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Would you like to start a business, side hustle, or passion project in a writing field?

Perhaps you’ve reached a point in your career where you can retire early and you’re looking for something to do with your free time, or maybe you always dreamed of starting a business. 

On the other hand, you might just be looking for a new passion project to light up your life, and you’re certain writing is ‘wright’ for you.

In any case, a writing business can be super rewarding, but it can also be a lot of work. It all depends on what you want to get out of your pursuit.

To be successful, you’re going to need some useful tools, and in this article, I’m going to give you the top 10 tools that you can start using to support your writing business goals – TODAY.

Why Start a Writing Business?

Writing is a rewarding pursuit for many reasons. It can be a way to express yourself creatively, to share your knowledge and experiences with others, or to simply make a difference in the world. 

Writing can also be a great way to improve your communication skills, learn new things, and boost your self-confidence.

I started my first writing business in 2017, but I’d been writing for years before then. In 2017, I self-published my first book and started my first blog. In 2020, I started my copywriting business.

Each of these things achieved different goals, but they also provided me with a sense of pride and accomplishment. I felt fulfilled when I wrote and I loved sharing stories with the world.

You may have similar goals, or perhaps writing is about something else entirely for you. Perhaps you want to share your thoughts and opinions, or maybe your work will have a profound impact on your audience.

In any case, writing has shaped society and culture for countless generations and will continue to do so. I’m glad you’ve decided to join the charge, regardless of your reasons.

What Business Options Are Available for Writers?

There’s ample demand for good writers. If you have a knack for writing, you should definitely consider writing as a side hustle or passion project.

Look from the list below and select one that makes the most sense for you.

1. Freelance writer
2. Copywriter
3. Technical writer
4. Content writer
5. Ghostwriter
6. Screenwriter
7. Playwriter
8. Novelist
9. Poet
10. Fiction writer
11. Non-fiction writer
12. Transcriber
13. Editor/Proofreader
14. Summarizer
15. Blogger
16. Journalist
17. Translator
18. Interpreter
19. Speechwriter
20. Web content writer

You may be able to combine some of these categories into single projects where they make sense.

For instance, you may decide to become a freelance copywriter or a non-fiction novelist.

Regardless of the writing project you decide to pursue, you’ll quite likely need some resources to help you succeed with your newfound passion project.

10 Resources to Support Your Writing Side Hustle or Passion Project

Here are some handy resources for your writing side hustle:

1. Grammarly

Grammarly does a fantastic job of reviewing written content, and its capabilities have expanded immensely in recent years. If you haven’t tried it yet and you’re serious about starting your writing side hustle, I HIGHLY recommend it.

I’ve used Grammarly for years and found it to be one of the most valuable writing tools available. It’s arguably the single best tool you could use as a writer.

Not everyone has access to proofreaders and editors (I usually don’t), and Grammarly takes the pain of not having one away.

2. Bluehost

Are you intent on starting a writing business where you’ll need a website? If so, I recommend Bluehost for hosting services.

Their hosting options are competitively priced and I’ve always found their customer service to be top-notch. Bluehost customer service has often gone above and beyond my expectations to provide me with great support.

I began using Bluehost in 2017 when I launched my first blog and still use it to this day.

3. ClickUp

In my experience, writing projects generally involve a series of goals – small and large, and I’ve found it helpful to use ClickUp to help me monitor my progress toward my own goals.

ClickUp is a type of project management software with multiple subscription tiers, including a free version. If you need help staying on track with your goals, then I highly recommend it.

4. Google Drive

Google Drive has gotten loads better over the years and I use Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Forms almost exclusively (except when a client has requested otherwise).

I also find it immensely helpful from a data storage and retrieval standpoint. After all, I can access my docs immediately from just about any device – simply by signing in to my account.

5. Canva

A lot of writers eventually need at least some simple graphics, and here is where Canva delivers.

I’m not trained in graphic design whatsoever, and yet even I can create some pretty killer graphics with Canva, which is why I frequently recommend it.

6. Google Analytics

Depending on your goals, you may or may not need Google Analytics.

Google Analytics is pretty handy if you have a website or if you’ll be running marketing campaigns. It can help you keep track of website traffic, among other handy metrics.

7. Google Bard (Google’s AI tool)

AI is the way of the future, and though you might consider AI a competitor, trust me when I say that it’s not.

Believe it or not, I use Google Bard for research purposes. It helps me write more efficiently and deliver more value.

I wouldn’t recommend that you use it in place of writing, but rather to complement your writing.

8. Quora

Curious about what people are asking questions about? Quora is a great source of information to understand your target audience in more depth.

If you’re intent on writing on subjects that interest people, then I recommend looking into Quora as a research resource.

9. Google Ads – Keyword Planner

There are numerous SEO tools, but my favorite by far is Google’s Keyword Planner.

When you first sign onto the platform, you’ll probably think Google is trying to get you to create ads. That’s because they are (it’s how they make a lot of their money, after all).

Ignore the part about the ads when you first sign up and just click through to the Keyword Planner. You can find it by clicking Tools -> Planning -> Keyword Planner on the left-hand side of the screen.

Note, you do NOT need to buy ads in order to use Keyword Planner, but no doubt Google would like you to think otherwise.

I have yet to buy Google’s ads, yet I’ve used their Keyword Planner for years.

10. Social Media

It probably comes as no surprise that social media is one of the best ways to promote your work.

Personally, I favor using LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest, at least lately, but you should use whatever platforms make the most sense for you.

Use the platform where you think you’ll be more likely to find your target audience.

Which of these tools do you think will most benefit your writing side hustle? Let me know in the comments below, or reach out to me directly on the Contact Page.

Think starting a writing business will FIRE your life? Check out the posts page for more ways you can FIRE Your Career and achieve financial freedom.

FIRE Your Career: Achieve Financial Freedom Through Your Career & Spend MORE Time Doing What You Love.

Products I recommend in this article:

Grammarly

Bluehost

ClickUp (project management software to keep track of your progress toward your goals)

Google Drive

Canva

Google Analytics

Google Bard

Quora

Google Ads – Keyword Planner