12 Ways To Get Paid To Write Poetry Online (Upto $200 Per Poem)

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Let’s be honest, for many poets, the idea of actually making money from writing poems feels like a bit of a fairytale.

We pour our hearts onto the page, but paying the bills with verse?

That often seems out of reach. But here’s the good news: thanks to the internet and a changing creative landscape, there are more ways than ever to turn your poetic passion into actual profit.

Whether you’re just starting to share your work or you’ve been crafting poems for years, this guide is here to help.

I’ll walk through 12 practical, proven methods to get paid to write poems online. Forget the starving artist trope – let’s explore how you can make your poetry pay.

1. Submit to Literary Magazines & Journals

This is one of the classic routes for poets. Getting your work published in literary magazines and journals not only gets your name out there but can also come with a paycheck. These publications are always on the lookout for fresh voices and powerful poems.

What Can You Earn?

Payment really varies. Some smaller journals might offer contributor copies or a small stipend, maybe $1.50 to $50 per poem.

However, more established publications pay better, often ranging from $50 to $300 per poem. Top-tier places like Poetry Magazine have impressive rates, paying $10 per line with a minimum payment of $300!

Tips for Getting Accepted:

First off, really dig into each magazine before you send them anything.

Get a feel for their style and what kind of poetry they typically publish. Following their submission guidelines exactly is crucial – don’t give them an easy reason to say no!

It’s also usually best practice not to post poems you plan to submit on your public blog or social media beforehand, as many journals want “first publication rights.”

Rejection is just part of the game here, so try not to take it personally and just keep submitting your work.

Staying organized is key; consider using a spreadsheet or a tool like Duotrope to keep track of where and when you’ve submitted.

Some Publications That Pay Poets:

• Poetry Magazine: $10 per line ($300 minimum)
• The Sun Magazine: $100-$250 per poem
• Palette Poetry: $50 per poem (up to $150 per feature)
• AGNI: $40 per printed page
• The Threepenny Review: $200 per poem
• New Letters: Minimum $12 per poem

Looking for more places? Check out databases on sites like Poets & Writers.

2. Enter Poetry Contests

Poetry contests can be a fantastic way to win some serious cash prizes and gain valuable recognition for your work.

While many contests do have entry fees, think of them as potential investments – the rewards can be significant, going beyond just money to include publication and networking opportunities.

What Can You Earn?
Prize money can range from a hundred bucks to tens of thousands for the really big ones! First-place winners often snag anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000.

For example, Winning Writers hosts the Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest which offers $3,000 for each category winner.

Some prestigious fellowships, like The Poetry Foundation’s Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellowships, offer prizes upwards of $25,000!

Tips for Success:
Do your homework to make sure a contest is legitimate before entering – sadly, scams exist.

Weigh the entry fee against the potential prize and the contest’s reputation. If possible, try to read poems that have won in previous years to get a sense of what the judges might be looking for.

As always, follow the submission rules precisely. And most importantly, only submit your absolute strongest, most polished poems – you want to put your best foot forward.

Some Reputable Contests to Consider:

• The National Poetry Competition (UK): £5,000 first prize
• The Bridport Prize (International): £5,000 first prize
• Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest: $3,000 for each category
• The Poetry Foundation’s Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellowships: $27,000 prize (as of recent years)
• Academy of American Poets Prizes: Various awards and amounts

You can find listings of current contests on sites like Poets & Writers or Winning Writers.

3. Self-Publish Poetry Books

The rise of self-publishing has been a game-changer for poets!

Platforms using print-on-demand (POD) and digital formats mean you can publish your own poetry collections without needing a huge upfront investment or a traditional publishing deal.

You have control over your work and how it’s presented.

What Can You Earn?
Typically, self-published poetry paperbacks sell for around $10-$20, while ebooks might be priced between $2.99-$9.99.

Your royalties (the percentage you keep) usually fall between 40-70%, depending on the platform and your pricing choices.

While some poets hit it big, a common range for successful indie poets is earning $200-$2,000 per year per book. How well your book sells often comes down to how effectively you market it.

Tips for Self-Publishing Success:
Don’t skimp on presentation! A professional-looking cover design is essential to attract readers. Investing in professional editing will make your work shine and catch errors you might miss.

You’ll also need to format your book correctly for both print (like paperback) and digital (ebook) versions.

It really helps to start building an author platform (like a website, email list, or social media following) before your book comes out.

Having a marketing strategy in place is key – think about how you’ll reach readers. Collecting pre-orders can give your book a nice boost in sales right at launch.

Popular Self-Publishing Platforms:

• Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing): Offers the largest market reach, especially for ebooks, with up to 70% royalties. (Explore Amazon KDP)
• IngramSpark: Often preferred for wider print distribution (beyond Amazon) and potentially better print quality.
• Blurb: Great if your poetry includes visuals or you want specialized formats; they cater well to image-heavy books.
• Draft2Digital: Makes it easy to distribute your ebook to multiple online stores (like Apple Books, Kobo, and B&N) besides Amazon.
• Lulu: Another popular option, known for offering good hardcover choices for poetry collections.

4. Sell Poetry on Online Marketplaces

Beyond full books, you can sell individual poems or smaller digital collections directly to readers through various online marketplaces. This often gives you a higher slice of the profit compared to traditional routes.

What Can You Earn?
You might sell individual printable poems for $2-$10 each, while digital mini-collections could go for $5-$20.

With a smart pricing strategy and some effort in promoting your work, poets can potentially earn $50-$500 per month this way, depending on how many pieces you offer and the size of your audience.

Tips for Selling Online:
Presentation matters here too! Create visually appealing listings for your poems, perhaps using nice graphics or mockups.

It’s a good idea to offer both single poems and bundled collections to give buyers options.

Price your work competitively, but don’t undervalue your art. Make sure you respond quickly if customers have questions. Use your social media channels to let people know about your online shop and drive traffic there.

Collecting and showcasing positive reviews can really help build trust and encourage sales.

Popular Marketplaces to Check Out:

• Etsy: A huge marketplace, great for selling printable poem downloads, custom poetry gifts, and even physical items.
• Payhip: A simple platform for selling digital downloads (like PDF poems or ebooks) where you keep about 95% of the revenue.
• Gumroad: Another easy-to-use platform for selling digital products directly to your audience.
• Ko-fi: Allows you to sell products directly but also integrates ways for fans to simply support you with donations (“buy you a coffee”).
• Poetizer: A platform specifically designed for poets to share work, connect, and potentially sell through their bookstore feature.

5. Offer Poetry Commissions

How about writing poems for people? Custom poetry commissions involve creating personalized poems for clients.

People love these for special occasions like weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, memorials, or just to capture a unique feeling or message.

What Can You Earn?
Rates for commissioned poems vary quite a bit based on things like the poem’s length, how complex it is, and your own experience level.

A typical range might be $25-$300 per poem. Many poets charge somewhere between $50-$200 per poem, or use other models like $10 per line or $25 per page.

If someone needs a poem quickly (a rush job) or it’s for a very specialized purpose, you can often charge a premium price.

Tips for Success with Commissions:
Be clear about what you offer. Create different packages (e.g., short poem, long poem, framed option) with defined prices and what the client receives.

Have a detailed process for understanding exactly what the client wants – maybe a questionnaire or a brief chat. It’s smart to set firm policies about revisions (how many are included, what extra ones cost).

Build a portfolio showcasing examples of poems you’ve written for others (with their permission, of course!). You could even offer add-on services like providing a handwritten copy or having the poem framed. Don’t forget to ask happy clients for testimonials!

Where to Find Commission Work:

• Fiverr: A popular platform for freelancers offering services (gigs). Good for getting started with commissions.
• Upwork: Another major freelance platform, often with clients willing to pay higher rates, suitable for more established poets.
• Etsy: You can create listings specifically for custom poetry, offering both digital and physical delivered poems.
• Your Own Website: Setting up a page on your own site gives you full control, direct relationships with clients, and lets you keep all the revenue (minus payment processing fees).
• Social Media: Platforms like Instagram and TikTok can be surprisingly effective for attracting commission requests if you share your work and mention you offer custom poems.

6. Apply for Poetry Grants

Did you know there are organizations out there that give money specifically to poets?

Grants from foundations, government arts agencies, and other groups can provide funding to support your writing time, help you work on a specific poetry project, or even cover costs for professional development.

What Can You Earn?
Grant amounts vary hugely. Smaller project grants might be $500-$1,000, while larger project grants could range from $5,000-$25,000.

Prestigious fellowships, which often support living expenses while you write, can provide stipends from $10,000 up to $75,000 per year!

Tips for Applying Successfully:
Spend time researching grants to find ones that genuinely match your style of poetry or the project you have in mind. Following the application instructions down to the last detail is absolutely essential.

You’ll likely need to write a compelling artist statement that explains your work and vision.

For project grants, create a detailed, realistic plan and budget showing how you’ll use the funds. Gather your strongest poems as work samples – they need to represent your very best writing.

If letters of recommendation are required, ask people who know your work well, and give them plenty of advance notice.

Where to Look for Poetry Grants:

• National Endowment for the Arts (NEA): Offers highly competitive Creative Writing Fellowships ($25,000).
• The Poetry Foundation: Provides various grant programs supporting poets and poetry organizations.
• Academy of American Poets: Offers multiple fellowships and awards.
• State Arts Councils: Nearly every U.S. state has an arts council that offers grants to individual artists residing in that state (search for “[Your State] Arts Council”).
• University Writing Programs: Some universities offer residencies, fellowships, or grants through their creative writing departments.
• Poets & Writers: A great resource for finding grant and award deadlines.

7. Create & Sell Poetry Merchandise

Think beyond the page! You can turn lines or snippets of your poetry into physical products that your readers and fans can buy, wear, or display. This opens up entirely new ways to earn money from your words.

What Can You Earn?
Profit margins depend on the product and how you produce it. You might make $5-$20 profit per item. Using print-on-demand (POD) services means you don’t have to handle inventory or shipping yourself, but your profit margin might be lower (around 30-40%).

If you produce merchandise yourself (like making prints or buttons), your upfront costs are higher, but you could potentially keep 50-70% profit per sale.

Tips for Creating Great Merch:
Choose lines from your poems that are particularly impactful, memorable, or concise – they work best on products. Investing in good design and typography will make your merch look professional and desirable.

If you’re unsure about demand, test products with small print runs first before ordering large quantities.

Try creating collections of items that share a common theme or aesthetic. You could also offer special items for holidays or seasons. High-quality photos of your products are crucial for online sales.

Poetry Merchandise Ideas:

• Apparel like t-shirts, hoodies, or tote bags featuring a line of poetry.
• Home decor items such as posters, art prints, throw pillows, or blankets.
• Stationery like notebooks, journals, or postcards with poetic snippets.
• Accessories including mugs, phone cases, or bookmarks.
• Limited edition items like signed and numbered art prints of a poem.

Popular Platforms for Selling Merch (especially POD):

• Redbubble: Offers a huge variety of products and is generally considered artist-friendly. (Explore Redbubble)
• Printful: Known for high-quality printing and integrates easily with platforms like Etsy or your own website (Shopify, WooCommerce).
• Etsy: A great place to sell unique, creative goods directly to buyers interested in handcrafted or artistic items. You can list POD items or self-produced goods.

8. Teach Poetry Workshops/Courses

If you enjoy sharing your love and knowledge of poetry, teaching workshops or courses could be a rewarding income stream.

You can teach in person at local libraries, community centers, or writing groups, or reach a wider audience by offering courses online. This not only brings in money but also positions you as an expert.

What Can You Earn?
For a single, in-person workshop session (maybe a few hours), you might charge $50-$300 per participant.

Multi-week courses could range from $200-$1,000 per person. Online courses have flexible pricing; you could sell a recorded course for anywhere from $20 to $500 (or more!) per student, potentially generating passive income after the initial creation.

Running regular online group workshops via platforms like Zoom could provide a steady $500-$2,500+ monthly income, depending on your pricing and how many people sign up.

Tips for Successful Teaching:
Plan your workshop or course well. Develop a clear curriculum outlining what students will learn.

Create engaging writing exercises and activities to keep participants involved. Providing thoughtful, constructive feedback on their work is incredibly valuable.

If you’re new to teaching, maybe start with a shorter, focused workshop before tackling a comprehensive multi-week course. Ask satisfied students if they’d be willing to provide testimonials – these are great for marketing future classes.

Think about specializing in a particular area, like sonnets, spoken word, nature poetry, or poetry for beginners.

Platforms & Venues for Teaching:

• Udemy: A massive marketplace for online courses, good for reaching a broad audience with recorded content.
• Teachable: Allows you to create and sell your own branded online courses directly from your own website.
• Outschool: A platform specifically for teaching live online classes to kids and teens (K-12), including creative writing and poetry.
• Local Libraries & Community Centers: Often look for instructors to offer workshops to the public.
• Creative Writing Centers: Check for opportunities at established writing organizations in your area.
• Your Own Website: Host course information and registration pages, giving you full control and higher profit margins.

Workshop Ideas Sampler:

• Poetry Fundamentals: Cover the basics like rhythm, meter, imagery, and common forms.
• Finding Your Poetic Voice: Help writers explore different styles and develop their unique perspective.
• Poetry for Healing: Explore therapeutic writing and using poetry for self-expression and processing emotions.
• Getting Your Poetry Published: Guide aspiring poets through the process of submitting to journals and contests.

9. Start a Poetry Patreon/Membership

Platforms like Patreon allow your readers and fans to support your work directly through small, recurring monthly payments. In return, you offer them exclusive content, early access to new poems, behind-the-scenes looks, or other special perks. It’s like having a dedicated group of patrons supporting your art.

What Can You Earn?
Even poets with a relatively modest online following might earn $50-$500 per month through memberships.

If you have a larger, engaged audience, it’s possible to generate $1,000-$5,000 or even more each month. You typically set up different “tiers” of support, with common price points ranging from $3 to $25 per month per supporter.

Tips for a Thriving Membership:
It generally works best if you already have some kind of audience or following before launching a membership program.

Create clear membership tiers with benefits that feel genuinely valuable to your supporters. Consistency is key – deliver the promised content regularly (e.g., monthly exclusive poems, weekly updates).

Make an effort to engage personally with your patrons; thank them, respond to comments, maybe host Q&A sessions. Sharing glimpses of your creative process can make supporters feel more connected. The core idea is to offer things your patrons can’t get anywhere else for free.

Membership Platform Options:

• Patreon: The most well-known and widely used platform for creators.
• Ko-fi: Offers both one-time “tip” options and recurring memberships, often with lower platform fees than Patreon.
• Buy Me a Coffee: Another user-friendly option similar to Ko-fi, focusing on simplicity.
• Substack: Primarily for newsletters, but many poets use it to deliver exclusive poetry content to paid subscribers.
• Ghost: A more advanced, self-hosted option that gives you maximum control over your membership site (requires more technical setup).

Sample Membership Tier Ideas (Just For an Idea):

• $3/month: Early access to new poems before they’re public, a monthly poetry newsletter, a thank-you mention.
• $10/month: All the above, plus exclusive poems only for patrons, access to a monthly live Q&A, insights into your writing process.
• $25/month: All the above, plus maybe a personalized short poem each month, offering brief feedback on a patron’s poem, access to digital downloads of your poetry collections.

10. Write for Greeting Card Companies

Believe it or not, greeting card companies are constantly looking for writers who can craft heartfelt, funny, or touching verses for their cards. If you can write concisely and connect with common emotions and occasions, this can be a great way to get paid for your writing and have your words reach a huge audience.

What Can You Earn?
Payment per accepted verse typically ranges from $25 to $300, depending on the company and the specific card line.

Big players like Hallmark often pay in the $100-$300 range for submissions they accept. Some companies pay a flat fee per verse, while others might offer a small royalty (like 2-5%) based on how well the card sells.

Tips for Getting Your Verse Accepted:
Before submitting, carefully study the kinds of cards the company already sells. What’s their tone?

Who is their audience?

Follow their submission guidelines exactly – they often have very specific requirements. Focus your writing on popular, high-volume occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, holidays (Christmas, Mother’s Day, etc.), thank you, sympathy, and encouragement. Greeting card verses are usually short and direct, so practice writing concisely.

Think about niche markets too – are there specific types of relationships or situations that aren’t well-represented? Keep submitting regularly; persistence often pays off.

Some Greeting Card Companies That Accept Submissions (check their sites for current guidelines):

• Hallmark: The industry giant with many different card lines and styles.
• Blue Mountain Arts: Known for longer, more heartfelt and emotional verses.
• American Greetings: Another major company with a wide variety of card styles. (Note: Submission info often found via their careers page)
• Oatmeal Studios: Focuses on funny, lighthearted card concepts.

Popular Card Categories: Love & Romance, Birthday, Wedding & Anniversary, Humor, Graduation, Holidays (Christmas, Valentine’s, etc.), Sympathy, Encouragement & Support.

11. Perform at Poetry Slams/Events

If you enjoy sharing your poetry out loud, performing live can be another avenue for income.

Poetry slams, open mics, featured readings at bookstores or festivals, and other literary events can offer payment through appearance fees, competition prize money, and opportunities to sell your books or merchandise directly to the audience.

Plus, it’s a great way to build your reputation and connect with fellow poets and readers.

What Can You Earn?
Winning a local poetry slam might net you anywhere from $50 to $500. National slam competitions, like the National Poetry Slam, can have much larger prizes, potentially $2,000 or more. If you’re invited as a “featured poet” for an event, you might receive an appearance fee ranging from $100 to $500.

Speaking engagements at universities or corporate events often pay significantly more, perhaps $500 to $2,500, depending on the event and your profile.

Don’t forget merchandise sales – selling your books or other items at events can add an extra $50-$300 (or more) per performance.

Tips for a Great Performace:
Practice, practice, practice! Work on your delivery, voice projection, and stage presence.

Memorizing your poems often makes for a more powerful performance. Start by performing at local open mics – they’re great low-pressure environments to build confidence and hone your skills.

Consider recording your performances (audio or video) so you can watch or listen back and see where you can improve.

Network with event organizers and other poets in your scene. Develop a performance style that feels authentic to you and helps your poems connect with the audience. Always bring copies of your books or any merchandise you have to sell.

Where to Find Performance Opportunities:

• Local poetry slam competitions: A great way to get into the competitive scene.
• National Poetry Slam: The big annual competition in the U.S.
• Literary festivals: Often feature readings by both established and emerging poets.
• Bookstore readings: Can provide intimate settings for sharing your work.
• College/university events: Campus organizations frequently book poets for paid performances.
• Virtual poetry readings: Online events have become increasingly popular, expanding your reach.

A Possible Performance Career Path:

12. License Your Poetry for Commercial Use

This might sound fancy, but it simply means giving permission for someone else to use your poetry in their commercial project – like an advertisement, a movie, a song, a mobile app, or even on product packaging. In return, you get paid a licensing fee or royalties.

What Can You Earn?
Licensing fees can vary wildly depending on how your poem is being used, for how long, and where.

Using a short snippet in a small regional ad might only fetch $100-$500. But licensing a poem for a major national advertising campaign or a key scene in a film could potentially bring in $1,000 to $10,000 or even more.

Sometimes you get a one-time flat fee; other times, you might negotiate ongoing royalties (like 5-15%) based on the revenue generated by the project using your poem.

Tips for Licensing Your Work:
First things first, make sure you officially register the copyright for your poetry. This gives you legal standing.

You can do this through the U.S. Copyright Office (Explore Copyright Registration).

Create a portfolio showcasing poems that might be suitable for licensing – perhaps ones with strong imagery, universal themes, or concise messages. Understand the difference between licensing types, like exclusive (only they can use it) versus non-exclusive (you can license it to others too), and limited-time versus perpetual use.

For potentially large deals (like major ad campaigns or films), consider working with a literary agent who specializes in subsidiary rights.

Keep meticulous records of any licensing agreements you sign. Before negotiating a fee, try to research what fair market rates might be for similar uses.

Common License Types:

• Single-Use License: Permission for one specific use (e.g., in one particular ad campaign).
• Limited-Time License: Permission to use the poem for a set period (e.g., one year).
• Exclusive License: Grants the licensee the sole right to use the poem for the agreed-upon purpose and duration (usually commands higher fees).

Combining Multiple Revenue Streams for Success

Here’s a key takeaway: the poets who manage to build a sustainable income rarely rely on just one of these methods. The real magic often happens when you create a mix of different income streams that work together.

For instance, you might focus on getting poems published in literary magazines while also teaching occasional workshops and running a Patreon for your dedicated fans. Or maybe your path involves self-publishing books, performing regularly at live events, and taking on custom poem commissions.

When you’re starting out, don’t be afraid to experiment! Try a few different approaches that sound interesting or seem like a good fit for your personality and poetry style. See what clicks. Over time, you’ll figure out which methods bring you the most joy and the best financial return, and you can focus more energy there.

Building an income from poetry isn’t usually an overnight success story. It takes time, effort, and persistence. Start small, be consistent with your writing and your efforts to monetize it, and gradually build momentum. With dedication and a smart approach, getting paid for your poetry isn’t just a dream – it’s absolutely possible. Good luck!