I stumbled into becoming a 6-figure writer with a laptop, desperation, and a toddler napping nearby. 😅 If you wonder whether regular people can really make this kind of money writing, the answer is yes. I am proof. Here is how it happened.
📌 Quick Note: This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them, at no extra cost to you.
Related Reads:
- 50 Cozy Self-Care Ideas Every Tired Mom Needs
- Morning Routine Aesthetic for Moms: 5 Simple Self-Care Habits
I Did Not Start as a 6-Figure Writer (I Started Broke)
A few years ago, I was exhausted, underpaid, and tired of trading my time for a paycheck that barely covered daycare. I wanted more but had no idea what that looked like.
I started writing online because someone in a Facebook group said you could make money doing it. 😂 I had no formal writing training, just a woman with something to say and a Wi-Fi connection.
At first, I made tiny amounts, barely enough for a tank of gas. But I kept writing, learning, and showing up. Slowly, those small numbers started growing.
How Blogging Became My Foundation as a 6-Figure Writer
Blogging is what changed everything for me. I started a mom blog, and at first it felt like I was writing into the void. However, over time, I figured out how SEO worked, how to write content people were actually searching for, and how to turn that traffic into income.
Affiliate marketing was a big part of my early blogging income. Additionally, sponsored content and display ads started adding up too. Notably, I did not do any of this perfectly. I made mistakes, published content that never ranked, and wasted time on strategies that did not work.
But here is the thing: I kept going. Furthermore, I kept learning what was working and cutting out what was not.
The Exact Types of Writing That Paid Me the Most
I know you want specifics, so here they are. These are the types of writing that genuinely moved the income needle for me:
1. SEO Blog Content for Brands: Writing blog posts for companies was the fastest way I earned real money as a writer. Brands pay well for well-written, SEO-optimised content. Therefore, once I learned to write content that ranked on Google, clients started coming to me.
2. Affiliate Blog Posts on My Own Site: Writing product review posts and “best of” lists on my own blog brought in passive income. Moreover, those posts kept earning money even while I slept.
3. Email Newsletters: Some brands hired me specifically to write their weekly newsletters. As a result, those were recurring monthly contracts that gave me consistent income.
How Long Did It Take to Become a 6-Figure Writer?
I will be honest here because sugar-coating this helps nobody. It took me about three years of consistent work to hit six figures. However, I want to be clear that the first 18 months were slow. Very slow. Like watching paint dry on a rainy day slow. 😅
The second year is when things started compounding. I had more published work, a growing blog, and better client relationships. Consequently, income grew faster. By year three, the pieces clicked together.
So if you are in month two of your writing journey wondering why you are not rich yet, please take a breath. Additionally, know that the timeline looks different for everyone.
Related Reads:
- How to Celebrate Christmas on a Tight Budget
- Self-Care Ideas for Moms: 30 Quick Ways to Recharge Without Guilt
Can You Become a 6-Figure Writer Without Experience?
Yes. Absolutely yes. And before you roll your eyes at me, let me explain why.
When I started, I had zero writing credentials. Literally zero. What I had instead was the ability to learn quickly, write clearly, and understand what readers needed. Those three things matter far more than a degree.
Furthermore, most clients who hire online content writers do not ask for a journalism degree. They want someone who can write clearly, meet deadlines, and understand basic SEO. That is honestly it.
So if you can write an honest, helpful blog post like the one you are reading right now, you already have the foundation. The rest is simply showing up and practising.
The Skills That Actually Made Me a Better 6-Figure Writer
You do not need all the skills at once. However, these are the ones that made the biggest difference for me over time:
SEO writing was the biggest game changer. Learning how to write content that Google actually shows to people changed everything. Without traffic, writing does not make money.
Pitching confidently helped me land higher-paying clients. A lot of writers undersell themselves. Therefore, learning to pitch my work clearly and boldly doubled my rates faster than I expected.
Understanding the reader is something that took time to learn. Good writing is not about sounding smart. Instead, it is about making the reader feel understood. Once I got that, my writing improved significantly.
How I Managed Writing as a Mom (Because Life Does Not Pause)
Being a mom while building a writing career is no joke. There were days I wrote with a toddler on my lap. There were late nights after bedtime when I edited posts half-asleep. ☕
What helped me most was treating my writing like a job even before it paid like one. I set specific writing hours, protected that time, and told my family it was important. Consequently, they started treating it as important too.
I also leaned into the lifestyle content on my blog. Writing about mom life meant I was writing from real experience. Additionally, it meant my content felt natural and genuine because it was.
If you are a busy mom trying to build something of your own, I see you. Also, I promise it is possible to build around your life instead of the other way around.
You might also love these reads to help you reset and stay grounded while you build:
Do You Need Social Media to Become a 6-Figure Writer?
Not necessarily. Social media helped me get some early visibility. However, most of my income came from SEO-driven blog content and direct client pitching. Consequently, social media was never my main driver.
That said, platforms like Pinterest are genuinely useful for driving traffic to your blog. In fact, Pinterest has been one of the most consistent sources of traffic to my own content. You can follow along with my work over on Pinterest, where I share writing tips and blogging ideas regularly.
The lesson here is simple: use the platforms that work for your content type. However, do not let social media become a distraction from the actual writing.
The Mindset Shift That Changed My Writing Career
This one is important, so stay with me. 👇
For a long time, I thought of myself as someone who was just “trying to make a little money writing.” That small thinking kept me playing small. Consequently, I charged low rates and accepted work that was below my value.
The moment I started calling myself a professional writer and a 6-figure writer in the making, my actions shifted. I raised my rates. I pitched bigger clients. I invested in learning more. Additionally, I stopped apologising for charging fairly.
Mindset is not fluffy advice. It is genuinely the foundation everything else sits on. So start now: say out loud that you are building toward six figures. Because you are.
Tools I Used to Build My Writing Business
I kept things simple because simple works. Here are the tools that genuinely helped me:
- Google Docs for writing and collaborating with clients. Free and effective. Enough said.
- WordPress for my blog. It gave me full control over my content and SEO. Furthermore, it allowed me to monetise in multiple ways.
- Yoast SEO for making sure every post I published was optimised. This tool alone improved my traffic significantly.
- Canva for creating blog graphics and Pinterest pins. You do not need to be a designer to make things look decent. Canva proves that daily. 😄
Is Freelance Writing or Blogging Better for Reaching Six Figures?
Both can get you there. However, the paths look different.
Freelance writing gets you to income faster because clients pay you directly. Additionally, you can scale by adding more clients or raising your rates. The downside is that if you stop working, the income stops too.
Blogging builds slower but creates passive income. Consequently, your old blog posts keep earning money long after you write them. The upside is a blog that runs while you rest. The downside is that it takes time to build that traffic.
The smartest move, therefore, is to do both. Use freelance writing to earn consistent income now. Meanwhile, build your blog in the background for long-term passive income.
Related Reads:
What I Would Do Differently if I Started My 6-Figure Writer Journey Today
A few things, honestly.
First, I would start my email list from day one. Building an email list early is something I delayed too long. However, an email list is the one platform you actually own.
Second, I would niche down sooner. Writing about everything slows your growth. Focusing on a specific topic, whether that is mom life, finance, health, or anything else, helps you attract the right audience and the right clients faster.
Third, I would invest in learning SEO earlier. Everything changed once I understood how to get my content found on Google. Therefore, if I could go back, SEO would be my first serious investment.
How to Start Your Own Path to Becoming a 6-Figure Writer
Ready to actually start? Here is what I recommend doing right now, in simple steps:
Step 1: Start writing. Pick a topic you know well and start writing about it. Do not wait until you feel ready. You will never feel fully ready. Start anyway.
Step 2: Create a simple blog. Even a basic blog gives you a home for your work and a place for income to grow. Furthermore, it proves to clients that you can write.
Step 3: Learn basic SEO. You do not need to become an expert overnight. However, understanding keywords and how to optimise a post will make a big difference quickly.
Step 4: Pitch clients. Do not wait for clients to find you. Reach out proactively. Send pitches to brands, blogs, and businesses in your niche. As a result, income will start coming in faster.
Step 5: Keep showing up. This is the one most people skip. Consistency over a long period of time is what separates those who make it from those who give up in month three.
How to Know if Writing Is the Right Path for You
You might be right for this if:
You enjoy writing, even just casually in messages or journals. You are willing to learn about SEO and content strategy. You can be consistent even when results are slow. Moreover, you want a flexible income you can build around real life.
You might want to think twice if you need fast money today. Writing builds over time. Consequently, if you need a paycheck next week, freelance writing can help, but blogging alone will not.
The good news is that writing is one of the most accessible businesses to start. You need very little to begin. Therefore, the cost of trying is low, and the potential reward is high.
Resources That Helped Me on My 6-Figure Writer Journey
Learning from people who were already doing what I wanted to do made a huge difference. Here are the types of resources that helped me most:
Free SEO courses and YouTube tutorials helped me understand content strategy without spending money at first. Additionally, writing communities on Facebook connected me with other writers who shared opportunities and support.
Paid courses were worth it once I started earning. Investing in learning at the right time accelerated everything. Furthermore, learning from experienced bloggers and writers saved me years of trial and error.
You can also browse my favourite writing and blogging inspiration on Pinterest, where I keep things organised by topic. 📌
You Do Not Have to Have It All Figured Out to Start
This is the part I really want you to hear. 🙏
I did not have it figured out when I started. Honestly, I still do not have it all figured out now. What I have is a system that works, income that keeps growing, and the courage to keep going even when things are uncertain.
You do not need a perfect plan to become a 6-figure writer. You need a willingness to start imperfectly and improve as you go. Furthermore, you need to trust that the effort you put in now is planting seeds that will grow later.
So start today. Write something. Publish something. Pitch someone. Because the version of you who becomes a six-figure writer does not wait for permission.
Finally,
Becoming a 6-figure writer was not a straight line. It was messy, slow in parts, and full of moments I wanted to quit. However, it was also one of the best decisions I ever made for my family and for myself.
If you are a mom who wants more flexibility, more income, and more control over your days, writing might be exactly what you have been looking for. The opportunity is real. The income is real. And it is far more achievable than most people think.
You are more capable than you give yourself credit for. So go write something. 💛
Related Reads Before You Go:
- How to Organize Kids’ Clothes
- 35 Mom Nail Ideas That Are Chic and Practical
- 25 Dinner Outfit Ideas for Stylish Moms
Did this post inspire you? Save it to Pinterest and share it with a friend who needs to read it! 📌
