Get Paid to Write or Edit

A handful of Web sites pay for articles, but unless they're commissioning your original work, you won't make big bucks. www.associatedcontent.com pays around $10 per approved/published piece. www.helium.com is another option that rewards prolific writers, and both sites are a good way to build an online portfolio of published work while making some money at the same time. Two other options for various assignments: www.myessays.com and www.writerfind.com .

Another option is freelance writing for magazines, trade publications, newsletters, or local newspapers. If you've developed a specialty or have a particular interest in a single topic—film, fashion, food, travel—many websites and small publications work only with freelancers and regularly look for writers to do reviews on products or new releases, ranging in topic from electronics to beauty.

Contact the editors of the publications you'd like to work for. (Their names and contact information can typically be found on the masthead or websites.) Ask for their writers guidelines and be ready to submit samples of your work. (This is also where links to your work from the two sites listed above can come in handy.