Best Way for a New Writer to Make Their First $200 This Month

Not $2,000 to start. Not $20,000. Just $200.

Because when you’re a brand-new writer staring at a blank screen — and an even blanker bank balance — what you need isn’t a big dream. You need a quick win.

A couple hundred dollars won’t change your life, but it will change your belief. It will prove your words have value, and that making money as a writer isn’t just possible — it’s real.

If you can go from $2.00 to $200.00 in one month, then $2,000 is no longer impossible.

So, how do you get there? Let’s break it down.

1. Go for the Quick Win

Your first $200 won’t come from your future bestseller. Or that dream blog you’re planning but haven’t launched yet.

It will come from small, doable, sellable work.

• A freelance article (500–1,000 words)
• A paid guest blog post
• A micro e-book or guide
• A newsletter piece with a paying subscriber base

Think fast turnaround, low resistance, and quick payment.

2. Start Where the Buyers Already Are

Don’t waste your first month chasing clients endlessly. Go where people are already paying for words.

• Upwork / Fiverr: Yes, the pay can be low — but a quick $50–$100 project can push you toward your first $200 fast.
• Medium Partner Program: If you write consistently on trending topics, Medium itself can pay you.
• Paid Guest Posts: Many niche blogs pay $50–$150 per article.
• Self-Publish a Microbook: Platforms like Gumroad or Amazon Kindle make it easy.

3. Write What Solves a Problem

Clients and readers don’t pay for words. They pay for solutions.

• Instead of “10 Tips for Writers” → try “10 Tips to Land Your First Freelance Client This Week.”
• Instead of “Why I Love Reading” → try “5 Books That Boosted My Freelance Income.”

Specific solutions = faster sales.

4. Don’t Aim for Perfect, Aim for Done

Perfection is the enemy of your first $200. You don’t need Pulitzer-level prose. You need published work that people can use right now.

Finish the draft. Send the pitch. Publish the post.

Done beats perfect, every single time.

5. Stack Small Wins

Your first $200 might not come from one big gig. It might be:

• $50 for a blog post
• $100 from Medium Partner Program
• $25 from a Gumroad template
• $25 from a paid guest post

That’s your $200 — and the belief that you can scale it next month.

Final Word

Your goal this month isn’t to become a full-time writer. It’s to prove to yourself that you can earn money with your words.

$200 is the spark. $2,000 comes after. $20,000 comes later.

But it all starts with showing yourself that writing can pay.

And once you cash that first $200, you’ll never look at a blank page the same way again.