Seven Freelance Writing Projects That Pay $1,000 or More… and Can Be Completed in Just One Weekend!
Key Takeaways:
- Your freelance writing career could thrive with any one of seven in-demand projects.
- Each project pays at least $1,000 and can be written in a single weekend (perfect for people with limited time).
- Here, we describe each project so you can see what’s possible, and show you why these projects are needed by companies in all kinds of industries.
Much of a copywriter’s success is determined by HOW you spend your time…
Acquiring the skills, honing your craft, marketing yourself, and then doing the actual writing…
These are what I call the main four “time buckets.”
But what if you’re limited on time?
Say you have only the weekends or a few hours each night…
Is it possible to make money as a writer when you have a limited amount of time?
The answer is YES!
It’s really a matter of picking a writing project that meets the following requirements:
- You can quickly learn how to write the project.
- The project type is something companies use frequently.
- The typical fee is at least $1,000. You’ll be able to spend less time than if you were trying to land multiple projects worth a few hundred dollars each.
- The turnaround time is typically under 12 hours.
Now that you know the requirements, let me show you seven in-demand writing projects that make it easy for you to turn your weekend (or spare) time into paid writing income.
Weekend Freelance Writing Project #1:
Case Studies
Case studies are short stories that describe how a company or organization solved a particular challenge with a product or service — and what the results of solving that challenge were.
Typically around 800–1,200 words, case studies are basically “before-and-after” stories. But here’s the cool part…
Even though they take only five–eight hours to write, the typical fee is $1,250–$2,000. That works out to about $200 to $300 per hour…
Two to four times what the average journalist earns for a story!
Best of all, clients need stories throughout the year. So, it becomes a steady stream of work. We’ve paid case study writers to write more than 80 so far (at a fee of $1,500 apiece!).
You can see our case studies here.
Another benefit is that case studies can lead to other writing projects like white papers, technical articles, how-to articles, blogs, and much more.
Learn more about writing case studies here: Writing Case Studies: How to Make a Great Living by Helping Clients Tell Their Stories.
This next type of weekend project comes with a huge additional bonus: ongoing predictable income…
Weekend Freelance Writing Project #2:
E-newsletters
Business owners use e-newsletters to stay in touch with and build relationships with current, past, and potential clients.
As an e-newsletter writer, your job is to write fresh, relevant content (usually around 1,200 to 1,500 words) on a regular basis (either weekly or monthly), in the voice of your client.
The average fee is around $850 to $1,000 per issue but can go as high as $2,000, depending on the industry, length, and complexity of the topic.
But what I love most about this opportunity is the consistency…
Once a business starts mailing an e-newsletter, they can’t stop. If they’ve promised it will come weekly, their customers expect it weekly!
And that sets you up for a retainer deal — which means predictable ongoing income, month after month.
Find out more about writing e-newsletters in this resource: How to Write Engaging E-newsletters: Earn Ongoing Income by Turning Casual Prospects into Devoted Customers.
This next project is something you may have never heard of. But it’s one that you’re going to want to do again and again…
Weekend Freelance Writing Project #3:
Site Content Audits
Most companies have no idea why their website isn’t performing as they’d like… whether that includes not showing up in search or AI results, not bringing them new business, or not making any sales.
Yet by simply following a checklist, and looking for the common issues, you become a problem solver and uncover the “why.” Think of yourself as a website detective. You’ll spend about eight to 10 hours researching and writing (less when you’re more experienced)…
And here’s the best part: Grateful clients are more than happy to pay you $1,000 to $2,500 to write up a report (usually 10 to 13 pages with screen shots) that gives them the list of areas that need to be fixed.
And guess who they’d often like to hire to fix those problem areas? 🙂
So in essence, with this project, you can get paid twice! Once for the audit, and then again if you choose to take on the copy needs you’ve outlined in your report.
Find out more about doing site audits here: Site Content Audits Made Simple.
And speaking of multiple paydays, this next project has two…
Weekend Freelance Writing Project #4:
Short Sales Pages
This one is probably the most challenging… but may very well be the one that has the highest earning potential…
It’s the heart of direct-response copywriting… pages written specifically to drive SALES.
Sales page writers are at the top of the food chain when it comes to copywriters, can often be booked months in advance, and can charge thousands of dollars per project — PLUS royalties, in many cases.
Now, when most copywriters think of sales pages, they think of big, behemoth letters that go on for page after page. And while the copywriters who write those letters DO set themselves up for massive income potential, they can spend weeks writing a single letter.
But two-page sales pages are often in high demand, both in B2C and B2B companies. They still pay very well since the results are measurable (on a per-page basis they actually pay better!). And once you learn the formula and the secrets to success, you can easily write two pages in a weekend… collect your fee… AND potentially receive future royalty checks.
Learn more about writing sales letters here: The Accelerated Program for Seven-Figure Copywriting.
Weekend Freelance Writing Project #5:
Blog Posts
Businesses publish blog posts to offer information on helpful topics related to their specific industry.
The main reason?
Great posts can attract website traffic, generate leads, and build authority in their field.
- Blogs help answer prospects’ questions about their products or services,
- blogs build trust with prospects, and
- blogs enable marketers to showcase their products or services in a low-key, conversational way.
And check out some of these stats…
- Four out of five (80%) internet users regularly read blogs,
- 76% of B2B marketers generate leads through blogging,
- 61% of U.S. consumers have made a purchase based on a recommendation in a blog,
- and… companies need to regularly publish posts.
That’s where you come in!
Because despite all the great benefits, blogs are demanding…
They demand new content, fresh angles, new ideas, new ways to say the same thing.
But for a copywriter, blog posts are fairly easy to write.
They’re short projects, normally between 1,200 and 1,500 words.
And they pay around $500 each (sometimes much more). But businesses need MORE than one post…
So while you can easily knock out two in a weekend, this one sets you up for a retainer (if you’re interested). It’s a win/win…
You simply commit to writing a certain number of blog posts each month, and the company commits to paying you a set amount each and every month.
Find out more about blog writing here: How to Write Blogs for Yourself and Clients: A Step-by-Step Guide to Blogging Success.
Weekend Freelance Writing Project #6:
Emails
As far as weekend projects go, writing emails gives you every possible advantage…
They’re easy to learn and, because they are often only 300–800 words, you can write them quickly.
Plus, businesses need a LOT of them to stay in touch with past, present, and future customers.
Even if you’re new to writing email copy, you could realistically charge $100, $300, $750, even $1,250 or more per email, depending on its intention.
The closer you are to the sale, the more money you’ll typically charge. And since most marketers will need anywhere from three to 10 emails at a time, the fees can really add up quickly.
Learn more about writing emails here: How to Write High Impact Emails.
Weekend Freelance Writing Project #7:
Video Scripts
You now know there are numerous ways to make a great income as a working writer, even if you’re short on time.
Emails, newsletters, case studies, sales pages… It can all add up fast.
But there aren’t many writing income opportunities as rewarding and entertaining as video script writing.
That’s because with video script writing, you’re helping businesses and individuals bring their stories to LIFE.
And that’s huge.
Because stories are what people crave.
And at $200 to $500 per scripted minute, video scripts represent some of the biggest potential paydays you can get for a small amount of text.
Businesses buy them by the dozens, too. Did you know that there are businesses routinely putting out as many as 18 fresh videos per month?
And, unlike most projects, video scripts are unique in that by learning how to write them, you’ll actually “up” your overall writing game in the process:
- You’ll perfect writing conversationally — since the goal of copywriting is to write like you’d speak, video scripts are a great way to get comfortable writing in that style.
- You’ll master the art of saying more with fewer words — this will give your writing more clarity by improving your ability to distill complex ideas into succinct and engaging points.
- You’ll get comfortable editing your own work — video scripts are typically only 120–150 words in length per minute, forcing you to zero in on what’s essential in copy and what can be cut.
- You’ll become a better storyteller — this is one of the most powerful copy techniques a copywriter can have in their arsenal.
Learn more about writing video scripts here: How to Write Video Scripts: Earn $200 to $500 Per Scripted Minute for Short, Fun, and Simple Script Writing Projects.
Which freelance writing project will you choose?
All of the projects covered here can be learned in a matter of weeks…
So, decide which one you want to start with, get the skills, start writing, and start making your weekends or spare time profitable!
By first focusing on one option, you can master the skill and get your foot in the door with new clients.
From there, you’ll have momentum on your side.
You’ll be getting paid to write and can continue to expand the skills you offer.
Pro tip: Wherever you decide to start, we always recommend having a solid foundation in persuasive copywriting.
The AWAI Method™ for Becoming a Skilled, In-Demand Copywriter combines the most up-to-date strategies, insights, and teaching methods with the tried-and-true copywriting fundamentals — so you can take on ANY project.
Let this be the moment you start to build your success with your freelance writing career. We’ll be here to help you every step of the way!
Author Bio
Rebecca Matter is the President of American Writers & Artists Institute (AWAI). She is a copywriter and marketer with nearly three decades of experience in the publishing and professional education industries. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, the BBC, Copyblogger, and Writer’s Digest, and she regularly teaches and writes on topics ranging from persuasion and effective copywriting to getting clients and building a successful business.
The AWAI Method™ for Becoming a Skilled, In-Demand Copywriter
The AWAI Method™ combines the most up-to-date strategies, insights, and teaching methods with the tried-and-true copywriting fundamentals so you can take on ANY project — not just sales letters. Learn More »
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