Reading for Cash: A Guide to Making Money Reading Books in 2024
Although reading is commonly thought of as a pastime, it's a little-known fact that you can make money from reading books. In our article, we’ve selected the 6 most effective ways to earn from your passion for reading in 2024, so grab your books and explore our guide to start earning.
How to Make Money Reading Books in 2024
| Pros | Cons | |
| Writing Book Reviews | No shortage of online platforms that pay for book reviews Flexible work schedule | Low earnings if you have no experience Can be very time-consuming |
| Narrating Books | Potential for higher earnings and growth with experience Allows you to be in control of your work schedule | Expensive due to recording equipment and studio time Can be time-consuming, with long hours |
| Running a Book Club | Can provide a regular source of income Low start-up costs, especially online | Low earning potential Can be hard to find members to join |
| Translating Books | Earnings can be high at an average of $0.08 to $0.18 per word You set your work hours | Usually requires a university degree in a language and creative writing experience Income can be unstable |
| Proofreading Books | Higher earning potential with an average pay between $12 and $16 per hour Jobs are in-demand | Publishers and authors often have strict deadlines The job market is competitive |
| Becoming a Book Podcaster | Lots of different opportunities to monetize podcasts High earning and growth potential | Highly competitive Requires startup funds for equipment and studio time |
Writing Book Reviews
Writing book reviews can be a great way to earn extra cash from your hobby. Plus, if you’re a seasoned reader, you’ll likely have some opinions about books that people would be interested to hear.
Writing book reviews as a freelancer
If you enjoy and excel in writing, you could earn some money as a freelance book reviewer. Many different magazines and online publications accept book review submissions, including:
You can submit your idea or review along with your resume, and if accepted, the publication will pay you a fee ranging from $5 to $60, depending on your experience and the length of the review.
Creating a book review blog
Online platforms like WordPress, Webador, and Wix allow you to create your own blog where you can start writing and publishing book reviews for the public. To start making money you will need to take steps to monetize your blog, but first, you will need to start building your audience. You could do this by promoting your blog on social, participating in online book forums, or even networking with and commenting on related blogs.
Once you have attracted some readers, you can start to monetize through various methods, including advertising affiliate marketing links and selling ad space on your page, or creating a paid membership for exclusive content.
While creating a blog is more immediately accessible than freelance writing, it is notoriously difficult to gain readers, especially since the competition is incredibly high. With that in mind, this method can take a long time before you see any income.
Narrating Books
With the boom in audiobooks, narrators are in demand to voice a variety of content, including fiction and nonfiction. If you want to be a narrator or VO artist, there are many platforms to choose from. We've narrowed it down to the best here, but for more info on how to make money by reading books aloud, see our dedicated article.
Spoken Realms
Spoken Realms is a publishing and audiobook production platform that connects narrators with authors. It's not a traditional narrator directory but allows narrators and VO artists to create profiles and promote themselves to potential clients.
To get started on Spoken Realms, you will need to submit a portfolio showing that you have done at least 1 or more previous VO jobs. Once you've applied, the platform will decide whether to accept you. If you are successful, Spoken Realms will connect you with clients for various voiceover jobs where you can negotiate an hourly rate. Depending on the client, you may also be able to earn a percentage of royalties from book sales.
Audible Creator Exchange
With the Audible Creator Exchange (ACX), you can advertise your narrating services to a whole range of authors looking for narrators to read their audiobooks. It’s one of the most popular narration platforms, allowing you to upload your profile, including voice samples and your portfolio, to attract new roles and start reading books for money. Once you start working with a client, you can establish whether you will be paid an hourly rate, earn a percentage of the audiobook royalties, or both.
Voices
Voices is an online marketplace for voice talent for a variety of VO jobs, from commercials to audiobooks. By creating a profile and uploading your demos, you can advertise your services to over 5,000 potential clients, including audiobook authors in need of a narrator. You can also search and audition for roles yourself so you can rest assured that you'll always get paid and never have to chase down invoices.
Running a Book Club
Book clubs are a great way for bookworms to get together and discuss their latest reads, but they can also be a lucrative way to make money. Starting a book club allows you to charge a membership fee, which can start as a small token and increase over time as the membership grows. To attract members, you can promote your book club on social media, create your own website, or post about it in online forums. You might consider hosting an online book club to attract more members from around the world.
In exchange for the fee, you will be responsible for organizing the book club, including details such as where it will meet, what books will be read, and how the discussion will be led.
Translating Books
Those who speak multiple languages can make money by reading books and then translating them from one language to another. You'll also need good writing skills, as the text is often not translated literally, and you'll need to use some creative license. In addition, you will usually need a university degree in a second language to ensure that you're competent.
You can sign up for translation platforms like Gengo and Translated by providing your personal information, specialty language, and rates. You can then apply for jobs directly through the platform, including book translation roles.
Proofreading Books
With an eye for detail and a good grasp of grammar, you could make some money proofreading books. Platforms such as Fiverr and UpWork post proofreading jobs for their members to apply for, many of which involve proofreading ebooks or small passages from books. Creating an account on these platforms also makes your profile visible to potential clients, increasing your chances of earning money. Authors and clients often offer a fixed price for proofreading jobs on these platforms, so you can easily apply and start reading and editing books for some guaranteed cash.
Becoming a Book Podcaster
Becoming a book podcaster could be a way to make money from your love of reading. Whether you discuss books, review books, or anything in between, creating a unique podcast that stands out from the crowd could generate enough listeners to start monetizing. You could do this by:
- Offering ad space
- Offering affiliate marketing codes
- Finding sponsorship deals
- Asking for donations through Patreon
While this sounds straightforward, it can be incredibly challenging to make a successful podcast due to the high level of competition, and the process of making money from a podcast relies on a significant number of listeners. Lastly, it’s important to bear in mind that it can also be expensive to get started due to the need for audio equipment.
FAQ
Can I make money by reading books?
There are many ways to make money from books, such as narrating audiobooks, running a book club, translating and proofreading books, writing book reviews, selling your old books, or becoming a book podcaster.
Do you need special skills to make money from reading books?
Some methods, such as book translation, proofreading, and book reviewing, require language and writing skills, but most require only a love of books and some hard work.
How can I earn the most money by reading books?
The methods of reading books for money with the highest earning potential are becoming a book podcaster, writing book reviews, and translating books. However, achieving success in these areas can be more challenging compared to other methods.
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