How to make money writing without a degree (or any experience)

Have you ever thought, “There’s no way I’ll be a successful freelance writer without a writing-related degree?” Well, I’m here to be your daily myth buster.

Let’s take Jeff Bezos for a moment. He wasn’t always the billionaire we know today. Back in the early ’90s, he was a Wall Street guy with a cushy job. Then he had a wild idea. Sell books online. So, he walked away from that high-paying career, started packing and shipping books out of his garage, and built what we now know as Amazon.

All with ZERO experience.

And we all know how that turned out. With loads of perseverance and work ethic, he eventually created a company that now generates over $637 billion annually.

Now, am I saying that with enough grit and hustle you’ll become the Jeff Bezos of freelance writing? Honestly… I kind of hope you do. But for the rest of us, the point is this: you don’t need an English degree to make a real living as a writer.

So, whether you’re looking for a writing side-hustle or a complete career change, let’s break down some practical, no-fluff ways you can start earning money as a writer fast.

Why degrees don’t matter in freelance writing 

In the freelance writing world, most clients couldn’t care less about your degree or diploma. They care about three things: quality work, an easy-to-work-with partner, and results.

Want a more personal example? My degree is in public relations, something I earned 18 years ago. The truth? That piece of paper doesn’t come close to the value of what I’ve learned through actual work and life experience since then.

To drive the point home, I currently write for three different companies. Not one of them asked where I went to school or what I studied. Every single one cared far more about my writing samples, both published and unpublished.

And here’s the kicker. As my workload grew and I spent more time actually writing, my skills improved dramatically. The difference between my work now and what I produced when I first started four years ago is night and day.

Tip #1: 

If you already have writing samples, gather them in one easily shareable location so you can send them to potential clients. And if you don’t have any yet? Start creating them. Write about topics you enjoy and would want to be hired for, that way, your samples attract the kind of work you actually want to do.

Easy entry points into paid writing

Now that you’ve got your samples ready to go, it’s time to find work that actually pays, right?

Here are a few quick, realistic ways to get started:

• Content mills: Not glamorous and you’re 100% right about that. Content mills hire large numbers of freelance writers to crank out articles for lower pay. But here’s the upside. They can help you get published work under your belt quickly and start building your name.A couple to check out:

  • Constant Content

  • Stellar

    
    

• Product descriptions: If you have a knack for making a product shine and stand out from the competition, this one’s for you. Writing short, persuasive product copy can be a great foot in the door.Try starting here:

  • Fiverr

  • Upwork

    
    

• Blog posts for small businesses: Small businesses are catching on that SEO matters if they want to get noticed online. And one of the best ways to do that is by posting regular blog content. Pull from your own life or work experience and write for companies you align with.Look for opportunities here:

  • FlexJobs

  • Indeed

Tip #2: 

Don’t be afraid to take smaller, lower-paying jobs in the beginning. They’re not forever, but they are valuable for gaining experience, building confidence, and filling your portfolio with real work.

Growing from first gigs to steady income

Once you’ve got a few gigs under your belt, it’s time to start refining your focus and growing your business.

Look back over the projects you’ve completed. Which ones did you truly enjoy, whether it was the subject matter, the style, or even the type of client? Those are your clues. The work you enjoy most is usually the work you’ll do best, and it’s where you should concentrate your efforts when going after bigger, more consistent freelance jobs.

I know “niching down” can feel like you’re turning away opportunities. But in reality, specializing makes you more in demand. When you’re seen as the writer for a certain topic or style, you can charge more for your time and land better-quality clients.

Tip #3: 

Keep updating your portfolio. Clients love to see fresh work, and your latest pieces will almost always be stronger than those you wrote in your early days.

No degree? Take the leap.

If Jeff Bezos can go from shipping books out of his garage to building one of the biggest companies in the world, you can absolutely jump into freelance writing with no writing degree and scale to earn real money with your words.

You don’t need a degree to make money writing. You need skills, consistency, and the confidence to put yourself out there. Start with small jobs, build your portfolio, niche down when you’re ready, and keep improving as you go.

Let’s get you writing! Download guides, book a call, or sign up for the Pajama Writer newsletter. Or, come hang out with Dez on Instagram at @ThePajamaWriter and Facebook at The Pajama Writer.