Whoa. Summer is slow.
I know that officially, it’s still spring. But companies and clients often use Memorial Day as their official “here come all the vacations” mentality.
You would think summer would be a great time for freelancers to pick up extra projects. You sure would. Alas, while I’ve had a few summers that were so busy I didn’t have time to see the sun let alone enjoy it, it’s more typical to be idle.
So now’s your chance to make money doing something with that spare time. While I trust you’ll still market, you may have a bit of time while courting new client prospects.
Here are a few things you can do right now to start making money:
Write (and sell) an e-book.
It can be as simple as a how-to for other writers (or your intended customers) or as complicated as a novel or collection of short stories you’ve been wanting to write. So write! Then sell it. Promote it on your blog or social media feed, and make some extra cash doing something fun and different.
Teach something.
A one-hour webinar on something you’re particularly knowledgeable or good at is a great way to make a few bucks. I’d allot at least three weeks to organize it and promote it, but you can get serious bang for your buck by teaching something different from what’s already out there.
Pitch something.
Easiest way to get some cash flowing is to pitch an idea to a new publication (or even a familiar one). It could be that the one-time article assignment turns into an ongoing relationship.
Temp.
I’ve seen three jobs this week for temporary writers and editors in my area. Two of them were remote positions, so there’s nothing limiting you from locating a fill-in position for vacationers or for a company that doesn’t want to hire anyone during the summer months. They don’t pay your usual rate, but they give you some steady income until the clients return.
Write resumes.
You can work for a resume-writing company, but be careful. Some are short on pay and long on micro-management. Better to hang out your shingle and advertise on social media or at the local employment office. (And charge at least $300 per resume.)
Edit/proof college papers.
Do not think I mean write them. That’s unethical, in my book. But proofreading and offering editorial feedback are valuable, legitimate ways to earn some extra cash. Get in touch with local colleges to find out how to best get word out that your services are available. For that matter, if you enjoy researching, you could offer yourself as a research assistant.
Guest blog on paid sites.
You won’t get paid oodles of money, but you can get some pocket change by approaching sites that pay for guest posts. Just make sure it’s a site you’d want your name attached to.
Offer mentoring.
There are so many new writers who could use some help understanding how to run a successful freelance writing business. Why not get paid to help them?
Writers, how do you find work in the slower periods?
What’s your go-to method of getting quick cash?