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.
Creative writer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real creative writer resumes:
- 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.
- Can successfully cite in APA, MLA, Harvard, Chicago and Turabian.
- Provide creative writing services for clients' websites, brochures, business letters, and other professional documents.
- Develop sophisticated FrameMaker templates in multiple page sizes.
- Create varied advertising copywriting for different toy and entertainment industry products in this contract position.
- Offer value-ad photography services helping brands build powerful brand libraries and access professional, affordable photography for social media.
- Research and write background papers and promotional materials to accompany the launch of NFB documentaries
- Research and help draft scripts for educational documentaries on indigenous populations, rain forests, land rights, etc.
- Maintain internal XML, single-source build system for AWS API reference.
Creative writer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 17% of Creative Writers are proficient in Digital Marketing, Proofreading, and Email Campaigns. They’re also known for soft skills such as Social perceptiveness, Creativity, and Writing skills.
We break down the percentage of Creative Writers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Digital Marketing, 17%
Coordinated with editors and product managers, delivering best-in-class shared services digital marketing copy as collaborative team member.
- Proofreading, 15%
Provided editorial and proofreading assistance with presentation and marketing materials, speeches and content development.
- Email Campaigns, 11%
Create custom designed email campaigns for customers.
- Video Scripts, 6%
Write for a number of clients around the country, specializing in video scripts, humor, screenplays and stage plays.
- Web Content, 5%
Authored 1500 articles, short stories, poems and web content for clients in a variety of industries spanning three continents.
- Proofread, 4%
Proofread layouts to review content, pacing, and overall flow.
Most creative writers use their skills in "digital marketing," "proofreading," and "email campaigns" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential creative writer responsibilities here:
Social perceptiveness. The most essential soft skill for a creative writer to carry out their responsibilities is social perceptiveness. This skill is important for the role because "writers and authors must understand how readers react to ideas to connect with their audience." Additionally, a creative writer resume shows how their duties depend on social perceptiveness: "created blog posts, social media and email campaigns. "
Creativity. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling creative writer duties is creativity. The role rewards competence in this skill because "writers and authors must be able to develop interesting plots, characters, or ideas for new stories." According to a creative writer resume, here's how creative writers can utilize creativity in their job responsibilities: "fostered memories by creating copy through attending events and conducting interviews offered creativity through writing articles, profiles, and caption"
Writing skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of creative writers is writing skills. This skill is critical to many everyday creative writer duties, as "writers and authors must be able to write clearly and effectively to convey feeling and emotion and to communicate with readers." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "teach poetry and playwriting and serve as writer-in-residence in the graduate creative writing program. "
The three companies that hire the most creative writers are:
- KPMG LLP24 creative writers jobs
- Apple6 creative writers jobs
- Google3 creative writers jobs
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Compare different creative writers
Creative writer vs. Publisher
A publisher manages the design, editing, and production process with the help of proofreaders, printers, and editors. Publishers make schedules for every stage of the process and work backward from the planned date for publication. They distribute promotional catalogs to libraries and booksellers. They set the commercial and editorial direction for businesses publishing newspapers, digital content, magazines, and books. It is their duty to make decisions on the markets that their firms will serve as well as the type of content that they will give to their audience.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, creative writer responsibilities require skills like "digital marketing," "proofreading," "email campaigns," and "video scripts." Meanwhile a typical publisher has skills in areas such as "customer satisfaction," "strategic thinking," "client facing," and "publishing industry." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Publishers really shine in the telecommunication industry with an average salary of $69,908. Comparatively, creative writers tend to make the most money in the internet industry with an average salary of $113,824.publishers tend to reach similar levels of education than creative writers. In fact, publishers are 1.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.0% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Creative writer vs. Editor
An editor is the one responsible for polishing and refining a story, article, and any material for publication in newspapers, magazines, books, or websites. Editors have the power to either accept or reject a material as they need to ensure that every manuscript which will be offered for publishing is at the best version as it can be. There are several types of editors, from copy editors, books to managing editors, but they have few skills in common, like strong writing skills, good judgment, and leadership abilities to help guide the whole editorial team. Most of them work in the office, but it is quite becoming more regular for them to work remotely.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, creative writer responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "digital marketing," "proofreading," "email campaigns," and "video scripts." Meanwhile, an editor has duties that require skills in areas such as "video content," "seo," "editor-in-chief," and "twitter." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
On average, editors earn a lower salary than creative writers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, editors earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $62,170. Whereas creative writers have higher pay in the internet industry, with an average salary of $113,824.In general, editors achieve similar levels of education than creative writers. They're 1.5% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 1.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Creative writer vs. Senior editor
A Senior Editor determines the editorial content for a publication. They supervise the content creation process and manage junior editors.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a creative writer is likely to be skilled in "digital marketing," "proofreading," "email campaigns," and "video scripts," while a typical senior editor is skilled in "edit content," "video content," "seo," and "digital content."
Senior editors earn the highest salary when working in the finance industry, where they receive an average salary of $87,572. Comparatively, creative writers have the highest earning potential in the internet industry, with an average salary of $113,824.Most senior editors achieve a similar degree level compared to creative writers. For example, they're 3.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Creative writer vs. Senior copywriter
A Senior Copywriter is responsible for developing original written content. They generate immaculate copy for every brief.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between creative writers and senior copywriters, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a creative writer might have more use for skills like "proofread," "creative ideas," "brochures," and "creative content." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of senior copywriters require skills like "healthcare," "seo," "brainstorming," and "b testing. "
Senior copywriters enjoy the best pay in the professional industry, with an average salary of $98,856. For comparison, creative writers earn the highest salary in the internet industry.The average resume of senior copywriters showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to creative writers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 2.4% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.2%.Types of creative writer
Updated January 8, 2025
