How to earn money being a comedy writer? Awesome comedy writing jobs

Comedy is an art that can become a full source of income. And you do not have to be a standup comedian for that. After all, not everyone is comfortable in front of a crowd. But what about comedy writing?

What if you love humor? There are still many career options in comedy that do not include performing. A lot of comedians chose humor writing for additional income or as an outlet for their talent. Ready to learn how to make money being a comedy writer?

earn money being a comedy writer
Photo by Marija Zaric on Unsplash

Of course, a comedy writing job is not for everyone. It is not only about excellent writing or storytelling skills; it is about making someone laugh out loud even if they are just reading an article online. 

If you love jokes, puns, and sarcasm, if you enjoy telling social trolls where to get off, this might be a great career path for you. Humor writing jobs are creative, exciting, and usually well-paid. Are you interested in freelance comedy writing jobs? Then I’ve got some useful information for you. 

Types of Comedy Writing Careers 

First of all, there are plenty of offers out there. Humor is incredibly valuable not only for screenwriting or articles but also for marketing.

Even if you are a complete beginner and want to find entry-level writing jobs, there are numerous options, from making T-shirt slogans up to YouTube scripts.

Here are some of the most popular types of jobs for freelance comedy writing:

  • Screenwriting for YouTube videos or podcasts. You’ll be surprised how many content creators need help from comedians. The prices may vary from $100 to $1000 for an episode, depending on your skills and creator. These can be all types of videos, from reviews up to web-series. 
  • Screenwriting for TV, for example, sitcom writing jobs. This is one of the more well-paid options if one manages to get in. You can look for screenwriting gigs on freelance sites, like Upwork or WritingJobz. But you can also apply directly to Comedy Central, for example, they are hiring comedy writers. You’ll need to learn the basics of telling a story and creating characters. And you’ll need to create a couple of specs – examples of scenarios that serve as a portfolio or your skills. 
  • Copywriting. Freelance humor writing is often used in marketing. So if you are not into screenwriting, you can look for the same type of job as any other freelance author but with a focus on humor. It can be anything, from Twitter posts (Take Wendy’s Twitter for example – it is worldly-known for witty replies because there are some great comedians behind the screen) for brands and up to advertising campaigns or slogans.
  • Create scripts for commercials or create social media posts. One can also find plenty of entry-level comedy writing jobs and small gigs, like creating funny texts for birthday cards. 
  • Blogging. Freelance joke writing can be a great advantage for those who create blog posts. You can work as a ghostwriter for other creators or guest posts. And a valid idea is to run your own blog. It can be a portfolio, writing sample and resume as well as a source of income. There are also several ways to monetize a blog and it would be a shame not to use them. 
  • Articles for online magazines and comedy digests. Online platforms provide lots of jobs for comedy writers because they are in constant need of fresh content. And they also pay decently. One can write satirical pieces on news, jokes or anecdotes for a column, or any other type of article. 

So, there are many comedy writing jobs online

Basically, anything that can be better with a good joke can become a gig for a comedy author.

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

It is important to start with small gigs and build up your freelance writer portfolio as well as experience to land some lucrative offers. Now, let’s talk about where to find these deals. 

Sites with Gigs for Freelance Comedy Writers 

It is important to mention that these are not all options available, you can also get through the list of online freelance proofreading jobs, there are so many of them that no article can hold everything. But these are good platforms to find joke writing jobs. 

1. Freelance websites

The easiest way to start and find some entry-level gigs is to check out many freelance websites. Some of them are dedicated exclusively to writing; others host all types of employment.

The most popular ones are Upwork, Fiverr, Craigslist, WritingJobz.com, iWriter, Guru, Freelancer.com, etc. One can start with registration and making a dashing profile. 

2. Directly applying to media productions

If you want to get into screenwriting, you can also go directly to Comedy Central or BBC. Such institutions always post recent employment options on their websites. Of course, there will be huge competition, but why not try it out. 

3. Cracked

This is an excellent satirical online magazine with a long history. One can find here articles, list-posts, hilarious photo captions, etc. They have a page dedicated to authors that want to submit their works or take an assignment. The payment is in the range of $100-250 per gig.

4. The Funny Times

It is another outstanding humor-based platform. They are open to submissions in form of comics or funny stories. It can be anything about politics, whether, everyday experience, religion, or news. The stories need to be about 500-700 words. The platform pays $75 for a published story. 

5. The New Yorker 

You’ve probably heard about this magazine. The great news is – they are open to submissions! And it doesn’t have to be a huge piece of a novel. There is a column called Shouts & Murmurs which is quite satirical and humorous. So you can try your skills at that. The payment depends on the assignment. 

6. Reader’s Digest

Yet another great magazine that is ready for submissions. They have pages dedicated to jokes and funny stories. They have both a printed magazine and a website. If the editors accept your submission, they’ll pay $100 for it, which is a great prize.

7. LinkedIn

Yep, you can surely use LinkedIn to find freelance comedy writing jobs online. One of the greatest ways, except from directly searching for proposals or pitching employers, is to follow your most popular brands and start commenting on their posts. High chances that HRs and social media managers are checking reactions to their posts and you can show them your writing skills as well as your specialization in comedy writing. Use your humor with a cold head, otherwise, your potential employers won’t be interested in hiring you for their future writing gigs. 

Ready to become a comedy writer?

Comedy writing is a great opportunity to express your natural talent and earn some money. There are numerous gigs out there from all types of industries and employers, so choose what is more exciting for you.

You can look for gigs on freelance websites or directly submit your pieces to various media and magazines. All it takes is to be funny!

Vasy Kafidoff
Vasy Kafidoff

Vasyl Kafidoff is a founder and mastermind of KAFIDOFF.COM. He has a strong interest in education, modern technology, marketing, and business management.

If Vasy is not working, you can find him somewhere in the world attending a Rock Concert with his mates.

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