“I earn $800 a month transcribing for documentaries”

“As a stay-at-home mom and a movie buff, I was looking for a way to make extra money and have a flexible schedule when I discovered that I could get paid to transcribe interviews for films. I knew it would be a great way to marry my passion for movies and language while making money on my own time.

“To find work, I searched for translation, editing and transcription gigs at Upwork.com, a freelance marketplace, but you can also find similar work at sites like ProZ.com and TranscribeMe. com. This work doesn’t require any experience, just excellent typing skills and a good work ethic.

“I’ve transcribed for several documentaries, but one of my favorite jobs was for Shannon Kring, a documentary filmmaker and owner of Red Queen Media (ShannonKring.com). After she shot the interviews, she sent me a digital audio and video file. I listened to the interviews and typed everything that was said in a format she provided. I also included time stamps in case she needed to go back to hear the audio. When I was done, she used the transcription to edit the film and add subtitles.

“The pay ranges from 50 cents to $1 per minute of audio. I work as little or as much as I want and I set my own hours. I typically earn about $800 a month.

“Working as a transcriptionist has been such a great job for me. I love watching films and I find the people fascinating. And the money I earn doing this goes toward bills and caring for my horses.”