10 Writing Side Hustles for Stay-at-Home Moms (And How to Balance It All)

As a stay-at-home mom of two toddlers, I was desperate for a side hustle. Not only was I looking for some extra cash (who isn’t?!), but I needed something to remind me that my brain still worked. The only way I can describe how my brain felt at that time was “dusty.”

I imagined my former knowledge was tucked away in some dark corner of my brain. And anytime I tried accessing anything more profound than the ABCs or Itsy-Bitsy Spider, I had to go back to that dark corner and sweep away all the dust and cobwebs to find it. So, to keep the cobwebs at bay, I attempted to find a part-time job that would work with my SAHM schedule.

I tried random things at first. I got my real estate license, for example, and quickly learned I HATE sales, and I even tried washing dogs at a friend's dog grooming business. Remember, I said I was desperate. But I quickly discovered that ANYTHING outside of the home was not going to work. I simply couldn’t adhere to any outside schedules because the only schedules that mattered were my kids’. I can remember thinking, “I’m just going to enjoy this time with my babies, and maybe someday I’ll find something I can do from home.”

So, for a while, I gave up on the idea of having any sort of side income. Until I got a phone call that changed my life. I’ll never forget it; I was pushing my babies in the double stroller on our daily walk when my phone rang. I looked down at my phone and it was my former boss, so of course I answered it. She practically jumped through the phone, asking me, “Have you ever thought about being a freelance writer?”

After that phone call, I began researching the various opportunities with freelance writing and realized, “I might be able to do this.” That was four years ago. Today, I work for three different companies doing freelance writing, and I’ve never been happier. Quite honestly, it’s like a dream come true.

Here’s why freelance writing is the perfect side hustle for SAHMs

Freelance writing is a perfect side gig for stay at home moms who can find their “secret sauce.” (Read Dez’s story to see how The Pajama Writer found hers.)

• You work from HOME. I can’t emphasize this enough. There’s no traveling. No in-office days. Just you, your kids, and your pajamas.

• You pick the hours you work. Of course, there are going to be deadlines, but you can write in the morning, noon, or night whenever works best for you and your family.

• There’s an UNLIMITED number of topics to write about. Love to cook? There’s a blog for that. Great at organization? There’s a blog for that too.

• Depending on the company, you can decide how much work you want to do each month. Don’t have a lot going on? Pile on the assignments. Crazy month ahead? Only take what you can handle.

If you’re a SAHM and you’ve made it this far, I can only imagine you’re feeling the same way I did. So, I’ll ask you the same question that changed my life… Have you ever thought about being a freelance writer? I’ll even go a step further and help you get those thoughts started.

Here are 10 writing side hustles for stay-at-home moms

There are literally hundreds of (if not thousands) of paying writing opportunities out there. But don’t get overwhelmed. I’ve put together some top ten sites to explore first. Keep an open mind, have faith in your writing, and get yourself a free version of Grammarly. Let’s get you making a little money in between snack time and nap time.

1.) Verblio: Spec write as your time allows, choosing only those topics and assignments that appeal to you. The best part – if the client selects your work, you get paid weekly.

2.) Today I Found Out: Love to research and great at digging out interesting details? This might be the site for you!

3.) Listverse: Are you constantly making lists for yourself (and your spouse and kids too)? Why not make lists and get paid to do it?!

4.) The Sportster: Sports fans: Write about what you love! Turn your passion into profit and have an actual reason to never miss a game.

5.) Theme Park Tourist: If you love digging into the tricks and secrets of the theme park world, then this is the gig you need to check out.

6.) Tutorials Point: Have you always been told that you’re great at teaching or explaining things in an understanding way? Try out writing tutorials!

7.) In The Know Traveler: Love traveling? Write about all your adventures!

8.) Craftbits.com: Are you a crafter? Are you always coming up with new and interesting creations? Share them with others and get paid to do it!

9.) Learn Cake Decorating Online: Decorating cakes is a skill that people want to learn more about. If you’re a great cake decorator, you can make money by writing about it.

10. Freelance Mom: Have some great mom stories? Who doesn’t?! Check out Freelance Moms and turn those stories into cash.

Balancing it all

One last suggestion before you start on this life-changing journey: pace yourself. Start slowly and learn what works best for you and your family. When I first started, I thought I could handle way more than I could. I learned it’s better to pace myself, find my writing rhythm, and grow as time allows. Pay attention to how much time it takes you to:

-          Find a writing gig you love

-          Research what you need to write

-          Write and proofread your content

-          Submit your work

-          Allow time for follow-up edits

You can then assess how much time you can devote to writing and better gauge how much work you can commit to in your already hectic, stay-at-home mom schedule.

Now that my kids are a tad bit older and more self-sufficient, I can take on a lot more than I could when they were babies. Learning how to balance it all can be tricky, but so worth it in the end.

The Pajama Writer is a great resource for getting started

If you’re feeling a little “dusty” with your writing and want a leg up on getting started, check out all the incredible guides, templates, and resources right here with The Pajama Writer. Get all the tips you need to build a portfolio, find your groove, track your time, and land paying writing clients. Dez has taken the guesswork out of getting started. Start exploring and downloading tools today!

Good luck, my fellow mamas, and happy writing!