11 Places That Pay You to Write About What You Love in 2026

In this guide I take a different approach. I’m sharing platforms that actually work in 2026, including newer options most writers haven’t discovered yet.

These are places with better pay, less competition, and in some cases, zero commission fees where you can write about tuff you actually want to write about.

Quick Comparison: Pick Your Platform

• Best for Zero Commissions: Contra (keep 100% of what you earn)
• Best for Curated Leads: SolidGigs (top 1–2% of jobs delivered to your inbox)
• Highest Pay for Expertise: nDash ($150–$450 per piece)
• Best for Fast Payment: Listverse ($100 flat rate)
• Best for Literary Writers: The Sun Magazine ($300–$2,000 for essays)

Platforms Where You Can Write About Anything You Love

Here are the best places that will pay you to write about what you love.

1. Contra

• Pay: Set your own rates (most writers charge $50-$200/hour)
• Free vs Pro ($199/year): The free version limits job applications. Pro unlocks unlimited applications and better visibility. For serious freelancers, Pro pays for itself with one or two gigs.

If you’re tired of platforms taking 10-20% of your earnings, Contra changed the game in 2025.

You create a portfolio-style profile showcasing your best work. Clients browse and hire directly, or you can apply to posted opportunities. When you complete a $1,000 project, you keep the full $1,000—not $800 or $900.

Contra has around 1 million users, significantly fewer than Upwork’s 14 million. This means less competition but also fewer job postings. Writers report it works best for short-form content like LinkedIn ghostwriting, blog posts, and social media copy.

Who this works for

Writers who already have a solid portfolio and don’t want to give platforms a cut. Especially good for content creators who can showcase visual work samples.

2. SolidGigs

• Pay: Varies by client, but curated for quality ($150+ per project average)
• Cost: $15/month subscription

Here’s a different approach: instead of spending hours searching job boards, SolidGigs searches for you.

Their team combs through dozens of platforms daily, handpicking only the top 1-2% of writing opportunities. These vetted gigs arrive in your inbox Monday through Friday.

Time is money. If you’re spending 10 hours per week searching for gigs, that’s 40 hours monthly—an entire work week. SolidGigs cuts that down to maybe 30 minutes.

The subscription model: Yes, you pay $15/month whether you land gigs or not. But if it helps you find just one $300 writing job that you wouldn’t have discovered otherwise, it’s paid for itself 20 times over.

Who this works for

Established freelancers who value their time and want quality leads without the grind. Not ideal for complete beginners still building their skills.

3. The Starters

• Pay: Set by you, typically $100-$500+ per project
• Acceptance: Highly selective—they handpick freelancers

The Starters is an expert-client network that only accepts established freelancers with proven experience.

You submit your LinkedIn, portfolio, and resume. They review everything carefully. If accepted, you’re matched with clients from major brands like Nike, Liquid Death, and Manscaped.

Like Contra, The Starters doesn’t take a cut of your earnings. You negotiate directly with clients and keep everything.

The catch: They’re selective. Writers with specific experience in B2B, SaaS, UX writing, or SEO content strategy fit best. Your LinkedIn needs to clearly demonstrate this expertise.

Who this works for

Mid to senior-level writers with 3+ years of experience and a portfolio of high-profile work. Not for beginners or generalists.

4. nDash

• Pay: $150-$450 per piece (platform average)
• Acceptance: Moderate—must demonstrate expertise

nDash connects writers who have professional expertise with brands that need quality content. We’re talking companies like LinkedIn and Hitachi.

Instead of bidding against hundreds of writers, you pitch ideas directly to brands. You set your rate upfront, and brands either accept or pass.

You see which brands are looking for content. If you have a marketing background and see LinkedIn needs articles about recruiting trends, you pitch a specific angle. If they like it, you write it.

nDash says several writers earn $100k+ annually. That’s legitimate, but those writers are producing 15-20 pieces monthly consistently. Set realistic expectations.

You receive payments in 3-5 business days via Stripe after your work is accepted. Much faster than most platforms.

Who this works for

Writers with verifiable professional backgrounds—former HR directors writing about workplace culture, ex-marketers writing about B2B strategy, finance professionals writing about fintech.

5. Listverse

• Pay: $100 per accepted list
• Acceptance Rate: Roughly 10-15%

Listverse keeps it simple: write a list article (minimum 10 items), submit it, and if they accept it, you get $100 via PayPal.

Thye want unique angles on topics people find fascinating. “10 Ways to Save Money” gets rejected. “10 Financial Scams That Fooled History’s Smartest People” might get accepted.

You’ll probably write 3-5 lists before one gets accepted. At 3-4 hours per list, factor this into your hourly rate calculations.

It’s predictable. You know exactly what you’ll earn if accepted. No negotiations, no waiting months for payment. Submit on Monday, hear back within two weeks.

Who this works for

Writers who love research, have deep knowledge in unusual topics, or can find fresh angles on familiar subjects.

Platforms Where You Can Write About Your Niche or Passion

These are great places to make money as a writer who writes about a specific niche or topic.

6. Medium Partner Program

• Pay: Based on member reading time

Medium pays writers when members read their stories. You can write about anything — gardening, food, tech, relationships, personal growth, sports, and more.

Who this works for: Writers who want creative freedom and a built‑in audience.

7. Vocal Media

• Pay: Per read + bonuses

Vocal has dozens of niche communities — food, wellness, gaming, travel, parenting, and more. You publish instantly and earn based on engagement.

Who this works for: Writers who want to publish quickly and build an audience.

8. Izea

• Pay: per post or campaign

Izea connects creators with brands for sponsored content. If you enjoy writing about lifestyle, food, travel, or tech, this can be a strong income stream.

Who this works for: Writers comfortable with brand partnerships.

9. Substack

• Pay: Subscription‑based (you set the price)

Substack lets you build a newsletter around anything you love — recipes, sports analysis, personal essays, gardening tips, or niche commentary.

Who this works for: Writers who want ownership and recurring income.

Platforms That Pay You for Creative Writing (Poetry, Essays, Fiction)

If marketing copy feels soulless, literary magazines pay for essays, poetry, and short fiction about subjects you genuinely care about.

10. The Sun Magazine

• Pay: $300-$2,000 for essays/fiction | $100-$250 for poetry
• Acceptance: Very difficult (1-2% estimated)

The Sun publishes deeply personal, ad-free content. They want raw, honest, vulnerable writing—the essay you’re afraid to submit because it’s too personal.

Who this works for

Writers with powerful personal stories, MFA graduates, anyone with something genuinely meaningful to say. A Sun publication credit carries serious weight in literary circles.

11. Virginia Quarterly Review

• Pay: $200 per poem (up to 4) or $1,000 for 5+ poems | $0.25/word for fiction and nonfiction
• Acceptance: Very difficult

VQR has published everyone from Eleanor Roosevelt to Robert Frost. At $0.25/word, a 5,000-word essay pays $1,250.

They only read submissions during July. Miss it, and you wait until next year.

Who this works for

Serious literary writers working on substantial pieces (3,000-9,000 words for nonfiction).

Local & Community Opportunities

• Pay: varies

Your local newspaper can also be a great choice to earn some extra money while expressing your passion.

It’s a great choice for people who love sports.

Newspapers often have way more schools in their coverage area than writers on staff.

Often times during high school football or basketball season they’ll bring in freelance writers or stringers to help cover the games in their area.

Usually they’ll pay you a set wage per article (probably about $50 per story), plus a certain amount per mile to cover gas.

This can be a great opportunity for college students to get experience and real-world writing samples to show potential employers.

And this can be a great opportunity for parents who have kids playing sports.

If your son plays high school football or your daughter plays high school basketball, call the local paper and see if they have anyone covering the game.

If not, offer to do it.

You’re already going to be at the game, why not see if you can get paid for it?

And since you’ll be covering the game for a news outlet, you’ll get into the game for free!

Talk about a real win-win situation!

Also, from time to time small- or medium-sized newspapers will have “Community Columnists” where people from the community will write a weekly column for a couple of months.

If there is a topic you really believe in that you don’t believe is getting enough attention, this can be your way to spread the message.

Or what if you’re passionate about local government and care about what’s going on with your city council or local school board?

Call the news editor and ask if you can cover and do a write up for their weekly meeting.

You could really be doing them a favor.

Newsroom staffs have been cut dramatically, and local news coverage has been cut so deeply some are calling it a national crisis.

So, if you want to earn some extra money and help local journalism, give your hometown paper a call.

The Platforms I’m Skipping (And Why)

Upwork/Freelancer: Everyone covers these. Yes, they work, but you’re competing with millions of writers. If you want the full rundown, dozens of other articles explain them.

Fiverr: Works if your service fits in a tidy box (“I’ll write your About page in 48 hours”). But it’s a race to the bottom on pricing for most writers.

Textbroker/Content Mills: You’ll earn $0.01-$0.05 per word starting out. That’s $10-$50 for a 1,000-word article. Only worth it if you’re brand new and need clips fast.

A Few Tips to Keep in Mind

Any time you start a side gig or look for a way to get a second income stream, there are two key things to always keep in mind.

Make sure there isn’t a conflict of interest

Before you sit down at the keyboard and start writing, check the paperwork associated with your primary job or talk to your boss.

Make sure this new endeavor isn’t a conflict of interest.

For example, if you’re an accountant or work in the financial world you may want to stay away from writing about any financial topics.

It could undermine your objectivity.

And you don’t want this secondary gig to cost you your primary source of income.

So just be safe and ask your supervisor or HR person if this would be okay.

Keep detailed records for tax time

Also, since this will be income there’s a good chance it will be considered taxable income by the IRS.

And since you’ll likely be working as an independent contractor and not as an employee of a company it’s unlikely any taxes will be taken out of your check.

The money you will owe the IRS will come out of your own pocket.

If you had to fill out a 1099 or similar form, that’s a good sign you’ll need to report that income.

So, keep that in mind whenever you’re filing your tax return for the year.

If you have any questions, ask your accountant or anyone who has experience with the tax code for help.

How Much Can I Earn As a Niche Writer?

Listen, you are not going to start making a living right away, if ever. So set realistic expectations.

From the research I have done and my own personal experiences, this is what most writers who want to write about stuff they enjoy, can expect:

• Month 1: Expect $100-$300 while learning platforms and handling rejections.
• Month 3: With consistency, $500-$1,000 becomes realistic.
• Month 6: Serious writers often hit $1,500-$2,500/month.
• Month 12: Some reach $3,000-$5,000/month treating it like a part-time job (20+ hours weekly).

Keep in mind, this is if you stick to it and are consistent.

The writers earning six figures? They’re working 40-60 hours weekly. This isn’t passive income, it’s a business.

Your Week-One Action Plan

If you want to actually make a living writing about what you lover, you need a plan and you have to follow through.

Here’s what I would do.

If you’re completely new:

• Join Contra (free) and build your portfolio
• Write one list article for Listverse
• Call your local newspaper

If you have some experience:

• Apply to nDash or The Starters
• Subscribe to SolidGigs ($15) and apply to jobs
• Submit one piece to a literary magazine

If you’re scaling:

• Upgrade to Contra Pro
• Set higher rates on existing platforms
• Specialize in one lucrative niche

Final Thoughts

Getting paid to write about what you love is absolutely possible in 2026. The platforms exist. The clients are hiring. The money is real.

The key is matching your expertise, interests, and available time with the right platform.

Don’t try joining all platforms this week. Pick one. Submit one piece. Learn from the experience.

Your passion has value. These platforms prove people will pay for it.

So, now is the time to sit down at your computer and start getting paid to write about what you love!