How to Make Money Writing Online as a Teenager Under 18

Brandon Elliott
You've made the first step, which is searching for a writing website that will pay teenagers for their work, but what comes next? I'm not even going to make a single penny off of this article, because I'm sixteen years old and much like other online writing websites, the age requirement for payment on Associated Content is eighteen. So why am I writing this article for you to read? Because I want to help other writers my age by informing them before they make stupid mistakes like me. Although associatedcontent.com will not pay you unless you're over eighteen years old, there are plenty of other sites that will pay you if you're over at least thirteen or fourteen years of age. First, let's eliminate something that a lot of people recommend to make money writing online.

Blogging with Google Adsense

Write all of the blogs you want, but you won't make a single cent unless you're over eighteen. Most bloggers start a blog and earn money from Google Adsense. Adsense places Ads on your blog and then you get paid for ad views and clicks. Unfortunately, the age requirement is eighteen. Don't worry though, even if you're eighteen, you won't make much money from it unless your blog is extremely popular.

Your options as a teenage writer on the web

Helium
Although it's not my personal favorite online writing site, Helium.com is a revered site that could earn you big bucks as a writer that's under eighteen years old. The only reason it's not my favorite, is the way the site is set up. Instead of submitting an article about anything you want, you have to find a channel to write to that matches the topic of your article. After submission, the article will be rated by users just like you and compared to the other ones in the channel. Only the top five articles in the channel will ever actually see the light of day as far as page views go. If you think that system sounds beneficial to your type of writing, check it out at www.Helium.com

Triond
Believe me, I've seen a lot of online writing sites and this is probably one of the more sketchy ones, but if you're looking to make some money online, this writing site works. The forum atmosphere is nice, and it's a great place to make some friends that love to write as well. As far as monetary gain is concerned on this writing site, it will be minimal, but it's something, right? Besides, beggars can't be choosers, especially if you're a minor.
I've personally written at Triond.com but didn't manage to make more than a couple bucks, but that is not to say that there are users that make a couple hundred bucks a month on there.

Associated Content

You're probably thinking, "But you said Associated Content has an age limit of 18". It does, but this site to me is clearly the best site to make money online, and if you can build a following of subscribers on here and wait until you're 18, you will make more money than you ever did on any other writing website. Right now, I am writing on here for free. I enjoy writing, and I know my place as a teenager in the writing world. Until I'm 18, I'll be building writing skills, making friends, and getting my voice heard. Payment for receiving all of that is not necessary to me.

If you're looking to make some money writing online as a teenager under 18 years of age, I would recommend Helium or Triond, but if you want to try your hand at a quality writing site, try Associated Content, because I know you will enjoy it a lot more even though you'll be earning no money until you're of age.

Published by Brandon Elliott

17 Years Young // Writer // Intelligent // Knowledge-Seeking // Poetic Because I Can Be // twitter.com/brandonrofl // brandoniswrite.com //  View profile

14 Comments

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  • Mary Kate Jansen8/1/2010

    Absolutely loved the article. As a fifteen year old, it really did help me.

  • Seth7/22/2010

    Thank You Sooooooooooo much for writing this article. I'm 14 and am trying to find a magazine or a newspaper that may accept my writing, could you maybe right an article on that too? Plz and Thanx :D

  • Tom Barnes8/20/2009

    Really well done and thank you for the help and good luck with your writing and the article is very well written! :)

  • Emily Eden7/10/2009

    Your article is excellent! I can't believe you're not 18....well done! :)

  • Patricia Sheasley Sicilia7/7/2009

    Excellent leads here, Benjamin! And well written as well.

  • Vital Expressions7/2/2009

    Great article, I appreciate all the info my sister was considering writing online but is under 18. I think the fact that you are sticking with it despite not being paid shows great dedication. I am sure that you will do well in you careers to come. I work in human resources, and too often we have too many people who lack any dedication at all. Even though most of our jobs are low paying if you can't stick it out with a low paying job you will never earn the trust to be offered a higher paying job. We internally promote, and people with dedication like yours always wind up on top! Keep on keeping on!

  • Shannon Lausch6/24/2009

    Cool resources for those under 18!

  • Jennifer Wagner6/23/2009

    You'll many with this one.

  • Victoria Dawson6/23/2009

    You got me hooked.

  • Geannie M. Bastian6/23/2009

    Creative use of experience! Well done!

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