Different Types of Writing Jobs
Writing is an art form that allows a person to express his thoughts, feelings, ideas, opinion and imagination through the written word. There are a wide variety of jobs that allow a writer to build a career from his passion for words, either as a freelance writer or a permanent employee. Many of these jobs provide a great amount of flexibility for the writer, allowing him to set his own hours and work from home.
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Author
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Authors create original written material. Many readers think of the bestselling fiction writers when they think of authors, but this occupation is much broader than that. In addition to fiction and non-fiction books, authors write for magazines, trade publications, newsletters, textbooks and online publications. Authors write for a variety of online and printed publications, and despite their diverse topics and assignments, most share a common desire to someday see their name on the cover of a bestselling book.
Journalist
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Journalists collect, research, organize and disseminate information about current events. Journalists have traditionally been thought of as writers, but in recent years, there has been an increase in the number of "visual journalists," such as photographers and videographers. Reporters are journalists who are expected to be objective and unbiased, often writing for newspapers or magazines. Columnists are also journalists and write columns that appear regularly in newspapers or magazines but often write opinion-based pieces.
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Scriptwriter or Screenwriter
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Scriptwriters research, write and produce the content for live theater performances, radio broadcasts and television shows. The job of a screenwriter is very similar to that of a scriptwriter, but her focus is on creating and writing screenplays for theatrical films and feature-length television shows. Scriptwriters and screenwriters enjoy freedom from the office, with limitations. They can usually set their own hours but usually have a deadline for project completion. Sometimes they can work from home but often will need to meet with other members of the script team.
Technical Writer
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Technical writers can be hired on a temporary basis for a specific assignment, such as when a software development company is working on a new release version of their software. Some companies prefer to hire full-time, permanent writers to continually update their product documentation. Technical writing does require an above-average technical aptitude, but the writer doesn't generally need to fully understand the software or project he's writing about. Technical writing is not limited to computer software, though. Manufacturers hire technical writers to document service and instruction manuals for cars, electronics, appliances, aircraft, watches, lawn mowers and countless other products.
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References
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