Here's a news flash: Good really do exist. You can parlay your love of the
written word into a paying gig. The truth is that the technology, media,
entertainment, public relations, marketing, publishing, and advertising
industries all need people who can craft high-quality content. The range of
possible writing careers is far broader than you might expect.
But, as with any
creative field, it can be difficult to pinpoint opportunities. That's partly
because writing jobs, in contrast to other occupations, don't follow a set
formula. (If you want to become an engineer, you get an engineering degree. If
your goal is to become a nurse, you complete a nursing program. But if you
dream of becoming a writer, the path you need to take isn't nearly as
clear-cut.)
That's why we've
compiled a list of 24 jobs for many types of writers across many different
fields. We've also included some tips on how to find legit freelance writing
opportunities. And if you're wondering how to support yourself while getting
established, you might want to check out our suggestions for day jobs that
allow you to write on the side.
How to find
legitimate freelance writing jobs
The pros and cons of ghost-writing
Day jobs for aspiring
writers
Writing is a natural
fit for online or at-home work, so you don't have to be limited to jobs in your
local area. Whether your interests run to business, technology, news, public
relations, or the arts, you can probably find a writing job to suit you. Many
of the jobs on this list even pay pretty well. Here are just a few examples of
careers in writing that you may want to consider:
1. Communications
director
Overseeing various
types of corporate communications and making sure the public views your company
in a favorable light requires a blend of top-notch writing and marketing
skills. In this role, you establish the communications goals of a company and
develop branding and style guidelines for press releases, articles,
newsletters, email campaigns, advertisements, and other marketing materials.
This is a high-level position that requires several years of experience; be
prepared to work your way up.
Average
salary—$79,8401
2. Speechwriter
It's not just
politicians and government officials that rely on speechwriters: You could also
work for business executives, notable celebrities, or public relations firms.
To do this job effectively, you need to be able to write persuasively about
policies or principles that you may not always agree with. A degree in
journalism, communications, or political science is a good place to start.
Joining Toastmasters or observing debates can also be good training.
Average
salary—$77,1822
3. Technical writer
A key skill for any
technical writer is the ability to take complex technical jargon and turn it
into plain English. These writers design and develop software manuals, user
guides, technical specifications, and other complex documentation. A big part
of the job involves drawing useful and relevant information out of software
developers, engineers, and other professionals, so solid interpersonal skills
are essential. Of all jobs in writing, this one has one of the best outlooks:
It's expected to see faster-than-average job growth between 2016 and 2026.3
Average
salary—$74,4404
4. Screenwriter
Do you dream of
creating the next Hollywood blockbuster? Screenwriters are the creative energy
behind films and television shows. You could adapt a novel for the big screen,
write an episode of an established show, or develop an original movie script
from scratch. You need to understand the basic structure of a screenplay as
well as how to create interesting characters and write peppy dialog. You also
need to be open to constructive criticism: Making revisions is how
screenwriters spend most of their time.
Average
earnings—$72,4142
5. Novelist
When people think of
careers in writing, this is often one of the first that comes to mind. If you
can create compelling characters that people want to know more about, and put
them in unique situations that force them to tackle a problem or undergo a change,
you might have what it takes to make it as a novelist. It's not enough to have
a great idea; you also need to develop an outline and work out plot points,
dialog styles, and character arcs. Traditionally, novelists have worked with
literary agents to market and sell their books, but self-publishing is an
increasingly popular option.
Average
earnings—$72,1204
6. Columnist
Columnists are
basically unshackled reporters: They're paid to give a subjective opinion on
current events. As a columnist, you're expected to offer persuasive and
reasoned opinions and perspectives on anything from city council's latest
traffic bylaw to the current state of the U.S. economy. Many columnists also
write books or serve as experts on radio and TV talk shows. You need several
years of experience in your niche (e.g., politics, humor, fashion, sports,
whatever) to be considered for a columnist role.
Average
salary—$71,2162
7. Public relations
specialist
Cultivating
relationships is key to the success of a public relations specialist. After
all, you need to be on good terms with journalists, editors, bloggers, and
other content producers in order to effectively control and manage the public
image of your client or company. The ability to convey a message clearly and
succinctly will serve you well in this field. Internships are a great way to
get your foot in the door of many public relations firms.
Average
salary—$67,9904
8. Book editor
Suggesting changes
and improvements to a manuscript that an author has slaved over for months or
years requires tact and diplomacy as well as editing skills. Book editors are
responsible for shaping and developing a manuscript to get it ready for
publication. Your job is to bring a fresh eye to a piece of text and work with
the author to strengthen the fundamentals and structure of the story. Many
editors work for publishing houses, but going out on your own as a freelancer
is also possible.
Average
salary—$68,2304
9. Marketing
communications specialist
Also known as communications officers, these
specialists create content that furthers an organization's marketing goals:
brochures, e-books, press releases, and so on. This role involves making sure
that all written content follows branding guidelines and uses the company's agreed-upon
voice. You need some knowledge of business and marketing as well as
communications to make it in this field.
Average
salary—$63,3575
10. Proposal writer
A common fixture in
consulting firms and sales departments, proposal writers prepare documents
related to pricing, marketing, and product design. They assess requests for
proposals (RFPs) and develop responses to help their employers win new business
and secure contracts. To succeed in this role, you need excellent
organizational and writing skills as well as an eye for detail and a solid
understanding of how your company can meet the needs of potential clients.
Average
salary—$62,8121
11. Grant writer
Crafting proposals to
secure financial support for foundations, non-profit agencies, and other organizations
is a responsibility that falls to grant writers. They are a key part of the
fundraising staff in many places. Grant writers are in charge of identifying
funding sources and developing written materials that target each potential
donor. Flexibility is important; some donors expect a one-page document, while
others look for much lengthier proposals.
Average
salary—$62,6962
12. Content
strategist
Content strategists
combine strong writing and communication skills with analytical thinking and
marketing know-how to plan, create, and manage online content that achieves
specific business goals. They apply principles of search engine optimization
(SEO) and study analytics to figure out what kind of content is working (and
what kind isn't) so that they can adjust their strategy accordingly. Training
in journalism, communications, or technical writing can be a good first step
toward this career.
Average salary—$55,0002
13. Translator
If you can write
fluently in more than one language, you can seek work as a translator. And you
may not have to look far to find opportunities: Employment in this field is
expected to grow almost 18 percent between 2016 and 2026.3 You could work in
areas like law, health care, publishing, and education. You need meticulous
attention to detail to do this kind of work. Just remember: It won't be your
job to make changes to (or improve upon) the text.
Average
salary—$51,7904
14. Video game writer
Writing the narrative
behind a video game is not like writing for other forms of media. Game players
are constantly making choices that affect how the story develops and what
happens to the characters, so you get to write scenes and dialog to fit all the
different possibilities. You also get to work closely with developers, graphic
designers, animators, and voice actors in order to make sure that what you
write is technically feasible within the project's timeline and budget.
Average salary—$50,8682
15. Journalist
Whether you focus on
TV, radio, print, or the Web (or more likely a combination of those), you will
spend much of your time as a journalist searching out newsworthy information
and turning your findings into articles, scripts, and podcasts. Most
journalists start with entry-level writing jobs as general reporters, but with
experience you could work your way into a niche like sports, business, science,
or the arts. News can break anywhere, anytime, so be prepared for a non-traditional
schedule.
Average
salary—$51,5504
16. Advertising
copywriter
Creating captivating
copy for print, online, television, or radio advertisements is another way to
put your writing skills to good use. The ultimate aim of an advertising
copywriter is to make people want to buy a particular product or service.
Whether you're creating slogans, billboards, radio jingles, or social media
ads, you need to be able to say a lot with just a few words. Internships can be
a good way to get started in this field.
Average
salary—$48,8822
17. Film critic
Being a film critic
involves more than just getting to watch movies for free. You get to frame your
thoughts as an informative review that draws people in. That means you need to
have a thorough understanding of the filmmaking process. You also need to have
solid interviewing skills and a knack for finding unique angles that make your
story stand out from the crowd, so getting some journalism training will serve
you well.
Average
salary—$43,960 for all newspaper reporters4
18. Copy editor
Copy editors are the
quality assurance technicians of the writing world. They carefully read through
a piece of written material to root out spelling errors, grammar problems, and
style inconsistencies. While a book editor deals with the big-picture structure
and form of a story, a copy editor gets into the nitty-gritty details and makes
sure the text aligns with editorial guidelines. In some cases, copy editors are
also responsible for fact checking. You'll likely need an English or journalism
degree to snag a copy editing job.
Average
salary—$41,6092
19. Social media
specialist
More and more
companies are realizing they need to maintain a social media presence, which
means lots of opportunity for writers who know how to tailor messages to the
demographics, text limits, and content styles of platforms like Facebook and
Twitter. You could find yourself blogging about the latest high-tech gadget or
analyzing metrics on the company's audience and views. Training in marketing or
communications can be helpful.
Average
salary—$41,1522
20. Proofreader
Proofreaders are the
last line of defense for a piece of content. They make sure there are no errors
in the grammar, spelling, spacing, or margins of a document. In the publishing
world, proofreading is the final step after the copy edit is complete.
Proofreaders also check that the table of contents is formatted correctly and
that any photos have appropriate captions. A degree in English or journalism
can give you the skills you need for this job.
Average
salary—$40,4104
21. Web content
writer
Many companies need
writers who are highly skilled in researching and writing digital content like
blogs, articles, and landing pages. You might be required to conduct online
research or interview subject matter experts to gather information. Having some
knowledge of search engine optimization (SEO) techniques is essential; it also
helps to be familiar with HTML and CSS.
Average
salary—$37,5002
22. Travel writer
For wordsmiths with
wanderlust, a career as a travel writer may be what's needed to satisfy those
creative and nomadic urges. You could develop a wide range of content, from
guidebooks and magazine features to blogs and how-to-travel articles. Coming up
with original and interesting ways to describe a destination can be a real
challenge. This is almost entirely freelance work, which means self-promotion
is a big part of the job.
Average
earnings—$37,3131
23. Greeting card
writer
More than 75 percent
of people buy greeting cards based on the connection they make with the text,
according to the Greeting Card Association.6 Whether you're creating a funny
happy birthday message or a compassionate get-well card, you need to craft
concise verses that touch people's emotions. The key is to come up with
something that a broad spectrum of people can relate to. Playing around with
rhymes, allusions, and metaphors can be good practice.
Average pay—$25 to
$150 per accepted submission6
24. Ghostwriter
A ghostwriter is an
"invisible" contributor to a piece of content. You write it; your
client gets to claim the credit for it. As a ghostwriter, you could be writing
corporate blogs, putting out social media updates in a celebrity's name, or
transforming a client's ideas, research, or life stories into a book.
Ghostwriting can lead to many opportunities, though the field is not without
controversy.
Average pay—Rates
vary enormously; you could make anywhere from $15,000 to $150,000 or more per
book.
How to Find
Legitimate Freelance Writing Jobs
Whether you're a
newbie looking for your first paid gig or an experienced professional seeking a
bit of side business, going freelance may be right up your alley. But finding
legitimate job postings can be a challenge. We've listed a few sites here that
gather and post solid opportunities. (And most of these sites won't charge you
anything to access their listings.)
JournalismJobs.com
features reporting, writing, and editing jobs.
- Mediabistro lists freelance jobs in areas ranging from magazines to marketing.
- All Freelance Writing includes opportunities for bloggers, journalists, and technical writers.
- Morning Coffee lists jobs related to copywriting, blogging, translation, and journalism. (Sign up to receive the free weekly newsletter or check the online jobs section that's updated daily.)
- Prolonger features writing jobs in a huge variety of niches.
- Freelance Writing Jobs offers listings for grant writers, copywriters, journalists, and content writers.
- Flex Jobs has listings for copywriters, technical writers, news writers, and more, though you do have to pay a fee to see the details of the listings.
Always be sure to
read the fine print before you apply for any project. Some sites offer their
listings for free but take a cut of any earnings you receive. And beware of
content mills that expect writers to churn out articles at a breakneck pace for
absurdly low rates (sometimes as low as one cent per word). It's up to you to
do your research and decide if an opportunity is right for you.
The Pros and Cons of Ghost-writing
Does the idea of
writing under someone else's by-line intrigue you? A growing number of
executives, politicians, celebrities, and notable professionals are hiring ghost-writers
to turn their thoughts into a marketable form of content. Working as a ghost-writer
can be a great way for aspiring writers to polish their skills and make some
money. But before you decide to become a pen-for-hire, you need to understand
the pros and cons.
Pros
You can write about
any or all topics without worrying about being publicly judged on the quality
of your work, since your name is not attached to the content. If you have an
established reputation in a particular niche, ghost-writing in another area can
allow you to experiment without damaging your public brand.
You get a chance to
step into the lives of fascinating people who have reached the pinnacle of their
professions.
You can often charge
more for ghost-written copy precisely because of the lack of recognition you
receive for the work. Plus, you usually get paid up front instead of having to
wait on royalties from sales.
Promoting the book is
not your responsibility (and sales make no difference to you if you received a
one-time payment up front), so you can just move right on to the next project.
Cons
No by-line generally
means you can't use your work in your portfolio, which obviously makes it
difficult to demonstrate your writing chops to potential clients. You can end
up relying on your existing clients to refer you to future business, which
doesn't always happen.
Letting someone else
take credit for your work can be demoralizing. You will likely have to sign a
non-disclosure agreement that specifies you can never imply that the name on
the cover isn't the person who actually authored the book. You might even have
to watch your client explain to an interviewer how he or she went about writing
the words you so painstakingly crafted.
If the book becomes a
best-seller or wins a Pulitzer, you get no part of the royalties or rewards.
Some writers view ghost-writing
work as a simple business transaction and wholeheartedly recommend it. Others
feel it's unethical to allow someone to purchase content and pass it off as
their own. Make sure you do your research before getting involved so that you
fully understand the deal.
Day Jobs for Aspiring
Writers
Getting established
as a writer takes time, but you probably still have bills to pay. You might
want to consider a side job that won't stress you out but will still allow you
to have plenty of time to work on your craft. Here are a few suggestions:
- Retail stock clerk—Unloading trucks and putting items on shelves is physical work, but it's often done at night or in the early morning, leaving you time for creative pursuits.
- Cab driver—this is a fairly low-stress career that allows you to choose your own hours. Plus, you can get great material for stories as you meet people from different walks of life.
- Security guard—you might be able to write during long stretches of downtime, especially if you work night shifts.
- Bartender or restaurant server—you can make extra money from tips and meet lots of colorful characters who might inspire your writing.
- Office cleaner or housekeeper—this kind of work keeps you physically active without draining your mental resources.
- Tutor or writing coach—you can keep your creative juices flowing by helping others polish their prose.
Write Your Next
Chapter
Now that you know
that plenty of are out there, it's time to think about how you can best prepare
to take advantage of those opportunities. Do you have the skills you need for
the job you want?
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