Writers and Authors
Career, Salary and Education Information
What They Do: Writers and authors develop written content for various types of media.
Work Environment: Writers and authors may work anywhere they have access to a computer. Many writers and authors are self-employed.
How to Become One: A college degree in English, communications, or journalism is generally required for a full-time position as a writer or author. Experience gained through internships or any writing that improves skill, such as blogging, is beneficial.
Salary: The median annual wage for writers and authors is $69,510.
Job Outlook: Employment of writers and authors is projected to grow 4 percent over the next ten years, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Related Careers: Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of writers and authors with similar occupations.
Following is everything you need to know about a career as a writers or author with lots of details. As a first step, take a look at some of the following jobs, which are real jobs with real employers. You will be able to see the very real job career requirements for employers who are actively hiring. The link will open in a new tab so that you can come back to this page to continue reading about the career:
Top 3 Writer and Author Jobs
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Data Center Electrical Subject Matter Expert
- Salute
- Gainesville, VA
... • Good written technical proficiency to support the creation and revision of process ... author or approve work procedures to cover electrical troubleshooting, repair, retrofit, and ...
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Instructional Systems Designer with Security Clearance
- Highbury Defense Group
- San Diego, CA
... and employing Authoring I Instructional Materials (AIM), Content Planning Module (CPM), and ... writing /curriculum development supporting scientific, technical, and/or engineering performance ...
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Industrial Hygiene Project Manager
- Landmark Environmental, Inc.
- Littleton, CO
Authors or supports the preparation of project deliverables. Quickly acquires an in-depth ... Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills. Self-motivated and proactive in improving ...
What Writers and Authors Do[About this section] [To Top]
Writers and authors develop written content for various types of media, including advertisements; books; magazines; movie, play, and television scripts; and blogs.
Duties of Writers and Authors
Writers and authors typically do the following:
- Choose subject matter that interests readers
- Write fiction or nonfiction through scripts, novels, biographies, and more
- Conduct research to obtain factual information and authentic detail
- Write advertising copy for newspapers, magazines, broadcasts, and the Internet
- Present drafts to editors and clients for feedback
- Work with editors and clients to shape the material so it can be published
Writers must establish their credibility with editors and readers through clean prose, 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 clearest language and the most appropriate phrasing.
Some writers and authors are self-employed or freelance writers and authors. They sell their written content to book and magazine publishers; news organizations; advertising agencies; and movie, theater, and television producers. They may be 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 only on the Internet, such as for digital news organizations or 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.
Content writers write about any topic of interest, unlike writers who usually specialize in a given field.
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 blog that may pertain to any topic or a specific field, such as fashion, news, or sports.
Novelists write books of fiction, creating characters and plots that may be imaginary or based on real events.
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.
Speechwriters write speeches for business leaders, politicians, and others who must speak in front of an audience. A speech is heard, not read, which means speechwriters must think about audience reaction and rhetorical effect.
Work Environment for Writers and Authors[About this section] [To Top]
Writers and authors hold about 142,800 jobs. The largest employers of writers and authors are as follows:
| Self-employed workers | 62% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 11% |
| Information | 11% |
| Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations | 3% |
| Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries | 3% |
Writers and authors may work anywhere they have access to a computer.
Jobs are somewhat concentrated in major media and entertainment markets—California, New York, Texas, and Washington, DC—but improved communications and Internet capabilities allow writers and authors to work from almost anywhere. Some writers and authors prefer to work and travel to meet with publishers and clients and to do research or conduct interviews in person.
Writer and Author Work Schedules
Some writers and authors work part time. Most keep regular office hours, either to stay in contact with sources and editors or to set up a writing routine, but many set their own hours. Others may need to work evenings and weekends to produce something acceptable for an editor or client. Self-employed or freelance writers and authors may face the pressures of juggling multiple projects or continually looking for new work.
How to Become a Writer or Author[About this section] [To Top]
Get the education you need: Find schools for Writers and Authors near you!
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.
Education for Writers and Authors
A 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 Experience for Writers and Authors
Writers 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 programs offer playwrights 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, infographics, and maps. Online publications require knowledge of computer software and editing tools that are used to combine text with graphics, audio, video, and animation.
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.
Writers or authors can come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences as long as they demonstrate strong writing skills.
Writer and Author Training
Writers and authors typically need to gain writing experience through on-the-job training. They may practice writing and work 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.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations for Writers and Authors
Some 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.
Advancement for Writers and Authors
Beginning writers and authors can get a start and put their name on work immediately by writing for small 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 Qualities for Writers and Authors
Adaptability. 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. They 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.
Writer and Author Salaries[About this section] [More salary/earnings info] [To Top]
The median annual wage for writers and authors is $69,510. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $38,500, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $133,580.
The median annual wages for writers and authors in the top industries in which they work are as follows:
| Information | $80,560 |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | $65,210 |
| Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations | $64,280 |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | $61,940 |
Some writers and authors work part time. Most keep regular office hours, either to stay in contact with sources and editors or to set up a writing routine, but many set their own hours. Others may need to work evenings and weekends to produce something acceptable for an editor or client. Self-employed or freelance writers and authors may face the pressures of juggling multiple projects or continually looking for new work.
Job Outlook for Writers and Authors[About this section] [To Top]
Employment of writers and authors is projected to grow 4 percent over the next ten years, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
About 15,200 openings for writers and authors are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment of Writers and Authors
As traditional print publications lose ground to other media forms, writers and authors are shifting their focus to online media, which should result in some employment growth for these workers.
| Occupational Title | Employment, 2021 | Projected Employment, 2031 | Change, 2021-31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent | Numeric | |||
| Writers and authors | 142,800 | 148,700 | 4 | 5,900 |
More Writer and Author Information[About this section] [To Top]
For more information about writers and authors, visit
American Grant Writers’ Association, Inc.
American Society of Journalists and Authors
Association of Writers & Writing Programs
National Association of Science Writers
A portion of the information on this page is used by permission of the U.S. Department of Labor.