I've visited this forum a few times in the past couple of years and everything that I said years ago still holds some truth today. Everyone still wants some miracle worker, a $1/100 word writer who will churn perfection and make them rich. Writing for most people here is valued at an all-time low and no one respects the effort, time or business as a whole when it comes to clients. I'm genuinely curious to know if anyone here still earns a livable wage. The freelance mills have scraps to pick from, the jobs posted in the content section are slave labor, cold-calling/cold-emailing usually ends up in the spam or trash can and it seems every contact I used to have from here moved on to something else because it was no longer profitable. I used to have one person who wrote nearly $100 a day in writing material but it wasn't worth the effort and the client ran out of money. The marketplaces where you can sell your original work have gone completely dry with no buyers to be found. You can get lucky and get yourself a nice featured article on one of those sites that pay per submission. As far as earning an actual livable wage though, does anyone here still do it through writing alone?
Yes. By the sounds of it, you're looking in the wrong places for clients. As a side, I've also started writing fiction, and that makes an 'ok' passive income. I've been doing this for over 8 years now - haven't needed to find a 'normal' job yet.
My girlfriend is makuing a reasonable living with transalation work. She's bilingual and translating is quite lucrative. She's won some major clients this past year and the work is steady and predictable. She also does blog writing and editing, earning around $20-$25 an hour - which is not a lto, but definitely a "living" wage, if that's what you're after.
Yes, you can definitely make a living by being a writer. But wait! That depends on what kind of writer you are. Are you a fiction writer? The odds are not in your favour, my friend. Are you a non-fiction writer? It still depends. (Read this article by one of the most prolific writers out there at http://rplg.co/667204c0.) To put myself into perspective, yes, I make a living through writing, that is, I am a copywriter. But remember one thing... Marketing triumphs all. Competition is everywhere, in every profession you go. You have to fight, be the best and hustle your way in. Life is not fair. It's not easy. Prepare yourself for the minimum opportunities that might land your way. That's it.
Also, the OP was known on here 1-2 years ago for constantly whining about clients and the work available, while the rest of us who stuck at it are still here. No offence to him now (maybe things have changed), but it doesn't exactly inspire trust in a client. I wouldn't hire someone who I knew would vocally moan about me should the contract not be successful for whatever reason. I suspect that is where a lot of his problems arose from on Digital Point, and probably on other writing platforms had he done the same there. Could be totally wrong but it doesn't leave a good impression. Edited to add that a lot of the people who have hired me through here have messaged me directly, not posted a hiring thread. So when a lot of your posts are full of whinging and bitching, well, is it any wonder that you can't find regular work?
Well I'm new so it is obvious that I probably won't be making a living wage. Yet! What are some of the places most people here get their clients? I know oDesk and Upwork exist, but I'm not quite sure if these are really the best places for folks who are entry level.