When I first started writing online, I had no audience, connections, or idea of how to make money from it. I didn’t think about any specific niches or the purpose of writing.
But I knew one thing—I loved writing and wanted to find a way to make it sustainable. I wasn’t even thinking about monetization then; it came to my attention only after I had written over fifty articles.
My first goal was to earn my first $1,000 purely from writing.
I didn’t know how to do it, but I was sure it would happen. I tried monetizing my blog with Google ads, but it was one of the worst ways.
It took time, trial and error, and a lot of persistence, but I eventually hit that milestone. And the best part? I did it without needing a massive audience. Here’s precisely how I made my first $1,000 writing online — and how you can do it too.
1. Writing on Medium.com
I used to publish only on my blog when I started writing online. But it did not help me grow my audience or make money. Then, I discovered Medium, and it was a game-changer for me.
Medium was the first place I started consistently publishing my writing. At the time, I knew little about SEO, audience building, or marketing, but Medium allowed me to focus on one thing: writing.
The Medium Partner Program pays writers based on member engagement with their stories. I wrote about creativity, self-improvement, online writing, and personal experiences—topics that resonated with people. My first few articles barely made a few dollars, but as I wrote more, a few gained traction. One article brought in over $170 alone, and collectively, I made a few hundred dollars from Medium in my early months.
2. Selling e-books
I quickly realized that relying on Medium’s algorithm wasn’t enough. I wanted more control over my income, so I wrote and published my first e-book.
Instead of charging a specific price for my e-book, I used Payhip to keep it “Pay what you want.” This means that people could either get it for $0 or pay any price they wanted. I learned this strategy from other writers on Medium, and surprisingly, some readers downloaded my book for $1, $2, and more, even when they could get it for free.
The first time someone bought my e-book, I was shocked. Someone was willing to pay for my writing! Then, I wrote another e-book, priced at $4.99, and promoted it in my articles and social media.
Within a few months, my e-book sales added a few hundred dollars to my total income. It wasn’t a bestseller, but it proved that even with a small audience, you can make money by packaging your knowledge into something valuable.
I learned that You don’t need a 200-page book to start selling. A well-structured guide that solves a problem is enough to start earning.
3. Freelancing and Ghostwriting
While I loved writing on Medium and selling e-books, I wanted a more stable income, so I turned to freelancing and ghostwriting.
At first, I had no idea how to get clients. I started posting my articles on LinkedIn, and fortunately, I received positive feedback from my connections. Businesses and individuals began contacting me, offering me paid writing jobs. I made $30-$50 per article at the time, which was a lot for me.
As I built my portfolio, I landed better-paying clients. Some paid $100 per article, others even more. Ghostwriting was incredibly lucrative because many businesses and creators needed content but had no time to write it themselves.
I did this for a year and stopped because I had to focus on building my agency and wanted more control of my time. Freewriting and ghostwriting paid well, but I didn’t want to do it long-term.
4. Tips and Donations from Readers
One of the most surprising ways I made money was through reader support. I set up a Ko-fi page and occasionally mentioned it at the end of my articles. I didn’t expect much, but to my surprise, readers who found my content valuable started tipping me. Most left $3, others $10. One generous reader even gave me $36 because he was fascinated with my writing.
I learned that you must first provide value. If people love your work, they’ll happily support you financially.
Final Thoughts
When I added everything up—Medium earnings, e-book sales, freelancing, and reader tips—I had officially earned my first $1,000 from writing. More importantly, I had proven that making money as a writer was possible, even without a massive audience.
If you’re just starting, here’s my advice: don’t wait until you have thousands of followers to monetize your writing. Start small, experiment with different income streams, and keep showing up. Your first $1,000 is just the beginning.
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