How Poetry Writing Can Create Income
Writing poetry is one of the oldest forms of literature. It is not only beautiful but it can also help someone make money. What many people don’t know is that poetry writing can be an incredibly lucrative way to make an income.
As the saying goes, if you’re good at something then never do it for free. Utilizing your artistic capabilities and writing prowess in the world of poetry, you can help make ends meet, offer additional income streams and extend your creative reach.
With the technology available to us today, anyone with the knowledge and a willingness to learn can make money writing poetry. Here’s how you can start.
Starting Out
Becoming a successful freelance writer of poetry, is like most other writing gigs, it takes time and practice to become adept. You can start by writing a few sample poems and getting feedback from friends and family. Once you have a portfolio of poems you can use to showcase your work, begin to look for writing jobs, or create your own opportunities.
Start small and build up a client base. Once you have established yourself in the market, compose poems and price them according to demand. Engage your contacts for more work which will give you the opportunity to further hone your craft and increase your earnings.
Find Writing Opportunities
Writing jobs can be found in a variety of places. Platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, and Clarity provide ample opportunities to have your skills featured. The most successful writers use these sites to their advantage by engaging in bidding wars and fulfilling orders as quickly and effectively as possible.
Social media can provide an additional avenue, by displaying your work to a wider audience.
Commissions
H3Commissioned poetry writing is becoming ever more popular, with platforms such as Poetry.com, Poetry Nation and Poetry Store. They are a great way to provide custom-written poems to a wide range of customers paying varying amounts. Sites like this give the customer a choice between established, successful poets and more unknown poets.
An added incentive of commissioned poetry is that your work will be featured on the respective sites. Providing additional exposure, reviews and recognition of your work.
Promote Your Work Regularly
Regular self promotion is critical in any writing journey. Strong branding of your work increases your chances of gaining more clients and additional work. Having a personal website can go a long way in achieving this.
Be Willing To Learn
Remaining up to date with trends and hone your craft. Reading the works of established poets can give you an understanding of the industry and can help your work stand out among the crowd. Don’t be afraid to try something new and widen your client base.
Publish Your Work
Having a few well written and published works to your name is a great way to gain more clients. It is also a great way to build your portfolio of literary works. Several sites offer self publishing services but it’s best to get creative and come up with the perfect way to showcase your work.
Competitions and Grants
Writing poetry can be a competitive world but with the numerous opportunities available, you can use this to your advantage. Participating in poetry competitions and applying for grants can help you increase your skills, get more exposure and potentially make some additional money.
Paid Content
Writing poetry for magazines, newspapers and special occasion work is an excellent way of gaining additional exposure. Pay can vary quite drastically, however with the right approach, you can develop relationships with clients, build trust in time and see an increase in your earnings.
Monetize Your Own Platform
Running your own platform is another way to monetize your work and get the most out of your writing. Sites like Etsy and Shapeways are used by many poets to gain customers in both physical and digital ways.
More advanced techniques involve charging for techniques like letting people customize their orders and creating digital products for sale like MP3s and DVDs.
Conclusion
Writing poetry online can be a rewarding way to increase your writing portfolio and make money from your craft. Determination, creativity, and a willingness to learn will help you succeed in this exciting journey.
