For New Writers Who Don't Know Where to Start
How to realistically earn from your writing within 3 months.
"I don't know where to start."
If you've ever said this about your writing career, you're not alone. I hear it from new writers all the time, and I get it. I've been there too.
(You can watch my free video course on knowing where to start here)
When I started, I spent months reading about finding my niche, building my brand, discovering my passion, creating my author platform.
You know what all that research did? It kept me from actually writing.
Why "Find Your Passion First" Doesn't Work
Everyone tells you to find your passion first, then monetize it. But that's not how it works in practice.
When you pressure yourself to discover your passion right now, you get analysis paralysis. You either never start, or worse, you start the wrong way.
Even if you know your passion, it can make you ignore two critical things:
What people actually pay for (the market) and
What you're actually good at (your skill)
Think about it: If you write consistently about your passion but no one reads and no one pays, you'll eventually get discouraged and quit. And in a field of quitters, your goal is to keep writing when everyone else stops.
The Three Paths That Actually Work
For new writers with zero or little audience, there are only three main paths. Yes, there are more options out there, but focusing on three prevents analysis paralysis and gets you moving.
I go deeper on this in my free video course. But here are 3 paths you can consider:
Path 1: Platform Writing (Medium, Substack)
Perfect if you're still figuring out what to write about. You can experiment with different topics: business, relationships, your professional expertise, creative writing, fitness, whatever.
You'll discover what you're good at, what you enjoy writing, and what readers actually respond to.
Pro tip for new Medium writers: Submit to Medium publications. (You can check this to see how).
Good editors will improve your writing and show you what quality looks like in practice. Publications give you distribution. This alone could help you earn your first $100 or find your first 100 loyal readers.
Path 2: Freelance Writing
Perfect if you need money right now. This includes:
Article gigs
Ghostwriting
Client content
Any paid writing work
The catch? Clients/employers will want to see your portfolio. If you don't have one that makes someone think "this person can help me," go back to Path 1 first.
Once you have some platform pieces, level up by publishing in mainstream media. Yes, larger “mainstream” places like Vice, Business Insider, HuffPost, etc. have fewer readers now. But they help bring credibility to your profile. This makes it easier for people to trust you more, increase your value, and allow you to charge higher rates.
Path 3: Paid Subscribers
Perfect if you already have a specific solution to a specific pain point and know exactly where your audience hangs out.
Notice I said "pain point," not "problem."
Because not all pain points need solutions: sometimes people want validation (relatable stories) or entertainment. Understanding this difference changes everything.
Your Action Plan
Answer these three questions:
Do I need money in the next 30 days? If yes, go freelance (unless you have a day job, then focus on platform writing to build long-term).
Do I have a proven body of work? If no, platform first.
Am I clear on what I want to write? If no, platform first and observe reader response.
Pick your path and start this week. Not next week. This week.
If you’re committed to starting, you can create your 90-day action plan.
Remember: You'll likely do all three paths eventually, but you must start with one. Your time and energy are limited, so maximize your focus on what matters most right now.
Stop overly focusing on “passion.” Start discovering what actually works.
Thanks I am doing platforms first. Medium, substack. we will see how things go.