Writing is hard work, but you knew that, didn’t you?
You signed up for the long haul, for the good days and the bad days. Every day you put in your time outlining, writing, editing, blogging, and publishing.
And you never think about quitting because you want to make a living from your writing.
And whether you’re publishing a single blog post or a fiction trilogy, you know you need traffic. You need eyes on your work, or the dream dies.
But you hate selling yourself. It feels false, demeaning, a little shady.
Yet you realize you’re never going to make it to the bestseller lists, to rock star status without a solid plan.
You’ve tried social media, and you’re unimpressed.
You’ve tried writer groups and communities.
You’ve thought about buying ads, but they seem expensive and risky.
So, what can you do, with limited resources beyond your gift for words and your desire to succeed?
Go where the traffic already exists, and grab some of it for yourself.
Gain exposure for your work through guest posting.
You’ll gain traffic as well as the opportunity to connect one-on-one in the comments section. The bonus?
Each time you secure another guest post, you’ll gain a valuable, targeted link back to your blog, website, books, or business.
Each time you secure another guest post, you’ll gain a valuable, targeted link back to your blog, website, books, or business. Click To Tweet And since you’re already a writer, it makes sense to target writer-themed blogs. You’re already qualified.So share your experience and expertise with a receptive, targeted audience.
Here are ten blogs currently accepting guest posts from writers like you.
The Write Life
The Write Life helps authors, bloggers, and freelance writers with all aspects of the writing business: finding lucrative clients, marketing their services, getting published, and promoting their work.
They accept posts of 600 to 900 words, preferably using the “you” voice. Share your personal stories and interviews. Offer actionable advice and practical tips to help writers succeed.
Save your proposal as a Google Doc, and submit it to contribute@thewritelife.com. The site pays $75 if accepted, or you can link to your own site in the bio section in lieu of payment.
Freelance Writing
Freelance Writing is one of the largest freelance writing resources on the web, offering sections devoted to writing contests, job opportunities, writing tips, and career development.
They’re looking for articles written from both a freelancer’s perspective and from the perspective of employers who work with freelancers.
Articles should be between 800 and 1200 words, in the first-person or second-person narrative, with a preference for listicles and articles with statistics, quotes, and actionable information.
Send your completed article plus links to 2-3 published works to editor@freelancewriting.com.
Writer’s Relief
Writer’s Relief helps writers put together successful submissions for literary agents and editors.
They accept submissions from guest bloggers (600 words or less) on topics such as self-publishing, marketing and promotion, networking, conferences, the writer’s life, and finding an agent.
You’ll receive a byline and links in lieu of pay. Submit your article in an email to info@wrelief.com.
Live Write Thrive
C.S. Lakin started the Live Write Thrive site primarily for fiction writers, a writer-to-writer resource for everything from handling rejection to finding a publisher.
She’s currently accepting 800 to 1200-word articles written in your own unique voice with actionable tips and advice.
Contact the editor with your ideas before submitting.
Funds for Writers
Hope Clark started Funds for Writers as a resource to help freelancers find lucrative markets and writing contests to provide a steady income stream.
They offer both a free and premium version of their newsletter.
Articles must be directly related to earning a living/making money writing (no writing tips or advice). Articles of 500 to 600 words are considered; pay is $50 for original articles and $15 for reprints.
Send your query to hope@fundsforwriters.com.
Writers Helping Writers
Writers Helping Writers was started by Becca Puglisi and Angela Ackerman as a “digital toolbox” for freelance writers.
They accept posts of around 800 words with fresh insights on marketing, publishing, promotion, and the writer’s life.
They do not pay for content, but they will allow links in the bio section.
Use this form to submit content, but keep in mind, if your topic has been covered in the past three months or so, they may reject it. Research the site carefully.
Pen and Muse
Kristen Jett and Jolene Haley started Pen and Muse to help fiction writers get published.
They’re looking for original articles of at least 500 words on the literary world, self-publishing, marketing, promotion, and writing tips. Images are encouraged.
They do not pay for content, but they’ll publish your bio with links if your work is accepted. Use the form at the bottom of the linked page above to submit.
Write to Done
Mary Jaksch started Write to Done to help writers hone their craft and develop better writing habits.
If you’re a blogger with your own blog, send a pitch for articles between 800 and 1,500 words to writetodone@gmail.com.
The site is not accepting work from freelancers or staff writers.
In your pitch, include links to posts on the WTD site you will feature in your article plus links to your own site. Do not send manuscripts.
Make a Living Writing
Make a Living Writing is Carol Tice’s resource for writers who want to move out of content mills and unpaid writing gigs to writing for pay in lucrative niche markets.
She considers sharp, tightly focused articles of up to 500 words with concrete advice and personal stories for freelance writers.
Do not send complete manuscripts; send your pitch with a title and outline to carol@caroltice.com. Unsolicited manuscripts will not be read or accepted. Pay is $75 per post on publication.
The Creative Penn
Author and entrepreneur Joanna Penn started the Creative Penn to help beginning writers learn how to write and publish fiction and nonfiction books and to better understand the writing business.
She accepts well-written, positive pieces of 800 to 2,000 words on the writing craft, creativity, author mindset, or evergreen business and marketing ideas (not short-term tactics).
Send your proposal to Alexandra@theCreativePenn.com; do not send complete manuscripts, unless approved. The site does not pay for content but will publish a bio and links.
Make sure to bookmark this list, and good luck on your next guest post!
For those of you wanting to know how to find your own opportunities, check out this tutorial:
What’s your favorite place to guest post?
What’s your favorite guest-posting techninque?
Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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