What is a professional writer?

Question

Zippia Team · Accepted Answer

A professional writer is a person who is paid to produce written content of some kind. There are many different types of professional writers and they work in many different industries, from entertainment and advertising to journalism, and many other fields as well.

A professional writer might be adept at the writing of one genre or multiple genres. They can work in a full-time, part-time, or freelance capacity.

Here are some examples of professional writers:

Authors of novels and non-fiction
Copywriters
Journalists (newspaper and broadcast)
Magazine writers (online and hardcopy)
Screenwriters
Content writers
Blog writers
Technical writers
Legal writers
Resume writers

Responsibilities for a professional writer can vary, depending on what type of professional writer they are, and what industry they are working in. However, here are some common duties of professional writers:

Writing effective content for a specific audience
Doing research in certain areas to help inform their writing
Developing concepts and pitching writing projects
Editing and reviewing writing work before submitting it to an editor
Meeting deadlines for writing assignments
Outlining a story or script in a general outline or treatment form

Professional writers tend to have a college education, but there are some that do not attend college and still excel in a particular field of writing.

Specific education for a professional writer depends on what type of professional writing they want to pursue. Here are some common majors for professional writers: