creative writing careers

creative writing careers

Creative Writing Careers

1. Introduction

Throughout this guide, it will be clear that one does not necessarily need to be a ‘writer’ in the purest sense of the word, though the skills learned from creative writing are invaluable. Many forms of writing are required for a great number of professions. Authors are obviously in the business of writing, but it is an involved process; they may write articles, essays, non-fiction works, novels, or be screenwriters, to name a few. A good example of how many authors may be freelancers is when they are article writers. Writing magazine or internet articles is a viable profession unto itself, or a student or person seeking supplementary income may do it on the side. Students of creative writing may find it useful even now to take up article writing for extra money or to save for the future. The more skilled you are as an author, the more likely you are to succeed in obtaining better-paying, more enjoyable employment.

Throughout human history, literature has always entailed the art of creative writing. From Homer’s “Iliad” to J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter”, writing for the sole purpose of expressing oneself has found itself a central role of literary tradition. Further branching into the realm of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, playwriting, and scriptwriting, creative writing has steadily grown into an institution of higher learning. A person seeking employment in this field must first acquire the skills of an author and then seek employment in the desired literary field. This guide will illustrate what types of careers are possible in creative writing and explain how these careers may be obtained. Along the way, it will offer tips for building a portfolio and for marketing one’s self to prospective employers.

2. Benefits of Pursuing a Creative Writing Career

The ability to express yourself and to communicate effectively Graduates who studied creative writing have the opportunity to showcase their work through blog writing, poetry, web content writing, and book and novel publishing. Effective communication is an essential skill in any career, so you will find the skills you built writing original and compelling. In addition to this, your ability to critically analyze information and to communicate this to a variety of audiences will serve you well. Your degree is likely to be good evidence of your written communication skills, but you will find that you will also develop a range of skills that are easily transferable into many fields; for instance, you might be a more lateral thinker because of the ways in which you’ve been challenged to think outside the box and to come up with creative and original solutions to problems. The pride you can take in achieving a high level of proficiency in writing cannot be overestimated. It is a great feeling to be good at something and to be getting better all the time. As your published work improves, so does your sense of achievement. Those with a creative writing BA will gain a clear understanding of the ways in which different kinds of fiction can be used as a means of exploring a variety of issues, and over time you may succeed in using your writing as a means of affecting social or political change. Whether it be through fiction or nonfiction, the ability to raise awareness of an issue is vital to many people, and having the knowledge and skills required to do so effectively can be both fulfilling and rewarding.

3. Types of Creative Writing Careers

First, it’s only wise for you to spend time looking into what type of creative writing job you want. And although at an early stage you may not be certain of the exact position you want, you should research all the options that are open to you. Would you like to write for a living, or simply earn some money from your writing? If you know you want to write in a specific vein, for example poetry, fiction or journalism, it is worth looking into the types of jobs available within these fields. If you know the area of writing you want to go into, you can then research specific sectors to ascertain the kinds of writing opportunities open to you. For example, if you are studying fine art at university, and you want to write for a living but still maintain a creative air, an arts journalist or arts administration job may be for you. Often it is a good idea to retire to a job in the same field as your study, so if this is the case you might want to research teaching or lecturing in creative writing. Once you’ve done all this, you can begin a direct assault on your preferred job. Many creative writing positions do not require specific formal qualifications, however a flair for writing and a portfolio of work published or otherwise are essential. In this situation speculative letters and networking are key ways to access hidden job markets. A speculative letter should be directed at a company you admire, there may not be a job for you at that moment, but they are likely to admire your initiative and could offer you a job in the future. Networking can be conducted at any social occasions that you might happen to find yourself at, the more detailed guide to this however, is beyond the cause of this article.

4. Skills and Qualifications for Creative Writing Careers

Creativity is critical for writing. Sometimes it takes many years of practice to become a clear and effective communicator or to find your writing voice. Critical thinking and the ability to accept and resolve criticism are also essential traits for a writer. The ability to work alone without supervision can be a plus or a minus… if self-discipline is not your strong suit, a regular job with deadlines is probably a better idea. Any type of work, whether it’s in journalism, fiction writing, or science writing, usually requires some college education in English, communications, or other related field. People who study writing or journalism in college may have better job prospects than those who do not. Some entry level writing jobs may require a technical background and knowledge of specific industries.

Specific types of writing, writing for a particular audience, and knowing how to format text for a specific purpose are also important skills. To succeed in this, one needs a general understanding of people, what motivates them, and how to persuade. Other skills many writers acquire with time include how to network, self-promote, and be proactive at finding job opportunities.

First, you need to know that making a living as a writer rarely involves writing only. Even freelancers usually have to do more than one type of writing. Many are also asked to do editing, online research, and other tasks that require various combinations of writing, computer, and Internet skills. While some types of writing (ad copy, speeches, etc.) involve one or two drafts and a run-through on a spelling and grammar checker, most writers write multiple drafts of longer works. Both the writing and editing process involve critical thinking and problem solving.

5. Tips for Success in Creative Writing Careers

Read, and often. It’s a sad fact that many people who want to be writers don’t read much. The best writers are exceptionally well read. This is no accident. Just as painters learn by studying the masters, so do writers learn by studying the masters of the written word. Reading a lot teaches you a lot, and exposes you to different styles of writing. And you never know what might inspire you. Job one of any good writer is to be a good reader. Always. And you will hopefully get to the point where you can be the reader who inspired another struggling writer. As an added bonus, it’s possible that some reading or writing that you were going to do anyway can be used as a legitimate tax write off if it is relevant to your field. Check with a tax professional. I’m just saying.

Improve your writing continually. It is quite possible, even probably, that you will start with writing in a genre or for a medium that is not where you eventually want to end up. Keep developing your skills, keep adding to your knowledge of your field, and keep pushing yourself to write better. If you do this long enough, and you really do have some talent, you will make it. I have seen many examples of this with my peers. But still, remember this: you may need to write for your company newsletter or employee manual for many years before you get your break writing for magazines. That’s okay. Use it as an opportunity to develop your skills, and you’ll move on when you’re ready.