How To Be The Wealthiest Writer You Know

9 tips to change your writing fortunes besides writing more

The more I’ve written, the more I’ve earned from my writing.

It’s common to hear people tell you that the more you write, the more you’ll earn. I’ve found that the quantity of your writing doesn’t equate with increased earnings. Just because you write more, doesn’t mean you’ll earn more.

Yes, your writing will likely get better if you write more but there are several other factors that will contribute to how much you earn as a writer. Let’s say you’re beyond the stage of being a casual writer and are able to write consistently. If you’re doing the writing and not seeing the financial rewards, this post is for you.

With consistent writing in 2020, my earnings from writing on one platform increased 25 times from the previous year. Then in 2021, my earnings in April doubled from what I earned in all of 2020. Through my self-published books on Amazon, my earnings doubled from the previous year as well.

Although I continue to earn more from my blog posts and books each year, it’s not just a daily writing habit that has contributed to it.

Here are 9 ways to level up your writing so you can become the wealthiest writer you know.

9 Tips to Become the Wealthiest Writer You Know

1. Listen more before you write more

When I started blogging on my personal blog, I wrote about whatever I wanted. I wrote about spirituality, inspiration, motivation, and relationships. Soon, I realized that my relationship articles were resonating more. I started listening to my audience and paying attention to what they wanted. By reading their comments and sending them surveys, I found out what they wanted.

Once you know what your audience wants, write more of that. The more you write to serve your audience, the better you’ll do financially. You can write what you want to write for your audience, or you can listen to your audience and write what they want to read.

2. Narrow your topic instead of broadening it

You want to be everything to everyone. You have a lot of varied interests and have much to say about them all. You may believe that the more you write in more areas, the better you’ll do. The more audiences you serve, the more profitable you’ll be. In fact, it’s just the opposite.

J.K. Rowling wrote a whole series about one child wizard’s life and adventures. Stephen King wrote horror stories to establish his career. John Grisham wrote a series of legal thrillers to find financial success.

The more you hone in on one area and focus on one topic, the more you’ll earn from that topic. Look for what your audience is reading, what resonates with them, and serve them by writing more about that topic. Move away from topics that don’t resonate with your audience.

3. Go deeper on a topic instead of widening it

I started writing about relationships on my personal blog. Instead of talking about every issue under the sun, I wrote about my divorce and life after it. It was the topic that resonated most with my audience.

I found out that they had many questions about divorce beyond how to get over one. My audience wanted to know how to deal with the guilt of divorce. They wanted to know how to stop feeling angry at their ex. They wanted to know how to permanently let go after a divorce. They wanted to know how to accept and love themselves.

Instead of writing about many topics, I started writing more in-depth posts to help my readers navigate their own divorces. My self-published books went from the general topic of divorce to more specific ones based on my audience’s questions.

Instead of writing about many problems your audience faces, explore their primary problem in depth. Help them find solutions to their biggest challenge.

4. Build a relationship with your readers

There are a few things you can do to build a stronger relationship with your readers. Engage with them, write for them, reply to them. Send monthly or weekly updates alerting them about what you’ve written. Don’t talk to them only when you have something to sell them. Instead, be in regular communication through a newsletter.

Also, reply to their comments and engage with your readers when they write to you. Always respond to their emails and messages. Send them surveys to inquire about their interests and preferences. Having a consistent and regular conversation with your readers helps you build a stronger relationship with them.

5. Write on other spaces instead of your own platform

Stop writing on only your blog, as no one will find you there. Go beyond your own blog or website and start writing for other publications and blogs.

In the early days, I wrote much more for other blogs about relationships. Other blogs have a bigger and different audience than yours does when you start. I wrote several relationship articles for the Tiny Buddha blog, and to this day, readers find my personal blog through the guest posts I wrote on that site.

Find out what blogs your readers are reading and show up there. Be where your target audience is so they can find you and find themselves heading back to your writing. Wealthy writers provide content for other people’s websites and publications.

6. Showcase your writing and share it widely

Unless you’re Seth Godin or Tim Ferriss, all you have to do is write your post and move on with your life. Unless you’re Elizabeth Gilbert or Malcolm Gladwell, all you have to do is publish your book and move on to the next one. The most famous bloggers and writers don’t simply publish and rush off to their regularly scheduled lives.

They publish and promote.

You may hate to promote your work but you must do so if you wish to become a profitable writer. Share your work on social media. Visit podcasts and have video interviews in which you talk about your books. Send your posts via email to your readers. Share them far and wide with new audiences. People won’t know your writing exists until you share it with them.

7. Let your audience know where and how to purchase your writing

If you’re an online blogger or writer and have books to sell, be sure to remind your audience about that fact. You may think everyone will know about your books because they follow you closely. However, there’s so much noise on the internet. People don’t know your books exist. New readers, for example, will have no idea about your books for sale.

If you want people to buy your books, you have to mention them, share them and highlight them to those who are reading your work. You have to mention them at the end of your articles. You have to mention them in podcast interviews. You have to talk about your books on social media. You have to share your reviews and positive feedback with future readers. You have to let them know that your books are for sale and guide them on where to purchase them.

8. Go beyond the written word and offer other ways to help your readers

Writers who make a living off their writing don’t just write and sell. In the earlier stages of a career, you may have to do other kinds of writing to support your writing life.

Common activities to supplement your writing income include ghostwriting for other people and freelance writing. You can offer a writing service in which people hire you for additional work. You don’t write just for yourself; you earn an income from writing for others. You can write articles, emails or sales copy, or you can ghostwrite full books. You can also provide proofreading and copyediting services to other writers.

Another way to monetize your writing is to offer services, coaching and even products stemming from your writing. For example, after writing books on letting go of past relationships, I trained as a coach and started coaching people through their breakups. I also started offering online video courses to people going through breakups. These were more valuable, higher-price-point services that people could purchase from me.

9. Show your readers how your writing can transform their life

Finally, to be a profitable writer, you have to go beyond telling your reader what your writing does functionally. You have to go beyond the “how-to” in your blog posts and your books.

What will your articles or book do for the reader? You’re not simply telling someone how to wake up early, but you are telling them how to have a more productive day. You’re not simply sharing tips on exercising but how to live a healthier life. I’m not writing this article here to tell you how to sell more as a writer. Instead, I’m sharing ideas with you so you can be the wealthiest writer you can be.

In your article headlines and your book titles, show your reader what value your books are offering them. Go beyond the functional value and show them how the book will impact their life. People are less interested in what your article is showing them to do and more interested in knowing how this knowledge can transform their life. Show them what life transformation can come from purchasing your work. Focus on delivering transformation in your headlines and titles.

In summary

Good writers have a writing habit and write every day, but wealthier writers do more. Wealthy writers get sharper on their topics, build relationships with their audience, and provide increased levels of value. They show their readers how their writing can transform their readers’ lives.

The more focused you are on your reader and the more value you give, the wealthier of a writer you become. While some may believe that wealth is about making more money, true wealth is making a real difference in your readers' lives.

A truly wealthy writer not only earns from their writing but can transform people’s lives.

Are you a wealthy writer? What other tips can you share with us below?