careers for professional writers

careers for professional writers

Careers for Professional Writers

1. Introduction to Professional Writing Careers

People become writers for many reasons. Perhaps you like to express yourself, and perhaps you find that you are always coming up with new ideas. Some people want to become writers because it is a lifelong dream, and perhaps it is the only thing they ever want to do. And some, being in an entirely different career path, find that writing seems to be the best way to go in order for them to change their career path. No matter what the reason is, you must have goals and identifications. Know what kind of writer you want to become and to what extent you want to be in this field, and always motivate yourself. Always bear in mind too that professional writing requires a lot of reading and a wide range of knowledge in areas such as science, history, psychology, marketing, and many more. Remember, writing is all about communicating an idea or ideas to an audience, and it should appeal to them.

Professional writers are writers who prepare materials to communicate information, instructional content, or entertainment to an audience. This is no different in the field of professional writing, be it for a career or as a sideline. What you need to keep in mind is that it is a career. As with any other careers, it is conducted not merely to fulfill your interest and willingness, but to generate money as well. A career in professional writing is quite challenging and often a tough route to take, no matter if it is fiction or non-fiction writing. Usually, most professional writers begin as freelancers, writing on their own and later seek publication, whether it is in newspapers, magazines, or governmental publications, and ultimately become established in the field.

2. Skills and Qualifications for Professional Writers

In addition to these specific qualifications, writers must also exhibit key qualities such as patience and perseverance, adaptability, and an ability to work to tight deadlines. Many writers build on their education during their careers and excel in a particular field, which can lead to opportunities for advancement. The most successful writers are able to adapt to different writing styles and topics, enhancing their breadth of knowledge and their versatility. Those who have moved up the ladder in fields such as journalism often hold editorial positions and are tasked with managing a staff of writers. At the pinnacle of achievement, professional writers display a mastery of their trade and a deep passion for continued learning in the art and craft of writing.

Some fields have specific requirements. For example, journalists need to have a good understanding of ethics and are required to undergo training. Staff writers in advertising, publishing, broadcasting, and public relations are required to have a college degree. A degree in communications is beneficial for these fields, but others such as marketing and technical writing are also good matches for writers, especially those with a background in the industry in question. Among the dozens of fields writers can fit into, the aforementioned are the most common, and encompass approximately 1/3 of all writers. In total, about 2/3 of writers are self-employed, a slightly higher proportion than the average for all professional workers. This status allows them to submit work to a variety of sources from newspapers to magazines to web pages. As such, the range of professional writers is very diverse. Many fields have an association that offers training and standards of professionalism. For example, the American Medical Writers Association offers the Certified Medical Writer status. Writing a test article reviewed by a board and paying a small fee are all that’s required for this. Funds are then given to the writer to relocate to an underserved area and write informative literature for patients about prevalent conditions and treatments. At the other end of the spectrum is the National Writers Union, a trade union for freelance and contract writers in all genres.

Communication skills, creativity, proficiency in writing, and perseverance are the most common qualifications for a writer. Because writing is a distinctly individual task, many writers can become qualified based on their skills and talents alone. While formal education is not a requirement, there are important skills all writers need to be successful. These include a good grasp of the language in which they are writing (i.e., grammar, spelling, and mechanics), proficiency in typing, and the ability to research and synthesize information. Writers who are grounded in the fundamentals of these skills, and who continue to improve their proficiency and accuracy will be in a good position to compete in the industry.

3. Different Career Paths for Professional Writers

3.2 Writing for Advertising Writers in advertising can be involved in copywriting, sales writing, SEO content writing, and technical writing for a marketing or advertising agency. This kind of work usually requires a degree in communications or a related field and a sizable portfolio. Advertising agencies can be fast-paced and high-pressure work environments, but the pay can be good and there are opportunities for advancement. A skilled advertising writer with a background in SEO can make a self-employed career writing online marketing content.

3.1 Magazine Writing Magazine writing attracts many writers because it is a well-paying job with short hours. Magazines are available for many different interests, and it is easy to find a market that fits your interests. There are sports, music, health, fashion, news, and many more kinds of magazines. Good magazine writers are able to write about many different topics and can find steady work.

Writers have many career paths to choose from. Most of you probably know about jobs in journalism, novels, and screenplays. However, there are more options to choose from, such as writing technical manuals or medical writing. There are many careers that are considered to be in a writer’s specialization. The next section will focus on a few of these possibilities and what they involve.

4. Advantages and Benefits of Pursuing a Writing Career

Writing also serves as a means of making a difference. Nonfiction writers can expose social, economical, political or scientific issues that they feel need addressing, and writers of all genres can move or influence readers on a grand or small scale. The ability to give a clear voice to ideas is a great power and a great satisfaction.

Intellectual satisfaction: Writer gets a satisfaction from creating something new. He is always learning, always absorbing information to produce a piece of literary art. Research projects give writers the opportunity to become a lay expert in an unusual or specialized field. The craft itself can also bring on a sense of continual improvement as writers work to master writing techniques and produce their own best work.

The freedom to work from home is a boon to many and for some it is not just a preference but a necessity. Writers who are also parents may appreciate being able to stay at home with their children while working. Others may be home caretakers for ill or disabled relatives. In most cases, these people find it difficult to go to a job outside the home and writing is a viable option for them.

Independence: Most writers value their independence highly and cherish the flexibility in their schedules. Since writing does not necessarily require a structured work environment, many professionals are able to complete projects at the times that are most convenient for them.

Writing career offers various advantages over the other careers. A few noteworthy of them are:

5. Tips for Success in the Writing Industry

This implies another successful tactic: always be learning. The business of writing is, above all else, a business. It is true that there is an art to writing, an art that we all would love to spend a hundred percent of our time engaged in, but this remains a dream for too many. If you spend all your time on the craft of writing and never learn how to market and sell pieces, you will join the ranks of writers who consistently fail to make a significant income from their work. Note that this does not necessarily imply writing for a living is selling out; there are many rewarding writing jobs that pay well, but still require skill in marketing (i.e. journalism, technical writing, copywriting, etc.) after which you can spend your extra cash to finance your mainstream novel.

First and foremost, get to know the writing community. Join writer’s groups, go to conventions, frequent writer’s forums, and get a subscription to a writer’s magazine. If you get to know other writers, published or not, you can garner useful information pertaining to the business of writing. Group memberships generally provide market information, and the other writers will be more than happy to tell you where they went wrong in order to keep you from stepping in the same potholes.