Why Being A Writer In Nigeria Can Suck and 3 Ways You Can Remedy That
I’m Nigerian. Enough said.
Ah, the great country of the green and white flag. The land of the marginally free where a bottle of water costs $0.22 apiece. A place generally looked upon with increasing disdain from other great nation-states because, let’s face it, we’ve not done a great job in creating a great name for ourselves. But that’s another story for another day.
I’ve been writing unprofessionally (random articles, personal novels, poems, etc.) for over ten years, from the time I was in high school. That’s where I wrote and published my first book with about four short stories. I think I may have ripped off The Sword in the Stone in one of those stories but can you blame a kid? I loved the idea of conjuring up fables and fairytales in my head and penning them down and that has not changed to this day.
So, after finishing college in 2022, I decided I wanted to be really serious about writing and get paid for it. So, I started researching. And the things I found out were shocking. And, they were only shocking because these were things I should have seen coming from a mile away.
As I write this in 2023, Nigeria is still not on the list of approved countries that can partake in the Medium Partnership Program and even if I were to garner 2,000 followers in the next month, it would not help me in monetization of my articles and content.
So, here’s ways you can earn money as an upcoming writer in Nigeria. But, there’s a disclaimer: You’re not going to particularly enjoy some of these options.
Upwork
Upwork is a platform where employers and freelancers can come together regardless of distance or language barriers and get work done. I’ve been on Upwork for two years now and I can tell you that it’s not easy securing jobs with clients. In the span of that time, I’ve only had one successful client and I made $300 from that job alone (which goes to show you that it’s quite a lucrative way to make money if you can get your foot in the door).
One of the pros of Upwork is you don’t need a Paypal account or other before you can start. As a matter of fact, you can have your earnings paid directly to your local bank account. Neat right?
The experience is different for everyone and it’s possible you might land job after job in your first six months if you’re lucky. But one or three lucky jobs does not a stable career make. It’s difficult, yes. But if you can make a name for yourself on the platform, you won’t regret it one bit.
Fiverr
I feel Fiverr is the point most writers get to and can’t help but ask, “Why do I hear boss music?” It’s super difficult to get into and get something going but it’s not impossible. Fiverr is different from Upwork in a very distinct way. On Upwork, you make bids against other freelancers on jobs to get picked by a certain client. On Fiverr, you create ‘gigs’ that showcase your skill, expertise, and overall knowledge in a certain field and the employers contact you if they like what they see.
To increase your chances on Fiverr, you have to essentially market yourself on platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
I’ll keep it a thousand with you: It’s super difficult but if you can make your mark on the platform, it will be totally worth it.
Vocal
I learned about Vocal about three months ago and, I have to say, the platform is super neat. The UI experience is amazing and it almost feels like writing here on Medium. So far, wonderful stuff. And you get to monetize as well by just getting people to read your content and you get paid!
The catch is, they pay through Stripe. And Stripe is unavailable in Nigeria. Now, that’s a real kick in the cojones.
But I would still recommend Vocal. Why? Because you can use it to build experience, develop a followership, and build a writing portfolio as well. I would slot it into my list of “Gaining Experience” websites instead of actually making money off of it.
If you’re Nigerian in the US, UK, or virtually anywhere else and you want to use this as a source of passive income, be my guest.
It’s hard being a writer. Finding your niche, building a loyal followership, and having to prove yourself at every juncture can be a grueling experience. But if you’re a writer worth your salt, you can try these websites out for yourself and build a career in writing if you so desire.
Godspeed!
