I am an award-winning fiction writer (winner of C&R Press Summer Tidepool Contest) with a verified Goodreads account, more than ten years of freelance experience, and many publications to my name. I have experience creating non-fiction, genre fiction, and literary content for traditional print and eBook markets, writing ad copy, creating content for blogs, writing music criticism, researching topics, and writing scripts. I am also a skilled editor and proofreader.
I will meet your project deadlines, turn in unique, original, error-free content, and act in a professional manner. I am excited to get to work on your project.
Short Story
Article Writing
Creative Writing
English
Fiction
Storytelling
Fiction Writing
Ghostwriting
Proofreading
Developmental Editing
Copy Editing
Victoria P.
Warren, Ohio
$40/hr
5.0
72 jobs
Please read completely as many common questions are answered here.
Born and raised in Ohio, I am a native English speaker and have a BA in English from Kent State University. For five years, I taught language, reading, and honors creative writing to junior and senior high students, writing my own drama and creative writing curriculum.
Over the course of my career, I have released nearly a dozen YA novels, short story collections, a collection of plays, a cookbook, and a book on writing. I have worked as a freelance writer / ghostwriter in both non-fiction and fiction capacities, writing everything from captions and copy to short stories and novels in myriad genres. While my forte is fiction, I do accept non-fiction work. I've created characters and outlines, as well as writing from a provided outline, and can work with as much or as little as the client wishes.
All work is 100% original, meaning that unless otherwise instructed by a client, I do not outsource work to other freelancers and I do not use generative AI programs. None of my writing, including any provided samples, were assisted or created by AI.
Much of my work as a ghostwriter has made Amazon's top 100 ebook lists at least once, and I have had more than one make USA Weekend's Bestseller list. I have been freelancing since 2002 and have been writing full-time since December 2012.
As I sign NDAs with all of my clients and while some do give permission for me to use parts of that work as writing samples, I cannot provide full chapters of any work I have done for clients. I can only provide chapters from my own work, which is all YA. I do not write samples over 500 words on request without payment.
I require all communication to be through a messaging platform, which means no phone or Zoom interviews, though I am happy to set a time for an Upwork message chat interview.
My current Upwork hourly rate is $40/hr and my current Upwork per word rate is $0.06/word. This is based on my experience and what my current clients are paying. Outlining, story development, and revision options vary for per word / fixed rate work and are not provided without additional compensation.
I work on a first-come, first-serve basis, and that comes by contract, not discussion. I can advise what my schedule looks like at any given time, but until a contract is signed and a project accepted, that may change.
I do not accept any work that promotes / portrays any of the following in a positive manner: homophobia, transphobia, misogyny, racism, hatred, or blasphemy of any religion.
Short Story Writing
English
Fantasy
Romance
Book Writing
Writing
Story Development
Character Design
Ghostwriting
Proofreading
Fiction
Outline
Fiction Writing
Creative Writing
Desiree D.
Cohoes, New York
$35/hr
4.9
361 jobs
My name is Desiree and crafting a story, whether it be fiction or non-fiction, is always a joy and a welcoming challenge.
Fiction Expertise:
I love building immersive worlds, dynamic characters, and plots that keep readers turning the page. My ghostwriting experience includes:
- Romance (Contemporary, Paranormal, Historical, etc)
- Horror
- Fantasy
- Sci-Fi
- Young Adult
- Mysteries (Cozy Mysteries, Thrillers, Psychological)
- Comedy
Nonfiction Niches:
I create focused, well-researched writing that reads smoothly and delivers value to the client. Topics include:
- Pets/Animals
-Medical/Lifestyle
- Food
- Politics
- Travel
- Entertainment
- Video Games
Get in touch with me today, and let's write something memorable!
Short Story
Creative Writing
Fantasy
Young Adult
Blog Writing
Article Writing
Ghostwriting
Copywriting
Humor Writing
Fiction Writing
Content Writing
Video Game Writing
Writing
Beta Reading
Book Review
Mariah M.
Boise, Idaho
$100/hr
4.7
174 jobs
I'm great with most fiction writing, though I specialize in clean romances. The genres I do not work with are action/adventure (think rack 'em, stack 'em kinds of books), Scottish romance, chat stories (for role-playing games), most Westerns, and erotica. Anything else, I'm game. I love to stretch myself and take on a challenge, so I take on genres I might not otherwise - such as science fiction, fantasy, or historical fiction - due to time restraints or what I'm interested in at that moment.
As of June 2021, I have been a top rated-plus freelancer here on Upwork. I take great pride in having achieved this rating, as it has been much work to get here. In May 2022, I was first put on a list of writers approved by the Fiction Profits Academy (or FPA), and currently remain on this recommended writers list. It's a great honor to be on their list, and I look forward to working with their students now and in the future.
Previous qualifications include three self-published novels ranging from 200 to 600 pages each, two poems published in anthologies, and one poem shared on FaceBook. Current qualifications include: I have been freelancing since June 2015, and out of the more than 1,000 articles I have written, only eight have been rejected. I graduated from Brigham Young University-Idaho with a BA in English in April 2020. Now that I am out of school, I am freelancing full time.
Short Story Writing
Creative Writing
Ghostwriting
Novel
English
Fiction Writing
Robert W.
Raleigh, North Carolina
$50/hr
5.0
32 jobs
A native of the Chicagoland suburbs and endowed with a singular imagination, Robert plied his creativity for over a decade in the fantasy realm of Los Angeles, creating and pitching spec screenplays to the studios. It was a master class in exceptional storytelling and applied swagger. His screenplays and prose have garnered over 50 accolades. He holds a 100% success rate on Upwork, including a pair of self-published books on which he’s proudly collaborated. He’s always hunting for another lifelong collaborator or muse-tickling project.
See more of his work at robwalcott.net
SCREENPLAYS
1. Saturday Morning Siege
Fantasy-Comedy
When a pair of twelve-year old boys invites a creepy classmate to join their war with action figures, they risk losing their toys, their friendship, and their house.
Finalist, Story Pros Awards 2022
Finalist, Emerging Screenwriter Animation Competition 2021
Top 10, Emerging Screenwriters Animation Competition 2023
Top 50, Top Tier Screenplay Competition 2021
Semifinalist, Filmmatic Sci-fi & Fantasy Awards 2023
Semifinalist, Script 2 Comic 2021
Semifinalist, Creative Screenwriting Animation Competition 2021
Quarterfinalist, Creative Screenwriting Unique Voices 2021
Quarterfinalist, Screencraft Sci-fi & Fantasy 2022
Quarterfinalist, Stage 32 New Voices in Animation 2022
Quarterfinalist, Outstanding Screenplays Feature 2022
Quarterfinalist, Titan Awards 2023
2. Self Storage
Horror-Thriller
On his first shift at a self-storage facility, a new night manager discovers that his workplace harbors some very disturbing business practices.
Top 10, Emerging Screenwriters Suspense 2024
Semifinalist, Filmmatic Sci-fi & Fantasy 2024
Semifinalist, SYS’s Six-Figure Screenplay Contest 2024
Semifinalist, TSL Free Screenplay Contest 2024
Semifinalist, Roadmap Writers Greenlight Challenge 2022
Quarterfinalist, Emerging Screenwriters Horror 2025
Quarterfinalist, Southern California Screenplay Competition 2021
Quarterfinalist, Filmmatic Horror Screenplay Awards 2021
3. The Ordinary House of Extraordinary Lane
Fantasy-Adventure
12-year-old Jessie Cumberland is about to discover that her new house occupies two neighborhoods simultaneously: the ordinary one located on Weeping Willow Lane, and the extraordinary one featuring a cornucopia of alien life-forms located six-hundred thousand light years away.
Finalist, Emerging Screenwriters Sci-fi & Fantasy 2022
Semifinalist, Emerging Screenwriters Family & Holiday 2025
Semifinalist, Story Pros Awards 2021
Quarterfinalist, Screencraft Sci-fi & Fantasy Screenplay Competition 2021
Quarterfinalist, Stage 32 New Voices in Animation 2021
Quarterfinalist, Creative Screenwriting Animation Competition 2021
Quarterfinalist, Screencraft Family Screenplay Competition 2021
Quarterfinalist, Stage 32 Sci-fi & Fantasy Contest 2022
4. The Conduit
TV Pilot Science-Fiction
When five present-day teens stumble upon a top-secret Nazi vessel preparing to invade America in 1942, they’re whisked away on a time-hopping odyssey where they must learn how to cope with the glitchy technology as well as their German spy companion while exploring the danger-laden depths of Dark Matter Space.
Finalist, Script Summit TV Pilot Competition 2020
Semifinalist, Script 2 Comics 2022
Semifinalist, Screencraft TV Pilot Competition 2020
Quarterfinalist, WeScreenplay TV Contest 2020
5. Dungeon of Fools
Fantasy-Adventure
When a professional dungeon guide is hired to lead a party of treasure hunters into mysterious and danger-laden ruins, he discovers that tools of almighty alchemy are no match for creatures of the dark.
Winner, WildSound Fantasy/Sci-Fi Festival Screenplay Contest 2020
Semifinalist, Emerging Screenwriters Sci-fi & Fantasy 2020
6. Clicker
Horror Short
A young boy discovers that his new remote control can show him monsters that aren’t on TV.
Official Selection, HorrOrigins Film Festival 2022
Quarterfinalist, Filmmatic Horror 2024
Quarterfinalist, Horror 2 Comic 2022
7. A Bedtime Story
Family Fantasy
On the night of her baby brother’s birth, a young girl and her parents collaborate on a bedtime story to help her cope with her anxiety.
Semifinalist, Screencraft Animation Competition 2020
Quarterfinalist, Emerging Screenwriters Family & Holiday 2022
8. Have Cape, Will Accessorize
Romantic Comedy-Action
A budding Super Heroine falls for San Francisco’s most eligible Super Villain.
Semifinalist, Stage 32 Romantic Comedy Screenwriting Contest 2025
Quarterfinalist, Filmmatic Comedy Screenplay Awards 2021
Short Story Writing
Article Writing
Copywriting
Testimonial Video
Screenwriting
Creative Writing
Novel
Poetry
Hannah A.
Marietta, Georgia
$12/hr
4.6
16 jobs
I have several years of creative writing for personal enjoyment as well as others'. I excel at essay and article composition, including those that require thorough research and multiple sources. I am able to quickly assess a situation, collaborate with others, and make fast decisions, and oftentimes I meet with a group to brainstorm creative solutions to possible problems. I have certificates of completion of English Composition from Saylor University and two certificates of both starting in fiction and "Writing What You Know" from Open University
Short Story Writing
Short Story
Creative Writing
Ebook Writing
Drama
Romance
Mystery
Humor Writing
Fiction Writing
Editing & Proofreading
Book Writing
Writing
Research Papers
Ghostwriting
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How to Hire Top Short Story Writers
How to hire short story writers
From pop periodicals to fan fiction, short story writers are here to help put your ideas to paper.
So how do you hire short story writers? What follows are some tips for finding top short story writers on Upwork.
How to shortlist short story writing professionals
As you’re browsing available short story writing contractors, it can be helpful to develop a shortlist of the professionals you may want to interview. You can screen profiles using criteria such as:
Genre fit. You want a writer who understands the type of short story you wish to tell.
Project experience. Screen candidate profiles for specific skills and experience (e.g., instructional design background for incorporating short stories into an online course).
Feedback. Check reviews from past clients for glowing testimonials or red flags that can tell you what it’s like to work with a particular short story writer.
How to write an effective short story writing job post
With a clear picture of your ideal short story writer in mind, it’s time to write that job post. Although you don’t need a full job description as you would when hiring an employee, aim to provide enough detail for a contractor to know if they’re the right fit for the project.
An effective short story writing job post should include:
Scope of work: From periodicals to anthologies, list all the deliverables you’ll need.
Project length: Your job post should indicate whether this is a smaller or larger project.
Background: If you prefer experience with certain genres or subject-matter expertise, mention this here.
Budget: Set a budget and note your preference for hourly rates vs. fixed-price contracts.
A short story is a type of prose that is generally intended to be read in one sitting. This brevity generally means a short story, even when part of an anthology or series, can be enjoyed as a self-contained complete narrative.
Here’s a quick overview of the skills you should look for in short story writing professionals:
Short story writing
Creative writing
Ghostwriting
Proofreading and editing
A short story is a type of prose that is generally intended to be read in one sitting. This brevity generally means a short story, even when part of an anthology or series, can be enjoyed as a self-contained complete narrative.
Here’s a quick overview of the skills you should look for in short story writing professionals:
Short story writing
Creative writing
Ghostwriting
Proofreading and editing
Why hire a short story writer?
The trick to finding top short story writers is to identify your needs. Is your goal to find a published author to regularly contribute content to your romance themed blog? Or are you looking for a ghostwriter to bring your pulp fiction short to life? The cost of your project will depend largely on your scope of work and the specific skills needed to bring your project to life.
The trick to finding top short story writers is to identify your needs. Is your goal to find a published author to regularly contribute content to your romance themed blog? Or are you looking for a ghostwriter to bring your pulp fiction short to life? The cost of your project will depend largely on your scope of work and the specific skills needed to bring your project to life.
How much does it cost to hire a short story writer?
Rates can vary due to many factors, including expertise and experience, location, and market conditions.
An experienced short story writer may command higher fees but also work faster, have more specialized areas of expertise, and deliver a higher-quality product.
A contractor who is still in the process of building a client base may price their short story writing more competitively.
Which one is right for you will depend on the specifics of your project.
Rates can vary due to many factors, including expertise and experience, location, and market conditions.
An experienced short story writer may command higher fees but also work faster, have more specialized areas of expertise, and deliver a higher-quality product.
A contractor who is still in the process of building a client base may price their short story writing more competitively.
Which one is right for you will depend on the specifics of your project.