of fear that you add on the stress of a bird flu virus, and it could just be a tipping point for penguins.

Emily, at this point, I’m kind of wondering why more people aren’t talking about this. I mean, I didn’t know any of this before having this conversation with you, and it feels pretty worrying.

Well, a lot of experts and scientists are talking about this with rising alarm and in terms that are quite stark. They’re talking about the virus spreading through wild animal populations so quickly and so ferociously that they’re calling it an ecological disaster.

But that’s a disaster that sometimes seems distant from us, both geographically, we’re talking about things that are happening maybe at the tip of Argentina or in Antarctica. And also from our concerns of our everyday lives, what’s happening in Penguins might not seem like it has a lot to do with the price of a carton of eggs at the grocery store. But I think that we should be paying a lot of attention to how this virus is moving through animal populations, how quickly it’s moving through animal populations, and the opportunities that it is giving the virus to evolve into something that poses a much bigger threat to human health.

So the way it’s spreading in wild animals, even in remote places like Antarctica, that’s important to watch, at least in part because there’s a real danger to people here.

So we know that the virus can infect humans, and that generally it’s not very good at spreading between humans. But the concern all along has been that if this virus has more opportunities to spread between mammals, it will get better at spreading between them. And that seems to be what is happening in seals and sea lions. Scientists are already seeing evidence that the virus is adapting as it passes from marine mammal to marine mammal. And that could turn it into a virus that’s also better at spreading between people.

And if somebody walks out onto a beach and touches a dead sea lion, if their dog starts playing with a sea lion carcass, you could imagine that this virus could make its way out of marine mammals and into the human population. And if it’s this mammalian adapted version of the virus that makes its way out, that could be a bigger threat to human health.

So the sheer number of hosts that this disease has, the more opportunity it has to mutate, and the more chance it has to mutate in a way that would actually be dangerous for people.

Yes, and in particular, the more mammalian hosts. So that gives the virus many more opportunities to become a specialist in mammals instead of a specialist in birds, which is what it is right now.

Right. I like that, a specialist in mammals. So what can we do to contain this virus?

Well, scientists are exploring new options. There’s been a lot of discussion about whether we should start vaccinating chickens in the US. The government, USDA labs, have been testing some poultry vaccines. It’s probably scientifically feasible. There are challenges there, both in terms of logistics — just how would you go about vaccinating billions of chickens every year. There are also trade questions. Traditionally, a lot of countries have not been willing to accept poultry products from countries that vaccinate their poultry.

And there’s concern about whether the virus might spread undetected in flocks that are vaccinated. So as we saw with COVID, the vaccine can sometimes stop you from getting sick, but it doesn’t necessarily stop infection. And so countries are worried they might unknowingly import products that are harboring the virus.

And what about among wild animals? I mean, how do you even begin to get your head around that?

Yeah, I mean, thinking about vaccinating wild animals maybe makes vaccinating all the chickens in the US look easy. There has been some discussion of limited vaccination campaigns, but that’s not feasible on a global scale. So unfortunately, the bottom line is there isn’t a good way to stop spread in wild animals. We can try to protect some vulnerable populations, but we’re not going to stop the circulation of this virus.

So, Emily, we started this conversation with a kind of curiosity that “The Daily” had about the price of eggs. And then you explained the bird flu to us. And then somehow we ended up learning about an ecological disaster that’s unfolding all around us, and potentially the source of the next human pandemic. That is pretty scary.

It is scary, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed by it. And I feel like I should take a step back and say none of this is inevitable. None of this is necessarily happening tomorrow. But this is why scientists are concerned and why they think it’s really important to keep a very close eye on what’s happening both on farms and off farms, as this virus spreads through all sorts of animal populations.

One thing that comes up again and again and again in my interviews with people who have been studying bird flu for decades, is how this virus never stops surprising them. And sometimes those are bad surprises, like these elephant seal die-offs, the incursions into dairy cattle. But there are some encouraging signs that have emerged recently. We’re starting to see some early evidence that some of the bird populations that survived early brushes with this virus might be developing some immunity. So that’s something that maybe could help slow the spread of this virus in animal populations.

We just don’t entirely know how this is going to play out. Flu is a very difficult, wily foe. And so that’s one reason scientists are trying to keep such a close, attentive eye on what’s happening.

Emily, thank you.

Thanks for having me.

Here’s what else you should know today.

On this vote, the yeas are 366 and the nays are 58. The bill is passed.

On Saturday, in four back-to-back votes, the House voted resoundingly to approve a long-stalled package of aid to Ukraine, Israel and other American allies, delivering a major victory to President Biden, who made aid to Ukraine one of his top priorities.

On this vote, the yeas are 385, and the no’s are 34 with one answering present. The bill is passed without objection.

The House passed the component parts of the $95 billion package, which included a bill that could result in a nationwide ban of TikTok.

On this vote, the yeas are 311 and the nays are 112. The bill is passed.

Oh, one voting present. I missed it, but thank you.

In a remarkable breach of custom, Democrats stepped in to supply the crucial votes to push the legislation past hard-line Republican opposition and bring it to the floor.

The House will be in order.

The Senate is expected to pass the legislation as early as Tuesday.

Today’s episode was produced by Rikki Novetsky, Nina Feldman, Eric Krupke, and Alex Stern. It was edited by Lisa Chow and Patricia Willens; contains original music by Marion Lozano, Dan Powell, Rowan Niemisto, and Sophia Lanman; and was engineered by Chris Wood. Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly. Special thanks to Andrew Jacobs.

That’s it for “The Daily.” I’m Sabrina Tavernise. See you tomorrow.

• April 24, 2024   •   32:18 Is $60 Billion Enough to Save Ukraine?
• April 23, 2024   •   30:30 A Salacious Conspiracy or Just 34 Pieces of Paper?
• April 22, 2024   •   24:30 The Evolving Danger of the New Bird Flu
• April 19, 2024   •   30:42 The Supreme Court Takes Up Homelessness
• April 18, 2024   •   30:07 The Opening Days of Trump’s First Criminal Trial
• April 17, 2024   •   24:52 Are ‘Forever Chemicals’ a Forever Problem?
• April 16, 2024   •   29:29 A.I.’s Original Sin
• April 15, 2024   •   24:07 Iran’s Unprecedented Attack on Israel
• April 14, 2024   •   46:17 The Sunday Read: ‘What I Saw Working at The National Enquirer During Donald Trump’s Rise’
• April 12, 2024   •   34:23 How One Family Lost $900,000 in a Timeshare Scam
• April 11, 2024   •   28:39 The Staggering Success of Trump’s Trial Delay Tactics
• April 10, 2024   •   22:49 Trump’s Abortion Dilemma

Hosted by Sabrina Tavernise

Produced by Rikki Novetsky ,  Nina Feldman ,  Eric Krupke and Alex Stern

Edited by Lisa Chow and Patricia Willens

Original music by Marion Lozano ,  Dan Powell ,  Rowan Niemisto and Sophia Lanman

Engineered by Chris Wood

Listen and follow The Daily Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

The outbreak of bird flu currently tearing through the nation’s poultry is the worst in U.S. history. Scientists say it is now spreading beyond farms into places and species it has never been before.

Emily Anthes, a science reporter for The Times, explains.

On today’s episode

Emily Anthes , a science reporter for The New York Times.

Background reading

Scientists have faulted the federal response to bird flu outbreaks on dairy farms .

Here’s what to know about the outbreak.

There are a lot of ways to listen to The Daily. Here’s how.

We aim to make transcripts available the next workday after an episode’s publication. You can find them at the top of the page.

Special thanks to Andrew Jacobs .

The Daily is made by Rachel Quester, Lynsea Garrison, Clare Toeniskoetter, Paige Cowett, Michael Simon Johnson, Brad Fisher, Chris Wood, Jessica Cheung, Stella Tan, Alexandra Leigh Young, Lisa Chow, Eric Krupke, Marc Georges, Luke Vander Ploeg, M.J. Davis Lin, Dan Powell, Sydney Harper, Mike Benoist, Liz O. Baylen, Asthaa Chaturvedi, Rachelle Bonja, Diana Nguyen, Marion Lozano, Corey Schreppel, Rob Szypko, Elisheba Ittoop, Mooj Zadie, Patricia Willens, Rowan Niemisto, Jody Becker, Rikki Novetsky, John Ketchum, Nina Feldman, Will Reid, Carlos Prieto, Ben Calhoun, Susan Lee, Lexie Diao, Mary Wilson, Alex Stern, Dan Farrell, Sophia Lanman, Shannon Lin, Diane Wong, Devon Taylor, Alyssa Moxley, Summer Thomad, Olivia Natt, Daniel Ramirez and Brendan Klinkenberg.

Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly. Special thanks to Sam Dolnick, Paula Szuchman, Lisa Tobin, Larissa Anderson, Julia Simon, Sofia Milan, Mahima Chablani, Elizabeth Davis-Moorer, Jeffrey Miranda, Renan Borelli, Maddy Masiello, Isabella Anderson and Nina Lassam.

Advertisement