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Freelance journalist vs fiction writer

The differences between freelance journalists and fiction writers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a fiction writer has an average salary of $78,921, which is higher than the $49,141 average annual salary of a freelance journalist.

The top three skills for a freelance journalist include web content, local news and feature stories. The most important skills for a fiction writer are fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.

Freelance journalist vs fiction writer overview

Freelance JournalistFiction Writer
Yearly salary$49,141$78,921
Hourly rate$23.63$37.94
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs10,77510,192
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Average age4242
Years of experience--

Freelance journalist vs fiction writer salary

Freelance journalists and fiction writers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Freelance JournalistFiction Writer
Average salary$49,141$78,921
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $72,000Between $51,000 And $120,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between freelance journalist and fiction writer education

There are a few differences between a freelance journalist and a fiction writer in terms of educational background:

Freelance JournalistFiction Writer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Most common majorJournalismEnglish
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyMassachusetts Institute of Technology

Freelance journalist vs fiction writer demographics

Here are the differences between freelance journalists' and fiction writers' demographics:

Freelance JournalistFiction Writer
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 47.9% Female, 52.1%Male, 48.1% Female, 51.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.9% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% Asian, 4.9% White, 75.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 5.1% White, 74.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage16%16%

Differences between freelance journalist and fiction writer duties and responsibilities

Freelance journalist example responsibilities.

  • Update website daily, manage Facebook/Twitter/ Instagram accounts.
  • Utilize SEO strategies effectively in order to generate high traffic on high-quality writing pieces.
  • Fulfill multifaceted duties that include reporting, news/feature writing, photography, researching, fact checking, proofreading and editing.
  • Perform photography to support articles on limit basis.
  • Provide strategic creative concepts, copywriting, technical writing and cost-effective digital media production services on a per-project outsource basis.
  • Interview up and coming Latino artists which generate significant increase in readership.

Fiction writer example responsibilities.

  • Manage arts and entertainment editorial calendar, assign stories to multiple freelancers and plan daily coverage.
  • Publish several works including the publication of one non-fiction title.
  • Curate, edit, and write for the fiction section of a small, start-up online magazine.
  • Co-Authore and publish a non-fiction book available on Amazon.com
  • Implement a digital photography program that reduce costs by eliminating traditional physical photos.
  • Work collaboratively with editors, other writers, graphics professionals and photographers to ensure high level of editorial professionalism and detail.

Freelance journalist vs fiction writer skills

Common freelance journalist skills
  • Web Content, 15%
  • Local News, 9%
  • Feature Stories, 7%
  • Photography, 7%
  • News Stories, 6%
  • Press Releases, 5%
Common fiction writer skills
  • Fiction, 71%
  • Non-Fiction, 11%
  • Poetry, 9%
  • Short Stories, 9%

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