© 2025 Alycia Morales

Oftentimes writers are taught that we need a side hustle in order to truly earn an income. Writing doesn’t always keep the lights on and food on our tables. So, what’s an author to do when we find ourselves in need of a few extra bucks?

First, take an inventory of your skills, talents, and abilities.

What else are you good at? Do you like creating in other formats besides writing? Are you good with numbers? Do you have the joy of cooking? Are you an organizing genius? Write a list of these.

Second, select your side hustle.

Which of those skills, talents, and abilities excite you the most? Which are most valuable to your community (both in person and online)? You want to choose something you will enjoy doing. If working for yourself, you have the ability to create a business where work is fun, not a chore. Just keep in mind that work is work, and although it’s often fun, it can be tedious at times.

Here are a few writing-related ideas for side hustles that can supplement your writing income, if not become a lucrative career:

• Freelance Editor (You edit other people’s manuscripts, websites, proposals, etc.)
• Coaching (This can cover multiple areas: Writing Coach, Book Coach, Writing Business Coach, Social Media Coach, etc.)
• Manager (This can also cover multiple areas: Book Launch, Social Media, Marketing, etc.)
• Online Course Creator (You create and sell your own courses on any topic in which you are an expert, writing-related or not.)

Third, set up your business and begin marketing your products and/or services.

Here are a few steps to take to set up your business and prepare for clients to work with you:

• Create a business plan.
• Create a website or add your business to your current website.
• Create business cards or add your side hustle to your current business card design.
• Talk about your new side hustle. Share on social media. Network with others.
• Take on a client or make your first product sale.

Your side hustle doesn’t have to be writing-related. You could drive for Uber or DoorDash, be a virtual assistant for another author or any other business, be a medical transcriptionist, sell your crafts on Etsy, or sell desserts to your neighbors and friends.

Do what you love to do.

Alycia W. Morales
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Alycia Morales is a writing coach and freelance editor who loves encouraging other writers and assisting them in achieving their goals. She is the award-winning indie author of Surviving the Year of Firsts: A Mom’s Guide to Grieving Child Loss. Alycia lives in South Carolina, where she’s nestled between her two favorite places: the mountains and the beach. To learn more about Alycia, her services, and her writing, visit www.alyciawmorales.com.