Getting Paid to Read Books: The Ultimate Guide

This post, Getting Paid to Read Books, contains references to products from one or more of my advertising partners. When you click on a link to any of these products, I may be compensated. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please visit my Earnings Disclosure & Disclaimer page for more information. Thanks for your support! Please also note that any prices, offers, and terms listed are subject to change at the discretion of the companies mentioned.

 

Do you love curling up with a good book and getting lost in its pages? What if I told you that you could not only indulge in your passion for reading, but also get paid for it? In this ultimate guide, we’ll explore the world of paid book reading and show you how you can turn your hobby into profit. From reviewing the latest bestsellers to editing books, there are a number of ways to get paid for doing what you love.

If you’re looking for more reading material, my article on ways to get free and low cost books has you covered.

 

 

1. Make Money Editing Books

Both self-published authors and traditional book publishers rely on freelance editors to make sure their prose is readable. There are different types of editors involved in book publishing. These include line editors, copy editors, and developmental editors. Copy editors, for example, check for spelling and punctuation errors, accuracy, and consistency. In contrast, line editors focus on how the text reads and flows.

A few places to find freelance editor jobs:

• Join a professional organization. In addition to learning about potential freelance assignments, joining a professional organization is also a great way to learn about the industry and to network. Two to consider are the Editorial Freelancers Association and ACES: The Society for Editing.
• Check job sites like Indeed, LinkedIn, and Bookjobs.com, sponsored by the Association of American Publishers. FlexJobs is also a good place to find freelance, part-time, and temporary jobs, though it requires a fee to join.
• Apply directly with publishing companies.
• Check for freelance openings with editorial services like Scribendi, Reedsy, or Gramlee.

If you’re looking for additional guidance, The Freelance Editor’s Handbook covers a wide range of topics, including how to find clients and set up a freelance business.

2. Make Money Proofreading Books

If you thrive on detail, deadlines, and independent work, proofreading might be a good option. Proofreading is not quite the same as copy editing. Proofreaders check text for things like incorrection punctuation, grammatical errors, and misspelled words.

Though rates for proofreading services vary, Reedsy (they offer author services, including proofreading and editing) estimates the rate for 1,000 proofread words to be between $13 and $15.80. Based on reported salaries, Indeed puts the average hourly rate for a proofreader at about $22 dollars.

Employment requirements can vary in terms of education and experience. Generally, (and obviously) you’ll need a solid command of grammar and spelling, and an understanding of different editorial style guides, like APA and Chicago Manual of Style.

Taking a proofreading course can help, but you may already have the skills needed to find work. Before investing in a course, I’d suggest checking out job listings to see if you already have the qualifications.

To find freelance proofreading jobs, many of the suggestions for finding freelance editorial work (above) can be applied. Additionally, you might want to consider working through a proofreading service. One to consider is ProofreadingServices.com, which offers both part- and full-time remote jobs.

 

3. Get Paid to Review Books

Somebody has to write all those testimonials you see on book jackets and book websites, so why can’t it be you?

Considering the time it takes to read a book and write up a comprehensive review, you probably won’t become wealthy, though. Rates for freelance book reviewers vary widely – from zero pay to $1,000 per review. Many other publications offer rates in the $150 and $300 range.

You’ll also likely have to start reviewing books for smaller outlets. On way to build up a portfolio is to write reviews for venues like Amazon. If you become part of the Amazon Vine Voices Program, you can even receive free books in exchange for honest write-ups. Amazon makes the program available by invitation-only, however; they look for established Amazon contributors who consistently write comprehensive views.

As a book reviewer for Reedsy Discovery, you can access submissions from their author pool to read and review books before they’re published. They have monetization options, including the ability to request “tips” from your readers.

OnlineBookClub.org will give you a free book in exchange for an honest review. After they approve your first review, you can start getting paid, between $5 and $60 dollars per review. You can sign up for free.

Potential book review clients include newspapers, magazines, and book review journals like Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly. The National Book Critics Circle maintains a comprehensive database of publications that publish book reviews. It includes useful details like contact information, pay rates, word count required, and application guidelines.

 

4. Make Money With a Book Blog

With your own blog, you’re free to choose whichever book niche appeals to you, whether the focus is on travel books, historical fiction, or personal finance books.

There are a variety of ways bloggers make money, including with affiliate sales, ad networks, and using it as a springboard to sell products. In its blog income report (FYI: it’s from 2018) Hooked to Books made $5,400 in one month from their book blog primarily from affiliate sales (Amazon and Share-a-Sale) and an ad network (Mediavine). Another perk is that you can read for free when you request review copies from authors and publishers.

Blogging can take months, if not years, before it becomes profitable. It takes time to develop a profitable niche, master technical stuff, learn effective SEO techniques, and build a following.

There are soooo many courses and books currently on the market about how to start your own blog. One book I can recommend with confidence is From Nothing by Ian Pribyl. Though he does do some self-promotion in the book, I also find the information to be solid and comprehensive. Though it was published in 2019, many of the principles have remained current.

5. Start a Subscription-based Book Newsletter or Podcast

Not interested in maintaining your own website? Consider a digital subscription newsletter site like Substack or Patreon. These platforms run similarly to a blog, but instead of relying on ads and affiliate sales, you can charge your readers a recurring fee to read or watch your exclusive content.

If for example, you use Substack and decide to charge $5 a month per subscriber for exclusive content and develop a base of 100 subscribers, that’s $500 in extra income per month. Of course, it takes time to grow a fan base; and when you do get subscribers, the platform takes a commission (registration is free).

As a Substack user on a separate project, I find it easy to use. The learning curve is reasonable and it requires little maintenance and technical know-how. When you run a self-hosted WordPress blog, you’re responsible for the set-up and costs, which include things like securing a domain name, website host (Bluehost, for example), and template. Though WordPress isn’t complicated once you get accustomed to it, you have to spend time learning how to use it. Depending on your computer skills, it can take time. There’s also a learning curve involved with starting a Substack newsletter, though it’s comparatively pretty simple to pick up.

While I find Substack to be a solid and reliable program, it doesn’t have some of the flexibility of WordPress. For example, it doesn’t offer extensive design options or plugin capabilities. It’s also technically not a traditional newsletter. Instead, you publish posts one at a time as you would with a blog.

The company has only been in existence since 2017 however, so it will be fun to watch what types of changes they make to the platform.

 

6. Work at a Book Store

Though working in a book store is not the same as being a patron of one (you’ll have to actually work instead of leisurely browse) you still get to be surrounded by books.

Depending on which store you work for, the benefits (including discounts on books and e-readers!) can be pretty comprehensive. Barnes & Noble, for example, offers employee benefits like medical, dental, a matching 401(k) plan, and paid time off – some of which are even available for eligible part-time employees.

In-store jobs at Barnes & Noble are usually limited to titles like booksellers, cashier, stocker, and barista. You might also want to take a peek at their corporate and distribution center jobs. Some I found include Editorial Assistant, Associate Art Director, and Desktop Technician. Their corporate jobs tend to be based in New York and New Jersey, though I also found a couple of remote jobs when I browsed.

 

7. How to Make Money Narrating Audiobooks

The audiobook market is continuing to grow, which means there are more opportunities (and yes, competition!) for freelancers who want to make money narrating books.

One path to entrance is via the ACX, which is owned by Audible (an Amazon company). With the ACX program, you choose the number of narration gigs you want to take on. Once you choose a potential gig, you’ll then audition by recording a few minutes of the manuscript. If chosen, you’ll receive an offer from the author or rights holder.

You can choose to get paid either with an hourly rate or by taking a share of the book’s royalties.

You might find some of these resources useful in jumpstarting your audiobook narrator career.

• Carrie Olsen, a professional full-time voice over artist, offers a free starter course on her site.
• The Audio Publishers Association publishes some information about how to get started as a narrator.
• Though the book Voice-Over Actor is about voice-over work in general, you still might find it useful.

 

 

Can I Really Make Money Reading Books?

Yes, though if you want to work for yourself, it takes time and hard work to start seeing a profit. There also tends to be a lot of competition for many of these jobs and side hustles. So while you can make money reading books, I also think it’s important to set realistic expectations. Meaningful growth takes time, hard work, and lots of patience.

If you’re looking for additional ideas for earning extra cash (it has sections on blogging and freelance editing) I recommend reading $1,000 100 Ways: How Real People Make Real Money on the Side (and how you can too). Though the status can change, you can currently download the book for free via Amazon if you have Kindle Unlimited.

 

Getting paid to read books may seem like a dream job, but with the right strategies and determination, it can become a reality. Remember, it’s not just about getting paid, it’s about sharing your love for books and becoming a trusted source of information for others. So go out there, read, write, and get paid for it!

 

This post contains references to products from one or more of my advertising partners. When you click on a link to any of these products, I may be compensated. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please visit my Earnings Disclosure & Disclaimer page for more information. Thanks for your support!