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Creative writer vs grant writer

The differences between creative writers and grant writers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a creative writer and a grant writer. Additionally, a creative writer has an average salary of $73,095, which is higher than the $52,719 average annual salary of a grant writer.

The top three skills for a creative writer include digital marketing, proofreading and email campaigns. The most important skills for a grant writer are grants management, financial reports, and proposal development.

Creative writer vs grant writer overview

Creative WriterGrant Writer
Yearly salary$73,095$52,719
Hourly rate$35.14$25.35
Growth rate4%6%
Number of jobs19,12916,708
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age4246
Years of experience22

What does a creative writer do?

Creative writers are professionals who employ their imagination and discipline to convey new and interesting ideas to an audience in an engaging way, such as books, screenplays, and promotional marketing material. These writers must select a subject or theme for their writing projects while conducting research to obtain factual information and authentic detail for their content. They must review and submit their work for approval to meet the needs of their clients, publishers, or directors. Creative writers can also work for magazines, websites, and advertising or become a freelancer.

What does a grant writer do?

Often working for a non-profit organization, a grant writer specializes in writing application letters for financial grants to foundations, government agencies, and companies. Their responsibilities revolve around maintaining records of data and documentation, finding grant opportunities, participating in devising strategies that benefit the company's growth, crafting correspondence, gathering requirements, and submitting and monitoring grant proposals. Furthermore, a grant writer must have in-depth knowledge and understanding of the organization they work for, including its history, vision, mission, policies, and regulations.

Creative writer vs grant writer salary

Creative writers and grant writers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Creative WriterGrant Writer
Average salary$73,095$52,719
Salary rangeBetween $46,000 And $114,000Between $38,000 And $73,000
Highest paying CityRedwood City, CAWashington, DC
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyAppleApple
Best paying industryInternetGovernment

Differences between creative writer and grant writer education

There are a few differences between a creative writer and a grant writer in terms of educational background:

Creative WriterGrant Writer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorEnglishBusiness
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyNorthwestern University

Creative writer vs grant writer demographics

Here are the differences between creative writers' and grant writers' demographics:

Creative WriterGrant Writer
Average age4246
Gender ratioMale, 45.8% Female, 54.2%Male, 29.4% Female, 70.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.9% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% Asian, 4.9% White, 75.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 6.7% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 8.8% White, 71.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage16%11%

Differences between creative writer and grant writer duties and responsibilities

Creative writer example responsibilities.

  • Manage the website, twitter, and facebook.
  • Manage publication review process, including technical and editorial review by in-house and outside reviewers.
  • Create and publish advertising copy, press releases, brochures and technical manuals.
  • Develop an eye for detail and proofreading.
  • Hire to write several papers for NIH fund grant projects.
  • Work with blogs, Wikipedia page management, and Youtube content.
  • Show more

Grant writer example responsibilities.

  • Manage accounting of fix assets, perform monthly bank and account reconciliations, and manage the annual and grant-cycle budget processes.
  • Organize and manage PowerPoint presentations used for business development and site visits.
  • Manage SharePoint file organization system and wiki cooperation sites to facilitate cooperation among internal and external proposal response participants.
  • Monitor recipients for compliance with the FCMP, CFR and OMB guidelines.
  • Monitor grants that need additional attention or follow up when an institution is not in compliance with the NIH GPS.
  • Prepare and proofread work for publication.
  • Show more

Creative writer vs grant writer skills

Common creative writer skills
  • Digital Marketing, 17%
  • Proofreading, 15%
  • Email Campaigns, 11%
  • Video Scripts, 6%
  • Web Content, 5%
  • Proofread, 4%
Common grant writer skills
  • Grants Management, 14%
  • Financial Reports, 7%
  • Proposal Development, 6%
  • PI, 6%
  • Customer Service, 5%
  • Project Management, 5%

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