Tips for Writers to Make Money by Writing Articles that Pay

by Cindy K. Sproles @CindyDevoted

If a writer wants a steadier income, writing articles is the route to accomplish this. The dream of most writers is to have a book on the shelf, and that goal is fine, but the harsh reality is that landing that first contract can take six, seven, or even ten years. A writer must learn the craft of writing. In the meantime, how can you make money, learn to write tight and concisely, and make a difference? You write articles.

7 Steps for Writing Articles That Pay

Step One: Start with research. Writers have a fantastic tool at their disposal: The Christian Writers Market Guide. In this extraordinary compilation lies almost all needs within the Christian market. It's the perfect place to seek out magazines, both online and in paper, who are searching for articles. Purchase the book: The Christian Writers Market Guide 2023. It is available in paperback and eBook.

Step Two: Choose your topic and hone in on the details. Articles require tight, concise sentences. Choose words that speak clearly and leave little to no room for question. Begin with articles about things that are close to you. You can write from experience using strong word choices and interject the appropriate emotion to draw the reader in and have them connect. When writing difficult topics, learn to write from consequence—in other words, approach challenging topics from the consequence of a wrong decision and lead readers to see better choices and good outcomes. 

Step Three: Gather your data and seek out solid facts. Research not only includes the "where" of the market but also your subject matter. Always do your research and be sure the facts you are writing are accurate and not just opinions. Articles give readers the information to make decisions, learn, and move forward with projects. Make sure your work is fact-based and not opinions. Good research leads to good writing.

Step Four: Write that draft. Write your first draft and then walk away for a few hours. Why? Walking away lets you clear your mind, and it helps you put on your editing hat. Never write an article and send it on a first draft. You will always find things that need to be corrected. 

Step Five: Edit and Save. Start the editing process, and when you have edited the piece, then use voice to text on your computer and allow it to read the information back to you. Though it may be somewhat monotone, the point is that our ears are great editors. We'll hear things many times before we see them. Then, save the completed document in a new file on your desktop. Label it with your name, article title, and date. This step will prevent you from sending the wrong file when you submit it.

Step Six: Be sure to follow the guidelines for submission. This step is vital. Now is the opportunity to be sure you have followed all the guidelines perfectly. Make any adjustments and verify who and where you are to submit to. Give the piece one last look over.

Step Seven: Hit send. Then, make a second file folder on your desktop for completed submissions. Slide that finished file you created earlier into your submitted file. It's never a bad idea to make notes in Notepad or Excel about to whom, when, and where you sent your article. It's nice to be able to follow up. Finally, as you receive acceptance notes, drop copies into your file. You'll always have a record of when, what, and where your work is submitted.

Follow these steps to help you begin your article writing career. You'll be glad to see your files fill up with submitted work.

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Tips for Writers to Make Money by Writing Articles that Pay from @CindyDevoted on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Cindy K. Sproles is an author, speaker, and conference teacher. Having served for a number of years as a managing editor for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas and Ironstream Media, Cindy now works as a mentor, coach, and freelance editor. She is the co-founder of Writing Right Author Mentoring Services with Lori Marett and she is the director of the Asheville Christian Writers Conference. Cindy is also the co-founder of Christian Devotions Ministries and WWW.CHRISTIANDEVOTIONS.US, as well as WWW.INSPIREAFIRE.COM. Her devotions are in newspapers and magazines nationwide, and her novels have become award-winning best-selling works. She is a popular speaker at conferences and a natural encourager. Cindy is a mountain girl, born and raised in the Appalachian mountains, where she and her husband still reside. She has raised four sons and now resorts to raising chickens where the pecking order is easier to manage. You can visit Cindy at WWW.CINDYSPROLES.COM or www.wramsforwriters.com.