What Do Creative Writer Do?
Job Description & Duties Create original written works, such as scripts, essays, prose, poetry or song lyrics, for publication or performance.
A Day in the Life of a Creative Writer
- Write fiction or nonfiction prose, such as short stories, novels, biographies, articles, descriptive or critical analyses, and essays.
- Collaborate with other writers on specific projects.
- Develop factors such as themes, plots, characterizations, psychological analyses, historical environments, action, and dialogue to create material.
- Teach writing classes.
- Attend book launches and publicity events, or conduct public readings.
- Conduct research to obtain factual information and authentic detail, using sources such as newspaper accounts, diaries, and interviews.
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What Every Creative Writer Should Know
When polled, Creative Writers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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.
Other Creative Writer Job Titles
- Scenario Writer
- Freelance Writer
- Content Writer
- Story Writer
- Short Story Writer
Are There Job Opportunities 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.
Salary for a Creative Writer
Creative Writers make between $31,700 and $121,670 a year.
Creative Writers who work in District of Columbia, California, or Connecticut, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Creative Writers in different U.S. states.
| 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
Becoming a Creative Writer
Education needed to be a Creative Writer:
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where Creative Writers Are Employed
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Related Careers
Those who work as a Creative Writer sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
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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