legit essay writing jobs

Writing Jobs: 21 Great Places To Find Work That Pays (2024)

Finding a writing job is tough if you don’t know where to look. Discover your best options.

Well, good news. If you want to get paid to write, you have more opportunities than ever. The days of the starving artist are over thanks to:

• Content marketing
• Copywriting
• Freelance writing online
• Self-publishing

Today you can earn hundreds or even thousands of dollars a month income from expressing your creative ideas, telling stories and sharing your expertise through the written word.

Here’s what we’ll cover in this article: I’ve listed 21 websites, services and platforms that offer writing jobs for all types of writers. Each section includes:

• An analysis of the website
• What kinds of jobs they offer

Keep in mind some sites offer other types of writer jobs than what I’ve included in this guide. Rates also vary widely depending on your niche, location and time of year. Writing is a diverse career that offers many different ways to earn money. Let’s get started.

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

Where Can You Find Writing Jobs That Pay?

1. problogger, 3. bloggingpro, 5. freelance writing jobs, 6. flexjobs, 7. freelance writers den, 8. freelancer, 9. craigslist, 10. constant content, 11. writers work, 12. writeraccess, 13. scripted, 14. mediabistro, 15. all freelance writing, 16. online writing jobs, 17. writerbay.com, 18. american writers and artists, inc. (awai), 19. listverse, 20. medium, 21. linkedin, salaries and rates for writers, how i earn an income from writing, what to do with your writing income, diversify your writing income, how do i turn my writing into a career, what jobs are in creative writing, is writing a good career choice, what jobs can you do as a writer, what writing jobs are in demand, what jobs require a lot of writing, what writing jobs pay the most, what jobs can you get with a ph.d. in creative writing, what are entry-level writing jobs, what 4 jobs in writing did edgar allan poe have, where can i find high-paying content-writing clients, how can i get paid for writing with no experience, what type of freelance writing pays the most, is there a high demand for writers, need help getting paid to write.

Praise be for the internet. Now you can write from anywhere and get paid for your hard work. Be it Miami, Seattle or Dublin, online writing jobs that pay well are available without any geographic restrictions. However, smart writers know where to look.

You could write for content mills–a site or service that churns out cheap articles for other websites–but those don’t pay much.

Instead, set up job alerts on popular writing sites (I’ll give you all the details below.) and stay up-to-date on the best writing gigs available.

ProBlogger is one of the best job boards for bloggers. It’s a great place to find copywriting jobs and a fantastic way to recruit freelancers.

The site includes several resources that bloggers can use to improve their blogs and attracts some of the best writers and authors from around the world.

The job boards attract some of the highest paying and some most prestigious writing opportunities and editing jobs. Many top bloggers I know advertise here looking for part-time and full-time writers.

Types of Writing Jobs Offered

• Blog post and content writers
• Copywriters
• Ghostwriters
• Editors and proofreaders
• Journalists
• Researchers
• Content marketers
• Social media managers
• SEO consultants

Similar to Upwork, the rates of ProBlogger jobs are based on the work. Determine your price ahead of time based on average time and effort needed and make that clear to the job advertiser. Note:  This job board will help you find prospects. It’s up to you to make sure they’re the right fit and meet your income requirements.

• One of the leading marketplaces for blogging jobs over the past 10 years
• No sign-up process or profile creation needed
• Job advertisers required to pay at least $70, a fee that weeds out bottom feeders
• Only five or so leads every day
• Difficult to earn full-time income right away
• Site doesn’t screen jobs

Upwork , previously known as oDesk, is a one-stop solution for all kinds of writer jobs.

BloggingPro is a free job site that classifies jobs according to type—freelance, internship, contract, part-time or temporary. Simply browse for work using these categories.

Known for freelance jobs, Upwork makes it easy and cost-effective to find, hire and work with the best professionals around the world.

Whether you are looking for creative writing jobs, greeting card writing gigs or medical writing projects, this is a good platform to start. I’ve used Upwork to source a video editor, podcast editor, designer, bookkeeper and more.

• Social media marketing
• Content writing
• Information security
• Freelance writing

Pay rates on Upwork vary, as nearly all listings in the job search are freelance. Potential workers define their payment rate (or bid) in their proposals.

Upwork charges a small fee depending on your account type. This starts at 20% for the first $500 billed and drops to 5% for lifetime billing once you exceed $10,000.

Novice freelancers might find it hard to make good money at first because of the complicated bidding system.

You’ll also need to take on some low-paying work at first until you’ve built a reputable Upwork profile.

Fortunately, you can take expert skill tests for freelancers. Once you pass the criteria, you can display it on your profile and show your expertise to clients.

• Long-term contracts
• Opportunity to earn bonuses
• Ability to build long-term relationships with clients
• Return and referral clients
• Free to join
• A lot of spam jobs
• 20% commission for the first $500 billed with a client (higher than other platforms)
• Low-paying jobs
• A lot of competition
• Takes time to build a profile that stands out on Upwork

The BloggingPro job board caters mostly to bloggers. Online freelancers can find the latest jobs offered, like blogging, content writing, creative writing, journalism or working as a content strategist. BloggingPro is a free job site that classifies jobs according to type—freelance, internship, contract, part-time or temporary. Simply browse for work using these categories.

Once you find a job you like, send an application. Most employers require a resume and previous work as a reference.

On that last point, no matter where you look for work as a writer, it’s a good idea to  start your own site  and capture client testimonials.

• Content strategy

BloggingPro recommends that employers pay a minimum of $15 per hour or 500 words; however, rates on the site vary like on most other writing job boards.

• BloggingPro job board updated daily
• Job searching done for you
• Free for job seekers
• BloggingPro charges $30 for 30 days to those looking to hire writers.
• Writer job descriptions do not indicate compensation.

4. iWriter

iWriter is an easy-to-use place to find online writing jobs.

To start, sign in and take a short writing test. Once you pass the test, you can pick articles and start writing.

As you receive positive reviews, your writer level increases and makes you more desirable to those hiring.

• Article rewrites
• Product descriptions

Writers receive 65% of the price of each article from the general writing queue. The actual dollar amounts vary based on your writer “level,” i.e., standard, premium, elite or elite plus) and the length of the article.

For example, an experienced writer can earn $80 for a 500-word article.

Writers get paid via PayPal and must have a valid PayPal account. Unfortunately, that means some additional fees and a lousy exchange rate.

Building trust by consistently delivering high-quality work will result in the highest pay on iWriter.

Job advertisers can send you special requests once you have established yourself. Moreover, writers receive 70% of the article cost for these special requests.

• Large variety of writing niches
• Freedom to choose how much you want to write each day
• Ability to earn up to $80 per 500 words once established
• Opportunity to build a client base and receive special requests
• Can write only basic articles when starting on iWriter
• Pay discussed above requires elite writer status on iWriter

Freelance Writing Jobs , also known as Freelance Writing Gigs, helps writers and authors find jobs that pay well.

The site hand-picks work from job sites, classified ads and company websites i.e. more than just   remote writing jobs . They include positions that might not directly involve writing but are still writer- and editor- related.

• Remote writing
• Short story writing
• Freelance copywriting
• Editing and proofreading
• Paid internships

The job ads on this site don’t include compensation rates. You negotiate compensation with the person/company that hires you or you learn the payment rate after they hire you.

• Jobs updated Monday through Friday
• Multiple posts about job sightings and helpful freelance writing articles
• Site doesn’t accept low-paying jobs
• Doesn’t include rates in job postings
• Job seekers limited to the jobs the blog chooses to feature

FlexJobs is a career site geared toward people looking for flexibility in a job. They focus on work-at-home, part-time and freelance jobs. FlexJobs promises that each job they list is flexible and scam-free.

• Content manager
• Managing editor
• News writer
• Technical writer

Wages vary based on word counts, kind of work, level of expertise and the advertiser. Anyone who wants a job with some flexibility such as telecommuting, freelance or flexitime jobs should use FlexJobs. If you are searching specifically for telecommuting jobs, check out Virtual Vocations .

• One of the most accredited resources for job seekers
• Scam screening
• No advertisements
• More than 50 categories and subcategories
• Offers a money-back guarantee
• A 10-year track record of providing freelance jobs
• Membership costs $14.95 per month (There are also options for yearly or 3-month memberships and coupon codes are regularly available.)
• Some writing jobs not exclusive to FlexJobs.

The Freelance Writers Den is a well-known community for part-time and full-time freelance writers. It claims more than 1,400 members and is run by well-known blogger Carol Tice, for whom I’ve written guest blog posts .

This membership-based website and community is dedicated to helping good writers make more money. You can get help from other motivated freelance writers from around the world on the Den’s 24/7 forums, saving you time and helping you achieve your  writing goals .

• Health writing
• Technical writing
• Creative writing

This website doesn’t indicate publicly the average pay you can earn. You can get paid per hour, per month or per project.

I found one listing that offered $40 per hour and another that offered up to $1,000 per month. The Den job board is known as the “junk-free job board,” in that it doesn’t accept any jobs below $50 per blog post or $100 per article.

• Provides more than 300 hours of mini-courses on different aspects of freelance writing
• Offers access to an informative forum where members can discuss boot camp material and ask for advice about freelance writing
• Includes collection of useful resources
• Features only jobs paying decent rates
• Posts one live event and one prerecorded podcast monthly that features experts discussing topics related to freelance writing
• Contains a collection of all of the Freelance Writers Den’s podcasts and webinars
• Most job ads cater to U.S. writers and authors.
• Membership in Freelance Writers Den costs $25/month.
• Membership opens twice per year rather than whenever you want. (Get on the waiting list to be notified if a seat opens up sooner.)

Freelancer is the world’s largest freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace, determined by the total number of jobs and users.

Freelancer is a job board that offers different types of job listings and work opportunities. If you’re a copywriter, editor, grant writer, content strategist or creative writer, you’re sure to find a suitable writing job. You can get work in three easy steps:

• Browse jobs matching your niche and skills
• Apply for the job
• Newsletters
• Grant writing
• Resume writing

You’ll define your payment rate (which is your bid) in your proposal.

• Flexible hours
• Lots of writing job offers
• Organized tech support
• Regularly refreshed writing opportunities available
• Free sign-up
• Withdrawing money takes a while (14 days to receive your payment after the withdrawal request).
• Offers are not sorted according to the area of expertise, though there is a keyword search.

There’s more to Craigslist than buying and selling. It’s also a popular place for people to find job openings at businesses in their area. It’s a good source of freelance writing and editing jobs.

If you’re searching for a more permanent writing opportunity or even a part-time job, Craigslist offers a variety of permanent positions, including staff writer, content lead and SEO specialist.

Search for writing jobs under the “Writing/Editing” category of the job listings. Unfortunately, you’ll have to browse through each city’s listings first.

• Column writing
• Magazine work
• Guest post writing

Rates vary based on jobs and employers

• Established classified ads site
• Good source of freelance jobs
• Classifieds for specific cities and metro areas
• Variety of jobs in many niches
• Employers can post jobs anonymously, so you don’t know who is hiring.
• Writing jobs are not verified.
• You need to browse each city first to look for a specific job.
• Listings are very general, meaning it takes time to find a good part time job .

Constant Content is one of the largest and most established marketplaces for ready-made content.

Essentially, this content marketing service connects top writers with large companies like Uber, Walgreens and eBay.

Constant Content helps writers and authors feature and sell their work, while editors and proofreaders on the site give detailed feedback and support to writers.

However, like many premium writing job sites, acceptance criteria are stringent.

• Freelance writing  
• Custom content writing service
• Press releases

Set your price. Their top writers earn thousands of dollars per year.

• Established platform
• Flexible schedule and workload
• Can build long-term relationships with clients
• Ability to work alone, on a team or in an expert group
• Every content writer must pass a quiz and provide a  writing sample.
• Only a fraction of applicants is accepted.
• Constant Content takes a commission from your client free.

Writers Work connects writers with companies that need an expert in the written word. It’s an all-in-one platform for landing paid writing gigs. They’ll offer career training, writing tools, an online portfolio, portfolio assessment, and more.

Writers Work positions include part-time, full-time, and contract positions that are   remote gigs or freelance projects. The site provides training through videos, courses, and live support.

Writers Work minimizes time spent searching for jobs by curating writing job listings from many sources. If you want to learn more about using this service to finding writing jobs, read our Writers Work review.

• General content
• Social media posts

Freelance writers can earn from $20-$65/hour. Payment varies depending on skill level and average time spent on each job. 

• Distraction-free text editor with readability functions
• A variety of places to pitch writing work
• Effective training videos
• Easy to navigate
• Membership requires one-time fee of $47.
• You can’t filter older opportunities.
• The goals feature needs far more options.

WriterAccess is an award-winning online marketplace connecting thousands of customers, writers, copy editors, proofreaders, and translators.

Their platform makes it easy for companies and agencies to find good writers and translators in any industry.

I often use Writer’s Access to hire other people who have a skillset like copywriting or understand a particular niche.

A platform like Writers Access is good if you have expert knowledge in specific areas like healthcare, the law, security, and so on.

To stand out on Writers Access, it’s a good idea to upload a writing sample for your profile. You may also want to identify your niche (e.g. healthcare, personal finance, etc.) and specialisms (e.g. copywriting).

Many editors and owners of popular B2B websites and blogs use Writers Access to hire writers for short-term gigs e.g. Write 1,000 words about the latest healthcare trends in XX.

If you want to stand out from the pool of writers on Writer Access, I’d recommend honing your SEO skills. The job listings are varied and even include poetry submissions.

Services include everything from public relations tasks to editing jobs.

• Whitepapers
• Translating
• Website copy

You are paid based on your rankings and ratings.

Ratings are determined by the number of stars your   writing skills earn, proficiency, and years of experience. Your star rating sets the per-word payment you’ll receive. Writers get 70% of the order price.

Ranking System

The ranking or rating system pays in accordance with ability. Currently, the levels and their minimum per-word pay are as follows:

• The most basic payment level offers 2.8 cents per word.
• The most advanced payment level offers $1.40 per word or $105 per hour.

The higher your star level, the more you’re paid for writing projects, ranging from 1.4 cents to more than 7 cents per word.

However, if you are an elite writer who is part of the Pro Marketplace tier, you negotiate a price leveraging your certifications, awards, and verified pay rates.

• Can match your writing skills and interests with brands and agencies
• A higher star rating yields a higher expected rate per word
• Most communication occurs between client and writer.
• In many cases, writers compete for articles.
• Entry-level writers rarely get to choose which articles to write.
• New writers may find the payment system complex.

Scripted is an online marketplace that connects companies with freelance writers who can fulfill different writing gigs like blogs, articles, and even bulk social media posts.

On Scripted, you write as a ghostwriter for clients who need fresh content. Your name will not be published on what you create, and all rights to the content belong to the client when they accept the article.

Scripted considers writers in the U.S. and other countries, including Canada, Australia and in Europe.

• Digital Marketing
• Consumer reports

How much you earn varies according to the type of content, article length, and topic. You can set your own prices. Some assignments pay about $20 apiece, while other writers claim they’ve earned four figures a month.

Writers are automatically paid five days after their work is accepted. They can also qualify for partial payment on any rejected assignment.

• Opportunity for clients to “favorite” your writing, which gives you first dibs on assignments from those clients
• More than 158 writing niches to choose from
• Quick payments
• Work isn’t often available.
• Writers must pass tests to gain acceptance on the site.
• Reviews are mixed

Mediabistro is a well-known freelance writing job board and career destination for savvy media professionals.

This site will be of help if you’re searching for new online writing opportunities or want to improve your skills. The job search board is primarily for finding work in media in the U.S. They also offer freelance work and remote jobs from time to time.

Mediabistro serves as a network to connect you with other media professionals.

• Graphic design
• Digital Production

Rates vary, however, these are a few of their recent writer job descriptions:

• Freelance research analyst – remote – $15–18 per hour
• Copywriters/Researchers for magazine database – $100+ per post
• Freelance Fiction Writer – $50 per 1,500 words

Note:   Premium members gain access to full-length articles that provide advice for newbie freelance writers. You’ll also learn how to make a compelling pitch and format content properly.

• Easy-to-navigate website
• Free basic offering
• Lots of opportunities to sort through. You’ll need a good idea of what you want.

All Freelance Writing has helped freelance writers build their writing careers since 2006.

It’s a job board for   novice writers  who are looking for new writing gigs.

The site displays pay rates upfront, so you know what to expect before even deciding to write a cover letter. All Freelance Writing includes a writer’s market or jobs board for print jobs and writing opportunities.

It also offers a collection of resources and tips for advancing your professional writing career . All Freelance Writing is an excellent site for mastering the business side of freelancing.

The job listings are varied and even include poetry submissions.

• Ghostwriting
• Guest posts
• Blog writing
• Web content
• Prose/Poetry
• Business writing
• Healthcare or medical writing
• Magazine writing

Rates vary. The site categorizes between low pay and pro-rate. Some of the advertised writing jobs go up to $500 or more. Here is how jobs are categorized:

• Very low: $1–35 e.g. for a 400-word blog post
• Low: $25–$50
• Semi-pro: $50–$100
• Pro: $250–$500+
• Free service for job seekers
• Includes only freelance writing jobs and rate information
• Limited number of writing jobs
• Smaller jobs board than other sites in this guide

Online Writing Jobs , previously known as QualityGal.com, is a free website for U.S. freelance writers. It offers writing opportunities for those at any skill level, including entry-level writers.

You will need to know SEO (search engine optimization) to work on this site, as the clients usually want to increase website visits.

• SEO content writers

Pay for most articles ranges between $10 and $50. Several factors can influence your remuneration, including your authority within given writing niches.

• Writers paid weekly
• Helpful resources available to writers
• Available to U.S. freelance writers only

WriterBay.com is a supplier of freelance writing jobs. They’re looking for writers who are proficient in their respective fields and who can deliver high-quality articles or papers on time.

There are 4 simple steps to join:

• Fill out the application form.
• Pass a test that will assess your grammar and formatting skills.
• Write from a brief prompt and upload a sample essay.
• Find and scan your higher education certificate for uploading to their site.

Other than writing skills and a strong desire to make money , all you need to begin working with them is an internet connection..

• Freelance writing jobs, both academic and non-academic

Though the site does not indicate specific rates, WriterBay.com lists the top ten writers’ profits for the past 30 days. At the time of this writing, the highest listing was $6,563.

• No registration fees and free lifetime membership
• Competitive rates
• Wide variety of exciting projects and assignments
• Room for personal growth
• 24/7 writer support team
• Freelance work can be demanding and often lacks a reasonable time frame.
• Writerbay.com seems to prefer writers who are always online on their system.
• Your level of education should be a bachelor’s degree or above.

American Writers and Artists, Inc. , teaches nonfiction writers how to earn thousands of dollars through copywriting (writing words that sell products or services).

This type of writing gig is quite profitable. For example, a B2B company may hire a copywriter to produce copy for a series of landing pages . Instead of getting paid per word, the copywriter may receive a commission based on the number of conversions that the landing page generates.

They’re one of the more established providers of writing training in the industry today. They also teach content marketing and direct response. One of their courses even specializes in teaching writers how to work at home and earn a living.

AWAI offers a “ten thousand” challenge that allows you to build your portfolio (and earn some decent cash) before you finish the program. I’ve taken some AWAI copywriting courses, and their materials are first-rate.

• Direct response writing
• Banner ads and text ads

Rates vary, however, AWAI provides a  free pricing guide  to the work their website offers. Here are some of the examples from the guide:

• Home Page Content: SEO and Sales-conversion Copywriting: $1,500–$3,000
• Product Page Update: SEO and Sales-conversion Copy: $50–$100 per page
• Article of 1,200–2,000 words with SEO: $250–$500
• E-book: $2,000–$7,000
• E-newsletter/E-zine: $800 – $1,500
• Lots of online writing opportunities for freelance work
• Translates to other types of writing, e.g., blogging
• AWAI requires a joining fee. Their basic copywriting programme costs $497.
• Copywriting and direct response writing require specific skills and training.
• Building a name for yourself and acquiring high-profile clients takes time.

Listverse is a popular site featuring list articles. It will pay you $100 for writing a 10-item “listicle.” Typically, you’ll need excellent English, knowledge of pop culture, and a sense of humor.

• Writing list posts or listicles

$100 per approved listicle

• Listicles are fast to write
• Relatively modest pay
• Supports only Paypal, so you’ll face fees
• They might reject your listicle

Medium places much of its content behind a paywall for premium readers. They allocate some of this fee toward paying writers who are part of the partner program based on the post’s member rating.

The Medium partner program enables any member of Medium to get paid for writing stories for members each month. I’m a member and receive more or less than one hundred dollars each month depending on what I wrote.

That doesn’t sound like much, but I don’t focus too much on this platform.

I’m also in a Medium group and members in that group receive five figures a month from writing on Medium. They usually cover topics like entrepreneurship or personal development and work from home.

You can write about whatever you like in Medium. The trick is finding an audience who will read it!

You don’t need to worry too much writing long-winded writing to get paid by Medium. The platform is less about landing a writing gig and more about attracting traffic and readers to your published articles. Because anyone can press publish.

That said, top Medium writers publish on publications. If you want to write for those, build a relationship with the editor on Medium, or look for submission guidelines.

Medium copy editors and proofreaders will work with top writers on their stories and even promote them.

• Self-help advice
• Entrepreneurship advice

Here’s an update from the Medium partner program team for June 2019:

• 55% of writers who wrote at least one story earned something.
• 7.8% of active writers made more than $100 in a month.
• $13,577.33 was the most collected by a writer for June, and $3,913.74 was the most received for a single story at the time of writing.
• Great for building a name for yourself
• Easy to use
• Contains a built-in readership
• Relatively easy to earn a modest amount each month (approximately one hundred dollars)
• Only top Medium writers earn four- or five-figures a month.
• You might not get any feedback on your work if people don’t read it.
• Medium, like any social media network, takes a few months to master.

LinkedIn is a relatively useful social media network for writers and editors looking for work.

Firstly, if you’re a freelance writer, you can reach out to your connections and pitch them relevant ideas. You’ll need a LinkedIn premium membership to get the most out of this InMail service.

Secondly, many LinkedIn users share updates when their company has a vacancy. So it’s worth checking your feeds for updates once or twice a week if you’re looking for part-time or full-time work.

Finally, reputable companies all have dedicated pages on LinkedIn. These pages feature high-quality vacancies and will appear in your feed provided you’ve set your interests accordingly. These vacancies cover a range of disciplines from copywriting to content marketing.

• High-quality writing jobs and vacancies from reputable companies.
• Competition is high.
• You will probably have to go through a standard recruitment process with an HR team or interviewer.
• Not specific to just writing

How Much Can Writers Get Paid?

Rates for writers vary depending on what you write and where you sell your work. According to the  U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics   (BLS), writers and editors in America earn up to $98,840 per year.

I asked my editor about this salary and she said it sounded too high. Salary reports for writers vary a lot. Therefore, here are five more sources that provide detailed data regarding how much writers are paid for their work.

Like most online jobs , these rates and salaries vary by time of year, location, and industry.

I’ve captured the rates at the time of writing this article (August 2019). If you’d like me to update a figure, leave a comment below.

1. Glassdoor

According to Glassdoor, freelance writers earn an average of €48,252 per year in the United States. You can earn more if you specialize in an area like copywriting or content writing. Source

2. PayScale

A freelance writer can expect to earn $21.59 per hour, excluding commissions and bonus sharing. They can also expect an average salary of $40,148 depending on their industry and experience.

My takeaway?

This industry rate is on the low-side and covers too many specialisms.

Freelance copywriters, for example, regularly earn over six figures.

(Just take any of the AWAI courses !)

You can also earn a lot more by providing additional services like SEO, consulting, or even coaching.

Alternatively, consider turning your work into a book or course that you sell for a higher price-point. Source

3. Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA)

Similar to PayScale, the EFA provides salary data for subcategories of writing.

Here is the data from their 2019 report: Source

• $40–50/hour; 20–25 cents/word
• $50–60/hour; 26–50cents/word
• $50–60/hour; 30–95cents/word
• $40–50/hour; 26–50cents/word
• $60–70/hour; 80–95cents/word
• $40–100/hour; 20cents–$2/word
• $50–60/hour; 45–55cents/word

4. The Irish Times

Much of the data provided above concerns, American writers and authors.

However, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco aren’t the only hubs for earning money as a writer. Just ask me. I’m an Irish writer!

The Irish Times  says many new authors struggle to sell more than 100 copies of their book in a single year and  earn less than $500.

However, writers can earn more money by investing in a good book  and advertising their books. Amazon pays writers as follows:

• Books sold for $2.98 or under 35% of the price
• Books sold for $2.99 to $9.99: up to 70% of the price

If a writer sells a thousand copies of a book for $9.99 in year one, they can earn up to $7,000 for one book. If a writer self-publishes multiple versions of their book (Kindle, print, large print, audio, etc.), this is achievable.

5.   The Society of Authors

In a 2015 survey of 317 writers, the Society of Authors found average earnings for British authors are £12,500, or $15,000, per year.

The report states, “This figure is just 55% of average earnings in the U.K., coming in below the minimum wage for a full-time job at £18,000 and well below the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s minimum income standard of £17,100.”

That’s a social policy research and development charity in the U.K. Source

I’ve always loved to write, so after graduation from secondary or high school, I trained as a journalist between 2000 and 2004.

I worked as a print, news, and technology journalist for Irish newspapers and radio stations. I earned an income from writing in the traditional sense—getting paid by an employer for my work.

During the recession in 2008, many freelance journalists were let go, and some prominent Irish media publications went out of business, including a few I worked for.

I worked in social care (or in a residential care facility) for a few years, and I wrote mostly fiction as a hobby. I entered my stories into writing competitions that paid winners a small amount, but I didn’t have much luck.

So while out of work, I decided to start a blog about technology, thinking I could start the Irish version of popular US technology and productivity blog Lifehacker. 

I called it WorkReadPlay, which was a terrible name for a site.

Eventually, I realized I’m more interested in topics like creativity, writing, and productivity. So in 2014, I relaunched my site as Become a Writer Today .

After I relaunched my site, I wrote articles that no one read. Wondering how I could find readers, I started reading articles and then taking courses in blogging.

I also worked with the owner of a successful site who later became a mentor, Jon Morrow of Smart Blogger. His articles and courses laid out the path to earning a living from writing online.

After I’d found some readers, I faced extra costs like website hosting and my email service provider.

Next, I wondered how I could pay for these. So I studied how other online writers earn an income from their work on my own time.

Today, I earn money from writing through self-publishing books, freelance writing and creating courses.

I also earn money as a copywriter and content marketer in the B2B industry. I spend about 10-15 hours a week on freelance writing activities.

I earn money from recommending courses, software, and services that writers on my email list find beneficial. I

In some cases, I review these services for writers, and in other cases, I simply explain how I use them in my business via a video, email, or article.

I’ve taken dozens of courses in online business, entrepreneurship, and self-publishing.

They all recommend variations of the same business model: Figure out your ideal audience, create content that helps your audience then create or recommend relevant products, services or even books.

Invest in your education as a writer.

When you start earning an income from writing, my best tip is to set aside a small amount for learning each month.

At first, that might simply be a budget for buying business books. As your income grows, set aside a larger budget for taking online writing classes or   MasterClasses online classes  that help improve your craft.

The first time I spent a thousand plus dollars on an online course, I worried that I was being scammed and giving my money to a random person on the internet.

That person later became my mentor and taught me a lot about online business, over the course of five years.

Almost every course I have taken paid dividends directly in revenue or indirectly in soft skills.

I also recommend gaining expertise in areas like content marketing and diversifying your writing skillset.

Your path to getting paid to write might look different than mine, but most successful online writers earn more by diversifying their income streams.

Most successful nonfiction authors, for example, earn more money by offering additional services like courses or consulting.

Getting paid to write is easier than ever once you figure out your niche and who your ideal reader is. Lots of new jobs come online every day for writers. The question is do you have the right skill set?

Your niche could be creative writing jobs, greeting card writing, writing jobs for beginners, targeted ads, technical writing, content marketing, or academic writing. More writing jobs are online now than ever. You just have to know where to look.

Writing Jobs FAQ

Combine your ability to write about a particular topic with a secondary skill set. For example, learning the basics of SEO means you can write articles that rank in search on Google. Companies will hire your for this combination of unique skills.

Consider studying content marketing. This type of work combines creative thinking and ideas with traditional writing and marketing. Content marketers are also in high demand as the internet thrives on content.

Writing is a fantastic career choice. Thanks to the internet, writers have more opportunities than ever today. Even if you don’t earn a full-time living from writing, the ability to think clearly by writing is a secondary skill set useful for most professions.

Traditional writing jobs include working as a journalist, magazine writer or editor. Some better options today include freelance writing, working as a digital copywriter or content marketing. Employers are looking for writers with skillsets in all of these areas as the internet thrives in content. You could also write and self-publish a book or start a blog.

Writing is a universal skill that can be useful in almost all careers. However, if you are looking for a job where writing is a central element of your daily tasks, then there are many jobs out there for you right now. They include the likes of online content, as well as technical writing jobs, not forgetting all the work currently available within both the marketing and communications industries.

If you love writing, then you should know that these are just some of the jobs that require a lot of writing: communications executive, marketing executive, technical writer, PR executive, copywriter, and researcher. 

You can make excellent money working as a content marketing manager, with the average salary of this role about $70k per year. However, if you want to become a millionaire, you may need to succeed in your creative writing pursuits and have a lot of luck too!

Your Ph.D. in Creative Writing could help you get a job as a reporter, copywriter, editor or within marketing. In fact, your PhD could help you in any job hunting scenario, as it proves that you have an ability to work independently and creatively and shows you are a hard worker. 

Entry-level writing jobs include junior copywriter, junior reporter, proofreader, and content executive. That is not an exhaustive list. New writing jobs emerge as the tools and platforms for writers evolve. For example, the title of e-commerce copywriter didn’t exist in the early 2000s.

Edgar Allan Poe was a short-story writer, a poet, a critic, and an editor. He was born on January 19, 1809, in Boston, Massachusetts and died on October 7, 1849. Poe is famous for his macabre storytelling.  

To find high-paying content writing clients, consider utilizing freelance marketplaces (Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr), job boards, and cold-pitching to businesses in your niche. Networking at industry events and leveraging referrals from satisfied clients can also help you connect with high-paying clients. Additionally, use social media platforms to showcase your writing skills and attract potential clients.

To get paid for writing with no experience, consider writing for content mills, guest blogging for established blogs, pitching articles to websites and magazines, offering your services to local businesses and non-profits, and starting your own blog. These opportunities can help you gain experience, build a portfolio, and eventually attract paid writing gigs.

The type of freelance writing that pays the most varies depending on several factors, such as the writer’s experience, expertise, and the demand for their services. Some of the highest-paying freelance writing jobs include: 1. Copywriting for businesses 2. Technical writing for software, engineering, or medical industries 3. Grant writing for non-profit organizations 4. Ghostwriting for books, speeches, and articles 5. Content creation for high-traffic websites or blogs 6. Scriptwriting for television shows or movies.

Yes, there is a high demand for writers in various industries and sectors. With the rise of digital content, businesses and organizations are increasingly recognizing the importance of quality written communication to engage their audiences, drive traffic to their websites, and promote their products or services. Here are a few reasons why there is a high demand for writers: Content Marketing Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Digital Media and Publishing E-commerce and Product Descriptions Copywriting and Advertising Technical Writing Freelance Opportunities

Do you want an intensive course in non-fiction writing for fun or profit, plus the help you need to succeed as a blogger, freelance writer or non-fiction author? The Savvy Non-Fiction Writers Club will help you get paid to write fast. It’s the only resource you need if you want to become more prolific, earn more money or make an impact .

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.

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Posted on Sep 10, 2021

27 Sites for Landing Your Next Freelance Writing Jobs

In our media-saturated world, it’s often not hard to find writing jobs. That said, it’s not always easy to find quality opportunities that pay and let you really buff up your writing portfolio . To help you become a prolific freelance writer, here are 27 sites that can bring you good freelance writing jobs. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re interested in publishing, media, or copywriting; and whether you’re new to the craft or not! Hint: some of these are also great as in-between jobs to give you a break from writing your book while making some extra money. 

For jobs in the world of publishing 

You don’t have to be an author to be writing in publishing — you can be an editor , a ghostwriter , or you can even have a book marketing job (which involves writing things like flap copies). Here are some of the best sites for you to find those jobs. 

Reedsy is a marketplace that connects authors with publishing professionals who can help them produce stellar books. You’d most likely be interested in ghostwriting options. Authors usually help with writing a manuscript or a book proposal — and nonfiction books are quite popular! 

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2. Personal networks 

It’s a cliche tip but it’s the truth — networking can be an incredibly effective way to get ghostwriting jobs . More experienced writers can reach out to previous clients who probably know other authors in need of writerly expertise. New freelance writers can ask family and friends; you’d be surprised how many good stories are lying underneath our everyday lives, waiting for a chance to shine. If you know someone who has a great story they might be comfortable sharing with the world — it could be a business experience, or perhaps a personal journey — pitch the idea to them and see if they’re interested! 

💡 Pro-tip: Just because it’s personal doesn’t mean that you have to have met your contacts face-to-face! You can build a personal network on social media platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter as well.

3. Chicken Soup 

Remember those soulful short story collections that took the world by storm in the early 2000s? The original authors have been and are still self-publishing lovely compilations throughout the years. They’re always looking for fresh new stories , and though it’s not a long-term gig, the theme varies with time so you can submit different pieces every now and then. For each story (which are capped at 1,200 words), the contributor gets paid $200. 

4. Poets & Writers

Poets & Writers collects a wide range of job opportunities for US-based writers who want to enter the publishing industry. There are editorial assistant jobs , teaching jobs, advertising jobs, all of which are related to the sphere of writing one way or another. It’s constantly updated so bookmark it and come back whenever you need a new lead! 

5. Quill and Quire

For those based in Canada, Quill and Quire ’s job board is the place to go. The magazine posts full-time, part-time , freelance, and remote positions in publishing houses big and small. Writing jobs are just one of the many professions they promote, so you get options to expand beyond writing. You can also subscribe to their newsletter to get the latest updates sent to your inbox.

6. Publishers Marketplace 

If you don’t mind writing-adjacent jobs like editing, you can’t ignore Publishers Marketplace . Just from its name, you know that this is a no-nonsense site that aggregates the latest job postings in the industry. One thing to note is that they tend to list vacancies at traditional publishing houses, so qualifications such as an MFA or editing certificates are often (but not always) a requirement.

Are you open to having an editorial job while you write on the side? You can always find employment opportunities directly at publishing houses’ websites. Big 5 publishers are obvious options, but there are also a lot of independent publishers to check out. Below are a handful of companies that offer part-time or short-term opportunities for those who prefer a freelance-esque working experience.

7. Graywolf Press

Graywolf Press consistently puts out dozens of titles every year, fiction and nonfiction, that amplify the voices of underrepresented groups. The company offers seasonal paid internships and an annual fellowship for those new to creative writing jobs , which you can read about here . Both positions are part-time. 

8. The Coffee House Press

It started out small but The Coffee House Press has grown into a boundary-pushing company that brings out thoughtful and award-winning titles. The perks of working at this publishing house goes beyond its exciting projects — there are also remote opportunities ! 

9. Soho Press

Based in New York, Soho Press is at the heart of the publishing world. The company is recognized for its mystery-specific imprint, and it offers seasonal paid internships , both on- and offline, for those who are interested. 

10. Milkweed Editions

Milkweed Editions stands out for its experimental prose and poetry books — and the company offers two-year fellowships with paid salaries. If you want to be part of a diverse team and learn the ins and outs of book production, don’t forget to check Milkweed out. 

11. Tachyon Publications

If you love sci-fi and fantasy, then look no further, Tachyon Publications is where you should apply to. They’re almost always looking for freelance copy editors and proofreaders to help out with new releases, and you might even find in-house opportunities to join their staff and office pets!

For jobs in media, culture, and journalism 

Another path writers can go down, especially if you have a strong interest in pop culture, literature, and all the latest trends, is to work for magazines and newspapers. You can write columns, comment pieces, and the likes for plenty of different outlets. 

12. Catapult 

Catapult is a media company dedicated to helping emerging writers. The company offers classes, runs a magazine, and publishes both nonfiction and fiction titles, so there are several ways you can work with them. If you want to put pen to paper, you’ll be glad to know that the magazine’s always looking for new columnists — you pitch them here .

13. The Atavist Magazine

The Atavist takes creative nonfiction to another level with their monthly long-form stories. Rather than looking for popular profiles, they want you to delve into a character-driven recount of ordinary lived experiences. Their articles are 8,000 to 30,000 words long, so they’re almost like novelettes or novellas , and they offer a baseline payment of $6,000 per story. Find out more about how to pitch them here .

 14. Narratively

Another story-based nonfiction magazine, Narratively is an alternative for those who love finding hidden stories in life but would prefer to work on something shorter than an Atavist piece. Narratively asks for unique stories with a clear arc that engages the reader, so some creative writing skills are crucial. They pay around 0.10$ per word, and most articles are within the 2,000-5,000 words range. 

15. Boulevard Magazine 

If you want to write short stories and get paid for it, consider submitting to Boulevard . They’re open to fiction, non-fiction, and poetry submissions from November 1 to May 1, and they pay up to $300 per prose piece and $250 per poem. As with most literary magazines , you will have to space out your submissions, so this won’t pay the bill by itself. Still, it’s a bit of income you can add to your pocket every now and then!  

16. Electric Literature 

You might’ve heard of Electric Literature — it publishes fiction in its two weekly magazines ( Recommended Reading and The Commuter ) along with plenty of interviews, essays, and book listicles on its website. If you succeed in submitting a piece of flash fiction, short story, poetry, an interview, or an essay, you can earn between $75 and $300. They also host an annual short story contest, with an entry fee of $25, that can earn you $1,000.

✍ Interested in writing contests? Join Reedsy’s weekly short story contest and get the chance to win $250! 

17. Longreads

Whether you have a reading list or a unique story to share, Longreads is happy to hear about it. The editors are looking for short listicles and extensive features — you can pitch to them according to these guidelines . Their rates are competitive, and they encourage you to keep sending them pitches even if they didn’t accept you the first time around.  

18. Hyperallergic 

Looking for freelance writing jobs outside the realm of fiction and authorship but are still related to art and culture? If you’re not one to miss out on the latest exhibitions and you keep up with the art world, you can write for Hyperallergic . They appreciate well-researched magazine articles that display interesting opinions, and they pay around $100 per piece. You can also go for a 10-week paid internship for a more extensive experience with them. 

19. Vox Media

If you want to go for full-time writing and editing positions at a news outlet, check out Vox Media . With many magazines and ezines under its umbrella, from the culinary publication Eater to cultural sites like The Verge, there are plenty of vacancies to be filled. You’ll find a mix of entry and senior level positions on their board, many of which are available remotely. 

20. MediaBistro

For those eager to dive into multimedia production, there isn’t a more comprehensive job hub than MediaBistro . On this site, you can find a wide variety of jobs in magazines (including magazine editor positions, if you're ever interested), television companies, movie studios — the list goes on. While this selection does include more administrative positions, they still provide great inroads into journalist and screenwriting careers. 

21. Journalism Jobs

Another option is Journalism Jobs , where you can find pretty much all positions available in the media world. You can try your hand at op-ed and article writing, or you can start editing for newspapers. The work is fast-paced and fact-based, and there’s plenty of room to hone your writing skills! 

For marketing and PR jobs

Copywriting and content writing remains one of the most common freelance jobs for those who love words nowadays, which is why it’s a section we can’t overlook. Let’s check out some marketing and PR writing opportunities for you. 

22. Contently

As its name suggests, this job marketplace is all about content marketing. Brands and freelancers unite on the same site so that writers can be matched with projects they’re suitable for. The network of clients on Contently includes companies like American Express and GE, which means the pay can be as high as $1 per word in some niches. In exchange, the quality of work has to be top-notch. As such, new writers might find that it takes a while before they get a job via Contently. 

23. The Dots

This UK-based creative network functions like LinkedIn: it’s a space for creatives to showcase their profile, mingle with fellow workers, collaborate with one another, and apply to jobs. From TATE to Conde Nast to Burberry, there are global corporations on-site, searching for the next writer to strengthen their business. If you want to connect with like-minded people and keep your eyes peeled for high-profile opportunities, consider joining The Dots’s community .

24. Problogger

Focusing on helping bloggers earn more income, Problogger shares short-form ghostwriting , content writing, and even copy editing job opportunities without asking you to sign up or create an account with them. But consider signing up anyway if you want email updates regarding new vacancies in your preferred niches. 

25. Freelance Writing Jobs

Freelance Writing curates a list of opportunities for writers in all industries, including marketing. It’s alway being updated, so be sure to check in every now and then or subscribe to their newsletter to be caught up! There’s really no fuss to the website — it’s just a very handy resource for those looking for freelance writing jobs. 

26. Freelancer.com

Alternatively, you can check out Freelancer.com . This page lets you bid on writing jobs, and each client will select the freelancer most suitable for them. The problem with a site like this is balancing the competitiveness of your price with the value of your work so that you don’t undercharge. Doing some research on how much freelance ghostwriters charge beforehand will be necessary if you’re new to the craft. 

27. Upwork 

Another freelancer site you probably already know of is Upwork . While it uses the same mechanism as Freelancer, Upwork is a little more selective about its freelancers. They vet all applications, which means that you will have less people to compete with. Keep in mind though that, like Freelancer.com, Upwork is known for its lower rates.

And that’s it, those are 27 places where you can find some rewarding and legitimate freelance writing jobs. Apply with your best writing samples and we’re sure you’ll be able to find something for yourself. Good luck! 

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The 10 Best Websites to Find Academic Writing Jobs

Looking for a job in academic writing? These websites round up the best job opportunities around the world for you.

If you're a student looking for some extra dough, academic writing is one of the best ways to encash your skills. At the same time, it enhances your knowledge and helps you grow as a learner. In fact, it's not just for students; you can do it full-time if you are a professional writer.

Having the freedom to work from home, at your own pace, and having opportunities to grow are just a few perks of this job. So, if you are ready to delve deeper, let's look at ten great websites for finding academic writing jobs.

1. WritingCreek

WritingCreek is one of the best academic writing sites to work with if you are a beginner. It has a simple and free-of-cost hiring process, which usually takes 24 to 48 hours to complete. Once the team approves your account, you can start bidding and earning straight away. It offers a rate of $4.00 per page to beginners and up to $12.00 to experts.

The site lets you choose the subjects you are proficient in and has a regular stream of academic tasks with short and long deadlines. WritingCreek gives you the liberty to choose your tasks and work at your own pace, and its support team is always available for a live chat whenever you need them.

It also helps you enhance your skills as its in-house editors give feedback on the papers accepted by the client, offering useful tips for improvement. WritingCreek usually pays twice a month through different payment methods like Payoneer and PayPal without deducting any extra charges. You can also check out these technical writing jobs if you have the expertise.

2. EssayShark

You can get started on EssayShark within a week after taking and passing its test. If you are a college student and have solid writing skills, this platform can help you earn a decent amount to aid you in your studies. The site lets you bid on papers that fall under your subject area.

You can choose your preferred subjects in advance to get relevant tasks and can chat with the customers directly to discuss the details of the paper. EssayShark pays you twice a month, and along with the pay, it also offers bonuses and rewards if the customers give you good ratings because of your timely submissions and high-quality work.

3. Writers.ph

Being among the top academic writing websites, this platform targets professional-level writers and researchers to work for them. It usually takes 24 to 48 hours to review your application, and once approved, you can start working immediately. The site gets projects from all around the world and has a constant flow of work. It also offers 24/7 support to help you with any issues that you might face.

In addition, Writers.ph offers job promotions based on your performance, leading to status improvement and increased pay rates. It also has proofreading, editing, and presentation-related tasks, along with academic paper writing. Also, check out these great smartphone apps for freelance writers .

4. LancerHop

LancerHop provides you with multiple fields to work in. It hires academic writers, web developers, editing experts, web content writers, copywriters, editing experts, and bloggers. The hiring process is similar to that of other academic writing websites, where you need to create a profile, and after passing the test, you can start working.

It creates a dashboard where the system assigns you tasks. All of your information regarding payment, task completion, and editing is available on the dashboard. The platform allows you to set flexible timings for your work by choosing from different time zones and also flexible working days like weekdays only.

5. Academia Research

Academia Research offers you decent pay rates and career growth opportunities in the academic writing field. The registration process requires a test to get selected. Once the team approves your account, you start at a General level, where the pay is $3.00 per page for high school and college level papers.

You can move on to Advanced, Premium, and First Class levels to get paid $2.00 per page for master's and Ph.D. level papers. The site has a variety of tasks with flexible deadlines related to different subjects and education levels. It pays you twice a month through the payment method of your choice.

6. Essay Service

This platform provides you with an easy-to-use website with a mobile-friendly interface to let you access your account from anywhere. Moreover, it has an efficient system for competitive bidding that also offers a price negotiation facility.

Essay Service helps you build a career and a network, and you can share your professional portfolio with your clients and other contacts, helping you expand your customer base in the process. You also get a 24/7 online support system to guide you at each step.

You can withdraw money every 48 hours through Skrill or wire transfer. In addition, it lets you stay connected through SMS, email, and push notifications without needing to go online.

7. Writers Labs

Writers Labs provides you with a variety of opportunities, including academic writing, article writing, and essay writing. Its pay rates are pretty decent, varying from $5.00 to $26.00 for one page, and it also offers a 2% to 4% bonus on high efficiency.

You get a list of tasks on the site and can choose from those tasks based on your preference and availability. In addition, its support team is there to guide you through the process to help you get started. Check out these ways to source clients as a freelance writer .

8. Write My Essay Online

Write My Essay Online is a platform suitable for both academic writing beginners and experts. The website has a regular influx of tasks and helps you get assignments in the areas of your interest.

Registration on this website is free, much like on most sites on this list, and it has flexible work timing, allowing you to choose your projects as per your desire. Through bidding, you can decide your own rates and get paid twice a month.

9. Academic Minds

Academic Minds provides numerous services to help you unleash your academic writing potential. You have the option of taking up multiple roles, like tutoring, marking work, writing essays and dissertations, and editing. The website is UK based and helps international students in excelling in their academic tasks.

You can start bidding once your account is completely set up, and there is a potential to earn as much as $4000.00 per month through dissertations and tutoring. You can also showcase your online writing portfolio on these free platforms .

10. WriterBay

WriterBay provides you with projects and assignments in numerous fields. It has a free lifetime membership that offers a platform where you can get long-term work.

After registering with WriterBay, you can manage the workload at your own pace. In addition, it offers competitive pay and opportunities for personal growth. Most of its services are similar to those offered by other sites on this list.

Find Your Next Academic Job Through These Sites

Academic writing jobs provide a valuable opportunity for learning and growth. It is a huge field of work that allows you to earn and grow in your career.

Most of the websites shared above help you earn well and offer flexible timings for easier management. You can choose one or more of these sites to move forward while enjoying the rewards from the comfort of your home.

Get Essay Writing Jobs at Academia-Research.com

Are you a subject matter expert in your field and want to get paid for writing essays for students? Academia-Research is a great way for talented writers to connect with hundreds of students that need high-quality academic content for a wide range of topics. That’s right, dozens of students of all levels go to our website to get assistance with their projects. It includes everything academia-related: from compositions to long papers. The best part is that you can pick up and work on any topic within any field. With us you can build experience while earning good money!

We are the forefront company where you earn  living in the comfort of your home. Not only you can get paid to write essays online, but also build a legit career in the academic writing industry. Since day one you will grow as a professional and get promoted according to your monthly achievements. A bonus plan and tips from the customers are included.

We require degree-holding experts in many fields – English, Literature, Marketing, Arts, History, Psychology, Philosophy, Math, Chemistry, and more. If you have a degree in one of those fields and a desire to produce great papers, you’re more than welcome to apply!

THE BEST ONLINE ESSAY WRITING JOBS EVER

When you land our essay writing jobs, you’ll be a part of the elite network. You’ll be supported with all necessary support, comfortable conditions of work, and on time payment. If you want to be the one to manage your workload and fit work in with life, then this position definitely is for you! Here are more reasons to become a member of our team today:

• A variety of fields and topics to write for

Every day we replenish the pool of online essay writing jobs for students, which means you can easily pick up tasks within your field. We encourage our freelancers to take up tasks in a relevant to their education field.

• Flexible schedule

On our platform you have the freedom to work whenever you want. Whether you want to devote only a few hours or do it full-time, you’re welcome to choose your work mode. Pick up any task and stick to its delivery date – that’s all you need to do.

• Get paid to write essays: high rates plus bonuses

We value our professionals, that’s why we offer them great bonus plans and high pay rates, starting from $5-$20 per page. The price for a job depends on how fast it needs to be done and its level of difficulty.

• Convenient communication with your customers

Some jobs require direct communication with customers to deliver a more tailored paper. With our real-time platform you’ll get all the information you need to make your essay writer job as comfortable as possible. Get instant updates about incoming messages, converse with our Support Team and your customers – you can do all of this via our platform.

• Regular payouts

You’ll receive payment within the minimum of 14 days after finishing the job to any payment method of your choice. We also have a 30-day payment mode for those who want to receive their payments once a month. 100% of payments are released on time, no fail.

• No contests

We value your time and hard work. When you’ll pick up a writing job, you’ll be the only person working on it. No contests where customers decide whether they want to hire you or not. You write and get paid for it, that’s the way it works.

• New jobs every day

By replenishing the pool of available jobs every day, we at Academia-Research ensure that you have something to work on every day. So get up in the morning, check out what jobs we have available, pick up relevant ones (with the delivery dates you find comfortable), and plan your week accordingly!

• No membership fees

With us you get paid for doing freelance essay writing jobs. Work via your account with us at any time and reap its benefits without paying a dime for it.

• Only verified jobs

Every job is pre-paid by the customer and vetted by our Support Team, making it more convenient to find what you want to work on.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR QUALIFIED EXPERTS TO WRITE ESSAYS FOR MONEY

We are on the lookout for talented, knowledgeable writers with perfect English grammar and writing skills. If you have a strong academic background (at least a college degree) and proper qualifications to do academic essay writing jobs , this position is definitely for you!

To start working with Academia-Research, you need to take an English proficiency test and a writing skill test. It will take only a few hours, and we’ll check your write-up in a day. If you have a proven record in writing academically for other companies, you can get hired without any tests.

Essay writers wanted! As a writer within our network, you’ll be expected to comply with these requirements:

• On-time delivery
• Following the brief applied to each job
• 100% original content
• Well-structured and referenced writing
• Only credible sources

Ready to get the job? Essay writing can be your career and a source of a great income. Join the leading company in this industry today. We’re waiting for you to apply!

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13 Sites with Beginner Freelance Writing Jobs in 2024

Preston Lee

Preston Lee is the founder of Millo where he and his team have been helping freelancers thrive for over a decade. His advice has been featured by Entrepreneur, Inc, Forbes, Adobe, and many more. Learn more »

Alex Skinner

Alex Skinner is a Content Strategist at Millo and a founder of Keystone Digital Services. A man of the people, Alex, is a: binge watcher, music creator, basketball player, food cooker/taster, party hoster, conversation starter, and a deep cut reference maker. Want to talk about anything? Talk to Alex. Learn more »

1. SolidGigs

3. problogger job board, 4. clearvoice, 6. flexjobs, 7. freedom with writing, 8. morning coffee newsletter, 9. freelance writing jobs, 10. we work remotely, 11. working nomads, 12. journalism jobs, tips for finding more writing jobs, good luck on your writing job search.

BIG NEWS! We just released The Freelance Files , a collection of professional done-for-you email scripts, contracts, invoices, and more for smarter freelancing. The first 50 customers, save 50% with this link .

Right now, beginners can find freelance writing jobs more easily than ever before. In the past, entry-level freelance writers had to sift through thousands of classified ads, send unsolicited pitch letters to magazine and newspaper editors, and often work for free to demonstrate their skills.

Not anymore!

If you are a beginning freelance writer seeking potential clients to earn money from writing or aiming to advance your freelance writing career, the number of opportunities and excellent online platforms for finding freelance writing jobs has never been greater.

Whether you prefer to work from home, part-time, or full-time, this list of job boards will undoubtedly assist you in securing more writing jobs quickly.

• As a beginner freelance writer, it’s important to start building your portfolio by taking on smaller, lower-paying jobs and gradually working your way up to higher-paying, more prestigious gigs.
• There are many different types of freelance writing jobs available, including blog writing, copywriting, content writing, technical writing, and grant writing. Freelancers can find jobs through job boards, content mills, social media, and their own personal networks.
• To be successful as a freelance writer, it’s important to develop strong writing skills, stay organized and efficient, and focus on delivering high-quality work that meets the needs of clients.

Here are the best sites that post freelance writing jobs for beginners every day.

First on the list of sites that post freelance writing jobs for beginners is SolidGigs . Whether you’re into blogging, copywriting, or social media, you’ll find great writing jobs with SolidGigs.

By hand, they sort through dozens of freelance jobs sites every week and then post the best 1-2% of freelance job opportunities for their subscribers.

You pay only a small monthly fee to access their list, and they don’t take a percentage of your client’s paycheck, which is extremely beneficial when you’re just starting out as a freelance writer. If you’ve been in the field for some time, you’re aware of how incredibly tedious job searching can be, so consider the time you invest against what you’ll save.

You can try SolidGigs free for 7 days. Or learn more in our full review of SolidGigs .

If you’re looking for a site with freelance writing jobs for beginners plus jobs you can use later on in your freelancing career, then Contena is another job board you should look more into.

Contena’s website lists various freelance and remote writing jobs, including high-quality opportunities with significant pay, such as a job for a Credit Cards Content Editor at a Finance Business offering $7,000 per month​​. This confirms the availability of substantial freelance writing job opportunities through Contena, supporting the notion of lucrative earning potential for writers working from home.

Next on the list is a personal favorite of mine. Why? Because some of my earliest freelance writing jobs I found through this job board.

It doesn’t just feature freelance writing jobs for beginners, so you’ll have to sort through all the listings, but the Problogger Job Board is one of the best—especially if you’re interested in writing for online publications and blogs.

ClearVoice allows freelancers to sign up on their platform and help them seize opportunities as soon they arise. Their onboarding process is super simple; using your CV, you can join their Talent pool where new leads will automatically be matched to your expertise.

ClearVoice also allows you to directly pitch to clients available on their platform. Payments are hassle free as well. You can set your own rate and get paid at your own terms.

Sign up for ClearVoice here .

Vollna is a freelance job site designed to be unique, as it automates the project search for freelancers, freelance teams, and agencies, eliminating the need for tedious scrolling through irrelevant job postings. The platform offers a job filter tailored to users’ needs, compiling job listings from all the top freelance job boards into one place.

By delivering the most relevant jobs that match freelancers’ skills and preferences directly to their inbox, Slack, Telegram, Discord, or Vollna Dashboard, Vollna streamlines the job search process. This service includes high-paying projects from platforms such as Upwork, ensuring freelancers receive opportunities that align with their expertise and preferences​​.

Next on the list is a goldmine of freelance writing jobs for beginners and experts alike. FlexJobs posts hundreds of new freelance jobs every week of varying difficulty and quality.

If you set up the right filters, you’ll instantly have access to a whole bunch of beginner-level freelance writing gigs — content writing, SEO, social media, copywriting, and more. Learn more about FlexJobs’ free trial here .

The next site we know about that offers freelance writing jobs for beginners is a bit…how do we say it… outdated-looking.

But don’t let the old-school design throw you off: FWW posts some really great freelance writing jobs for beginners and experts alike.

While the next one on our list may not actually be a “website” that offers daily freelance writing jobs for beginners, it’s still definitely worth mentioning.

The Morning Coffee Newsletter is among the best sent-to-you email lists of freelance writing jobs that we’re aware of. They’ve been sending the newsletter since 1998 , so it’s safe to say they know a thing or two about freelance writers.

Plus, this can diversify your source of job listings, so it’s not just a traditional job board.

This next site definitely doesn’t win any awards for creativity when it comes to their name, but it’s straightforward. With Freelance Writing Jobs you know exactly what you’re getting.

FWJ posts a new job postings list nearly every day with freelance writing jobs for beginners, content writers, and more. Definitely worth checking out.

If you’re particularly interested in freelance writing jobs for beginners because you want to build a career that doesn’t tether you to one particular location, then We Work Remotely is a good option for you!

They’ve got a robust section of freelance copywriting jobs as well as freelance jobs in all sorts of other categories.

Whether you just want to work in your pajamas from your couch or have an itch to travel the world while you work as a freelance writer, Working Nomads is a great option to add to your list of sites posting freelance writing jobs.

Their “writing” section primarily features freelance writing jobs for beginners or experts in marketing and copywriting.

If you’re focused on trying to break into reporting and investigative writing, you may be able to use Journalism Jobs to find some freelance writing jobs for beginners in journalism.

Their site offers a unique angle in a specific niche within freelance writing—one that can offer excitement and fun to your daily writing work. How can you deny a boost in your freelancing life?

Of course, no list sharing sites that post daily freelance writing jobs for beginners would be complete without mentioning one of the largest (maybe the largest?) freelance marketplace in the world: Upwork .

Upwork connects freelancers with clients. Catering to various skill levels and needs, with new freelance writing jobs posted daily for bidding and application.

I personally know many freelancers who kicked off their freelance careers by landing beginner jobs on platforms like Upwork. Perhaps this could be a viable route for you too? There’s a wealth of potential clients out there waiting for you!

We understand the list of job sites we provided might seem daunting—that’s why we compiled it, to help you filter through your options.

If you’re feeling stuck looking at this list, unsure of where to begin, here are some tips to assist you.

Understand the type of job board you’re using

SolidGigs, FlexJobs, and Upwork differ significantly. Diversifying your search is a smart strategy, but you should understand how each job board operates.

SolidGigs, for instance, sends job opportunities directly to you, eliminating the need for you to search. They aggregate jobs from top sites for you. FlexJobs requires you to sign up and apply to job listings on their platform, offering positions vetted by FlexJobs and sought after by hiring companies. Upwork operates as a freelance marketplace, where thousands of freelancers create profiles and submit proposals to secure jobs.

So, which type of job board are you inclined to try? Or would you prefer one that finds jobs for you?

Maintain consistency

Consistency is crucial in securing more freelance work. You must dedicate time and effort to search for and apply to writing opportunities.

Echoing Wayne Gretzky’s famous words, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”

Keep applying—the more you apply, the better you become at crafting cover letters, increasing your chances of landing more writing jobs.

Stay professional yet personable

When reaching out, regardless of the job site, aim to infuse your pitches with your personality.

A dull approach might lead to your application being overlooked.

However, by being personable yet professional, you give employers a glimpse of who you are.

Continue writing

Even when jobless and searching, keep writing.

Invent a fictional client and write articles as if for a real job. This practice not only hones your skills but also adds to your portfolio.

Always strive to improve your writing skills, so never cease writing.

Explore further on becoming a freelance writer .

Look, we get it — job hunting sucks! But with this list of the best writing job sites, and even an affordable service that will do the work for you, we have no doubt you’ll be able to get work sooner than later.

That’s all we’ve got for you today. But we’ll be sure to keep an eye out and add any new sites offering regular freelance writing jobs for beginners. If we’ve missed anything, please be sure to let us know!

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Written by Preston Lee

Editor at millo.co.

Preston Lee is the founder of Millo where he and his team have been helping freelancers thrive for over a decade. His advice has been featured by Entrepreneur , Inc , Forbes , Adobe, and many more.

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10 Sites With the Best-Paying Freelance Writing Jobs

• by Siobhan Park

Some links in this post may be affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. But rest assured that all opinions remain my own. You can read my full affiliate disclaimer here .

Would you love to get paid to write and have thousands of people read your articles? With all the content on the internet these days, there are lots of companies and publications offering paid online writing jobs.

Unfortunately, some of these companies only pay pennies for your hard work, and others say they’ll pay you in “internet exposure.” And even the most seasoned freelance writers can fall victim to internet scams .

But there are sites that pay well for high-quality writing. We’ve gathered 10 of the best sites for legit freelance writing jobs below.

10 sites with legit freelance writing jobs

Ready to get started? Here are 10 sites with the best-paying freelance writing jobs so you can get paid to write while getting your byline out there on the web.

1. BloggingPro

• Daily job postings
• Dedicated to bloggers

BloggingPro is an online job board primarily dedicated to writing and blogging opportunities . You may find a lot of big name publications or companies on this site. However, unlike some other sites, BloggingPro doesn’t seem to have a screening process for clients, so you’ll need to vet each opportunity yourself.

2. FlexJobs

• Wide variety of topics to choose from
• Search for jobs based on work schedule, remote work level, career level, and job types

FlexJobs is one of the most popular websites for freelance work . The platform offers a wide range of jobs, including some of the best-paying freelance writing jobs, so you can find something that works for you. Writing searches include blogging, grant writing, technical writing, online content, and copywriting. You can also set up notifications for new jobs that meet your criteria.

3. Freelance Mom

• $75-$100 per article
• Niche content – professional mothers
• Proposal-based work

Freelance Mom is a source of actionable insights and tips for a wide variety of topics that affect professional mothers. If you’re interested in writing for Freelance Mom, you must submit a topic idea to the editor. The proposal should include your angle, your approach/research/insights on the topic, and what the reader will gain from reading the article.

You must also include the first paragraph of the article and an outline. Then the editors will let you know if your topic has been approved.

4. FreelanceWriting.com

• Wide variety of topics and industries
• Contract, freelance, and on-going opportunities

FreelanceWriting.com is an online job posting board with jobs for everyone from writing newbies to seasoned professionals.  Every day, dozens of new jobs are listed on the site, making it an ideal source for new opportunities. Search for jobs that match your criteria, and apply directly on the site.

5. Income Diary

• Up to $200 for an article
• Niche content – digital marketing
• Proposal-based contracts
• Published under your name

Income Diary is a website dedicated to making money online through social media, SEO, content writing, and more. Therefore, they are looking for high-quality, well-researched blogs and articles that are a minimum of 1,500 words. If you’re an expert in digital marketing subject matter, then you can submit a proposal idea with the article title, description, estimated due date, and estimated word count.

6. The Penny Hoarder

• Niche market – personal finance

If you love to write about saving or making money, The Penny Hoarder is for you. They look for minimum 700-word evergreen articles that help readers earn, save, and grow their money. To submit a proposal on their site, you must include the potential headline, idea description, three links to digital publications, and a short bio.

7. Talent, Inc

• $20 per resume
• Steady work

Talent, Inc  seeks writers who can help struggling job seekers by perfecting their resumes , cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles. With the ability to work anywhere in the world on your own time, plus a steady stream of work, this perfect for freelance writers. Visit their website to apply as a resume writer or get more information.

8. The Writer Finder

• Opportunities in any niche
• Steady work and build SEO skills

The Writer Finder is always looking for freelance writers to connect with their expansive network of businesses. With jobs available in dozens of niches, you have access to a steady stream of projects that suit your interests and talents. Fill out their form online, and they’ll reach out to you with their current needs and open jobs.

9. Transitions Abroad

• Pays up to $150 an article
• Perfect for travellers

Transitions Abroad invites contributions on working, traveling, studying, volunteering, and living abroad. They provide detailed guidelines on how they prefer articles to be structured and how to submit content, so be sure to read this carefully before writing. This is the perfect site for any digital nomad , but know that it may take up to two weeks for submissions to be approved.

• Access to hundreds of jobs
• Must bid on projects

Upwork is hands down one of the most popular sites for freelancers. With hundreds of new jobs posted every day, writers bid on projects that appeal to them. However, this site can be frustrating for new writers who join the platform. The more work you complete on Upwork, the more likely you are to win projects.

So you may have to submit many proposals before you start to take off. But your hard work will be worth it. After gaining a solid reputation on Upwork, you can place higher bids and get work. Keep in mind that Upwork does take a percentage of your pay, so be sure to factor that into your bid.

Find legit freelancing writing jobs and get paid to write

Writing is a valuable skill, so don’t settle for low-paying writing jobs. With these sites and others like them, you can find clients who will compensate you fairly for your hard work.

Along with searching for the best-paying freelance writing jobs, make sure to focus on growing your network and building an impressive portfolio of work.

By doing your research and connecting with others in your industry, you’ll have an impressive roster of clients in no time.

About Siobhan Park

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2. focus on article writing, 3. ghostwriting , 4. write for people… and search engines, 5. connect businesses with prospects through social media copy, 6. get your creative juices flowing with email marketing, 7. press release writing, 8. inspire readers by getting personal, 9. become a podcast writer, 10. participate in a writing contest.

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Academic Writing Jobs

Academic writing has become a source of employment for many online freelancers leading to a highly competitive market online.

Successful freelancers spend time searching for academic writing jobs that best suit their schedule and pay them what they deserve.

At Writerslabs, we are the giants in providing freelancers with academic writing jobs that will earn you what you deserve as a writer. The rates for our most valued writers are above those of most writing sites.

Our writers are spoilt for choice when it comes to the online academic writing jobs available in our site. The orders are very convenient and in case you are committed with other orders or responsibility, you can easily decline the order.

We are currently looking for academic writing freelancers to join our writers’ team. Freelance Academic Writing Jobs

We seek passionate and dedicated writers to join our team of online writers to produce high-quality work for our clients. If you are a freelancer looking for constant job flow and pay that you deserve, here is the organization you need.

Here at Writerslabs, we pay very competitive rates to our freelance writers. What’s more, we provide our writers with work that they qualified and interested in to work on

We are dedicated to providing our freelance writers with academic writing jobs online and other opportunities they deserve. The administrators and owners of our organization understand the hard work that writers put in to produce high-quality work for our clients, which is why we pay more.

Unlike most organizations that pay academic writers based on a standard rate that does not relate to the actual work needed for the project, we pay according to the effort required to complete a task. Our leaders are well experienced in academic writing and are familiar with the difficulties involve therefore they ensure that the pay matches your effort as a writer.

To meet our goals of ensuring high customer satisfaction, reliable service, and industry leadership, we need you as a professional writer to meet the high standards of our clients. In return, we will care for your financial needs that match your effort.

Active freelance writers can increase their income by writing academic papers for our services during any time depending on their schedule. At Writerslabs, we pay our freelance writers bonuses for their consistent high performance.

We need writers who have a good appetite to earn what they deserve and in return. The writers should be one who value our customers and strive to satisfy their needs.

If you have been looking for the best organization to work for as a freelance writer, search no more. You can visit us today and sign up for the academic writing vacancies online. Many passionate and dedicated writers are looking for opportunities that augment their personal achievement and growth. Such opportunities are rare to find in most academic writing organizations. With us, you will find personal fulfillment from your writing career as well as cover your expenses and provide you with opportunities to grow as a writer.

Register To Start Earning As A Freelance Writer!

13 Creative Writing Jobs You Can Do From Home

You’re looking for remote creative writing jobs — and not just because you’re an introvert with a knack for writing . 

You have an independent spirit, and you can think of many reasons why working from home would be a good fit for you. 

So many of your peers are working remotely, now, after all. And you’d very much like to join them. But what types of creative writing opportunities should you focus on? 

Welcome to our list of 13 options with links to help you get started. 

13 Creative Writing Jobs You Can Do from Home 

1. ghostwriting, 2. novels or novellas, 4. screenplays, 5. fan fiction, 6. blogging, 7. copywriting and web content, 8. video games, 9. personal essays and op eds, 10. online magazine articles, 11. greeting cards, 12. speeches, 13. creative writing coach or consultant.

You can do any of the following creative writing jobs from home. 

Consider what you enjoy doing and focus on the kind of writing work you’d gladly do every day — even if the pay didn’t start out as high as you’d like. 

If you don’t already have experience with freelance writing or a collection of high-quality work to share with prospective clients or readers, think of these as entry-level creative writing jobs. 

Make it a priority to build an accessible portfolio of your best writing samples to give clients and readers a taste of what they can expect from you.

This can be a hyperlinked list of book excerpts, an active blog, or a link to free ebook collections of poems, short stories, or personal essays. 

Show who you are and where you shine. And make it easy for your ideal clients to get a hold of you for new writing contracts or projects. 

Freelance Fiction Writing Jobs

Freelance writing usually brings to mind article writing or copywriting, but there’s plenty of room for fiction writers in this field.

Don’t be afraid to start with low-budget projects, as long as the client values your work and treats you with respect. 

Yes, rates matter, especially when you’ve got bills to pay. But ultimately, good client-writer relationships are what will make freelance work something you’ll want to do long-term. 

Ghostwriters write either fiction or nonfiction for a client who pays for their rights to the content. Essentially, your client pays in order to use your content as their own.

And if you admire your client’s work, the fact that they want to put their name on something you wrote is a huge compliment. 

You can find ghostwriting gigs on sites like Upwork and Freelancer.com , or you can join a ghostwriting agency as one of their writers. 

If you’d rather write fiction under your own name, take advantage of Duotrope ’s free trial to find the best markets for your chosen genres, using their searchable database.

Or search the most recent printed edition of the Novel and Short Story Writer’s Market .

You can also find fiction writing gigs on websites like Upwork and Freelancer.com . Or look up “fiction writing jobs” on Indeed.com or SimplyHired.com . 

3. Short Stories

If you’d rather write short stories , you can find markets for your own finished stories using Duotrope or the Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market . Or if you’d like to write short stories for clients, try shopping for gigs on Upwork. 

Flash Fiction Online is now open to all submission categories through Submittable. The Sun is also open to short stories, as well as essays, interviews, and poetry. 

You can always do an internet search on “Short story guidelines” to find new options. 

You can find screenplay writing gigs on Upwork and Freelancer.com, as well as on Indeed.com . Or search the new playwriting and screenwriting sections of the 2020 Writer’s Market . 

You can also check out the Screenwriter’s Market website for a listing of producers seeking screenplay submissions. 

The best place to start with writing and sharing your fan fiction is Archive of Our Own (AO3) , an archive for “transformative fanworks,” including fanfiction and fan art. Participate in challenges to get more eyes on your work. 

Otherwise, if you build a big enough following on Tumblr , it’s not unheard of to meet (among the many people writing mini-fanfic for their favorite fandoms) someone willing to pay you to develop their story ideas into actual books. 

Online Creative Writing Jobs

If you’re thinking specifically of online writing jobs — i.e., writing for online media — you have more options now than ever, the most popular of which are the ones you’ll see here.

If you love pouring your heart into blog posts — whether spur of the moment, well-researched, or something in between — and you’d love to get paid for writing them, freelance blogging could be a good fit, either for part-time or full-time work.

Search job boards like ProBlogger and BloggingPro to find promising gigs in this field.

If you’d rather write marketing copy or web content, you can find plenty of work online on job boards, on Upwork, or by creating your own gigs on Fiverr.com.  

If you know your niche better than most, you can find higher-paying work by contacting the marketing departments of companies you’d like to write for.

Create some high-quality work samples — sales pages, email campaign copy, etc. — to showcase your skills. 

If you love video games with interactive narratives and want to write for them, check out the Game Industry Career Guide to get the information you need and to find your first paid writing opportunity with one of the “best game companies to work for.”  

Learn from other video game writers (like this one ) about the craft, what it entails, and how to break into it. 

Yes, you can actually make some decent money just sharing your opinion with others — as long as you do it well.

Learn more from articles like this one on how to write an op-ed piece and find markets willing to pay you for them. 

Many online markets (including Sun and Buzzfeed ) will also pay for well-crafted personal essays. Check out this post on MakeALivingWriting.com for more links. 

Look up “online writing jobs” and you’re sure to find articles (like this one ) with hyperlinked lists to online magazines.

Click away to find those open to submissions of high-quality articles in your chosen niche or niches. 

It might seem counterintuitive to narrow down your options, but the more you know about your chosen niche/s, the better able you’ll be to write compelling queries and engaging articles for the magazines that specialize in those areas.

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Miscellaneous Creative Writing Jobs

Not all writing involves stories , articles, or web copy.

And even if you’re just looking for more variety in your creative work from home, here are a few examples of alternatives to consider. 

If you want to write greeting card copy, start by reading articles (like this one ) with lists of paying markets, like Blue Mountain Arts and Oatmeal Studios . 

Then brainstorm some ideas for greeting card copy — whether it’s funny, romantic, sympathetic or something else — and develop and submit your best work. 

To earn good money writing speeches, you need not only some stellar examples for your portfolio (to attract clients) but a steady queue of clients who want you to write speeches for them.

You can find your first clients on Upwork, Freelancer.com, or Craigslist. 

An internet search on “get paid to write speeches” will also lead to content that can help you make a strong start as a speechwriter.

If you’d rather work in an advisory capacity and do most of your writing for yourself (your own books and/or blog), consider working as a creative writing coach or creative consultant.

This is either someone who helps exclusively with the writing of your clients’ books or someone who helps with all aspects of their creation and publication. 

You’ll need clients for this, and you can get your first few testimonials (for your website, ads, etc.) by exchanging services with other authors on social media or by working as a virtual author assistant, with writing coach duties as part of your author success package.

Did you find the best creative writing jobs for your needs?

Now that you’re more familiar with creative writing jobs you can do from home, which of these had the strongest appeal for you? 

Which can you picture yourself doing every day without getting sick of it? Because it can be challenging to work from home, even when you enjoy the work.  

And, trust me, it’s way too easy to put off self-care and avoid people in order to get more done. But don’t do it. You need energy to keep this going, and self-care and quality social time are essential to that.

May you find a new normal that fits your life and leads you in a better direction. 

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Deepfake of U.S. Official Appears After Shift on Ukraine Attacks in Russia

A manufactured video fabricated comments by the State Department spokesman, Matthew Miller.

• Share full article

By Michael Crowley ,  Valerie Hopkins and Edward Wong

Michael Crowley reported from Washington; Valerie Hopkins from Berlin and Belgorod; and Edward Wong from Prague, while traveling with Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken.

A day after U.S. officials said Ukraine could use American weapons in limited strikes inside Russia, a deepfake video of a U.S. spokesman discussing the policy appeared online. The fabricated video, which is drawn from actual footage, shows the State Department spokesman, Matthew Miller, seeming to suggest that the Russian city of Belgorod, just 25 miles north of Ukraine’s border with Russia, was a legitimate target for such strikes.

The 49-second video clip, which has an authentic feel despite telltale clues of manipulation, illustrates the growing threat of disinformation and especially so-called deepfake videos powered by artificial intelligence.

U.S. officials said they had no information about the origins of the video. But they are particularly concerned about how Russia might employ such techniques to manipulate opinion around the war in Ukraine or even American political discourse.

Belgorod “has essentially no civilians remaining,” the video purports to show Mr. Miller saying at the State Department in response to a reporter’s question, which was also manufactured. “It’s practically full of military targets at this point, and we are seeing the same thing starting in the regions around there.”

“Russia needs to get the message that this is unacceptable,” Mr. Miller adds in the video, which has been circulating on Telegram channels followed by residents of Belgorod widely enough to draw responses from Russian government officials.

The claim in the video about Belgorod is completely false. While it has been the target of some Ukrainian attacks, and its schools operate online, its 340,000 residents have not been evacuated.

The false assertions that civilians have fled and that the city is mainly a military zone might imply a Western willingness to support indiscriminate strikes there, which is not the case.

President Biden has given Ukraine what officials call limited permission to use American weapons for self-defensive strikes inside Russia. The shift in policy came in response to Russia’s positioning just inside its border of missiles, glide bombs and artillery shells that it is using to attack the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv and its surrounding areas.

The video also shows Mr. Miller seeming to respond to a reporter’s contention — also manipulated — that other countries are “allowing their weapons to strike deep within Russian territory,” which is not accurate, although some Western leaders have said their weapons can be used to hit border targets in Russia that are threatening Ukraine.

“So we’re going to back our allies in whatever they decide to do, and maybe help some of the folks who are on the fence about this make the right choice,” Mr. Miller is made to say.

Mr. Miller, who was traveling with Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken this week in Moldova and the Czech Republic, denounced the video in a statement.

“The Kremlin has made spreading disinformation a core strategy for misleading people both inside Russia and beyond its borders,” he said. “It’s hard to think of a more convincing sign your decisions aren’t working out than having to resort to outright fakes to defend them to your own people, not to mention the rest of the world.”

Several Russian media outlets and websites referred to or disseminated the video, with no mention that the lip sync was off — or that Mr. Miller’s shirt and tie changed color midway.

As it happens, combating Russian disinformation was a central theme of Mr. Blinken’s latest trip. In both Moldova and the Czech Republic, he spoke publicly of such assaults in European nations engineered by pro-Russia propagandists. In many cases, the actors spread lies using networks on social media platforms, including through fake accounts.

At a meeting on Friday in Prague, Mr. Blinken and his counterparts from other members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization discussed how to blunt Russian disinformation and other types of “hybrid attacks” aimed at eroding governance and democratic systems in the United States and European allied nations.

“I can tell you that in the meeting today, virtually every ally was seized with this intensification of Russia’s hybrid attacks,” Mr. Blinken said at a news conference on Friday afternoon. “We know what they’re up to, and we’ll respond both individually and collectively as necessary.”

At the first stop on the trip , in Chisinau, Moldova, U.S. officials and their counterparts discussed the online propaganda aimed at undermining the president, Maia Sandu, who has been pushing for Moldova to enter the European Union and is up for re-election in October.

On Thursday, Mr. Blinken and Jan Lipavsky, the foreign minister of the Czech Republic, signed a memorandum of understanding in Prague to counter “foreign state information manipulation,” the State Department said.

Joining the trip was James P. Rubin , who had Mr. Miller’s job in the Clinton administration and is now a special envoy dealing with disinformation and coordinator for the State Department’s Global Engagement Center.

Mr. Miller’s phony remarks were repeated verbatim on the Telegram channel of Russia’s Human Rights Council, a state body that nominally advises President Vladimir V. Putin. The council’s account then shared the angry response of its chairman, Valery Fadeyev.

“Washington deliberately does not want to notice Kyiv’s obvious crimes against humanity,” Mr. Fadeyev wrote. “I don’t particularly expect that this information will be conveyed to the cynic from the State Department, but the truth is ours in any case.”

Mr. Fadeyev, in his post condemning Mr. Miller’s “lies,” suggested that the United States did not understand that civilians were at risk in Belgorod. He said that at least 175 civilians had been killed in the Belgorod region and another 800 injured since February 2022.

Russia’s state news agency TASS ran an article on Thursday based on Mr. Fadeyev’s comments. As of Friday night, the Human Rights Council had not issued a statement on its Telegram channel acknowledging that the video was fake.

The Insider, an independent Russian outlet with a section dedicated to rooting out fake news, noted that the video was also available on the Russian social network VK, which is now controlled by businessmen close to Mr. Putin, and other websites run by pro-war propagandist Aleksandr Kots.

Life in Belgorod is far from normal: Schools operate online only, and air raid sirens wail regularly. Explosions are regularly heard, with buildings damaged and civilians killed. A spate of explosions on Dec. 30, 2023, that Moscow blamed on Ukraine killed 25 people and injured at least 100. The explosions came one day after Russian airstrikes in cities across Ukraine killed 57 and wounded 160.

Some regions near the border have been evacuated, and many smaller towns and villages within range of the border are regularly subject to drone and artillery attacks from Ukraine. In late April, Belgorod’s regional governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said that at least 120 civilians, including 11 children, had died as a result of Ukrainian strikes. He said that another 651 people had been injured since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Julian E. Barnes contributed reporting from Washington.

Michael Crowley covers the State Department and U.S. foreign policy for The Times. He has reported from nearly three dozen countries and often travels with the secretary of state. More about Michael Crowley

Valerie Hopkins covers the war in Ukraine and how the conflict is changing Russia, Ukraine, Europe and the United States. She is based in Moscow. More about Valerie Hopkins

Edward Wong is a diplomatic correspondent who has reported for The Times for more than 24 years from New York, Baghdad, Beijing and Washington. He was on a team of Pulitzer Prize finalists for Iraq War coverage. More about Edward Wong

Our Coverage of the War in Ukraine

News and Analysis

The decision by the Biden administration to allow Ukraine to strike inside Russia  with American-made weapons fulfills a long-held wish by officials in Kyiv  that they claimed was essential to level the playing field.

In recent days, Ukraine has conducted a series of drone attacks inside Russia  that target radar stations used as early nuclear warning systems by Moscow.

Top Ukrainian military officials have warned that Russia is building up troops near northeastern Ukraine , raising fears that a new offensive push could be imminent.

Zelensky Interview: In an interview with the New York Times, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine challenged the West  over its reluctance to take bolder action.

Russia’s RT Network : RT, which the U.S. State Department describes as a key player in the Kremlin’s propaganda apparatus, has been blocked in Europe since Russia invaded Ukraine. Its content is still spreading .

Striking a Chord: A play based on a classic 19th-century novel, “The Witch of Konotop,” is a smash hit among Ukrainians who see cultural and historical echoes  in the story of what they face after two years of war.

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The Donald Trump I Saw on The Apprentice

For 20 years, i couldn’t say what i watched the former president do on the set of the show that changed everything. now i can..

On Jan. 8, 2004, just more than 20 years ago, the first episode of The Apprentice aired. It was called “Meet the Billionaire,” and 18 million people watched. The episodes that followed climbed to roughly 20 million each week. A staggering 28 million viewers tuned in to watch the first season finale. The series won an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program, and the Television Critics Association called it one of the best TV shows of the year, alongside The Sopranos and Arrested Development . The series—alongside its bawdy sibling, The Celebrity Apprentice —appeared on NBC in coveted prime-time slots for more than a decade.

The Apprentice was an instant success in another way too. It elevated Donald J. Trump from sleazy New York tabloid hustler to respectable household name. In the show, he appeared to demonstrate impeccable business instincts and unparalleled wealth, even though his businesses had barely survived multiple bankruptcies and faced yet another when he was cast. By carefully misleading viewers about Trump—his wealth, his stature, his character, and his intent—the competition reality show set about an American fraud that would balloon beyond its creators’ wildest imaginations.

I should know. I was one of four producers involved in the first two seasons. During that time, I signed an expansive nondisclosure agreement that promised a fine of $5 million and even jail time if I were to ever divulge what actually happened. It expired this year.

No one involved in The Apprentice —from the production company or the network, to the cast and crew—was involved in a con with malicious intent. It was a TV show , and it was made for entertainment . I still believe that. But we played fast and loose with the facts, particularly regarding Trump, and if you were one of the 28 million who tuned in, chances are you were conned.

As Trump answers for another of his alleged deception schemes in New York and gears up to try to persuade Americans to elect him again, in part thanks to the myth we created, I can finally tell you what making Trump into what he is today looked like from my side. Most days were revealing. Some still haunt me, two decades later.

Nearly everything I ever learned about deception I learned from my friend Apollo Robbins. He’s been called a professional pickpocket, but he’s actually a “perceptions expert.” Apollo has spent his life studying the psychology of how we distort other people’s perceptions of reality and has done so by picking pockets onstage for the entertainment of others. He is a master of deception, a skill that made him, back in the day, the so-called best-kept secret in Las Vegas. After “fanning” his marks with casual, unobtrusive touch designed to make them feel safe or at ease, Apollo determines where the items reside—the wallet inside a breast pocket, the Rolex fastened to a wrist—and he removes these items without detection. He’ll even tell you what he intends to steal before he does it. He does this not to hurt people or bewilder them with a puzzle but to challenge their maps of reality. The results are marvelous. A lot of magic is designed to appeal to people visually, but what he’s trying to affect is your mind, your moods, your perceptions.

As a producer working in unscripted, or “reality,” television, I have the same goal. Like Apollo, I want to entertain, make people joyful, maybe even challenge their ways of thinking. But because I often lack the cinematic power of a movie, with its visual pyrotechnics or rehearsed dialogue, I rely on shaping the perceptions of viewers, manipulating their maps of reality toward something I want them to think or feel.

The presumption is that reality TV is scripted. What actually happens is the illusion of reality by staging situations against an authentic backdrop. The more authentic it is to, say, have a 40-foot wave bearing down on a crab boat in the Bering Sea for Deadliest Catch , the more we can trick you into thinking a malevolent Russian trawler is out there messing with the crabber’s bait. There is a trick to it, and when it works, you feel as if you’re watching a scripted show. Although very few programs are out-and-out fake, there is deception at play in every single reality program. The producers and editors are ostensibly con artists, distracting you with grand notions while we steal from you your precious time.

But the real con that drove The Apprentice is far older than television. The “pig in the poke” comes from an idiom dating to 1555: “I’ll never buy a pig in a poke / There’s many a foul pig in a fair cloak.” It refers to the time-honored scam of selling a suckling pig at market but handing over a bag (the poke) to the purchaser, who never looks inside it. Eventually, he discovers he’s purchased something quite different.

Our show became a 21 st -century version. It’s a long con played out over a decade of watching Trump dominate prime time by shouting orders, appearing to lead, and confidently firing some of the most capable people on television, all before awarding one eligible person a job. Audiences responded to Trump’s arrogance, his perceived abilities and prescience, but mostly his confidence . The centerpiece to any confidence game is precisely that— confidence .

As I walk into my interview for The Apprentice , I inadvertently learn how important it is for every one of us involved to demonstrate confidence above all else.

I sit down with Jay Bienstock, the showrunner, who has one last producer position to fill and needs somebody capable and hardworking. His office is sparse, and the desk is strategically placed directly across from the couch, with a noticeable angle downward from his desk to whomever is seated across from him. (I’m recalling all of the quoted conversations here to the best of my ability; they are not verbatim.)

He is smiling and even laughing throughout the interview, but from the steep angle at which he gazes down on me, there is no mistaking who is in charge. He seems to like what he hears and offers to follow up with my agent. “But I have to check your references before I can hire you,” he says. “You’d be crazy not to,” I reply. He laughs, claps his hands together, and grins. “ THAT’S what I’m talking about,” he says. “That’s the confidence this show needs!”

I sit there, several inches below eyeline, and ponder what just happened. What, I wonder, is so “confident” about suggesting he’d be crazy to not check my references? Then it dawns on me. He thinks I meant “You’d be crazy not to hire me.” The signal to noise begins.

Listen to Bill Pruitt discuss this story on What Next , Slate’s daily news podcast:

Before I leave, I have to ask: Why Trump? Bienstock discovers that we both lived in New York for a time. Knowing what we know about Trump, selling the idea that intelligent people would compete to land a job working for him will be a challenge.

“The idea is to have a new and different billionaire every season—just like there’s a new and different island on Survivor . We reached out to Spielberg, Katzenberg, Geffen, among others,” he says. “Trump is the only one who agreed to sign on.” (Bienstock didn’t respond to a request for comment.)

“We’ll make it work,” Bienstock says confidently. I rise, shake his hand, and leave, and head over to Dutton’s bookstore to pick up a used copy of Trump’s The Art of the Deal . It is filled with takeaways about branding and strategizing but conveniently omits Trump bluffing his way through meetings with contractors, stiffing them when it is convenient to do so, and betraying his most trusted colleagues to get what he wants. (The book’s ghostwriter, Tony Schwartz, has since tried to get the bestseller recategorized in the Library of Congress as a work of fiction.)

Another show of confidence is the budget the series commands. It’s not as expensive as a scripted series, but for a reality show, the price is high. Never have I worked on a series with this level of funding, but the cost is justified. This needs to feel real.

New York City is the perfect—though expensive—backdrop. Trump’s actual offices are, however, less than telegenic. They are cramped, and a lot of the wood furniture is chipped or peeling. None of it is suitable to appear on camera. We need what grifters call the Big Store: a fake but authentic-looking establishment in which the con goes down. Trump Tower, at the time, is mostly condos and some offices situated in the high-rise. The mezzanine comprises vacant and overpriced retail space, all of it unfinished. Trump offers the space to the production—at a premium, naturally—and it is inside this location that we create our own “reception area” with doors leading to a fake, dimly lit, and appropriately ominous-feeling “boardroom.”

Next door, there’s the “suite” where the contestants will live, which is made to look like a trendy loft-style apartment they all share. The lodgings are made up of partitions surrounding tiny, hard bunks upon which the candidates sleep; the illusion comes from elegantly appointed common areas, where most of the interplay will go down.

During a tour of the set, I have my first encounter with Trump. I leave the suite and enter the gear room, the only vacant retail space that will remain unfinished. It is filled with equipment and crew members milling about. In walks a trio of men. In the middle is Trump, in a navy blue suit and scarlet tie. He’s surprisingly tall, and not just because of the hair. He is flanked by two even taller men. Bienstock makes introductions, and I watch as Trump shakes hands with everyone. I’d been told he would never do this, something about fearing unwanted germs. When it is my turn, I decide on the convivial two-hander and place my right hand into his and my left onto his wrist as we shake. His eye contact is limited but thorough. He is sizing me up. He looks like a wolf about to rip my throat out before turning away, offering me my first glimpse at the superstructure—his hairstyle—buttressed atop his head with what must be gallons of Aqua Net.

I watch as Trump saunters around the room, snatches up a fistful of M&Ms from the craft service table set aside for the crew, and shoves them into his mouth. Then he is gone, ushered away toward some important meeting he must attend, as if to say, to one and all present, This is unimportant .

Eventually, it’s time to roll cameras. When Trump is called to perform, we are filming the first scene of the first episode on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, and he is about to deliver the first task. Filming inside this beacon of capitalism and wealth gives the series the legitimacy it needs. A con artist would call staging the scam inside a legitimate institution “playing a man against the wall.”

From the balcony overlooking the famed trading room floor, Trump will set up the entire premise of the show on camera and engage in a little banter with the other participants. This includes introducing his advisers, George Ross, an older, grouchy attorney devoted to Trump’s legal affairs, and Carolyn Kepcher, a perpetual skeptic who runs his hospitality units and one of his golf clubs. (They might be called “the shills,” others in on the con who will act as Trump’s eyes and ears.)

The contestants are there, lined up and zeroed in on by camera operators getting reaction shots to whatever it is Trump says. Although they mostly just stand and wait, they patiently go along with the proceedings. They are not in on the con. They act as “the little blind mice,” who, in fraudster terms, convey a sense of authenticity by reacting to the goings-on, like lab rats caught in a maze.

Nothing is scripted—except for what Trump needs to say. Cue cards are present, but mostly it is Bienstock running up, coaching Trump, tossing out suggestions from the script he has written for the man. The feeling is that while doing a fair job of repeating the necessary words verbatim, Trump also appears to be inadvertently shouting at the contestants. His hands shuttle back and forth as if holding an invisible accordion, a gesture now famous in memes .

Each episode is filmed over three days. For the first episode, the two teams of contestants, divided by gender, take to the streets to carry out the initial task of trying to sell lemonade for the most money. The women pulverize the men.

Having won, the women are invited upstairs for a direct look at Trump’s very own apartment in Trump Tower, a reward designed specifically to introduce viewers to the gaudy but elevated world of Donald Trump at home. The men, who lost, go back to the loft to await their fate at the hands of Trump. He will be sending one of them home.

Inside the now-empty boardroom set, a meeting with the producers is called for the first briefing of Trump before the anticipated firing. With Trump are his cronies, Ross and Kepcher. Trump is “too busy,” so they have each observed both teams in the field and make an assessment of who prevailed and who fell behind.

Now, this is important. The Apprentice is a game show regulated by the Federal Communications Commission. In the 1950s, scandals arose when producers of quiz shows fed answers to likable, ratings-generating contestants while withholding those answers from unlikable but truly knowledgeable players. Any of us involved in The Apprentice swinging the outcome of prize money by telling Trump whom to fire is forbidden.

Considering this, Bienstock wisely chooses to record these off-camera briefings in case the FCC ever rolls up on us. Rather than blurt out who they think should get canned, the two producers of that week’s episode—each following one team—are coached to equitably share with Trump the virtues and deficiencies of each member of the losing team. This renders a balanced depiction of how and why they lost. There are obvious choices of whom to fire, but we want it to be something of a horse race, to sustain the drama and keep people watching.

Satisfied he has what he needs, Trump dismisses the prefiring discussion with the wave of a hand, claiming he has places to be, let’s get on with it, etc. We proceed to set up for what will be our first boardroom.

The producers retreat to the adjacent control room to watch the event unfold. Per the show’s format, the losing team is summoned in anticipation of one of its members being sent home. Leaving their luggage in the reception area, the men walk into the boardroom, where Trump is flanked by Ross and Kepcher, waiting for them solemnly. Trump just frowns from a gigantic red leather chair, his eyeline noticeably well above those sitting across from him.

The men proceed to verbally go after one another like gladiators jousting before the emperor. Trump takes the conversation into potentially dangerous terrain, asking one contestant, who is Jewish, whether he believes in “the genetic pool.” The contestant’s retort is swift and resolute: He tells Trump that he does, in fact, have the genes, “just like you got from your father, Fred Trump, and your mother, Mary Trump.” It pours out of him. It is dramatic. It is good reality TV.

The project manager must then choose two of the men to come back to the boardroom with him while everyone else is dismissed. An off-camera prefiring consultation with Trump takes place (and is recorded), right before the three men are brought back for the eventual firing. We film Trump, Ross, and Kepcher deliberating and giving the pluses and minuses of each, remarking on how risky it was for one of the contestants to stand up for himself the way that he did. Trump turns back and forth to each, listening. His cronies stick to their stories and give added deferential treatment toward Trump, with Ross strategically reminding him, “You’ve been taking risks your entire life.”

Trump summons the three men back into the boardroom for final judging. Trump grills one and says, “I will let you stay.” ( Wow! we think. A benevolent leader. ) When he turns his attention to the other man—the one he asked about genetics—it looks clear. He is doomed. So much so that the man stands when Trump tells him, “It seems unanimous.” Trump then offhandedly tells him to sit down, calling him “a wild card,” echoing Ross’ earlier observation of the boss, Trump.

After this comes an unwieldy moment when, at the behest of Bienstock, Trump fumbles through a given line. “We have an elevator,” he says to the remaining contestant, named David, “that goes up to the suite and an elevator that goes down”—he pauses to recall the exact wording—“to the street. And, David, I’m going to ask you to take the down elevator.”

The men react and awkwardly rise. It is an unsatisfactory conclusion, given all the preceding drama.

From the control room, we all watch as the three men depart the boardroom. A quick huddle takes place between the producers and the executive from NBC. We bolt from the control room out into the boardroom and confer with Trump, telling him we will need him to say something more direct to conclude the moment when David is let go.

“Well, I’d probably just fire him,” Trump says. “Why not just say that?” Bienstock asks. “Fine,” Trump says.

We return to the control room. The three men from the losing team are brought back into the boardroom, and Trump repeats his line about the elevator, then turns to David, who already knows his fate, and adds, “David, you’re fired.”

The line insertion happened in a perilously scripted way, but it is deemed satisfactory. “You’re fired” becomes the expression we will stick with. It works. Trump comes off as decisive and to the point.

Later, Trump will try to trademark “You’re fired.” He is not successful.

Trump’s appearances make up so little of our shooting schedule that whenever he shows up to film, it isn’t just the wild-card on-camera moments we both hope for and are terrified of that put everyone on edge. It is the way he, the star (and half owner) of the show, targets people on the crew with the gaze of a hungry lion.

While leering at a female camera assistant or assessing the physical attributes of a female contestant for whoever is listening, he orders a female camera operator off an elevator on which she is about to film him. “She’s too heavy,” I hear him say.

Another female camera operator, who happens to have blond hair and blue eyes, draws from Trump comparisons to his own Ivanka Trump. “There’s a beautiful woman behind that camera,” he says toward a line of 10 different operators set up in the foyer of Trump Tower one day. “That’s all I want to look at.”

Trump corners a female producer and asks her whom he should fire. She demurs, saying something about how one of the contestants blamed another for their team losing. Trump then raises his hands, cupping them to his chest: “You mean the one with the …?” He doesn’t know the contestant’s name. Trump eventually fires her.

(In response to detailed questions about this and other incidents reported in this article, Steven Cheung, a spokesman for the Trump 2024 campaign, wrote, “This is a completely fabricated and bullshit story that was already peddled in 2016.” He said that it is surfacing now because Democrats are “desperate.”)

Trump goes about knocking off every one of the contestants in the boardroom until only two remain. The finalists are Kwame Jackson, a Black broker from Goldman Sachs, and Bill Rancic, a white entrepreneur from Chicago who runs his own cigar business. Trump assigns them each a task devoted to one of his crown-jewel properties. Jackson will oversee a Jessica Simpson benefit concert at Trump Taj Mahal Casino in Atlantic City, while Rancic will oversee a celebrity golf tournament at Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor, New York.

Viewers need to believe that whatever Trump touches turns to gold. These properties that bear his name are supposed to glitter and gleam. All thanks to him.

Reality is another matter altogether. The lights in the casino’s sign are out. Hong Kong investors actually own the place—Trump merely lends his name. The carpet stinks, and the surroundings for Simpson’s concert are ramshackle at best. We shoot around all that.

Both Rancic and Jackson do a round-robin recruitment of former contestants, and Jackson makes the fateful decision to team up with the notorious Omarosa, among others, to help him carry out his final challenge.

With her tenure on the series nearly over, Omarosa launches several simultaneous attacks on her fellow teammates in support of her “brother” Kwame. For the fame-seeking beauty queen, it is a do-or-die play for some much-coveted screen time. As on previous tasks, Ross and Kepcher will observe both events.

Over at Trump National Golf Club, where I am stationed, it is sunny and bright, set against luscious fall colors. I am driven up to the golf club from Manhattan to scout. With me are the other producers, all of whom are men. We meet Trump at one of the homes he keeps for himself on the grounds of the club.

“Melania doesn’t even know about this place,” he says out loud to us, snickering, implying that the home’s function is as his personal lair for his sexual exploits, all of which are unknown to his then-fiancée Melania Knauss.

We are taken around the rest of the club’s property and told what to feature on camera and what to stay away from. The clubhouse is a particularly necessary inclusion, and it is inside these luxurious confines where I have the privilege of meeting the architect. Finding myself alone with him, I make a point of commending him for what I feel is a remarkable building. The place is genuinely spectacular. He thanks me.

“It’s bittersweet,” he tells me. “I’m very proud of this place, but …” He hesitates. “I wasn’t paid what was promised,” he says. I just listen. “Trump pays half upfront,” he says, “but he’ll stiff you for the rest once the project is completed.”

“He stiffed you?”

“If I tried to sue, the legal bills would be more than what I was owed. He knew that. He basically said Take what I’m offering ,” and I see how heavy this is for the man, all these years later. “So, we sent the invoice. He didn’t even pay that,” he says. None of this will be in the show. Not Trump’s suggested infidelities, nor his aversion toward paying those who work for him.

When the tasks are over, we are back in the boardroom, having our conference with Trump about how the two finalists compare—a conversation that I know to be recorded. We huddle around him and set up the last moments of the candidates, Jackson and Rancic.

Trump will make his decision live on camera months later, so what we are about to film is the setup to that reveal. The race between Jackson and Rancic should seem close, and that’s how we’ll edit the footage. Since we don’t know who’ll be chosen, it must appear close, even if it’s not.

We lay out the virtues and deficiencies of each finalist to Trump in a fair and balanced way, but sensing the moment at hand, Kepcher sort of comes out of herself. She expresses how she observed Jackson at the casino overcoming more obstacles than Rancic, particularly with the way he managed the troublesome Omarosa. Jackson, Kepcher maintains, handled the calamity with grace.

“I think Kwame would be a great addition to the organization,” Kepcher says to Trump, who winces while his head bobs around in reaction to what he is hearing and clearly resisting.

“Why didn’t he just fire her?” Trump asks, referring to Omarosa. It’s a reasonable question. Given that this the first time we’ve ever been in this situation, none of this is something we expected.

“That’s not his job,” Bienstock says to Trump. “That’s yours.” Trump’s head continues to bob.

“I don’t think he knew he had the ability to do that,” Kepcher says. Trump winces again.

“Yeah,” he says to no one in particular, “but, I mean, would America buy a n— winning?”

Kepcher’s pale skin goes bright red. I turn my gaze toward Trump. He continues to wince. He is serious, and he is adamant about not hiring Jackson.

Bienstock does a half cough, half laugh, and swiftly changes the topic or throws to Ross for his assessment. What happens next I don’t entirely recall. I am still processing what I have just heard. We all are. Only Bienstock knows well enough to keep the train moving. None of us thinks to walk out the door and never return. I still wish I had. (Bienstock and Kepcher didn’t respond to requests for comment.)

Afterward, we film the final meeting in the boardroom, where Jackson and Rancic are scrutinized by Trump, who, we already know, favors Rancic. Then we wrap production, pack up, and head home. There is no discussion about what Trump said in the boardroom, about how the damning evidence was caught on tape. Nothing happens.

We go home and face the next phase of our assignment, the editing. In stitching the footage together, the swindle we are now involved in ascends to new levels.

Editing in a reality TV show is what script writing is to a narrative series. A lot of effort goes into the storytelling because, basically, in every single unscripted series—whether it’s a daytime talk show, an adventure documentary, or a shiny floor dance-off—there are three versions: There’s what happens, there’s what gets filmed, and there’s what gets cut down into 43 minutes squeezed between commercial breaks. Especially for a competition series, it’s important that the third version represent the first as much as possible. A defeated contestant could show up in the press and cry foul if they’re misrepresented. Best to let people fail of their own accord. That said, we look after our prized possessions in how we edit the series, and some people fare better than others.

We attend to our thesis that only the best and brightest deserve a job working for Donald Trump. Luckily, the winner, Bill Rancic, and his rival, Kwame Jackson, come off as capable and confident throughout the season. If for some reason they had not, we would have conveniently left their shortcomings on the cutting room floor. In actuality, both men did deserve to win.

Without a doubt, the hardest decisions we faced in postproduction were how to edit together sequences involving Trump. We needed him to sound sharp, dignified, and clear on what he was looking for and not as if he was yelling at people. You see him today: When he reads from a teleprompter, he comes off as loud and stoic. Go to one of his rallies and he’s the off-the-cuff rambler rousing his followers into a frenzy. While filming, he struggled to convey even the most basic items. But as he became more comfortable with filming, Trump made raucous comments he found funny or amusing—some of them misogynistic as well as racist. We cut those comments. Go to one of his rallies today and you can hear many of them.

If you listen carefully, especially to that first episode, you will notice clearly altered dialogue from Trump in both the task delivery and the boardroom. Trump was overwhelmed with remembering the contestants’ names, the way they would ride the elevator back upstairs or down to the street, the mechanics of what he needed to convey. Bienstock instigated additional dialogue recording that came late in the edit phase. We set Trump up in the soundproof boardroom set and fed him lines he would read into a microphone with Bienstock on the phone, directing from L.A. And suddenly Trump knows the names of every one of the contestants and says them while the camera cuts to each of their faces. Wow , you think, how does he remember everyone’s name? While on location, he could barely put a sentence together regarding how a task would work. Listen now, and he speaks directly to what needs to happen while the camera conveniently cuts away to the contestants, who are listening and nodding. He sounds articulate and concise through some editing sleight of hand.

Then comes the note from NBC about the fact that after Trump delivers the task assignment to the contestants, he disappears from the episode after the first act and doesn’t show up again until the next-to-last. That’s too long for the (high-priced) star of the show to be absent.

There is a convenient solution. At the top of the second act, right after the task has been assigned but right before the teams embark on their assignment, we insert a sequence with Trump, seated inside his gilded apartment, dispensing a carefully crafted bit of wisdom. He speaks to whatever the theme of each episode is—why someone gets fired or what would lead to a win. The net effect is not only that Trump appears once more in each episode but that he also now seems prophetic in how he just knows the way things will go right or wrong with each individual task. He comes off as all-seeing and all-knowing. We are led to believe that Donald Trump is a natural-born leader.

Through the editorial nudge we provide him, Trump prevails. So much so that NBC asks for more time in the boardroom to appear at the end of all the remaining episodes. (NBC declined to comment for this article.)

When it comes to the long con, the cherry on top is the prologue to the premiere. It’s a five-minute-long soliloquy delivered by Trump at the beginning of the first episode, the one titled “Meet the Billionaire.” Over a rousing score, it features Trump pulling out all the stops, calling New York “ my city” and confessing to crawling out from under “billions of dollars in debt.” There’s Trump in the back of limousines. Trump arriving before throngs of cheering crowds outside Trump Tower. Trump in his very own helicopter as it banks over midtown—the same helicopter with the Trump logo that, just like the airplane, is actually for sale to the highest bidder. The truth is, almost nothing was how we made it seem.

So, we scammed. We swindled. Nobody heard the racist and misogynistic comments or saw the alleged cheating, the bluffing, or his hair taking off in the wind. Those tapes, I’ve come to believe, will never be found.

No one lost their retirement fund or fell on hard times from watching The Apprentice . But Trump rose in stature to the point where he could finally eye a run for the White House, something he had intended to do all the way back in 1998. Along the way, he could now feed his appetite for defrauding the public with various shady practices.

In 2005 thousands of students enrolled in what was called Trump University, hoping to gain insight from the Donald and his “handpicked” professors. Each paid as much as $35,000 to listen to some huckster trade on Trump’s name. In a sworn affidavit, salesman Ronald Schnackenberg testified that Trump University was “fraudulent.” The scam swiftly went from online videoconferencing courses to live events held by high-pressure sales professionals whose only job was to persuade attendees to sign up for the course. The sales were for the course “tuition” and had nothing whatsoever to do with real estate investments. A class action suit was filed against Trump.

That same year, Trump was caught bragging to Access Hollywood co-host Billy Bush that he likes to grab married women “by the pussy,” adding, “When you’re a star, they let you do it.” He later tried to recruit porn actor Stormy Daniels for The Apprentice despite her profession and, according to Daniels, had sex with her right after his last son was born. (His alleged attempt to pay off Daniels is, of course, the subject of his recent trial.)

In October 2016—a month before the election—the Access Hollywood tapes were released and written off as “locker room banter.” Trump paid Daniels to keep silent about their alleged affair. He paid $25 million to settle the Trump University lawsuit and make it go away.

He went on to become the first elected president to possess neither public service nor military experience. And although he lost the popular vote, Trump beat out Hillary Clinton in the Electoral College, winning in the Rust Belt by just 80,000 votes.

Trump has been called the “reality TV president,” and not just because of The Apprentice . The Situation Room, where top advisers gathered, became a place for photo-ops, a bigger, better boardroom. Trump swaggered and cajoled, just as he had on the show. Whom would he listen to? Whom would he fire? Stay tuned. Trump even has his own spinoff, called the House of Representatives, where women hurl racist taunts and body-shame one another with impunity. The State of the Union is basically a cage fight. The demands of public office now include blowhard buffoonery.

I reached out to Apollo, the Vegas perceptions expert, to discuss all of this. He reminded me how if a person wants to manipulate the signal, they simply turn up the noise. “In a world that is so uncertain,” he said, “a confidence man comes along and fills in the blanks. The more confident they are, the more we’re inclined to go along with what they suggest.”

A reality TV show gave rise to an avaricious hustler, and a deal was made: Subvert the facts, look past the deficiencies, deceive where necessary, and prevail in the name of television ratings and good, clean fun.

Trump is making another run at the White House and is leading in certain polls. People I know enthusiastically support him and expect he’ll return to office. It’s not just hats, sneakers, a fragrance, or Bibles. Donald Trump is selling his vision of the world, and people are buying it.

Knowing all they know, how could these people still think he’s capable of being president of the United States?

Perhaps they watched our show and were conned by the pig in the poke.