Once upon a time writers suffered for their words. Being a writer was a romantic notion not a career path one would choose to get rich or even support a family. When there’s publications paying less than a cent a word, or content mills trying to steal your talent at $3 for 500 words it’s very easy to get discouraged. But worry no more. Now you can get paid to write.

The internet has changed everything about writing for better and for worse. Competition is fierce because everyone wants to be a writer. It’s that romantic notion of living a location independent lifestyle penning stories from your experiences and getting paid for them. Sounds lovely, sign me up.

The market has opened up but so has the competition. So while there’s a lot more writing opportunities available for writers, there are no borders, which means the competition is fierce and it’s global.

Unless you stop thinking about it as competition and consider it a community.

Websites require constant content to keep up with the need for information. We’re a society of consumers, and as the world catches up with their own technologies, markets catch up, they expand and they evolve. Website owners realise their contributors need to get paid to write in order to continuously provide quality content.

There is room for everyone to have a go. And it’s fantastic. It means you can make a living being a writer from the comfort of your own home, a hotel room in Barbados, or as you stop for a break whilst running the Great Wall of China. You get the drift – anywhere, anytime.

What sort of writer do you want to be?

Blogger, freelance writer, copywriter, author. The choice is yours. Within those you can narrow down to your own niche, or generalise. You are the master of your future.

I’m excited!

Do you want to get paid to write?

I’m sure you do. I know I do. So here you are, 22 online markets that pay writers and a few that don’t for their awesome words!

Finance/Business Markets That Want You To Share Your Money Genius With Them

The Dollar Stretcher – The Dollar Stretcher has been around for years and has a wealth of information on personal finance that help you stretch your dollar. Check out their writer’s guidelines here.

The Penny Hoarder – Another successful and long-time personal finance market that pays their writers. Go through their archives to ensure you’re not pitching something that has already been written about. Check out their writer’s guidelines here.

Savvy Scot – Personal finance, health & fitness and motivation under one roof. Check out their writer’s guidelines here.

Wisebread – Wanna regular personal finance writing gig? Check out the writer’s guidelines here.

Paying Travel Markets That Make You Want To Pack Up And Explore

Matador Network – The place to find out about all your travel needs in a non-conventional way. Your writing needs to not only entertain and inform but your stories need to have more than just 6 Sweet Things To Do In Memphis type. Check out their writer’s guidelines here.

Transitions Abroad – For those who want to live, work, and study abroad, Transitions Abroad is packed with useful and practical information. Check out their writer’s guidelines here.

Budget Travel – Do you love travel? Can you offer some budget travel tricks? Why not check out out the writer’s guidelines for Budget Travel.

BootsnAll – They like to build relationships with their writers. Read their Indie Travel Manifesto to see if you’re a good fit. For writer’s guidelines click here.

Health & Fitness Markets That Help Readers Get In Top Shape…They Pay Their Writers Too!

Vibrant Life – Payment ranges from $100 – $300
Experience Life
MindBodyGreen – They don’t pay but they do have a wide readership.
Spirituality & Health
Eating Well – pays from $1 per word
Mother Earth Living – will discuss rates once article assigned.

Paying Parenting Markets Will Make You Laugh, Cry, Cringe and Nod in Agreement

Parents
Parent.co.
Scary Mommy
Mamamia
BrainChild
A Fine Parent

Markets For Writers That Will Pay You To Write For Them…A Few That Won’t

Horkey Handbook – For writers, on writers, Horkey Handbook helps writers realise their freelancing dreams. Gina’s managed to build an impressive business over the past two years and she offers guest posts at $75 a pop. Check out the writers guidelines here.

Make A Living Writing – This is the writer’s website for all things about making money writing. Carol Tice is the ‘make money writing’ guru. Check out the writer’s guidelines here.

WoW: Women on Writing – Aimed at women writers about women and writing. From writing tips to writer interviews, there’s something for everyone. Check out the writer’s guidelines here.

The Write Life – Lots of useful and functional information for your freelance writing career. They don’t always pay but if you want to break into the writing niche it might be worth pitching an idea. Check out their writer’s guidelines here.

FreelancersFAQ – All the questions you ever wanted answered and more. Think of a question that hasn’t been answered here, why not pitch it as an article. No payment but you can link back to your site from your bio. Check out the writer’s guidelines here.

Have you written for any of these markets? Were they easy to deal with? Did you get paid on time? Would you write for them again?