Writers Are Lying to You About Making Money
How I went from broke freelancer to six-figure writer without traditional advice
Back in 2019, I was dead broke.
My bank account looked like a sad joke.
Fast forward three years, and I’m pulling in six figures purely from writing.
Not through some magic trick or overnight success, but through hard work and some weird strategies most people won’t tell you.
The Harsh Reality Most Writers Never Talk About
Most writing advice is total garbage.
Seriously.
Those fancy blog posts about “following your passion” or “just write every day”?
Total nonsense.
Real six-figure writers know something different.
The Ugly Truth About Writing Income
95% of writers make less than $500 a month
Most writing advice comes from people who aren’t actually making money
The real money is NOT where you think it is
The Hidden Money Paths Most Writers Miss
1. Corporate Writing (The Secret Gold Mine)
Forget Medium. Forget blogs.
The real money? Corporate writing.
Companies will pay $500-$2000 for a single white paper.
Technical writing? Even more insane. One project can cover your entire month’s rent.
How to Break In:
Learn industry jargon
Build a tight portfolio
Network like crazy
Get LinkedIn recommendations
2. Ghostwriting
Nobody talks about ghostwriting because it’s too good.
Famous people, CEOs, and entrepreneurs need writers but can’t write themselves.
Rates? $100-$500 per hour.
Some ghostwriting projects pay $50,000-$100,000.
Insider Hack: Most ghostwriting jobs come through referrals and quiet networks, not public job boards.
3. Specialized Content Marketing
Here’s a wild secret: Some niches pay WAY more than others.
Top-Paying Niches:
Healthcare technology
Fintech
Cybersecurity
Enterprise software
Artificial intelligence
Rates in these niches? $1-$2 per word.
Do the math.
4. Email Copywriting
Want to print money?
Learn email copywriting.
Big companies pay $500-$5000 per email sequence.
One good funnel can make you more than a month’s salary.
The Skills Nobody Teaches You
What Really Matters
Understanding business problems
Solving specific pain points
Communicating complex ideas simply
Building trust through writing
The Learning Path
Learn marketing fundamentals
Study consumer psychology
Practice clear communication
Build a killer portfolio
Network relentlessly
The Brutal Truth About Getting Started
You won’t make six figures overnight.
Expect:
First year: Maybe $500-$2000 per month
Second year: $3000-$5000 per month
Third year: $8000-$15000 per month
Fourth-year and beyond: Potential six-figures
I have also noticed huge success on Medium lately — my views grew surprisingly fast using a specific posting strategy.
I made over $3,000 in just 4 months from a brand-new Medium account.
I’ve compiled everything I’ve learned into a Medium Growth Checklist.
It’s the exact blueprint I wish I had when I started — no fluff, just pure, actionable strategies that have helped me gain over 18000 followers in the first 130 days.
Weird Strategies That Actually Work
1. The “Anti-Portfolio” Approach
Most writers show perfect work.
I recommend showing your mistakes.
Clients love honesty.
2. Weird Networking Hack
Stop attending writing conferences.
Start going to industry conferences in your target niches.
3. The Cold Email Method
Most writers fear cold emails.
A friend of mine made $30,000 from four cold emails in one month.
Red Flags to Watch Out For
Anyone promising instant success
Courses costing more than $500
People who can’t show actual income proof
Writing advice from non-writers
Personal Lessons Learned
Writing isn’t about being the best writer.
It’s about solving problems, understanding markets, and delivering value.
My first writing gig? I made $5.
My last project? $5,000 for two weeks of work.
Final Real Talk
This isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme.
It’s a skill-building journey.
Some years will suck. Some will be amazing.
Stay curious. Keep learning. Don’t listen to everyone.
Questions? Feel free to email me. I answer every message from new writers.
Work With Me — Get High-Performing Content
Need a ghostwriter who actually gets your voice — and knows how to turn content into growth?
I’ve helped clients:
Go viral on Medium (50K+ views/month)
Grow newsletters to 10K+ subscribers
Build authority and trust on LinkedIn
→ I ghostwrite blogs, newsletters, LinkedIn posts, and Medium articles that drive results.
→ Only 1–2 new client spots open each month.
Want in?
📌 Just reply to this email or message me: contact.thehumanproject@gmail.com
"It’s a skill-building journey " - certainly. I think a lot of frustration among writers (among all people actually) comes from seeing it as a three-month project, rather than a five-year one. All the knowledge you could ever want is available, but you can't learn it all overnight.
Thanks for the realistic peek behind the curtain.