What Does it Take to Be a Creative Writer?
Position Description Create original written works, such as scripts, essays, prose, poetry or song lyrics, for publication or performance.
Creative Writer Responsibilities
- Write humorous material for publication, or for performances such as comedy routines, gags, and comedy shows.
- Write fiction or nonfiction prose, such as short stories, novels, biographies, articles, descriptive or critical analyses, and essays.
- Write narrative, dramatic, lyric, or other types of poetry for publication.
- Choose subject matter and suitable form to express personal feelings and experiences or ideas, or to narrate stories or events.
- Teach writing classes.
- Follow appropriate procedures to get copyrights for completed work.
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Creative Writer Required Skills
These are the skills Creative Writers say are the most useful in their careers:
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Types of Creative Writer Jobs
- Online Journalist
- Fiction and Nonfiction Author
- Film Writer
- Greeting Card Maker
- Community Blogger
Job Outlook for Creative Writers
In the United States, there were 131,200 jobs for Creative Writer in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7.6% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 10,000 new jobs for Creative Writer by 2026. There will be an estimated 12,600 positions for Creative Writer per year.
The states with the most job growth for Creative Writer are Utah, Washington, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Kansas, New Mexico, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Creative Writers Make A Lot Of Money?
The typical yearly salary for Creative Writers is somewhere between $31,700 and $121,670.
Creative Writers who work in District of Columbia, California, or Connecticut, make the highest salaries.
How much do Creative Writers make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $58,590 |
Alaska | $64,200 |
Arizona | $55,410 |
Arkansas | $48,670 |
California | $96,910 |
Colorado | $65,450 |
Connecticut | $78,440 |
Delaware | $60,690 |
District of Columbia | $101,690 |
Florida | $53,140 |
Georgia | $63,260 |
Hawaii | $50,740 |
Idaho | $52,570 |
Illinois | $68,710 |
Indiana | $61,920 |
Iowa | $50,680 |
Kansas | $62,670 |
Kentucky | $54,320 |
Louisiana | $44,710 |
Maine | $61,090 |
Maryland | $75,430 |
Massachusetts | $70,000 |
Michigan | $60,850 |
Minnesota | $67,300 |
Mississippi | $53,810 |
Missouri | $57,420 |
Montana | $47,440 |
Nebraska | $45,280 |
Nevada | $53,730 |
New Hampshire | $56,850 |
New Jersey | $81,160 |
New Mexico | $49,460 |
New York | $86,380 |
North Carolina | $67,250 |
North Dakota | $48,060 |
Ohio | $48,380 |
Oklahoma | $50,490 |
Oregon | $69,050 |
Pennsylvania | $60,140 |
Rhode Island | $63,820 |
South Dakota | $49,410 |
Tennessee | $55,370 |
Texas | $56,680 |
Utah | $54,660 |
Vermont | $62,260 |
Virginia | $68,600 |
Washington | $65,200 |
West Virginia | $64,480 |
Wisconsin | $59,360 |
What Tools & Technology do Creative Writers Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Creative Writers:
- Microsoft Word
- Google Drive
- WordPress
- Text to speech software
- WhiteSmoke
- OpenOffice.org
- AutoCrit Editing Wizard
- Bare Bones Software BBEdit
- Tumblr
How do I Become a Creative Writer?
What kind of Creative Writer requirements are there?
What work experience do I need to become a Creative Writer?
Creative Writers Sector
The table below shows the approximate number of Creative Writers employed by various industries.
Similar Careers
Are you already one of the many Creative Writer in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: UNU-WIDER from Helsinki, Finland via Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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