Getting Paid to Read. Seriously?

When I’m not writing, I spend a fair amount of my time reading, both fiction and non-fiction. In fact, I’d like to spend more time reading, but, you know, day-to-day life keeps getting in the way. Reading can be informative, challenging, surprising, relaxing and many other things besides, but most of all it’s a pleasure. So, the idea that people will actually pay you to read seems a little bizarre. Do they really? Well, it turns out they do.

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I was prompted to write this post having, on several occasions recently, seen both written articles and video posts talking about how easy it is to earn money from reading. Naturally, that attracted my attention. As an avid reader, why wouldn’t it?

So, off I went to do some research. I would expect there will be plenty of other opportunities of the sort out there, but here are the ones that caught my eye.

Booklist Online
This opportunity is brought to you by the American Library Association, who pay you to write short reviews that are used to help guide school and public library workers in purchasing and suggesting books.
They currently pay $15 for each review.
https://www.booklistonline.com/writing-for-booklist

OnlineBookClub
These guys provide you with a selection of books to choose from, any of which you can download, read and then write a review for.
They currently reckon on paying $5-$60 per review.
https://onlinebookclub.org/free-books-for-reviews.php

Reedsy Discovery
They are looking for “passionate book reviewers” and provide you with a choice of free books to read and review, although their FAQs also state you can post reviews for other books too. Interestingly, you make your money from tips given by readers of your reviews, rather than being paid a fee by Reedsy.
Pay, depends on the tips readers give you.
https://reedsy.com/discovery/reviewers

BookBrowse
Here you get the opportunity to write longer reviews and are also required to write a Beyond the Book article which delves into some facet of the story, such as the setting, theme etc, which aims to help readers learn something new.
They say they pay an average of $60 per review.
https://www.bookbrowse.com/reviewers/index.cfm/fuseaction/apply

I also found one site suggesting you can set up as a freelance book reviewer on Upwork, where you can set your own rates and choose the clients you want to work with. They reckoned book reviewers on UpWork usually charge between $15 and $75 per hour. Wow!
https://www.upwork.com

Well, as you will have no doubt noticed, it turns out these opportunities to earn from your reading actually also involve writing. Not too much of a hardship, I suggest, and, for those who just love to share what they’ve been reading and what they have and have not liked about it, this would seem to be a terrific opportunity.

I should make it clear that I’ve not tried any of these myself, so do your own research here to make sure you understand what you’re signing up to if you decide to give any of them a go.

It’s also worth pointing out this ought not to be seen as a way to make a living. As the OnlineBookClub website says, “First of all, this is not some crazy online get-rich-quick scheme. You won't get rich and you won't be able to leave your day job.” Just saying.

All the same, why not make a little money from one of your favourite pastimes when it’s on offer?

If you do try out any of these, then I’d love to hear how you get on. Perhaps all us readers ought to be making a few bob from sharing our thoughts on the books we read, good, bad and indifferent.

All the best,

Ben

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The Banbury Cross Murder Mysteries, classic murder-mysteries with a splash of humour and a little romance