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While there are countless writer and author jobs in Canada, many people in that niche want to focus on their own creations. If you’re in that group, securing a steady income might be one of your biggest challenges. Luckily, by getting a side gig, you can have a reliable cash flow. If you’re wondering why a side gig is a good idea and how to get started, here’s what you need to know.
Why You Want a Side Gig
Many writers and authors work on personal projects that take a lot of time to complete. As a result, their core focus isn’t always bringing in income.
By starting a side gig, you give yourself a diverse income stream. You’ll have more than one way to bring in money, giving you extra stability.
Plus, many side gigs can help you hone your writing skills. You may have a chance to explore more kinds of writing, as well as get constructive feedback from a broader range of people.
In some cases, side gigs can boost your reputation. For example, if you’re getting bylines on pieces written for major publications, that enhances your online presence and gives you a platform to showcase your capabilities.
Side Gigs That Appeal to Writers
Many side gigs are excellent options for writers. Here are just a few great examples of the types of opportunities that might appeal to you:
- Content Creator
- Social Media Manager
- Blogger
- Writing Tutor
- Ghostwriter
- Copywriter
- Article Writer
- Editor
- Online Course Creator
If you’re comfortable with video editing, you could also create how-to or informational videos about various kinds of writing. While it may take time for those to pay off, especially if you use sites like YouTube, it could be worth exploring.
How to Find Your Next Side Gig
Writers and authors have a lot of options for finding side gigs. If you want something in your local area, see if your area library or a local school would allow you to host a writing workshop or advertise tutoring services. You could also look for piece-rate opportunities with your local newspaper or offer blog support to small businesses near you.
Since delivering documents online is easy, finding remote side gigs is also an option. You’ll be able to work from home on your own schedule and secure a reliable income.
Upwork and Fiverr are excellent sites to use when you want to find opportunities online. You can create a profile with ease and start bidding on jobs quickly. Plus, companies can search for writer profiles and invite you to apply to positions if they think you’re the right fit, making it easier to connect with more gigs.
Making Your Side Gig a Small Business
Once you establish yourself as a reliable gig worker, turning your side hustle into a small business can be a smart move. You’ll be able to expand your operation, enhancing your earning potential. Plus, you can hire employees to assist with your operation.
When you hire your first employees, you may want to track their hours using an Excel spreadsheet in the beginning. It’s a straightforward option, and if you already have Excel, it’s highly accessible. But as your business grows, you will likely need a more robust solution to streamline this aspect of your business. Look into using software to connect home office and field staff so you can stay on top of your responsibilities to your employees without taking precious time away from your creative pursuits.
Also, make sure you handle the other business setup steps first. Choose a business structure, get your licenses, apply for an EIN, and set up a company bank account. That way, you’ll have everything you need to thrive.
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Need a new haunting book to read?
Try out Emily’s Lair! It is a witch themed thriller novel.
Synopsis: Investigating a grisly murder, detective Will Heller finds himself drawn to person of interest Emily Kostova, the owner of a local bookstore. Emily’s broad knowledge of the Whitechapel murders, and of Jack the Ripper, persuade Will that his conversations with her might help him catch his killer. It is through these discussions that Will learns of Liesbeth Janssen, a woman accused of witchcraft in the seventeenth century.
When additional murders bearing the same bizarre characteristics provide enough evidence to clear Emily, Will is finally free to act on his powerful attraction to her. As they grow close, however, what he discovers about Emily, and about Liesbeth, convince Will that the woman he loves may be harboring a terrible secret.
Giving the reader a harrowing ride between the infamous witch hunts of the 17th century and the present day, Emily’s Lair is a suspenseful page-turner of speculative fiction by Cary Grossman.
Buy the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B097TQ1Q86
About the Author
Cary Grossman got the idea for his first book after spending two decades in retail management, a career in which he found little to inspire him. It took him over ten years to write his first novel, creating a story and with painstaking care learning the craft of turning it into a novel. His goal was to make page-turners; books that would get the reader involved from the first page. Two years ago, he abandoned retail for good and became the caretaker of a church, a career that leaves him plenty of time to write!
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I decided to start a new series on my channel where I highlight the upcoming book releases in the next month and so this is my first in this series. Check out all these great books coming out in September 2021! Let me know if you are excited about any of these in the comments below.
Check out the video below:
