Your development knowledge is worth money. This is how to turn it into $2,000-$5,000 monthly through technical writing.
Why Write?
- Build your personal brand
- Generate passive income
- Improve your skills by teaching
- Attract better opportunities
Week 1: Setup
Publishing Platforms
- Your portfolio (primary)
- Dev.to (secondary)
- Hashnode (optional)
Paid Platforms (2025)
| Platform | Pay Range | Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Argot | $600+ | Front-End, Back-End, Data Science |
| Agora | $250 | Web Development, Mobile |
| DigitalOcean | $400 | Cloud, DevOps |
| LogRocket | $350 | React, JavaScript |
| Draft.dev | $500-$800 | Developer Tools |
Article Structure
- Compelling title
- Clear problem statement
- Step-by-step solution
- Code examples
- Key takeaways
Target 1,500-2,000 words with working code.
Day 7: Apply to Paid Platforms
Email Template:
Subject: Technical Writing Inquiry - [Your Name]
Hi [Editor],
I'm [Your Name], a [Your Role] with expertise in [Your Specialties].
I'd love to contribute to [Platform Name]. Proposed topics:
1. [Article Idea 1] - [Brief description]
2. [Article Idea 2] - [Brief description]
Writing samples:
- [Link to Sample 1]
- [Link to Sample 2]
- Portfolio: [Your Portfolio URL]
Looking forward to collaborating!
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Monetization Strategies
1. Paid Writing
Apply to 5-10 platforms. Income: $400-$2,000/month with 2-3 articles.
2. Affiliate Marketing
Join AWS Partners, DigitalOcean, or hosting providers. Add links naturally in tutorials.
3. Sponsored Content
At 10k+ monthly readers: $500-$2,000/post.
4. Display Ads
Google AdSense at 50k pageviews: $100-$500/month.
Content Ideas to Get Started
- Tutorial: “How to Deploy a React App on AWS”
- Comparison: “Next.js vs Remix: Which to Choose in 2025?”
- Case Study: “How I Reduced API Latency by 80%”
- Guide: “Complete Guide to Docker for Beginners”
- Opinion: “Why TypeScript is Essential for Modern Development”
Income Progression
Month 1-3: $500-$2,000/month (2 paid articles/month)
Month 4-6: $2,000-$5,000/month (3 paid articles + affiliates)
Month 7-12: $5,000-$15,000/month (diversified streams + course/consulting)
Key Success Factors
- Consistency - Publish 1-2 articles/week
- Quality - In-depth, well-researched content
- SEO - Target long-tail keywords
- Network - Engage with dev community
- Email List - Build from day one
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Waiting for perfection before publishing
- Ignoring SEO best practices
- Not building an email list
- Focusing only on one platform
- Giving up after 1-2 months
Next Steps
- Set up your blog today
- Write your first article this week
- Apply to 5 paid platforms
- Join 3 affiliate programs
- Publish consistently for 90 days
Resources
- Who Pays Technical Writers - Platform directory
Start writing today. Your expertise is valuable, turn it into income.