Should I Make Money From My Writing? A Gentle Guide to Choosing Your Path in 2025

Ever wonder:

  • Could I make money from my writing?
  • Should I make money from writing?

You’re not alone.

This gentle guide will help you figure out what’s right for you—based on your time, energy, and what really matters to you.

You love writing. Maybe you’ve always loved it. But when you start looking for ways to make money with your words, the internet gets loud. Everyone has a system. A hack. A hustle.

But maybe you’re coming to writing from a different place.

  • Maybe you’re healing from burnout.
  • Maybe you’re rediscovering creativity after years of putting other people first.
  • Maybe you’re craving something meaningful, not just marketable.

This guide is here to meet you where you are.

There isn’t one right way to make money writing. What matters is finding a path that feels honest and possible for you right now—something that matches your energy and your season of life.

Path 1: Writing for Yourself (and Maybe Sharing Later)

Sometimes, writing isn’t about income. It’s about processing. About grounding. About making space to feel again.

You don’t need to publish anything or build an audience. You just need a place to land.

Ask yourself:

  • Do I need my writing to stay private right now?
  • Am I using writing to process something difficult or tender?
  • Do I want freedom, or would gentle structure help?

Try this:

  • Keep a daily journal or explore morning pages
  • Use prompt-based notebooks for reflection or healing
  • Create personal zines or poetic notebooks just for you
  • Take a low-pressure writing class to reconnect with your voice

I use a simple journal every morning and have fallen in love with the LEUCHTTURM1917 journal. The dotted pages feel spacious and gentle—perfect for reflection, healing, or just getting words out of your head.

If you’d prefer a bit more guidance, the 5-Minute Journal offers a beautiful way to ease into a daily practice with simple prompts and gentle structure.

If you want to share eventually, you can. There’s no rush.

Path 2: Writing to Share Something That Matters

Sometimes, writing feels like something that wants to be witnessed. Maybe it’s your story. Maybe it’s something you’ve learned. Maybe it’s something you’re still trying to understand.

Ask yourself:

  • Who do I want to reach—many people, or just a few?
  • Do I want to build an audience, or simply speak what’s true?
  • Does writing help me connect in ways I can’t always do out loud?

Try this:

  • Start a blog or newsletter to share stories and reflections
  • Submit essays or poems to literary journals
  • Join a local or online writing group
  • Publish a chapbook or zine for a small circle of readers
  • Read your work at open mics or community gatherings

If you’re starting to reconnect with your creative voice, The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron is a soft and classic companion—especially if you’re moving through burnout, transition, or grief.

You don’t have to be loud to be heard. You just have to speak in your own voice.

Path 3: Writing as Income (Now or Eventually)

Sometimes, writing is more than a creative practice. It’s a way to support yourself. That doesn’t make it less meaningful. But it might mean making choices based on time, energy, and financial needs.

Ask yourself:

  • Do I need income soon, or can I build slowly?
  • Am I open to writing for other people—clients, businesses, or brands?
  • Would I rather create something of my own?

If you need income soon:

  • Offer blog writing, editing, or ghostwriting
  • Write content or copy for therapists, coaches, or nonprofits
  • Sell digital journaling tools or printables
  • Submit to paying publications and contests

If you can build slowly:

  • Start a niche blog with affiliate links or ads
  • Write and self-publish a book, journal, or poetry collection
  • Build a writing course, workshop, or guided challenge
  • Host a writing group or creative accountability circle

Start small. You don’t need a full-time writing business to begin earning in a way that feels aligned.

Final Thoughts

Writing can hold a lot. Grief. Ideas. Dreams. Income. Connection.

There isn’t one right door. There’s just the one that feels right for you right now.

Start where you are. Be honest about what you need. Let your writing grow from there.

You don’t have to go fast.

You don’t have to go big.

You just have to begin.

💡 Resources I Love

These are a few of my favorite tools for grounding, reflecting, and building a writing practice that feels sustainable.

Note: These are Amazon affiliate links. If you choose to buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools that feel grounded and trustworthy.

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