Jobs That Involve Writing
If you have writing talent and a style that's both unique and marketable, there are lots of career paths you can follow. The start-up cost for most of these is minimal and they can be pursued on a part-time, full-time or freelance basis.
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Creative Writing
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Creative writing jobs in the fiction genre include novels, short stories (for magazines and anthologies), poems, screenplays and theatrical scripts. Resources such as "Writer's Market" (published annually by Writer's Digest Books) can help you find a home for these projects.
Nonfiction
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If you like writing about real life issues and individuals, seek out freelance or salaried positions with newspapers (interviews/features), trade associations (reports/in-house publications/newsletters), nonprofits (grantwriting/press releases) and documentary filmmakers.
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Advertising/Marketing
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Creative spinmeisters are always in demand by ad agencies, retail venues and political campaigns. Portfolios are essential in attracting lucrative clients. PR jobs are rarely 9 to 5 and--although your efforts will be appreciated by your clients and employers--your name isn't likely to appear on the finished product.
Ghostwriting
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Ghostwriters play the role of "silent partner" for clients who want to write novels, scripts or memoirs but have neither the time nor the writing skills to pen a complete project themselves. A ghostwriter receives advance payment(s) to do the work but receives no advances, royalties or cover credits.
Agents and Editors
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Both of these jobs require excellent writing/editing skills and focus on the placement, development and polish of other writers' work. Whereas an agent's primary role is to entice prospective publishers to consider her clients' manuscripts, a copy/line/continuity editor ensures that new acquisitions are error-free, factually accurate and have a pleasing flow.
Education
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If you enjoy teaching others, seek out opportunities as a creative writing instructor, an author of do-it-yourself books, a K-12 lesson plan specialist or a textbook contributor.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Photo courtesy of morguefile
