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Writers: When you hear the word “writer,” you may envision someone typing away in an attic, writing a novel. There are a few (or maybe lots) of those. But that’s not the way most writers earn a living.

In fact, most writers who actually make money write fairly mundane things—technical manuals, articles for trade journals, copy for advertisements, company newsletters. While these may not seem as creative—and certainly not as glamorous—as writing stories, feature articles, or plays, the work is a lot steadier.

That’s not to say that you can’t earn a living as a freelance writer. The key is to find a niche that interest you—let’s say writing about gardening or music or new technology—and become a specialist. That will make you more competitive “pitching” stories to publications and websites that focus on that niche.

Editors: If you’re a writer, it may be frustrating to know that the person who edits your article may get paid more than you did for writing it. But the reality is that editing frequently pays better than writing.

Virtually every medium that uses content—books, magazines, websites, newspapers, radio, television—relies on editors. While many editors are full-time employees, many companies use contract editors. Indeed, many rely on the same editors for many years.

In addition to the various kinds of content you can edit, there are different types of editors. General editors (perhaps called development or style editors, production managers, or other terms) may develop the concept of a story, coordinate with writers and production staff, edit for content and style, even substantially rewrite content. Copy editors generally check for grammar, spelling, clarity—perhaps also doing some rewriting. Proofreaders check for typos before copy goes to press.

Trainers/Instructors/Teachers: Corporations and government institutions need their employees to be as productive as possible. To that end, they frequently sponsor training programs and seminars—often hiring outside, independent contractors to run them. These programs range from teaching very specific skills (such as how to use equipment, software, or manage a production process) to more generalized training, such as sales, communication, or customer service. Some training responds to government requirements (such as sexual harassment or safety issues).

As a corporate trainer, you might develop your own curriculum and teaching materials, or you might be contracted to come in and teach a pre-existing program developed by the company.

There’s also a world of possibilities for non-corporate training. In particular, athletic or fitness training is also a growing area for entrepreneurs. You might be capable of specializing in a specific sport (golf, tennis, karate), or perhaps providing more generalized fitness guidance (personal trainer, aerobics instructor). You can work with adults or children. But there are many training opportunities in other fields as well (nutrition, beauty, cooking, technology—to name a few).

Opportunities to teach children have also greatly expanded. In addition to fitness and sports, there’s academic tutoring, test preparation (such as S.A.T.), art and music, science.

Tour guides: If you love to travel or just show people around your home town, being a tour guide may be up your alley. With the continuing strength of the tourist industry, this field should offer many opportunities for entrepreneurs for some time to come.

You can run/offer your own tours or be hired as a contractor to other tourist agencies. It may help if you speak more than one language, especially if you’ll be traveling internationally or working with international tourists visiting your community. If you set up your own shop, look for a specialty—wine tours, ecotourism, bicycle adventures.

Translators: With increasing globalization—and the easy worldwide reach of the Internet—there’s need for those with multiple language skills. Whether you’re translating written documents, website content, or translating in person, there are many opportunities for self-employment. Another form of translation is signing for the deaf.

Presenters/Speakers: It’s not easy to become a public speaker. You have to have a body of knowledge and experience and expertise that makes you credible to an audience—and potential clients. On top of that, you must be able to communicate effectively to groups. However, public speaking is an option for those who have such a background and talent—and don’t mind a lot of travel.