As writers, we all deserve to be paid fairly for our work.

And I’m not just talking about one and done. I’m talking about being paid on a monthly basis.

When I first started freelance writing six years ago, I thought the same thing that many writers have thought at one time: that I had to struggle before I could make some real money.

But that’s not true. It wasn’t true then, and it certainly isn’t true now.

Sometimes it’s easy to take what we do for granted, especially when other professionals do. Everyone thinks that they can be a writer until it’s time to start typing. 

Then most people realize the power of the wordsmith.

There is not one industry that can succeed without you – even in the weird world of AI. That’s why you need to start treating your writing like the powerful skillset that it is.  

Why You Want to Create Your Own Publishing Hub

Before we get down to the how, we have to start with the why. Why do you want to build your own publishing hub? 

Well, the main reason would be because it would give you the best of both worlds.

At the end of the day, writers want two things:

• To be paid fairly for their work, and 
• To have full ownership of their work. 

In the past, writers have had to choose between ownership of their work and making a living – and in some cases, they had to give up both and still struggled. 

Thankfully, that’s no longer the case. Creating your own publishing hub allows you to stay profitable on a consistent basis while maintaining control of your work.

Let’s say that you offer freelance writing services. While you’re waiting on a few clients to pay your invoices, you’re also getting royalty payments from the books that you’ve self-published.

You also have money coming in from a paid newsletter that you provide monthly to your email list. 

Having these options gives you the space to breathe. You’re not stressed about meeting tight deadlines when you’re being paid from the books that you’ve published. 

Don’t feel overwhelmed by the term “publishing hub.” It represents three practical steps that every writer can take to become profitable, which are:

• Offering freelance writing services 
• Creating digital products, and 
• Building a core audience.

Let’s break down each one. 

Offering Writing and Editing Services 

Freelance writing is a great profitable skill that every writer needs in their arsenal. It gives writers the power to work with whoever they want, whenever they want, creating whatever they want. 

As a freelance writer, you’re not tied to a particular client. You can write white papers for one client, blog posts for another client, and ghostwrite an eBook for another. 

There’s also a lot of flexibility that comes with freelance writing. If you want to write on the weekends or at night, no one is stopping you. 

You can also experiment with creating different types of content. You can learn how to write white papers, product guides, and other types of copywriting material. Even better, you can add these pieces to your portfolio and introduce your work to potential clients. 

Editing is another skillset that you want to develop as a freelance writer. Why? Because it’s one of those skills that’s underrated until you need it. 

What many people don’t know is that there are two types of editing: copyediting and content editing. Copyediting involves reviewing technical aspects of the English language like grammar, spelling, and punctuation, while content editing is more nuanced and involves techniques such as fact checking and reviewing character and story development. 

Both types of editing are needed to create the best piece of content possible. And just like with your freelance writing services, you can specialize in offering content editing services for fictional novels or copyediting for textbooks. 

Creating Your Own Digital Products 

The next step you want to take is, probably, one of the most powerful steps: creating your own digital products.

Freelance writing is a skillset that can help you make active income. Creating digital products like eBooks, product guides, and white papers are ways that you can create passive income for yourself.

An eBook that you publish this year can still make money for you next year, the year after that, and even ten years from now. That’s the power that comes with distributing your own digital products. 

These assets can also help establish your authority in a particular area. You don’t have to be a Pulitzer-prize winning author to share your expertise with the world. 

All you have to do is decide on the right digital product to distribute the knowledge, format it properly, and hit publish.

Building Your Audience

Last but certainly not least, you want to focus on building your audience.

Being exposed to a large audience is one of the main reasons why writers would seek a traditional publishing deal. But let’s be honest. Between social media and word of mouth, is a traditional publishing deal even necessary?

Thanks to BookTube authors and other content creators, we’ve realized that there are organic ways that we can connect with our audiences. And these marketing techniques don’t have to be expensive. 

At the very least, as a writer you would need:

• An author website
• A newsletter, and 
• An email list.

With your website, you can treat it as your own little digital bookstore; it can be used to help introduce you to your future subscribers and share content that helps solve their problems. 

Your email list can be used to build a genuine connection with your audience. You can send emails that promote your products and services, share deeper content, and keep in constant communication without hounding them to death.

Just like your website and email list, you can also create a newsletter to provide more value for your audience. At least weekly or monthly, you can send a newsletter about the latest trends or highlights in your area of expertise. 

Final Thoughts 

When you think of creating your own publishing hub, don’t overthink it. It’s not as difficult as it sounds.

You can get started by offering writing and editing services, creating your own digital products, and building your core audience one product or service at a time. 

Let’s make 2026 the year where every writer gets paid what they’re worth.

If you’re ready to get started, subscribe to get access to my digital templates on how to build systems for each one of these steps. 

Share your thoughts in the comments section below.