How can you get paid? We write because we love it but we need to run our business and pay bills. Luckily, freelancers today have the chance to be paid in a variety of different ways. This type of diversity can help writers from relying too deeply on one income source. The variety of payment types also reflects the changing job market for writers.

I’ve been paid a variety of different ways over the years. Since payment is a question I get a lot, here is some clarification on the different types of payment a freelance writer may be offered.

Residual Income
Sites like Suite101, HubPages, and Examiner pay writers residual income. This means there is no payment up front for an article, but writers earn a reoccurring amount for an article as long as it is up on the site. The income may come from a portion of ad revenue, page views, or some combination of the two.

Residual income might seem like a great idea, (and it can work out for some writers), but it is generally subject to the ups and downs of the market. You might be doing well one month, and a change in search engine traffic can cause things to tumble. If you get paid by this type, make sure you also have other types of income coming in so you don’t have to rely on it solely.

Pay Per Article
Companies, magazines, and other outlets generally pay writers on a per article basis. Writers sign a contract, and payment is delivered when the article is published or completed, depending on the terms agreed upon. This type of payment is used in the off-line world as well as Internet sites.

The advantage is that the writer receives payment in a reasonable amount of time after completing the article, and can move on to the next assignment either with their current employer or a new one.

Consultant Fees
Writers can also sign on as a consultant to an organization, and be paid either by time of contract or in articles produced. This agreement usually happens when a writer is an expert in a certain area, and an organization hires him or her to write specifically for the company for a period of time. The writer may work on articles, eBooks, white papers, or any other mode of communication material.

Pay in Trade
While not the optimal situation, writers can agree to be paid in trade, meaning that they are essentially bartering for their services. For example, some writers may decide to write a monthly column for a company in exchange for advertising on their site. Or perhaps a freelancer will write blog posts in exchange for free web hosting. Writers should always make sure their time is being adequately compensated in this type of payment situation.

Content or Per Post Payment
Sometimes a site wants to get quality material for their website or blog. In that case, it may hire a writer on a content or per-post basis. Writers in this situation would get compensated a set dollar amount for a certain number of posts or articles per month. Freelancers generally have the freedom to write what they want as long as it fits with the topic at hand.

Combination of PV and Something Else
More and more today, online writers are being compensated for pageviews (PVs). Ideally, you should get compensated with a combination of PVS and something else, either per post or article. This way, if PVs fluctuate you still have income you can count on.

Freelancers today have many ways to earn money from writing. Making money is a personal decision, so writers should choose the type of work and payment that is best for them. Many writers choose a combination of various projects and payment types to keep the money coming in and the creativity flowing.

Image: Morguefile

More on Freelancing:

• The Moonlighter’s Guide To Online Writing For Immediate Income
• Starting Your Career as a Freelance Writer (Second Edition)
• The Freelance Writer’s Bible: Your Guide to a Profitable Writing Career Within One Year