Freelance writing offers students of all ages the perfect summer gig. Not only can you earn cash freelance writing, but you can do it on your own schedule, from your own home (or on vacation) and you’ll gain valuable writing and professional experience while doing it.
Think of it this way: While others are out mowing lawns, babysitting or helping their parents at the office, you can be on the couch making money in your PJs.
Sounds too good to be true, right? Fortunately, it’s not – and I’m living proof.
Are you off for the summer? Want to make a few extra dollars and gain real-life work experience in the process? Here are a few ways students can earn cash freelance writing:
1. Start a blog – and monetize it
You don’t even need to find a client to go this route. Just get your own domain, install WordPress, and start blogging away on a topic you’re interested in or know a lot about. Then, use Google Adsense to populate your site with ads, and you’ll get money every time someone clicks on one. You can also try doing some affiliate marketing and product reviews to make a little extra cash on your blog, too.
2. Connect with local businesses
Stop by some local businesses – or email them through their websites – and see if they could use a little writing assistance this summer. Do they have a blog or newsletter you could help with? If they don’t, what if you started one for them? Could their menus or brochures use an update? What about their website? Is it time for a makeover? Offer your services, and see who takes a bite.
3. Join a content mill
Content mills aren’t the best way to earn money in the freelance writing world – at least for the long term – but they do offer a great way to get your foot in the door and allow you to make some extra income in the process. Some good ones to start off with are Scripted and Textbroker.
4. Check out freelancing job sites and Craigslist
There are dozens of sites and job boards dedicated just to freelancing and writing, and most of them don’t require anything more than your name and a short bio to sign up. Some of the most popular ones are Upwork, Freelancer and Contena. In my membership site, Freelance Profit Academy, not only do I offer a wealth of training, my team also sifts through thousands of jobs from the dozens of job boards across the web and posts only the best ones – saving you the legwork. It’s a must for any budding freelance writer!
Even Craigslist has sections dedicated to writing and editing, so check out the Craigslist in your area – as well as those across the nation. Most gigs here are remote, so you don’t necessarily need to be in the city where they’ve been posted to apply.
5. Guest blog.
If you’re well-versed in a subject or you have some interesting insight into a certain topic or industry, you may want to consider guest blogging. There are hundreds of blog owners that will actually pay others to write posts for them – as long as those writers have something their readers will find valuable. I’ve put together a list of some of the more lucrative guest blogging opportunities out there, so check it out before you dive in.
Spend Your Summer Writing 
Freelance writing is a great way to earn money, while still enjoying your summer off. No timecards, no morning commute and no nagging boss, freelance writing can afford you experience, income and flexibility all in one convenient package. Want more help getting started as a freelance writer? Check out my definitive step-by-step guide on how to become a freelance writer.








Wow! A friend told me about your site, and I am glad she did. You have some great tips here. Doing some writing jobs definitely sounds more appealing than working out in this heat. Thanks for the step-by-step guide. It really helps to have it laid out.
Hi Abby,
You’re very welcome, and thank you for the kind words. I truly enjoy what I do, and my goal is to pass that along to others. 🙂
Take Care,
Maggie