If you’re an avid reader, getting paid to read seems like a dream job, right?
Maybe you’re wondering if it’s even possible.
The good news is that with just a computer, wi-fi, and a passion for reading, you can start a side hustle and possibly a career that allows you to get paid to read.
With new technology and social media emerging all the time, you could even use these ideas as a jumping-off point and come up with other creative ideas of your own.
Now, let’s dive into six fun ways to get paid to read.
1. Create an Online Book Club
If you don’t have a large following or audience, having a niche theme is the key to creating a successful paid book club. The more specific you are, the better you’ll be able to market your book club to superfans of your topic, series, author, etc.
For example, I love the Agatha Christie Poirot books. If I were starting or joining a book club, one that solely reads Poirot books would be something I’d be interested in.
Take some time to think about your favorite books. What could you focus on? Do you like historical fiction about World War 2, productivity and time management books, or the Anne of Green Gables series? My family has been doing an “Anne” book club for several years, and we’re still going!
Once you have a topic, you’ll want to do your research and consider things like:
- How much should I charge? ($5-$35 per month is common.)
- How often will we meet? (weekly, monthly, quarterly)
- How many people can attend?
- What will attendees receive? (Is a copy of the book included?)
One of the most critical factors is marketing. If you have a newsletter or social media, you can promote it through those channels. You might even create a social media account, newsletter, or blog focusing on your book club topic to attract your ideal customer.
2. Get Into Audiobook Narration
If you’ve ever listened to an audiobook, you already know that many audiobooks are not read by the author.
You might be surprised that many audiobook narrators have a background in acting or theater.
If you have experience in acting, theater, or communications, this could be an ideal fit for you.
A good first step is to check out this article from Audible with advice for becoming an audiobook narrator and then start practicing! If you want to read fiction books, practice different voices to get a feel for it.
If reading multiple voices is challenging, try starting with non-fiction.
While most jobs we’ll talk about only require a computer and the internet, getting into audiobook narration will require some additional equipment.
Equipment and Preparation:
- Headphones
- Microphone and stand
- Pop filter
- Computer
- Recording software or program
As we mentioned, since many narrators have an acting background, you might consider taking voice training classes or lessons if you don’t have one. Or, if you have an expressive voice, look at Julie Eickhoff’s free voice-over mini-course.
According to ZipRecruiter, the average pay for an audiobook narrator in the US is $31.13 per hour. Also, note that when you see an hourly rate, it sometimes refers to an audio hour rather than just an hour.
If this sounds interesting, you can discover other ways to make money with your voice.
Once you have the equipment, you can create a demo recording to submit when applying for jobs.
Another option with narration is to look into Amazon ACX, where you can create an account and apply for voice acting jobs.
3. Get a Proofreading Side Gig
Proofreading is another option if you are well-versed in grammar and love reading books or manuscripts.
Proofreaders are usually one of the last ones to work on a book or piece of work. They focus on finding grammar, punctuation, and spelling mistakes after the bulk of editing has been done.
Over time, you might be able to work your way up to become a book editor, focusing on the writing style, organization, etc.
If you are new to this line of work, Upwork and Fiverr can be good places to start working with self-published authors. The work can be low-paid at first, but starting here can help you build a portfolio and get some initial experience.
Think about your current or previous jobs. Maybe you’ve already done some proofreading work without realizing it.
ZipRecruitor says that proofreaders make an average of $28 per hour in the US.
Consider whether you want to take on any specialties or genres. If you already have experience in a specific field, you could start by proofreading in your industry and then expand from there as you gain experience.
You can also take a free proofreading workshop or an online course to gain additional skills.
4. Start a BookTube Channel on YouTube
If you’re willing to play the long game, you could create a YouTube channel focused on book recommendations, reviews, etc.
While it might take months or even a few years to build up your subscribers, this could be a fun hobby or side gig that can eventually become a money-making opportunity.
As a BookTuber, you can make money in a variety of ways. Here are some ideas:
- Running ads on your videos
- Getting brand deals and sponsorships through YouTube or Instagram
- Selling book-related merch, like bookmarks, t-shirts, coffee mugs, etc.
- Creating a Patreon
- Running a book club (like we talked about earlier)
- Sharing recommendations, book summaries, or book reviews on Substack
A good place to start is to follow some BookTubers like @JackEdwards, @MelReads @BookswithEmilyFox, @Megwithbooks, and @BooksandLala.
If you’re serious about turning this into a money-making venture, do your research.
Pick some of the BookTubers above, look through their previous videos, and take notes on some of these questions:
- What videos get the most views?
- What headlines do well?
- What thumbnails are the most eye-catching?
- What income streams do they utilize?
- What genres do the best?
Also, consider how you would stand out. Would you focus on a specific genre like romance or fantasy or be more of a generalist? Do you prefer to read fiction or nonfiction?
5. Become a Book Reviewer
To become a book reviewer, you can take a few different paths. Here are a few ideas:
- Find book review jobs on Upwork
- Write reviews on Medium or your blog
- Post an ad for your skills on Fiverr
- Freelance through a company
Here are some suggestions for getting started with these book reviewer ideas.
Find Book Reviewing Jobs on Upwork
If you haven’t used Upwork, it’s a platform where clients and freelancers connect. The client can post a job listing, and you can apply. Once you have an account, find the search bar and type in a keyword phrase like “book reviewer.”
Most listings include a description of what they’re looking for and how much they will pay you. Some writers have self-published books and are looking for reviewers, editors, or both. For example, I just clicked on one, and they will pay $25 for feedback and constructive criticism.
Write Reviews on Medium or Your Blog
A few years ago, I wrote an article on Medium about book suggestions and shared a summary of each book. Even today, that post is my top-performing article and has made the most money of anything I’ve written on Medium.
While it can take time to build up a following on Medium or a personal blog, the advantage is that you’ll have more freedom to write whatever you want to write about and do it on your own timeframe.
Of course, writing on Medium or your blog can be done alongside narration, running a book club, proofreading, etc.
Post an Ad for Your Skills on Fiverr
On the Fiverr website, you can go to the “Writing & Translation” tab, and underneath, you’ll see a category called “Book & Ebook Publishing.” Beneath that, click on “Beta Reading.”
Take some time to read through the ads to see how others market themselves and their services. At a quick glance, rates are between $10-$165 depending on experience, length of book, turnaround time, etc.
Freelance Through a Company
If you prefer more structure and are overwhelmed by the idea of starting a blog, using Fiverr, etc., consider becoming a freelancer with a company to write reviews of books.
Many of these pay anywhere from $5 to $60 per review. Some projects are unpaid but provide a free copy of the book.
Once you gain some initial experience, you can work your way up to higher-paying opportunities or go out on your own.
Here are some companies to check out:
When initially applying and writing your reviews, read the instructions carefully. Many companies will require reviews to be a specific length and completed within a certain timeframe.
With some of these companies, keep in mind that you might need to submit writing samples, a resume, sample work, or professional references.
6. Start a Paid Newsletter
Another idea is to start a paid newsletter focused on books. If you already have a following online, you might have people interested in your thoughts and ideas about what you read.
Substack is currently one of the most popular ways to have a reading-focused newsletter.
If you’re brand new, consider starting a free newsletter on Substack, and once you have some followers, you can add paid content.
In terms of content, you can share book summaries, book reviews, recommendations, or best-of lists.
If you have a particular genre you love, focusing on that can be a good way to get readers with a similar interest as you.
Or, if you’re used to reading all sorts of books, you can start more general and see what resonates with your readers and niche down from there.
Take Advantage of Volunteer or Unpaid Opportunities
While getting paid to do something we love is ideal, it’s not always easy when we’re just starting.
If you explore these opportunities and you’re not finding luck right away, consider starting with unpaid or volunteer options first to get some experience.
For example, if you know someone writing an e-book or who does lots of writing, offer to proofread for them in exchange for a good recommendation or review.
Or, start sharing book reviews or recommendations on social media like Instagram or BookTok. Publishers or authors might reach out to you, offering to give you free books. Even with a small blog, I’ve had this happen to me.
Some book review websites don’t pay but will give you a free copy of the book in exchange for a short summary or review. This can be an easy and fun way to get free books, even if you’re not getting paid.
Over time, once you have experience with some unpaid opportunities, you’ll be an even better candidate for more lucrative and in-demand paid options.
Get Paid to Read Wrapup
As you can see, it’s definitely possible to get paid to read. In fact, there are probably more opportunities than you imagined.
Some other areas you could consider are translation work, writing and self-publishing your own books, working at a library as a paid employee or a volunteer, or getting into editing within the publishing industry.
If any of these areas feel overwhelming but exciting, find someone who is already doing it on LinkedIn or a blog, and ask for an informational interview or if they’d be willing to answer a few questions over DM or email.
Or, go on Facebook or whatever social media you use and ask if anyone you know has connections within these industries.
Lastly, as a reader, you are a naturally creative and imaginative person! Get those creative juices flowing and see what other ideas you can come up with to make money reading!