How To Become A Creative Writer

If you always had a passion for writing, a career that you can definitely go into full-time is that of being a creative writer. In this profession, you will have the opportunity to do what you love and get paid for it. You will be coming up with content for books, magazines, advertisements and other written publications.

You will be covering a wide range of topics, both for fiction and nonfiction stories. You will also be collaborating with editors or clients for various projects and making revisions when necessary.

Possessing writing skills and technical knowledge and creativity about writing is the first requirement for being a creative writer but it’s not the only one. You also need to be highly adaptable. In this day and age, more creative writers are also being hired to do online work and as such, you need to be knowledgeable about Content Management Systems and new software programs.

You also need to possess critical thinking skills since you need to comprehend new concepts and write it in such a way that readers will also understand. You also need to be determined to see a project through.

Why Become A Creative Writer

A career as a creative writer is not for everybody. Rather, it is for those who truly have a calling for the written word. You will have a chance to produce material that will help people in their everyday lives. Through your writing, you will be able to inspire and encourage others. If you become so good at your craft, you’ll even have your shot at fame and fortune.

Even without these, there are writers out there who are content, knowing that they love what they do and can actually make a living out of it. Since a lot of creative writers work freelance, the chance to work at your own pace and time is another incentive to become a writer.

Creative Writer Work Environment

As a creative writer, you can work in a variety of different industries. You can get a job in the information industry, the professional, scientific and technical services industry and even in the entertainment, recreation and even educational services industry. Salaried writers work full-time in offices during regular hours.

The majority of writers are self-employed and as such, they work in their home offices or anywhere else where they have a computer with an Internet connection. Although they can usually set their own work time, they have to make sure to be able to deliver assignments on time even if it means devoting very long hours to the project.

For people who have a flair for the written word and have the ability to finish work at set deadlines with minimum supervision, a career as a creative writer can be very fulfilling. Coming up with content for both online and print publications can be demanding but it’s also a career that broadens the mind and gives one the flexibility to work at one’s own pace and time.

Creative Writer Salary

Creative writing isn’t a lucrative profession but it does provide decent pay. Creative writers have the opportunity to influence people with their ideas. This is the reason why so many people get drawn to this profession.

Average Creative Writer Annual Salary

$72,120

The average annual salary for creative writers is $72,120 a year. Salaries start at $30,520 a year and go up to $118,760 a year.

Average Creative Writer Hourly Wage

$34.67

The average hourly wage for a creative writer is $34.67. Hourly wages are between $14.67 and $57.10 an hour.

Stats were based out of 45,300 employed creative writers in the United States.

Highest Paying States For Creative Writers

1. California $46.21 / hr $96,120 / yr
2. District of Columbia $45.77 / hr $95,190 / yr
3. New York $41.17 / hr $85,640 / yr
4. Maryland $38.20 / hr $79,460 / yr
5. Alaska $36.26 / hr $75,410 / yr

Top Paying Cities For Creative Writers

1. Los Angeles, CA $53.96 / hr$112,230 / yr
2. Silver Spring, MD $44.83 / hr$93,250 / yr
3. Oakland, CA $43.78 / hr$91,070 / yr
4. San Rafael, CA $43.14 / hr$89,740 / yr
5. Washington, DC $42.83 / hr$89,080 / yr

Data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Creative Writer Career Outlook

The job outlook of writers and authors is set for slow growth from 2012 to 2022. At an employment rate of 3 percent, the outlook is slower than the average for all occupations. Despite this, there will still be demand for creative writers in online publications as the field continues to grow. In addition, the growing popularity of self-publishing will also enable more creative writers to write their own books, publish them through web platforms and earn money. For writers seeking to work in print publications, however, the competition for jobs is going to be scarce as the publishing industry is set to decline.

Creative Writer Degree

Creative writers typically hold a bachelor’s degree. Because technical skills and knowledge in writing are important in this profession, a degree in English, journalism or communications is recommended. Training provided by school papers, magazines and advertising and other organizations will also be necessary. Maintaining an Internet blog will also help a creative writer get exposure which could lead to paid work opportunities.