Books aren't the only things writers can write to earn a living. I've certainly done my fair share of things on this list!
So far, I've found all these options fun to work on, and they each utilize vastly different creative muscles. Let's dig in...
1. Magazine Articles
Getting to take a subject and explore it in-depth is a great opportunity to learn about something and get paid to do it.
Often, magazine articles and the topics they bring up turn into ideas for longer stories, too, so you get twice the use out of them.
2. Comic Books
It can be tough to get into comics, but there’s nothing more gratifying than seeing your words transformed by an artist into visual storytelling.
It's a completely different style of writing but worth every minute to learn how to execute the beats of a story in a different medium.
3. Video Games
It's easy to forget that every word out of every character's mouth in a video game needs to be scripted. More than that, every possibility of every branch of the narrative the player might take in the story must be written as well.
Writers are the beating heart of that process, and since video games are one of the biggest entertainment powerhouses today, they need writers who know how to do it more than ever.
4. Trading Cards
Everything that has text on it has to be written. I write a lot of the Star Wars trading cards that come out, though I've done other franchises like Game of Thrones and Doctor Who, as well.
This kind of work can be great fun and actually teach you quite a bit about breaking down story into bite-sized chunks.
5. Podcasts, Vlogs, Tiktoks, and more
More and more online entertainment these days is actually scripted infotainment content that actually teaches people things.
This isn't just podcasts, either. Vlogs. Tiktok videos. Social media in general is highly scripted. Your favorite "influencer" is more than likely reading words someone else wrote.
6. Tabletop Games
Table-top games (including RPGs) require just as much writing as anything else.
Everything from flavor text to get players into the setting or theme of the game, the rules themselves, and even the cards used to play the game. All of it requires talented storytellers.
You can find some I've worked on here.
7. Alt-weeklies
Most of us live in communities that have alt-weekly papers, and they all have arts sections.
I've been writing for mine for more than a decade; not just about the arts either. I write about local politics and anything else of interest to me, staying connected to my community at the same time.
8. Screenplays
There’s nothing more thrilling than writing words that will come out of an actor's mouth. And then get translated even further into a story many others will collaborate on to project onto a screen.
My most recent short film is currently on the festival circuit, and writing it was a magical experience!
9. Reviews
Having a space for yourself to review work you love will actually help you understand why you love it — and will teach you even more about it.
This can also help you create a space where you can invite other folks to promote their work, as well, improving the ecosystem of other writers.
10. Short Stories
Short stories are like the ending chapters of books you'll never write. And there seems to be more places to sell short stories of all genres now than there have ever been before.
Anthologies, magazines, online outlets, podcasts ... The sky is the limit.
There is no shortage of creative outlets for a writer who isn't ready to take the plunge into a novel, needs a break between projects, or wants to supplement their income.
This is really just scratching the surface…
