7 Habits That Helped Me Start Making Money as a Writer (From Complete Scratch)

It’s been a year and two months since I made the decision to become a freelance writer.

I had no professional online presence, no writing samples, and no idea how exactly I was going to monetize my writing passion.

Looking back, I wouldn’t have come this far if I hadn’t made that one decision and stuck with it. 

But deciding to become a freelance writer wasn’t enough. I had to get my hands dirty, show up consistently, and do the actual work that would help me start making money as a writer.

I spent hours watching YouTube videos from different copywriters, trying to figure out where I fit – sales copy, blog writing, email marketing? 

It was overwhelming.

But things took a positive turn when I started publishing articles on LinkedIn and learning in public. 

That’s when I realized why many people dream of getting paid to write, but only a few follow through long enough to make money writing online. 

The idea of earning from digital writing sounds appealing. But the real work is in showing up, fighting distractions, and building habits that support your growth.

If you want to start making money as a writer, this post is for you. 

I’m sharing 7 habits that helped me go from clueless beginner to paid writer in a little under three months. 

Habits that helped me earn my first dollar online and build a career I truly enjoy.

1. Learned the Skill

You’re not a writer if you can’t write. Realizing that early on helped me stay grounded and admit that passion alone wasn’t enough. I needed to actually learn the skill of writing. 

Sure, I’d always loved writing and even had a personal blog on Blogger. But I found out business writing was a different game altogether.

I had to learn how to write headlines that hook, intros that draw people in, and clear calls to action that make readers take the next step.

At first, all of that felt like a foreign language. 

I was used to writing freely. More like journaling. 

But once I started publishing business content online, everything started to click. The lessons I’d learn from watching YouTube videos and reading LinkedIn posts helped me improve everyday.

I also had to polish up my research skills. Because as a digital writer, you won’t always be an expert in the topics you write about. But with strong research and writing skills, you can still create high-performing content.

These habits have so far paid off by helping me land long-term gigs in four different industries – manufacturing, Software as a Service (SaaS), hair care, and translation services. 

If you want to start making money as a writer, learning the actual craft is step one.

2. Learned Marketing to Start Making Money as a Writer

To get paid to write, you need to learn how to market your services. Digital writing is a business, and business means visibility. 

I had to put myself out there, even when I wasn’t fully ready.

As an introvert, the thought of being in the “spotlight” was uncomfortable. But instead of waiting until I felt confident, I started posting consistently on LinkedIn. 

Text posts, carousels, videos, and long-form articles were all part of my content marketing strategy.

I also posted occasionally on Medium just to get more eyeballs on my writing.

Each post gave me clarity. I got to test ideas, find my voice, and learn what resonated with potential clients.

So if you’re not sure about your niche, publish content.

If you’re unsure about how to find paying clients, publish content.

And if you don’t understand how something works- say, email marketing, write an article about it. Writing an article will force you to research and by the time you publish it you’ll have learned a lot about that topic.

The more you create, the clearer things become and the faster you can start making money writing online.

3. Set Intentional Goals to Start Making Money as a Writer 

Winging it doesn’t work when you’re trying to make money as a writer. If you don’t set specific goals, it’s easy to stay busy without actually making progress.

What helped me stay on track was setting monthly goals and breaking them down into weekly and daily tasks. This is how I’ve built momentum and pushed myself to do uncomfortable things like starting conversations in DMs.

One of my current goals is to write more than one article a week. So I created an 8-week article writing challenge. We start on April 14th, and I’m so excited to grow alongside 15 amazing writers who signed up. 

You don’t have to do everything at once. Just set a clear direction and take one small step at a time.

4. Took Action

Watching endless YouTube videos about how to make money writing online can be inspiring. But it can also be paralyzing. I had to stop consuming and start creating.

Once I started writing and publishing regularly, my confidence as a writer grew. I started noticing my skill gaps and where I needed to improve. So my learning became more focused and intentional instead of randomly grabbing tips from the internet.

Taking action taught me more about digital writing than any video or LinkedIn post ever could. 

I learned how to write stronger headlines, create better hooks, and develop content strategies simply by doing the work.

If you want to get paid to write, don’t just watch others do it. Take messy, imperfect action. 

That’s how you grow.

5. Constantly Collected Content Ideas to Beat Writer’s Block

Writer’s block doesn’t stand a chance when you’re always collecting ideas.

I use Google Docs on my phone to write down content ideas as they come. This simple habit keeps my creative juices flowing and makes it easier to write, even on busy days.

You can’t rely on inspiration alone to hit your writing goals. You might end up going weeks without writing. Especially because life can get in the way.

Make writing part of your daily routine. 

The more you write, the easier the process gets.

And that’s how you start making money as a writer and develop a voice people connect with.

6. Took Breaks

If you’re writing consistently on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, and anywhere else but not seeing the results you want, take a break.

That’s what I do when things feel off.

Analyze your content and take note of what’s working and what isn’t then get back to the drawing board.

Check if your message is clear, your headlines and hooks strong, and your value easy to see.

Sometimes you think you’re clear but your audience doesn’t know how they can benefit from following you.

Breaks help you see things with fresh eyes. 

They also keep you from burning out because content creation is a lot of work. You can easily burn out when trying to stay consistent.

So take short breaks occasionally and come back re energized and ready to make an impact.

I’ve taken several LinkedIn breaks before and have always returned with better ideas. 

Rest is part of the strategy to help you start making money as a writer. You’re not just here to post content. You’re here to grow and sustain your writing business for the long run. 

Prioritize quality over constant output.

7. Had a Strong “Why” 

In early 2024, I was tired. Mentally and emotionally. 

I wanted to leave my corporate job, move closer to family, and work in a way that gave me time and location freedom.

So I knew I needed to find something that could let me achieve all these things. 

I was burnt out from doing work that didn’t align with my long-term career goals.

So finding copywriting was the breakthrough I needed. 

But making the decision to become a copywriter was only the first step. There was copywriting to learn, self-doubt to overcome, and lots of tech to navigate.

(Can we talk about how many platforms and passwords you need to keep track of when you work online?)

But I stayed focused because I knew why I was doing this.

That strong “why” gave me grit. And that grit helped me stay committed even when the process felt slow and uncertain.

If you’re serious about getting paid to write, clearly define your “why.” 

It’ll carry you through the tough days.

Build Habits To Help You Start Making Money as a Writer

I didn’t start making money as a writer overnight. It wasn’t about luck or having previous digital marketing experience. 

What truly pushed me forward was building simple, sustainable habits one step at a time.

If you’re just getting started, I hope this post has helped you see that you don’t need to be the best writer in the room.

You just have to show up consistently, embrace continuous improvement, and take imperfect action.

Surround yourself with people who are on a similar path (by networking on LinkedIn, X, or Facebook). They’ll push you to stay focused, and remind you that your goals are valid.

For me, LinkedIn was the best place I could have been at the start of my journey. It became my classroom, my portfolio, and my source of encouragement. 

Engaging with others, learning from their content, and putting yourself out there will help you grow faster than you expect.

So start where you are. Build habits that help you grow. And keep going even when progress feels slow.

You never know who’s silently watching or where your next opportunity might come from!