Creative Writer

Your Fit

Income

$72K

Preparation

Considerable

Growth

3.7%

Definition
Your fit with this career
How much they earn
What they do
Job satisfaction
How to become

What is a Creative Writer?

A Creative Writer crafts original written works, such as novels, short stories, poetry, scripts, and essays, often expressing ideas, emotions, stories, or characters through words. This profession involves a high degree of creativity, literary skill, and imagination.

Sample job titles:

Author, Freelance Writer, Novelist, Songwriter

Your test results

Why this fit score?

The fit report shows your areas of fit and misfit with Creative Writer.

Fit report

Test scores

The scores report summarizes what we learned about you. It shows your results on everything measured in the career test.

Scores report

How much does a Creative Writer earn

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, typical income (in USD) in 2024 was...

Bottom 10%	Bottom 25%	Median (average)	Top 25%	Top 10%
$41K per year	$53K per year	$72K per year	$98K per year	$134K per year

Compared to other careers: Median is $23K above the national average.

See income by country/state/province

What does a Creative Writer do?

Work environment

Creative Writers can work in various environments: from home offices and freelance settings to writers' rooms and publishing companies. Many writers work independently, setting their schedules, while others may work on specific projects for publishers, film studios, or advertising agencies.

Quick task list

Develops original content for novels, stories, poems, scripts, or articles.
Revises, edits, and proofreads written content to improve its quality.
Conducts research to lend authenticity and depth to the writing.
Submits manuscripts to publishers and handles the publication process.
Markets and promotes published works.

See full list of tasks with expert relevance ratings

Areas of specialization

Fiction Writing: Crafting novels, short stories, or novellas in various genres.
Poetry: Writing verse and poetic pieces.
Scriptwriting: Creating scripts for movies, television, or theater.
Non-Fiction Writing: Producing factual and informative content like biographies or essays.
Children's Literature: Writing books and stories targeted towards young readers.

Description

Creative Writing is a field driven by passion, imagination, and a love for storytelling. It requires not just the ability to write well but also the creativity to develop engaging, original ideas. Writers often spend long hours drafting, revising, and refining their works to achieve the desired impact and quality.

The journey of a Creative Writer is typically solitary, involving many hours of writing and revising alone. While some writers thrive in this solitude, others may find it challenging. The path to getting work published can be long and arduous, requiring persistence and resilience in the face of rejections and critiques.

Despite the challenges, many find immense satisfaction in bringing their ideas to life and sharing their stories with others. The success of a piece of writing can be incredibly rewarding, but perhaps the greatest joy for many writers comes from the process of creation itself - the crafting of worlds, characters, and narratives that can move, entertain, and provoke thought in readers.

Job Satisfaction

Sources of satisfaction

The creative freedom to express ideas and stories.
The joy of seeing one's work published and appreciated by readers.
The intellectual challenge of crafting compelling and engaging narratives.

You might make a good Creative Writer if you are...

Highly creative with a vivid imagination.
Passionate about storytelling in any form.
Disciplined and self-motivated, able to work independently.
Resilient in the face of criticism and rejection.
Keenly observant and insightful about human nature and experiences.

Pros:

Freedom and flexibility in choosing projects and working hours.
The satisfaction of creating and sharing original work.
Potential for fame and recognition in the case of successful publications.

Cons:

Uncertainty of income and publication success.
The solitary nature of the work, which can be isolating.
The highly competitive nature of the writing and publishing industry.

How to become a Creative Writer

Typical education

There is no strict educational requirement for becoming a Creative Writer. Many successful writers have bachelor's degrees in English, creative writing, or related fields, but equally, many have no formal training in writing.

High school preparation

Courses:

English Literature and Language for a strong foundation in writing and analysis.
Creative Writing classes to develop storytelling skills.
Drama or Performing Arts to explore different methods of storytelling.

Extra-Curricular Activities:

Writing for school publications like newspapers or literary magazines.
Joining or forming a writers' or book club.
Participating in creative writing workshops or local writing contests.

Preparation after high school

Pursue a bachelor's degree in English, Creative Writing, or related fields for formal training.
Attend workshops, seminars, and writing retreats to hone writing skills.
Build a portfolio of writing samples.
Network with other writers, publishers, and industry professionals.
Consider a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing for advanced studies.

More resources

Poets & Writers - Offers tools, guides, and resources for creative writers.
Writer's Digest - Provides information on writing, publishing, and improving writing skills.
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) - An annual challenge that encourages writers to complete a novel in a month.
The Writers' Union of Canada - Offers advocacy and support for Canadian writers.
The Paris Review - Interviews - Features interviews with famous writers, offering insights into their creative processes.

Similar careers

Similarity is based on what people in the careers do, what they know, and what they are called. The process of establishing similarity lists is described in this white paper.