Artistic Writing Jobs

There are a number of artistic writing jobs

Writing jobs can be split into two main categories: the technical and the creative. While technical jobs give their practitioners little leeway in terms of personal style, there are a number of jobs for writers that require creativity and a flair for the artistic. These professions are found in a broad range of fields, reflecting the wide need for artistic writing.

Critic

Critics appraise artistic works for merit and quality. Most critics will specialize in reviewing a particular form, such as film, books, dance and architecture. Good critics have the ability to succinctly describe their reaction to a work in insightful, entertaining prose. Many are employed by periodicals, such as magazines and newspapers.

Novelist

Novelists write long, fictional stories. Many writers specialize in a particular genre of novel, such as romance, science fiction and literature. Most novelists do not earn a salary, but are paid by the book.

Copywriter

Copywriters pen the text that appears in written advertisements. While commercial in nature, effective marketed-oriented writing demands creativity--poorly written ads are seldom memorable--as well as a special understanding of human psychology.

Journalist

Journalism, particularly longer, essayistic journalism, demands an enormous amount of artistry. Many journalists, such as those employed by magazines such as Harper's and the New Yorker, must deploy many of the same skills as a novelist, only using factual material.

Playwright

Playwrights write scripts for plays. Some playwrights are attached to a theater company, while others sell individual works to whomever wishes to produce them. A related career is that of the librettist, who writes the words for staged musical works, such as musicals and operas.

Comedian

In addition to performing, most comedians will also write comedic material. This output can take many forms, including skits, stand-up routines or even individual jokes, which they will often sell to more established performers.

Scriptwriter

Scriptwriters write scripts for film and television, which they sell to studios and production houses. Most of these scripts are dialogue-driven, requiring their authors to have a strong ear for human speech.

Publicist

Publicists are responsible for writing press releases and other material touting the positive qualities or accomplishments of their clients. As press releases will often serve as the basis for news stories, they should share the same qualities as good journalism--intelligence, accuracy and creativity.

Editor

In addition to making standard edits to texts, many editors will perform significant re-writes, requiring them to use considerable creativity. For example, the editor Gordon Lish rewrote much of the work of famed short story writer Raymond Carver.

Poet

Poetry, although a job, seldom offers its practitioners a living wage. Most working poets are forced to take sidelines in other careers, such as teaching, to supplement their income.

References

• Writing Forward: 20 Creative Writing Careers
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Authors, Writers, and Editors
• PoeWar: Glossary of Writing Careers
• WritingCareer.com: Freelance Writing Careers

Resources

• Creative Writing Jobs
• Careerbuilder.com: Creative Writing Jobs