How To Build a Full-Time Writing Business (Working Less Than 25 Hours a Week)

Here's the 5-step process I used to generate $300k writing online

(Icon by Freepik - Flaticon)

Back in 2018, I took the leap and decided to make writing my full-time gig. I didn’t know exactly what I was doing, but I was determined to figure it out.

When I started, I made a lot of mistakes - shiny objects, spreading myself too thin, and wasting time on things that didn’t matter.

Fast forward a few years, and my digital writing business has brought in over $300k.

So, if you want to make a full-time income as a writer (while working less than 25 hours a week), I’ve got you covered. In this article, I’ll show you exactly how I did it.

---

Step 1: Solve a Clear Problem

Most writers approach their craft like a hobby - they only write about what interests them (and that’s fine if you’re just writing for fun).

But if you want to turn your writing into a full-time business, you need to treat writing like a business, not a hobby.

That’s why the most profitable online writers solve problems with their writing.

When you position your writing as a solution to a specific problem, you give people a reason to follow you, trust you, and eventually pay you.

(Ultimately, people follow you because you help them with something. They’ve got a problem, and your writing gives them a solution.)

A problem is essentially a challenge someone is facing and struggling to overcome. For example:

• Freelancing: “I can’t find high-paying clients.”

• Productivity: “I feel overwhelmed and can’t focus.”

• Personal Finance: “I don’t know how to stick to a budget and save money.”

• Health: “I don’t know how to lose weight without giving up my favorite foods.”

You don’t need to be a world-class expert to solve a problem. You just need first-hand experience. If you’ve overcome the problem yourself, you’re qualified to help others do the same.

For example, if you’ve successfully transitioned to freelancing, you can write about how you did it, so others can do it too.

If you’ve lost weight by meal prepping, you could focus on helping beginners learn how to meal prep for their busy schedules.

If you’ve learned how to manage anxiety, your content could focus on strategies for mindfulness and stress reduction.

Action Point: Write down three challenges you’ve faced and successfully solved. Then think about which one aligns best with the people you want to reach. This is the foundation of your writing business.

---

---

Step 2: Pick One Writing Platform

A common mistake new writers make is trying to be everywhere at once - Medium, Instagram, LinkedIn, Substack, X, and beyond. This is a recipe for failure.

Your time and energy will be spread too thin to truly succeed on any of these platforms. Instead, pick one platform (or two, at most) and go all-in.

When you focus on one platform, you can really master it. You understand better what works, what your audience wants, and how growth on the platform truly works.