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Deal with People
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$54,000
Average Salary
Writers and authors develop written content for advertisements, books, magazines, movie and television scripts, songs, blogs, or other types of media.
DutiesWriters and authors typically do the following:
Writers and authors develop written material—namely, stories and advertisements—for books, magazines, and online publications.
Writers must establish their credibility with editors and readers through strong research and the use of appropriate sources and citations. Writers and authors select the material they want to use and then convey the information to readers. With help from editors, they may revise or rewrite sections, searching for the best organization and the most appropriate phrasing.
An increasing number of writers are freelance writers—that is, they are self-employed and sell their written content to book and magazine publishers; news organizations; advertising agencies; and movie, theater, and television producers. Many freelance writers are hired to complete specific short-term or recurring assignments, such as writing a newspaper column, contributing to a series of articles in a magazine, or producing an organization’s newsletter.
An increasing number of writers are producing material that is published directly online, in videos and on blogs.
The following are examples of types of writers and authors:
Copywriters prepare advertisements to promote the sale of a good or service. They often work with a client to produce written content, such as advertising themes, jingles, and slogans.
Biographers write a thorough account of a person’s life. They gather information from interviews and research about the person to accurately portray important events in that person's life.
Bloggers write posts to a web log (shortened to “blog”) that usually pertain to any topic or a specific field, such as fashion, news, or sports.
Generalists write about any topic of interest, unlike writers who usually specialize in a given field.
Novelists write books of fiction, creating characters and plots that may be imaginary or based on real events.
Songwriters compose music and lyrics for songs. They may write and perform their own songs or sell their work to a music publisher. They sometimes work with a client to produce advertising themes, jingles, and slogans, and they may be involved in marketing the product or service.
Playwrights write scripts for theatrical productions. They come up with a concept, write lines for actors to say, produce stage direction for actors to follow, and suggest ideas for theatrical set design.
Screenwriters create scripts for movies and television. They may produce original stories, characters, and dialogue, or turn a book into a movie or television script. Some may produce content for radio broadcasts and other types of performance.
Journalists write articles and reports on current events. For more information, see the profile on reporters, correspondents, and broadcast news analysts.
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A college degree in English, journalism, or communications is generally required for a salaried position as a writer or author. Experience can be gained through internships, but any form of writing that improves skill, such as blogging, is beneficial. Excellent writing skills are essential.
EducationA bachelor’s degree is typically needed for a full-time job as a writer. Because writing skills are essential in this occupation, many employers prefer candidates with a degree in English, journalism, or communications.
Other Work ExperienceWriters can obtain job experience by working for high school and college newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations, advertising and publishing companies, or nonprofit organizations. College theater and music programs offer playwrights and songwriters an opportunity to have their work performed. Many magazines and newspapers also have internships for students. Interns may write stories, conduct research and interviews, and gain general publishing experience.
Employers also increasingly prefer new applicants to have the ability to code and program webpages or manipulate data to create a visual story using tables, charts, and maps.
In addition, anyone with Internet access can start a blog and gain writing experience. Some of this writing may lead to paid assignments regardless of education, because the quality of writing, the unique perspective, and the size of the potential audience are the greatest determinants of success for a piece of writing. Online publications require knowledge of computer software and editing tools that are used to combine text with graphics, audio, video, and animation.
Writers or authors can come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences as long as they demonstrate strong writing skills.
TrainingWriters and authors may need to gain some writing experience through on-the-job training with more experienced writers and editors before their work is ready for publication.
Writers who want to write about a particular topic may need formal training or experience related to that topic.
Because many writers today prepare material directly for the Internet, knowing graphic design, page layout, and multimedia software can be advantageous.
Licenses, Certifications, and RegistrationsSome associations offer certifications for writers and authors. Certification can demonstrate competence and professionalism, making candidates more attractive to employers. For example, the American Grant Writers’ Association (AGWA) offers the Certified Grant Writer® credential.
Certification can also increase opportunities for advancement.
AdvancementBeginning writers and authors can get a start and put their name on work immediately by writing for smaller businesses, local newspapers, advertising agencies, and nonprofit organizations. However, opportunities for advancement within these organizations may be limited because they usually do not have enough regular work.
Writers and authors can advance their careers further by building a reputation, taking on more complex writing assignments, and getting published in more prestigious markets and publications. Having published work that has been well received and maintaining a track record of meeting deadlines are important for advancement.
Many editors begin work as writers. Those who are particularly skilled at identifying stories, correcting writing style, and interacting with writers may be interested in editing jobs.
Important QualitiesAdaptability. Writers and authors need to be able to adapt to newer software platforms and programs, including various Content Management Systems (CMS).
Creativity. Writers and authors must be able to develop new and interesting plots, characters, or ideas so they can come up with new stories.
Critical-thinking skills. Writers and authors must have dual expertise in thinking through or understanding new concepts, and conveying it through writing.
Determination. Writers and authors sometimes work on projects that take years to complete. Freelance writers who are paid per assignment must demonstrate perseverance and personal drive to meet deadlines.
Persuasion. Writers, especially those in advertising, must be able to persuade others to feel a certain way about a good or service.
Social perceptiveness. Writers and authors must understand how readers react to certain ideas in order to connect with their audience.
Writing skills. Writers and authors must be able to write clearly and effectively in order to convey feeling and emotion and communicate with readers.
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Gender | |
Female 58.2% |
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Male 31.3% |
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Unknown 10.5% |
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Ethnicity | |
White 63.5% |
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Hispanic or Latino 14.1% |
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Black or African American 11.1% |
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Asian 7.7% |
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Unknown 3.5% |
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Foreign Languages Spoken | |
Spanish 42.6% |
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French 19.7% |
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Mandarin 5.7% |
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Portuguese 4.9% |
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Chinese 4.9% |
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German 4.9% |
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Italian 4.9% |
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Arabic 3.3% |
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Greek 1.6% |
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Japanese 1.6% |
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Filipino 0.8% |
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Hebrew 0.8% |
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Tagalog 0.8% |
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Russian 0.8% |
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Polish 0.8% |
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Hokkien 0.8% |
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Korean 0.8% |
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Schools | |
Michigan State University 7.3% |
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Temple University 5.9% |
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University of Phoenix 5.9% |
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Wayne State University 5.4% |
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San Diego State University 5.4% |
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Columbia University 5.4% |
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American University 5.4% |
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Northeastern University 5.4% |
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New York University 4.9% |
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University of Texas at Austin 4.9% |
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San Jose State University 4.9% |
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Boston University 4.9% |
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Syracuse University 4.4% |
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San Francisco State University 4.4% |
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Ohio State University 4.4% |
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Texas State University 4.4% |
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Florida State University 4.4% |
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Cornell University 4.4% |
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Northern Illinois University 4.4% |
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University of California - Los Angeles 3.9% |
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Majors | |
Marketing 15.9% |
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Communication 15.5% |
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Business 15.2% |
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Journalism 9.9% |
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English 9.8% |
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Public Relations 5.0% |
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Graphic Design 3.9% |
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Writing 3.2% |
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Management 2.7% |
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Political Science 2.6% |
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Fine Arts 2.4% |
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Psychology 2.2% |
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Education 2.1% |
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Advertising 1.8% |
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Agricultural Public Services 1.5% |
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History 1.4% |
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Liberal Arts 1.4% |
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Journalism And Mass Communications 1.3% |
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Photography 1.2% |
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Audiovisual Communications Technologies 1.1% |
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Degrees | |
Bachelors 54.8% |
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Masters 25.0% |
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Other 11.6% |
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Certificate 3.4% |
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Associate 2.8% |
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Doctorate 2.0% |
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Diploma 0.4% |
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License 0.2% |
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