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Last updated on Aug 13, 2021

20 Creative Writing Jobs for Graduates (+ Entry-Level Positions)

Being passionate about creative writing hasn’t always been associated with a stable career path, but that’s not to say that there aren’t any opportunities out there to bring well-written stories into your job. In fact, we’re here to talk about 20 different creative writing jobs — 20 professions that let the storyteller in you shine! We’ll discuss the industries, entry level jobs, and potential income for each job below. 

When it comes to creative writing, the first thing that pops up in our mind is books! While writing is the obvious option (and we’ll cover that later on in the post), most writers choose to work in one of the following positions in the publishing industry to gain financial stability first. 

❗ Note: The “per book” rates below are made with 50,000-60,000 word manuscripts in mind. 

1. Ghostwriter 

👨🏽‍💼 Entry level positions: freelance writer, ghostwriter, editorial assistant 

💰 Potential beginner’s earning: $2,000-$9,000 per book or $0.10-$0.15 per word

If you’re all about creative writing but you’d prefer an upfront payment for your words, then ghostwriting is the job for you! Here’s how it works: an author hires you to help them write their story. It could (and usually is) a memoir or an autobiography which the author doesn't have the time or skills to write themselves. Fiction authors also sometimes use ghostwriters to help them write sequels and satisfy popular demands. 

Ghostwriters are freelancers, so you can start by getting some freelance writing gigs. As a beginner, you might start with short-form projects like articles, white papers, website content. Here are some resources, complete with tips from experienced professionals, that might be helpful:

• How to Become a Ghostwriter in 6 Essential Steps (+ Tips from Professionals) 
• How to Start Freelance Writing: 5 Steps to a Soaring Career
• How Much Do Ghostwriters Make: The Ultimate Breakdown

👩🏻‍💼 Entry level positions: editorial assistant

💰 Potential beginner’s earning: $25,000-$30,000 per year or $800-$1,000 per book

Writing is actually not all there is to creative writing jobs — if you really love stories and are always finding ways to make a story better, then editing is a suitable profession for you. There are many types of editors: some (like development editors) work more on the plot and theme of the book, and others (like copy editors ) specialize on its language and style. 

Editorial assistant jobs are the common first steps to this career path. Entry-level positions are quite competitive in publishing, so you’ll likely need a relevant degree (English Literature, MFA, etc.) to get the job. 

Freelancing, as always, is an option, but it can be quite difficult to get clients if you start without any editing experience. Oftentimes, editors start working in-house and later transition to freelance . 

Below are some more resources for you if you want to pursue this career path:

• How to Become an Editor: A Guide for Beginners
• Copyediting Certificates: Do You Need One and Where to Get It?
• Editor Salary: Can Your Skills Pay the Bills
• Working in Publishing: An Insider's Guide

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3. Proofreader

👨🏼‍💼 Entry level positions: freelance proofreader

💰 Potential beginner’s earning: $20-$30 per hour or $550-$650 per book 

Proofreading comes after editing — the proofreader reads the manuscript one final time, after all the revisions are made, to see if any spelling and grammatical errors are missed out. They’re incredibly crucial to the production of a spotless book, so there’s never a shortage of proofreading jobs . 

This task is often done on a freelance basis, either by full-time freelancers or by editors who want to take on side jobs. You can specialize in proofreading alone, though most professionals will combine editing and proofreading crafts for better income. As a beginner, opportunities for short-form projects will often be more accessible — stay open-minded about taking them up, but also do some proofreading training to prepare for more exciting gigs. 

We’ve also got some resources for this topic for you to check out:

• How to Become a Proofreader: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide
• How to Choose Your Proofreading Rates

There’s more to journalism than just breaking news on CNN, which means there’s plenty of space for the creative writer in you to flourish in this industry! Let’s take a look at a couple of options you can consider. 

4. Columnist 

👩🏽‍💼 Entry level positions: fellowships, junior writer/columnist, freelance writer

💰 Potential beginner’s earning: $25,000-$35,000 per year or $100-$300 per piece 

If you like creative nonfiction , you probably have already considered becoming a columnist. In fact, you can even be a books columnist! Job options range from book-specific sites like Electric Literature or Literary Hub, to prestigious newspapers like The Guardian or The New Yorker. But that’s not necessarily the only thing you can write about! You can become a columnist in just about any topic, from social issues to entertainment, as long as you’re interested in the niche. 

Look out for fellowships and junior writing jobs in newspapers and magazines and get ready to apply! A degree in relevant subjects like Journalism or English Literature is a great advantage, though your ability to follow up on leads, conduct thorough research, and keep up with the latest trends in a certain niche will be carefully assessed. You can also be a contributing writer first to forge a relationship with the editors before going after a full-time position. 

👨🏻‍💼 Entry level positions: junior writer, freelance writer

There’s a fine line between a critic and a columnist: critics are usually more academically inclined, and they often work more on the arts than columnists. Columnists cover social issues, sports, entertainment in their more general sense, while critics while home in on a particular piece of art, literature, theatre, or movie to offer expert assessment of it. 

Similar to the columnists, you can begin with junior writing positions and freelance gigs, in which you build up a writing portfolio of relevant work. Ideally, critics will be more savvy to the technicalities of whatever subject you critique — be it filmography or literature. In other words, formal training like a bachelor’s degree is a good launch pad. 

6. News journalist 

👩🏼‍💼 Entry level positions: staff writer/journalist

💰 Potential beginner’s earning: $30,000-$35,000 per year 

Writing news articles is different from the writing column pieces: a journalist must maintain an impartial voice and be succinct. Moreover, you’re always looking out for the latest story, whether on social media or on the street (which is where your love for creative writing can come in). 

The most common way to get into news journalism is to get a salaried position. You can also apply to internships as well, and there are compensated ones to look out for. What you will need is a degree and some journalist training so that you can use shorthand, know what makes a good story, and know what sources to chase, among other things. 

7. Investigative journalist 

👨🏽‍💼 Entry level positions: staff writer/journalist

And what if you’re a fan of true crime ? You might find yourself drawn to investigative journalism! You can chase the tail of anything under the sun, from kidnappings to factory production, from local to international events, so long as there’s an uncovered story there. The topic will often be assigned to you by an editor, and you’ll be given some time to collect information and write the article. It’s a slower pace than daily news, but it’s thrilling nonetheless. 

Similar to the news path, you’ll likely start off with an internship or a junior writing position. With this job opportunity, you can build a portfolio that demonstrates your ability to peel back the layers of the onion to reveal new insights to a matter. Again, a degree and training in journalism are essential. 

Copywriting

Copywriting is writing to sell a product or service, and it could be anything from newsletter emails to slogans to even commercial scripts! There’s definitely a creative element to it, as you’re always looking for a unique and memorable way to capture the attention of consumers. And since it's so rooted in consumption culture, copywriting is definitely a writing career that's in demand!

Below are several types of copywriting jobs you can go into. 

8. Technical copywriter

👩🏻‍💼 Entry level positions: technical writer, freelance writer

💰 Potential beginner’s earning: $32,000-$38,000 per year 

A technical writer works on instructional materials for manuals, white papers, and other informative pieces of writing. A technical copywriter combines that level of specialty with marketing tactics, thereby focusing on promoting products and services that are a bit more, well, technical. Think electronic companies, software developers, repair and maintenance services. 

Ideally, you’d have some education or experience in technical sectors (i.e. IT, engineering, finance). That way, you won’t take too much time to familiarize yourself with the jargon, and employers are more likely to hire you. You can also begin with technical writing, if you don’t mind working on material that’s a bit less creative. 

9. Advertising copywriter

👨🏼‍💼 Entry level positions: junior copywriter, communications copywriter

For a more creative writing job, you can go for advertising. This often involves a lot of brainstorming with the creative team of your agency to come up with advertisement campaigns that will leave a mark. When working on this you can write all kinds of content, from slogans to image copies to web content. 

Having a bachelor’s degree in marketing or an essay-based discipline is usually beneficial if you’re looking for this kind of job. You can work for a big brand, which will constantly be needing new content, or you can work for a marketing agency, tailoring your work to every client. 

10. PR copywriter

👩🏽‍💼 Entry level positions: junior copywriter

Public relations (PR) is, simply put, the art of building a good reputation, whether that’s for an individual or a brand. You’ll work on press releases, report and presentation writing, material for internal and external communications to present your client’s motivation and direction. 

For this kind of job, the precision of your language and your ability to stay up to date with the competitors will be important. A degree in communications or business administration are a plus point. And as is often the case in most writing jobs, the ability to find the human story behind everything will be your best tool. 

Content Marketing

Nowadays, traditional marketing on TV, billboards, and posters are only a part of the industry, the other is all about online content. And with so many things zooming about on the Internet, every company will be looking for the most creative person to help them stand out. Which means you get plenty of opportunities to be imaginative, working on website content, blog posts, social media posts, and even videos.

11. Social media manager 

👨🏻‍💼 Entry level positions: assistant/junior/freelance social media specialist

💰 Potential beginner’s earning: $20-$30 per hour or $30,000-$35,000 per year 

With our evermore online world, social media-related jobs definitely is a writing career that's in demand. So many things can happen on social media — you might very well go viral overnight! The challenge is getting there. As a social media manager, you get to be the voice of the company, interacting with customers in a friendly, casual way, while also learning their habits and preferences so that you and others on your team can better engage with them. 

This is a relatively hands-on job, so experience running a public social media account is the best thing you can have on your CV. A degree in communications can be beneficial, though many job postings don’t require anything specific.

12. Blogger

👩🏼‍💼 Entry level positions: blogger, freelance writer

💰 Potential beginner’s earning: $0.10-$0.15 per word

Blogging is probably something you’re familiar with as a writer — but do you know it can earn you a good penny? By focusing on a specific subject (it can be books , technology, fashion, the freelance life, etc.), you can attract companies who are looking to strengthen their brand awareness and will sponsor you. It’ll take time to build an attractive platform, but it’s definitely possible. 

Beyond that, you can write for others as well. There are plenty of websites that promote creative writing jobs all over, so you can sift through them for the suitable ones. No degree requirements for this job, just your skill with a (proverbial) quill! 

13. Content creator 

👨🏽‍💼 Entry level positions: content marketer

💰 Potential beginner’s earning: $27,000-$34,000 per year 

If you’re happy to do a bit of everything, then apply to become a content creator. You’ll also get to collaborate with a team to come up with an overall strategy in this position.

You can work for all kinds of companies in this career. A bachelor’s degree in Marketing, English, Communications are highly relevant, though adjacent, essay-based subjects tend to do the job, too. Brushing up on search engine optimization (SEO) is also wise. 

Pop culture, the latest rumors and gossip, interesting observations served on a pretty platter — if any of that sounds interesting to you, you can jump into the media industry. Here are some job options if you want to take this route. 

14. Screenwriter

👩🏻‍💼 Entry level positions: assistant/associate writer

💰 Potential beginner’s earning: $20-$30 per hour or $9,000-$15,000 per project 

Everyone of us has probably at one point or another thought about entering the film and TV industry, and that career goal is definitely achievable, if you know where to look. A lot of people start with assistant positions to learn the ropes and get an opportunity to work on bigger productions. If you prefer to write from the get-go, you can go for lower-budget projects. 

To get one of the assistant positions and put yourself out there, touch up on craft skills like plotting, story structures , character-building to be prepared. No qualifications are specified in most cases. 

15. Broadcast journalist 

👨🏼‍💼 Entry level positions: staff writer

We’ve covered written news — now comes broadcast news. From televised reports to radio sessions, you can be the writer behind the words that reporters or presenters read out. It’s a fast-paced job that deals with the latest real-life stories, which can be incredibly rewarding, even if it’s not explicitly creative. 

Many broadcast journalists work project by project (unless it’s periodical news), almost like a freelancer. You’ll still need to have all the skills necessary to put together a good news story, so some journalist training will be beneficial. 

16. Podcaster 

👩🏻‍💼 Entry level positions: assistant/associate writer or producer 

💰 Potential beginner’s earning: $18-$25 per hour, or $26,000-$32,000 per year 

Along the same lines as a broadcast journalist is the job of a podcaster. This is a bit more topical than journalism, and you can really home into certain fields and explore it in depth. Another special thing about podcasters is they usually host the shows, too! So if you’re confident about your voice, and about interviewing others, there’s no reason not to try this out. 

As with screenwriting, the route to get into this sector can be a little bit challenging, since it’s often a case of catching an opportunity from the right people at the right time. Which is why assistant jobs are a strong start. 

And finally, we arrive at the section that hopeful writers often dream about more than anything else. Publishing a book is not easy, it requires not just time and effort but also finances, if only to keep you afloat while completing the manuscript. That said, it’s possible to do it on the side with another full-time job, as is the case for most published writers. 

The cool thing about this career is that you are your own boss — i.e. there are no entry level positions. You are an author the day you call yourself one. 

17. Short story writer

Short stories are charming in their own right, and with the booming literary magazine sphere , there’s no shortage of space to get your words out there into the world. Publishing an anthology with a publisher is also an option but it’s harder — you often need to have an established career first. 

In any case, most magazines aim to have enough funds to pay their contributors. Small ones can pay $15-$20 per story, bigger ones $100-$200. You can also enter writing contests to win higher prizes.

18. Novelist 

Being a novelist comes with the difficulty of having the time and finances to write a full draft before you can propose it to publishers, or even publish it yourself. It’s a long commitment, and it doesn’t guarantee a payoff. If it does get printed, a book deal can get you an advance in the $5,000-$15,000 range. If you self-publish, what you get depends on how well you market your books — emphasis on the plural noun!

That said, it’s not impossible. We’ve got a whole post on how to become a novelist here if you want some pointers from famous writers like Anne Lamott and Zadie Smith! 

19. Nonfiction author 

Who says creative writing jobs have to be all about fiction? Creative nonfiction is a growing field that’s always welcoming new stories. From memoirs and biographies to true crime, from self-help to essay collections, you can focus on many different topics with this option. 

The nice thing about it all is that unlike fiction writers, you can pitch your book proposal to publishers before you complete a whole manuscript for nonfiction titles, meaning you can be guaranteed some kind of results before you start writing. The advance amount is similar to that for novels.

And last but not least, you can become a poet! Poets tell stories with rhythm and rich imagery, and not just on paper but also with their voice. Performing poetry is one of the special advantages that comes with this form of writing. Not only does it let you and the audience experience in a new way, it’s also a great opportunity to grow as an artist. 

On top of that, you can also dabble in other industries (advertising, music producers…) as a lyricist. As it’s a gig-based employment, you probably want to diversify your work portfolio to make sure there’s always something you can work on. The rates are usually similar to that of a ghostwriter.

And voila, that’s the end to our master list of creative writing jobs! Hopefully, there’s something to help you passion live on among this many options.

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The job market for writers in the United States

There are currently an estimated 131,200 writers in the United States. The writer job market is expected to grow by 7.6% between 2016 and 2026.

How employable are writers?

CareerExplorer rates writers with a D employability rating, meaning this career should provide weak employment opportunities for the foreseeable future. Over the next 10 years, it is expected the US will need 14,300 writers. That number is based on 10,000 additional writers, and the retirement of 4,300 existing writers.

Are writers in demand?

The expansion of web-based publications, in particular, is expected to positively impact the demand for writers and editors. Bloggers and technical writers for interactive media should experience considerable growth opportunities, especially as print magazines, businesses, non-profit organizations, and associations develop exclusively digital content. Journalists and content writers with training in specialized fields such as law, medicine, or economics will likely encounter significant job prospects because of the continuing need to communicate technical information to target audiences. In general, as online publications and services expand and become more sophisticated, authors and editors with Web experience will be in increasing demand. High-tech and electronics industries will need instruction manuals, guides, and training materials written by technically skilled copywriters who are also familiar with very specific subject areas. Despite the diverse need for authors and editors who have adapted to the electronic and digital media, competition is expected to be high and job seekers will likely outnumber job openings. Aspiring novelists, poets, screenwriters, and playwrights will contend with pronounced challenges in what have been professions with traditionally low-success rates for new entrants. However, the declining cost of self-publishing and popularity of electronic books will allow more freelancers to publish their work and increase their chances of success in their chosen fields.

What’s the supply of writers?

The writer industry is concentrated in California, New York, Texas

Writer job market by state

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AWP’s 2014–15 Report on the Academic Job Market

Daniel d’angelo | december 2015.

Since 1988, AWP has published annual reports on the academic job market and the plight of adjunct faculty members. Since 1995, our website has provided free, continuous public access to these reports.

The State of the Academic Job Market

In the 2013 edition of this report, Dinty W. Moore, professor and director of Ohio University’s creative writing program, said, “In forty years of working in the arts, I’ve never met a starving artist. People find ways to survive if [creative writing] is important.” 1 Moore’s words illustrate a resilience and passion that creative writing graduates share throughout the ups and downs of their careers, whether it is navigating unreliable adjunct work or negotiating vast but potentially alien-seeming nonacademic opportunities. Over the last two decades, this annual report has chronicled the massive expansion of creative writing programs, and though the rate of growth at the graduate level has lessened, undergraduate programs continue to proliferate rapidly, according to AWP’s Guide to Writing Programs . This report has also marked the failure of professor salaries to keep up with the economy, and, perhaps most notably, the difficulty in competing for scarce, coveted tenure-track creative writing professorships. Last year’s report brought us news on the yet-again tough academic market, the shocking rises in salary for administrative positions at universities, and the unionization of adjunct professors. In 2015, professors, for the first time in years, saw salary growth that kept up with inflation, and some states allocated substantial new funding for education. Additionally, the adjunct labor union movement has spread across the nation and continues to gain support. Even so, the hard numbers are that for 171 tenure-track creative writing jobs offered last year, 3,000–4,000 MFA/PhD students graduated that same year.

The percentage change in state-appropriated funding for higher education in all states from 2008–09 through 2012–13 is something to behold: Louisiana’s funding shrunk by 51%, Arizona’s by 59%, and New Hampshire’s by nearly 62%—the average drop across all states was 16.2%. The good news: in 2014, according to the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, state and local support raised higher-education funding overall by 5.2% in America. This was the second year that funding actually went up, though funding levels are still lower than they were in the previous decade. Oregon’s public universities saw funding jumps from 13% to 28%. Hans Bernard, associate vice president for state and community affairs at the University of Oregon, says part of the new spending plan is to hire more faculty. At 21%, Illinois saw the largest overall increases in state support for higher education. Kentucky and West Virginia saw the largest decreases in funding, at only 2% apiece. 2

The American Association of University Professors (AAUP), in its annual economic status report, marked last year as the first year since the Great Recession that the average change in salary for all professor ranks exceeded the cost of living by at least 1% (just barely, at 1.05%). The overall change in faculty salaries was 1.4%, at a time when inflation itself is low. Meanwhile, tuition rose in all sectors, peaking for four-year public and private institutions, at 10.02% and 9.22%, respectively. 3

The main thrust of the AAUP’s report was an act of myth-busting. Tuition continues to rise, not because of “overpaid” faculty or soaring benefits costs, but from years of cuts to state funding and the dwindling of endowments. When assessing how traditional academic institutions can compete with for-profit and online competitors that drain their otherwise expected enrollment, the report’s authors, John Barnshaw and Samuel Dunietz, wrote, “Data clearly indicate that reducing the number of full-time faculty is more likely to hasten a traditional institution’s demise than to provide a sustainable model for the future.” 4

A healthy sign for MFA graduates hunting for academic jobs: AWP’s Job List saw postings for 171 tenure-track, creative writing-related positions, which almost doubles the number of creative writing positions posted back in 2008–9 and easily passes last year’s mark of 112 positions. The Job List, in fact, saw all-time highs for job postings in both academic and nonacademic categories (1,169 and 1,274, respectively). However, continuing a trend that began around the last recession, the list features more nonacademic jobs than academic ones—this is not so much a comment on the difficult academic job market as it is AWP’s effort to connect creative writers with as many different opportunities as possible, at a time when politicians and even the general public decry the value and marketability of liberal arts degrees. Even though from 1994 to 2004 and 2004 to 2015 there has been an explosion in BA/BFA creative writing programs, the number of new graduates outpaces the number of new tenure-track jobs created by the growth in numbers of undergraduate and graduate writing programs.

Taking a different look at academia, salaries of liberal arts graduates, according to a 2014 report from the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), were found to be surprisingly higher during peak earning years (for workers aged 56–60). In part because liberal arts graduates are more likely to pursue graduate degrees (such as MBAs), their average salary of $66,185 during those peak years is about $2,000 higher than graduates with professional and preprofessional degrees like nursing and criminology. Katharine Brooks, executive director for personal and career development at Wake Forest University refers to the divergent long-term career arcs of, say, nurses and social workers as “the difference between a 50-yard dash and a marathon.” Melissa Korn wrote in the Wall Street Journal , “It might take liberal arts students a little longer to settle on a particular career path than it does for graduates who were gunning for accounting or nursing jobs from freshman year, but they often take similar jobs in the end, including in finance, education and social work.” However, humanities and social science graduates still earn about two-thirds what engineers make—right after graduation and during those peak earning years. 5

Frank Advice from Creative Writing Program Directors to MFA Students & Graduates

For this report, creative writing program directors Bonnie Culver and Allison Joseph—at Wilkes University and Southern Illinois University Carbondale, respectively—weighed in on the state and status of writers thinking about pursuing work in academia. While both agree that universities no longer seem like such obvious, ideal places for writers to find employment, they remain upbeat about creative writers’ prospects. “The academic job market is the most unwelcoming I’ve ever seen it in my 20-plus years at a university-level instructor,” said Joseph, who also serves as editor and poetry editor of Crab Orchard Review and moderates the Creative Writing Opportunities (CRWROPPS) group through Yahoo.com. 6

Joseph describes the ideal creative writing professor candidate for today’s tough academic job market as someone who “publishes well, can speak about pedagogy in more than one field… and who has interdisciplinary interests in related subject areas—literature, film, ethnic studies.” But should that ideal candidate even consider the academic market? In Joseph’s view, universities of late seem to lessen their emphasis of humanities and the arts in their missions. On whether or not writers should look first at universities for their careers, Joseph says, “I do feel that time has passed, and that writers do need to think of teaching in alternative settings—in urban literary centers like the Loft, in prisons, and in programs like 826 Valencia.” 7

Yet, despite advice one receives while completing an MFA, bleak academic career outlook, and the burdens of student debt, many graduates still feel drawn to academia. Currently serving as Chair of the AWP Board of Trustees, Culver asserts an imperative for MFA programs and AWP: “We cannot, in good conscience, continue to offer such degrees with vague hopes of employment based upon a myth that an MFA guarantees employment in the academy. We need to offer a broader range of possibilities for these graduates. MFA graduates should know the actual, not the mythological outcome of earning such degrees to make informed choices following graduation. The degree offers far more possibilities than following the teaching path.” 8

Joseph agrees that AWP and MFA programs can help greatly by continuing to provide a large platform and a network for writers, but she maintains “the onus is on the individual and his or her ultimate sense of personal persistence” when it comes to finding a job and making a career. 9

The State of Adjunct Labor: Advocacy Across the Nation

Centering in metropolitan areas across the country, and building on the momentum of adjunct advocacy efforts from the past two-to-three years, adjuncts and graduate student assistants have continued to form unions. Their new national advocacy group, which also counts students and parents in its ranks, is the New Faculty Majority . It’s no wonder, when part-time teachers constitute 76.4% of US faculties that the movement continues to grow. 10

The unionization movement, over the past three years, has led to some colleges and universities agreeing to fairer contracts and employment standards for adjuncts and lecturers—the American Federation of Teachers was able to complete a contract with the University of California system for a pay raise for lecturers from an average of $3,000 per course to $10,000, in addition to improved working conditions. 11 Over the course of a year-and-a-half struggle, George Washington University part-time faculty and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) managed to negotiate a raise from $2,700 to $3,400 per course. The union’s deal also won better job security for part-timers, which is just another source of struggle for adjunct instructors. The GW union victory inspired several other Washington, DC-area schools to join the cause, creating what’s referred to as the “metro organizing strategy,” which has proven effective nationally in organizing adjuncts and building leverage. 12

In 2013, before adjunct unionization took off nationally, Northeastern University ran an anti-union campaign by hiring a notorious union-busting law firm, Jackson Lewis, to rout the protests of adjuncts. Ultimately, in 2014, Northeastern’s nearly 1,000 adjuncts successfully unionized. In an article published at Vitae , a website for academic faculty and administrators, Josh Boldt argued that the only way to truly bust adjunct unions is for universities to simply pay them better, and make more of them into full-time workers. “If adjunct unionization continues to catch on as it has in Washington, DC, and Boston, it won’t be long before all major U.S. cities have active adjunct unions,” writes Boldt, predicting in 2014 the state of adjunct unions in 2015. Going on, he cites SEIU’s Adjunct Action group’s victories across the country. 13 SEIU’s Faculty Forward website features updates to recent successful adjunct unionization efforts in St. Louis and Chicago, as well as a petition to US Education Secretary Arne Duncan that demands investment “in the classroom—not corporate colleges.” SEIU claims to have effected unionization in 18 different state and metropolitan areas, and counting. 14

The Chronicle of Higher Education’s Adjunct Project, using crowdsourced data reported by adjuncts themselves, determined from January 2014 to April 2015 the average pay of adjuncts was $2,943 per three-credit course. 15 A bold part of SEIU’s Faculty Forward mission statement: a demand for $15,000 per course in total compensation, including salary and benefits. 16 In keeping with the advocacy effort, the 2014–15 MLA Job Information List published best practices for hiring and compensating part-time instructors, including the recommendation of minimum compensation of $7,230 for a 3-credit-hour semester course. The MLA’s guidelines to departments that hire adjuncts: there should be a limit to the number of adjuncts who can be hired related to the number of tenured or tenure-track faculty; the normative department faculty should consist of tenure or tenure-track faculty positions; departments that routinely have adjuncts teach a large part of undergraduate course offerings should reconsider their staffing practices; adjunct faculty should receive prorated salaries based on a fair full-time salary figure, as well as basic benefits like health insurance. The plight of the adjunct is clearest when seeing that the MLA also recommends that part-time teachers be given mailboxes, office space, clerical support, adequate introduction to their assignments and departments, and that they should be eligible for professional development incentives, like raises and research and travel funding. Just last year, the AAUP also launched a part-time faculty advocacy initiative, the One Faculty campaign. 17

Justin Miller, in an article this past summer for American Prospect titled “When Adjuncts Go Union,” says the Affordable Care Act has not, as hoped, eased the strain on adjuncts. “University human resources departments are now hypersensitive to making sure that part-time instructors don’t work enough hours to require the universities to provide them with health insurance.” 18 (The AAUP backed up this claim in its own reports.)

Miller highlights the deal struck between part-time instructors and Tufts University—their adjuncts’ new contract, which Miller calls a model for SEIU’s Faculty Forward campaign, affords as much as a 40% pay increase per course, guaranteed interviews for full-time openings, higher minimum pay for adjuncts with at least eight years of service, as well as compensation for work outside of the classroom, in addition to other benefits. Another piece of the agreement: more accountability for the work that adjuncts do, which is a plus for both the school and for adjuncts. However, Miller rightly points out that Tufts is a wealthy private institution. What concessions can public institutions make? “Paving the way for a new reality in academia,” writes Miller, “will likely require a multi-pronged approach—through unionizing forces, coalition-building, legislation, and ultimately innovative new employment models that don’t demoralize faculty.” 19

Picking up STEAM

While STEM in the US is still the buzz in national discussions about investing in education and catching up to other nations in math and science, the argument for mixing Arts into the acronym is gaining support. STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts , and math) is promoted by the organizations you’d expect, like Americans for the Arts, but, surprisingly, also by individuals such as Larry Quinlan, the chief information officer at Deloitte . In a June article at Slate , Anna Feldman explains one of the arguments against STEAM, “As [it] becomes increasingly prominent, some have argued that the addition of an ‘arts’ component distracts from the focus on the hard sciences…. STEM already suffers from a major problem with student engagement, and… changing STEM to STEAM would distract from the issue.” Feldman’s stance, ultimately, is not about de-emphasizing science and math in order to afford more art studies—it’s about sparking imagination and innovation that applies creative and artistic thinking to STEM projects. 20

Feldman explores a curriculum that puts science and math hand-in-hand with the arts. Now, that doesn’t quite give the arts a platform of its own, but it’s one way of justifying requests for new (and renewed) arts program funding. If STEAM means more focus on, and more classes in, creative arts, it could mean more academic job opportunities in K–12 and at the college level, for creative writers. She concludes, “With STEAM, the pressure is off to become a scientist or engineer—you can become a designer, digital artist, coder, art director, and scientist and engineer all at the same time…. We can be better engineers by learning how to think artistically, and we can re-engage artists with science by letting them see how STEM can work in the arts.” 21

Liberal Arts Degree-Holders Suddenly in Demand in Unexpected Fields

Under ideal circumstances, colleges and universities are among the best workplaces to support long writing careers. However, MFA graduates should not (and do not) feel like it’s either academia or bust for their writing life, especially when the professional skills of writers are useful in building careers that afford time for, while also utilizing, their creative passions. Bonnie Culver shares an increasingly common and ultimately supportive sentiment: “All colleges, especially those colleges rooted in the arts and humanities, are being pressured to become more ‘trade oriented’ in their curriculum. With that said, the urge to create has never been stronger.” According to Culver, while English majors continue to shrink, the fastest-growing majors and minors at the undergraduate level are creative writing. 22

The workforce continues to need good writers and shrewd, creative thinkers. Recent findings show that some industries have satisfied their need for engineers and developers— now they need liberal arts grads. In July, Forbes published a rather surprisingly titled article, “That ‘Useless’ Liberal Arts Degree Has Become Tech’s Hottest Ticket.”

“Throughout the major U.S. tech hubs, whether Silicon Valley or Seattle, Boston or Austin, Tex., software companies are discovering that liberal arts thinking makes them stronger,” writes George Anders in Forbes . “Engineers may still command the biggest salaries, but at disruptive juggernauts such as Facebook and Uber, the war for talent has moved to nontechnical jobs, particularly sales and marketing. The more that audacious coders dream of changing the world, the more they need to fill their companies with social alchemists….” The article goes on to describe work from MIT professors Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee, who argue that “today’s tech wave will inspire a new style of work in which tech takes care of routine tasks so that people can concentrate on what mortals do best: generating creative ideas and actions in a data-rich world.” And, according to Anders, in this environment for liberal arts grads, “the pay is good; the stock options, even better.” 23

Recent research by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, cited in Forbes , predict that by the year 2022, jobs in education and sales will far outpace software engineering jobs, which will see only 3% growth. In making his point, Anders examined data on the 62,887 Northwestern University grads from the past decade with profiles on LinkedIn. He narrowed his view to the 3,426 who moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. Once there, pursuing careers in “sales and marketing, education, consulting, business development and a host of other specialties… the people who majored in psychology, history, gender studies and the like… quickly surpass the totals for engineering and computer science.” The same story goes for recent graduates of Boston University and any of the University of California campuses. The people without tech degrees are finding a market that welcomes them, and pays well, too. While software development jobs go down the path of automation, liberal arts majors trained in sociology, literature, creative arts, history, and philosophy find new and unexpected opportunities. 24

By a Firm Foundation in the Humanities, Writers Make It Work

In a 2013 blog post for The New York Times , Stanley Fish, professor of humanities and law at Florida Atlantic University (and a prominent literary theorist, who published a book in 2014 titled Versions of Academic Freedom: From Professionalism to Revolution , which includes more than a few ideas writers considering the academic job hunt could appreciate), shared his defense of the humanities. His defense was actually something of a non defense.

The title of his piece, emphasis mine: “A Case for the Humanities Not Made .” In it, he argued that, in the face of seemingly precarious funding, and a not-soon-to-change emphasis on STEM fields—whether or not it includes the A-for-Arts—degrees in the humanities should scarcely need to be defended for their immediately demonstrable value. They certainly won’t be saved by lists of buzzing abstract ideals—“democracy, culture, social progress, whatever,” he writes. 25

Fish, once an opponent of academic labor unions but now an outspoken ally, weighs commentary from colleagues on the decline of, and loss of faith in, the humanities and the ways we defend them. He agrees it may take magic wands and serious new funding to fix academia. He suggests proponents of liberal arts need much clearer roadmaps to higher status in marketable and viable futures in higher education policy discussions. In reminding us why the humanities are fundamental to an education, he writes, “[To] rise to an era’s great challenges. That of course is precisely how the academy, and especially the humanist academy, has traditionally been conceived—as a cloistered and separate area in which inquiry is engaged in for its own sake and not because it yields useful results.” 26

Though it couldn’t hurt, creative writers do not need an endorsement from the President of the United States—an admitted fan of great writing and great writers—see his recent conversation with Marilynne Robinson (the Pulitzer Prize–winning novelist and essayist, whom President Obama presented, in 2012, a National Humanities Medal). Let Mr. Obama’s initial address to Marilynne Robinson serve as a throwback to a time (was there ever one?) where novelists and statesmen convened, where the politician sought out the literary folk for the dint of their intuition and wisdom: “It’s wonderful to see you…. [to] have a conversation with somebody who I enjoy and I’m interested in… about some of the broader cultural forces that shape our democracy and shape our ideas, and shape how we feel about citizenship and the direction that the country should be going in.” The defense, in English departments, job fairs, or adjunct labor strikes, of what creative writers offer to any society is tedious, but so is denying or stifling it. Not much later in his conversation with Robinson, touching on political disunity and the problems, economic and social that the country faces, Obama refers to “this nagging dissatisfaction that spurs us on.” 27 Writers, if they can find work and carve out time to write, will make good books and good money out of any dissatisfaction. If society maintains a love for good books and enables (re: funds ) literary culture, that is not such a bad deal either.

Writers hunt for the elusive career that suits and enables their literary passion, which may never make for an easy job hunt. “Writing is hard. Making a living as a writer is really, really hard,” says Culver. “The balance, however, can be found, but it is an individual balancing act. Some writers teach. Some edit, some sell insurance. MFA graduates should explore the full range of their options to live the life of a writer.” 28

Daniel D’Angelo is a former associate editor at AWP. He lives in Arlington, VA, and holds an MFA in poetry from George Mason University. His poems have appeared in H-ngm-n, The Collagist, Alice Blue , and elsewhere.

• Sara Flood. “2012-13 Annual Report on the Academic Job Market,” the Association of Writers and Writing Programs. November 2013. https://www.awpwriter.org/careers/career_advice_view/2926/2012-13_annual_report_on_the_academic_job_market
• Ariana Giorgi, Sandhya Kambhampati, Lance Lambert, and Isaac Stein. “Almanac of Higher Education 2015,” The Chronicle of Higher Education . August 17, 2015.
• John Barnshaw and Samuel Dunietz. “Busting the Myths: The Annual Report on the Economic Status of the Profession, 2014-15,” March-April issue of Academe , published by the American Association of University Professors. http://www.aaup.org/reports-publications/2014-15salarysurvey
• Melissa Korn. “Liberal Arts Salaries Are a Marathon, Not a Sprint,” The Wall Street Journal . January 22, 2014. http://blogs.wsj.com/atwork/2014/01/22/liberal-arts-salaries-are-a-marathon-not-a-sprint/
• Allison Joseph, email interview with Daniel D’Angelo. November 13, 2015.
• Bonnie Culver, email interview with Daniel D’Angelo. November 9, 2015.
• Amy B. Dean. “Unions Can Fix the Crisis Facing Adjunct Professors,” Al Jazeera America . February 4, 2015. http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2015/2/unions-can-fix-the-crisis-facing-adjunct-professors.html
• Justin Miller. “When Adjuncts Go Union,” The American Prospect . Accessed November 9, 2015. http://prospect.org/article/when-adjuncts-go-union
• Josh Boldt. “Off Track: How to Bust an Adjunct Union,” Vitae. Accessed November 1, 2015. https://chroniclevitae.com/news/254-off-track-how-to-bust-an-adjunct-union
• Faculty Forward website. Accessed November 16, 2015. http://seuifacultyforward.org
• Giorgi, et al. The Chronicle of Higher Education .
• Faculty Forward.
• “MLA Job Information List: English Edition, 2014-15,” Modern Language Association. Accessed November 17, 2015. https://www.mla.org/Resources/Career/Job-Information-List
• Anna Feldman. “STEAM Rising: Why we need to put the arts into STEM,” Slate . June 16, 2015. http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2015/06/steam_vs_stem_why_we_need_to_put_the_arts_into_stem_education.html
• George Anders. “That Useless Liberal Arts Degree Has Become Tech’s Hottest Ticket,” Forbes . July 29, 2015. http://www.forbes.com/sites/georgeanders/2015/07/29/liberal-arts-degree-tech/
• Stanley Fish. “A Case for the Humanities Not Made,” The New York Times . June 24, 2013. http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/24/a-case-for-the-humanities-not-made/?_r=0
• “President Obama & Marilynne Robinson: A Conversation in Iowa,” The New York Review of Books . November 5, 2015. http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2015/nov/05/president-obama-marilynne-robinson-conversation/

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Hunter College, MFA Creative Writing Program

Distinguished lecturer–english, creative nonfiction.

The Hunter College English Department and MFA Program in Creative Writing invites applicants for a Distinguished Lecturer position to teach graduate workshops and graduate craft seminars in the Creative Nonfiction track and to serve as the faculty coordinator of the nonfiction track. We seek a writer of national/international stature, an outstanding publishing record that includes at least three books with major publishers and work placed in national periodicals, with five or more years of graduate teaching experience.

Columbia University School of Professional Studies

Freelance writer.

• Job Type: Temporary
• Duration: 12 months
• Hours per week: 5-10
• Location: Remote
• Hourly Rate: $45 - $55, commensurate with experience

** This role will be on assignment for Columbia University School of Professional Studies but hired through a Temporary Agency.**

Position Summary

Office of the New York State Attorney General

Speechwriter for nys attorney general.

Executive Division

Press Office – New York City

Speechwriter

Reference No:  EXEC/PO _SW_NYC_6317

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Lecturers–department of english.

The Department of English at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, anticipates a limited number of full-time, non-tenure-track 9-month Lecturer positions to teach first-year composition and/or business and technical writing courses during the 2024-2025 academic year, with the possibility of teaching creative writing and/or literary studies in future years to meet departmental needs.  These positions are one-year appointments and covered by a

Institutional Giving Manager

About 826LA

826LA is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write.

With an annual budget of $2M, a staff of 22, an active and engaged board of directors, and over 600 active volunteers, 826LA serves thousands of students each year. Our services are structured around our understanding that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention, and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success.

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Research Press Publishers of Champaign, Illinois, is seeking a Publisher/Publishing Executive. We are looking for a person who is creative and forward-looking with significant on-the-job publishing experience to manage and grow the business.

Communications Coordinator

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Lecturer in the discipline of writing, description.

Columbia University School of the Arts invites applications to fill the position of Lecturer in the Discipline of Writing to begin July 1, 2024. This is a one-year term appointment, with possible renewal for a total of three years.

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Visiting full-time faculty position in fiction writing.

The Department of English at College of the Holy Cross invites applications for a visiting full-time faculty position in the writing of fiction for the 2024-2025 academic year, to begin in August 2024. Additional experience in teaching nonfiction and contemporary literature is desirable. Our Creative Writing Program offers a minor and concentration with three tracks (poetry, fiction, and nonfiction) as well as a vibrant series of talks and readings by several distinguished authors each semester. To learn more, visit our Creative Writing page 

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Mary routt endowed chair of writing.

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MARY ROUTT ENDOWED CHAIR OF WRITING

SPRING 2025

Scripps College, a women’s liberal arts college with a strong interdisciplinary tradition, invites applications for a distinguished visiting writer for the Mary Routt Endowed Chair of Writing during the spring semester of 2025.

The University of British Columbia

Lecturer in writing for video games.

The UBC School of Creative Writing invites applications for a 0.5FTE part-time Lecturer position in Writing for Video Games, with a likely start date of July 1, 2024. 

This is a part-time without review (i.e., non-tenure track) position for a term of up to three years, renewable for successive terms, subject to availability of funds and demonstration of excellence in teaching and service, in accordance with the Collective Agreement between UBC and the UBC Faculty Association. This position will entail a probationary first year. 

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25 Creative Jobs and Careers to Consider

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One of the most popular songs from the hit Broadway show Avenue Q poses the question:  What do you do with a B.A. in English?

Of course, you could replace “English” with any number of art degrees. Designers, visual artists, and writers alike tend to leave school wondering how to find jobs for creative people. How do I know this? I have a master’s degree in creative writing.

Beginning a  career in any creative field  is scary, but when you dig into the options, you’ll find a surprising number of opportunities. Here are 25 creative jobs to explore, broken down by different skills and interests. We’ll also discuss how to find creative jobs in this guide.

25 Creative Jobs to Explore

If you’re interested in design, 1. art director.

Most people would probably agree that “art director” is a vague job title. But in most cases, art directors (which often have similar titles to people with  creative director  jobs) are responsible for the overall visual aspects of an ad or media campaign. People who hold art director jobs also manage and mentor junior-level designers.

When it comes to artist jobs, art directors tend to be fairly senior-level employees. As such, the average salary for art director jobs in the U.S. is just under  $80,000 per year . They typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in art or design, plus several years of practical experience.

2. Multimedia Animator

Multimedia animators  create visual effects and animations for television, movies, video games, and more. Folks that hold these artist jobs tend to be self-employed and often work long hours, but they can charge upwards of  $36 per hour , depending on the scope of the project and the animator’s experience.

Multimedia animators tend to have a bachelor’s degree in fine art, computer graphics, or animation. Employers also prefer candidates who have at least some working experience.

3. Marketing Designer

Looking for jobs for creative thinkers? Marketing designers focus on projects that, well, a marketing team works on—which require more methodical planning and thought than you’d imagine. Marketing designers create a wide variety of assets, including ebooks, sales materials, and graphics for marketing campaigns.

Marketing designers range from  very  early in their careers to  very  experienced folks who operate in roles similar to creative director jobs. However, the average marketing designer in the United States earns a  salary of around $56,000 . They also typically hold at least a bachelor’s degree in fine art, computer graphics, or animation.

4. Graphic Designer

Graphic designers  do similar work as marketing designers—the big difference being they don’t focus solely on marketing projects. They’re in demand across several industries and build assets for the web, magazines, and even art installations, just to name a few.

The average graphic designer salary in the United States is just under $50,000 per year. However, the big difference is that many graphic designers  don’t  hold bachelor’s degrees . In fact, a growing number of them began their careers by  learning the basics online .

5. User Experience Designer

User experience   designers  (or UX designers) are tasked with making websites and other cloud-based products, well, usable. They take a designer’s sensibility and apply it to create online experiences that are both user-friendly and powerful.

UX designers also take home fairly large salaries at an  average of just over $113,000  per year. And while many UX designers hold a two or four-year degree, many others got their start by  enrolling in online courses  or boot camps.

6. Video Game Designer

Video game designers do exactly what you think they do—they design video games, using their skills to create immersive environments and  realistic-looking characters . Neat, right? This is one of the more unique visual development artist jobs on our list.

Much like UX designers, many video game designers got their foot in the door via online coursework or intensive boot camps. They also take home fairly healthy salaries, especially compared to many other  jobs for creative people , at an average of  just over $73,000 per year .

7. Web Developer

Wait, aren’t we talking about  creative  jobs? You bet—and that’s why  web developers  made our list. Not only do they need technical chops to build awesome websites, but they also need a designer’s eye to understand how to build awesome websites that people will actually use.

While you might need to supplement your current education with online coursework or a boot camp, U.S. web developers make an average  salary of $70,000 per year .

Want to take your knack for creating stunning visual experiences and apply it to everyday items such as lamps and children’s toys? The world of industrial design might be for you. This role requires equal amounts of talent in visual art, business, and engineering to create best-in-class products that people use daily.

Junior-level industrial designers tend to make an  average salary of $58,000 per year , depending on location, and are often expected to hold at least a bachelor’s degree in the field.

9. Photography Assistant

Photography assistant positions tend to be entry-level art jobs, but they’re ideal for someone interested in photography who’s  just  getting started. Photography assistants get a hands-on education from a professional photographer; they’re typically responsible for tasks including  coordinating photoshoots  and setting up before and after large shoots.

Photography assistant salaries tend to be hourly and fluctuate based on the photographer’s budget. However, since these are entry-level art jobs, there are no educational requirements other than a sincere interest in learning the finer details of photography.

10. Interior Designer

Interior designers  make interior spaces functional and beautiful by determining space requirements and selecting decorative items, such as colors, lighting, and materials. They’re most frequently associated with home decor but often work with companies to design unique workspaces.

Interior designers earn  an average salary of just over $57,000 per year . They also tend to hold at least a bachelor’s degree, although many of them did not attend school to be interior designers.

11. Set Designer

Ever wonder who designed the look and feel of your favorite television or Broadway show? Enter the set designer, who’s responsible for designing the vision for a set—and then getting their hands dirty and building it.

Set designers tend to work on a freelance basis, but Glassdoor finds that the average salary is roughly  $57,000 per year . Of course, take that with a grain of salt, especially considering that estimate is based on a 40-hour work week.

12. Museum Curator

Much like a set designer, a museum curator is responsible for the look and overall feel of, you guessed it, a museum. They’re tasked with choosing the art that guests will enjoy, while also designing programs and other supplemental materials to enhance the overall experience. Think of things like pamphlets, signage around the museum, and even audio guides.

This is one of the more difficult careers for creative people on our list to get into. Most museum curators hold at least a master’s degree in art history or a similar field of study. In exchange,  they earn roughly $52,000 per yea r.

13. Jewelry Designer

We probably don’t need to explain what a jewelry designer does. But while there are full-time jobs with large companies available, many other jewelry designers operate as small business owners. You’ll find dozens of them on marketplaces such as eBay and Etsy—and many of them report  very livable salaries .

The good news is that you don’t need a two or four-year degree to  design jewelry . But the salary will depend on whether you find an opportunity to work with a company, or if you launch your own business.

14. Video Editor

This probably falls in the category of visual development artist jobs that we don’t need to explain. But as video across the internet becomes just as popular (or in some cases,  more  popular) than network television, many video editors today focus on creating and editing videos for sites like YouTube and Vimeo. Others focus on  editing videos  of events such as weddings or corporate retreats.

In a similar fashion to many other roles on our list, video editors often work in a freelance capacity. According to Salary.com, the average “salary” for a video editor is roughly  $66,000 per year .

If You’re Interested in Creative Writing

15. copywriter.

Copywriting positions are among the first  creative writing jobs  that many people discover early in their search. They’re responsible for coming up with quippy, impactful taglines and product descriptions, just to name a few. Some focus on copy for the web, while others specialize in the language you’ll find on toothpaste or greeting cards.

The average salary for a copywriter is roughly  $57,000 per year . While many copywriters hold a bachelor’s degree, others learned their trade through intensive boot camps or online courses.

16. Content Marketer

Here’s one of the careers for creative people that I have a particular soft spot for. Why? Because it’s my full-time job! And it’s something I landed on when I first started searching for creative writing jobs several years ago.

Content marketers create assets such as blog posts and ebooks that attract potential customers without blatantly promoting their company’s products. They do this by addressing their target audience’s biggest pain points with well-researched content that solves a problem, even if the reader chooses not to buy the product.

Starting salaries for content marketers tend to be  just over $50,000 per year . And while I hold an MFA in creative writing, many of my counterparts hold either a two or four-year degree.

17. Social Media Marketer

Social media marketers are responsible for some of the same tasks as content marketers. These  jobs for creative thinkers  utilize content to attract potential customers via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and more. However, unlike content marketers, social media folks have a little more leeway to promote their company’s offering.

Entry-level social media marketers typically earn  $41,000 per year . However, many companies do not require a bachelor’s degree—and aspiring social media pros often learn the ins and outs online.

18. Ghostwriter

Ghostwriters are invaluable to thought leaders who have something unique to share but need help getting it down on paper. While you won’t get credit for writing a piece as a ghostwriter, you will find that quality ghostwriting is in high demand. As a bonus, ghostwriting is among the most flexible gigs for people looking for remote creative jobs.

Ghostwriters tend to operate on a freelance basis. And while rates will depend on the length of the project, some ghostwriters earn up to  $9,000 per full-length book .

When many people think about what jobs can you get with a creative writing degree, becoming an editor is one of the first goals they set. In addition to editing work by other writers, editors are responsible for evaluating pitches for their publications and assigning articles to both in-house and freelance journalists.

Depending on your location, Salary.com estimates that you can expect to earn between  $74,000 and $90,000 per year as an editor . In addition to a portfolio of published articles, many editors hold at least a bachelor’s degree in a field such as journalism or English.

20. Journalist

It would be easy to assume that by choosing these art degree jobs, you’re committing to a lifetime of writing for newspapers. That’s partially true—but as a growing number of people get their news primarily off the internet, you’ll find yourself writing for the web more often than not.

Journalism salaries are pretty inconsistent. Many beginners earn roughly  $39,000 per year , depending on their location. They also tend to hold at least a bachelor’s degree in journalism.

21. Communications Specialist

For a long time, I tried to answer the question: What jobs can I get with an MFA in creative writing? At one point, I was very close to taking a communications specialist job. Unlike journalists, who focus on external issues, communication specialists are in-house employees who are tasked with internal company communications. While they often cover fun and exciting events, they’re also responsible for crafting messaging around less-positive scenarios such as layoffs.

ZipRecruiter estimates that the average salary for a communication specialist is roughly  $57,000 per year . Typically, these folks hold bachelor’s degrees in journalism, communication, or a similar field.

22. Technical Writer

Looking for what jobs can you get with a creative writing degree? Technical writers combine their technical knowledge with their ability to craft compelling stories. They’re most often known for writing technical documentation, but they’ll often write external content about technical subjects for a wide variety of marketing campaigns.

The average salary for a technical writer is  roughly $70,000 per year . And while you don’t necessarily need a bachelor’s degree to do the job well, you should have some fairly extensive technical knowledge, especially if you’re joining a company with a very in-depth product.

If You’re Interested in a Variety of Creative Fields

23. marketing assistant or associate.

Looking for art degree jobs, but aren’t sure where to begin? Consider a  marketing assistant  (or associate) job. These roles expose you to every aspect of a marketing team, from lead generation to product marketing campaigns—and all of these facets require creative thinkers.

These tend to be entry-level roles and pay an  average of $42,000 per year . Many companies “require” a bachelor’s degree for these roles, but a growing number of organizations are open to candidates who don’t have a two or four-year degree.

Looking for help on how to write a resume for creative jobs like a marketing assistant? Check out  this Skillshare class .

24. Sous Chef

You might not have imagined working in a kitchen, but the best chefs know how to make food taste, look, and smell appealing. Where else can you combine  so  many aspects of being a creative person?

While you’ll find that many sous chefs have attended culinary school, there are plenty of examples of  very  popular chefs who got their start by washing dishes or waiting tables. The  average salary for a sous chef  in the U.S. is roughly $60,000.

25. Teacher

Want to equip the next generation of creatives to build or craft beautiful art? Art professor jobs of all levels are vital to the growth of budding artists, and they’re particularly appealing to creative folks who have a wide variety of interests.

If you’re looking for art professor jobs in a public school, you will need a bachelor’s degree and any required certifications for the state in which you’d like to teach. Higher education jobs usually require a master’s degree in a related field. The  average salary for a teacher  in the United States is roughly $58,000 per year.

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Tenure-track Assistant/Associate Professor of Creative Writing

Beloit College Department of English

The Department of English at Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin, invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor of…

Visiting Assistant Professor of Literature and Creative Writing

Hamilton College, Literature and Creative Writing

The Literature and Creative Writing Department at Hamilton College invites applications for a one-year visiting position at the rank of Visiting…

Distinguished Lecturer New

Hunter College MFA Creative Writing

The MFA Creative Writing Program at Hunter College seeks a Distinguished Lecturer specializing in Creative Non-Fiction.

Visiting Full-Time Faculty Position in Fiction Writing

College of the Holy Cross- English

The Department of English at College of the Holy Cross invites applications for a visiting full-time faculty position in the writing of fiction for…

Visiting Assistant Professor in Creative Writing

Washington & Lee University, Dept of English

Description The English Department of Washington and Lee University (W&L) invites applications for a visiting assistant professorship in Creative…

Full-Time Lecturer - Department of Writing Studies

University of Miami-Department of Writing Studies

The Department of Writing Studies at the University of Miami is accepting applications for full-time lecturer positions with an expected start date…

Writing to Market: What Successful Authors Know

These days, being a successful author isn’t about getting lucky in your search for an agent or soliciting dozens of publishers until one of them takes a fancy to the book you spent countless hours on. With indie authors wielding the power of self-publishing like an entrepreneurial sword, more people than ever are making a living (and potentially a comfortable one at that) from their writing career.

One of the ways these indie authors have found incredible success is writing to market. They treat the process of being an author the same way most people treat their day jobs: do the work, write the things people want to read, get book sales.

It sounds like the dream, right? And for many people, it is. But writing books to market isn’t for everyone. So in this article, we’re going to figure out if it’s something you want to pursue and, if it is, how you’d go about it.

To that end, we’ll be discussing:

• What writing to market is
• Understanding your market
• Crafting compelling, market-oriented stories
• Leveraging trends and market demand

It sounds technical and, to a degree, it is. This is truly about authorship as a career . That doesn’t mean your writing journey isn’t without passion or creativity (and we’ll discuss that in this article), but writing to market means approaching this through the lens of a business.

Let’s clarify that a little.

What is Writing to Market?

"Writing to market" is a phrase that's been bouncing around the indie author community for some time now, but many authors still aren’t familiar with it. So what does it really mean? 

At its core, writing to market is about striking a balance between creative expression and commercial appeal. It's the art of crafting stories that not only capture your own voice but are also tailored to meet the demands and interests of a targeted audience.

Imagine being an entrepreneur and thinking of a product. Before launching it, you'd first research what the consumers want to ensure your time and money are spent on something viable. 

Similarly, you need an insightful understanding of reader expectations and preferences, trending themes, and genre-specific demands to write to market. This doesn't mean you're selling out or dampening your creativity—in fact, forcing yourself to work within a time limit and reinventing known ideas can push you to be more creative. Writing to market is about leveraging your talent in a way that vibes with a larger group of readers, maximizing both reach and revenue .

The importance of understanding your target audience in this can’t be understated. When you know who you're writing for, you can more effectively cater to their tastes, emotions, and desires, amplifying the chances of your work's success in the crowded literary marketplace.

Writing to market merges the heart of creative writing with the strategic acumen of a savvy marketer. It's where passion meets strategy and your creativity meets commercial success .

Understanding Your Target Market

Alright, let's get down to brass tacks. If you're looking to write something people actually want to read (and pay for), you need to know who those people are, aka your target market.

Understanding them is like getting a cheat sheet for your next writing assignment. Here’s how you do that.

Market Research for Writers

This is a crash course in these topics, as they could be their own articles. For the sake of this article, I’ll explain as much as I can.

Identifying Your Niche and Ideal Readers

There are hundreds of genres, subgenres, and even sub-subgenres. You could write a sci-fi romance novel about time-traveling vampires, and guess what? There's probably an audience for that. 

But the key is to find out who's into what you're offering and if there are enough of them. So decide on your niche first. 

Are you all about those heart-pounding thrillers? Or maybe cozy mysteries are your jam? Once you’ve got that figured out, think about the kind of person who'd be super into it. That's your ideal reader.

Analyzing Reader Demographics and Psychographics

Now, get a bit sneaky. Dive deep into understanding your ideal reader. 

How old are they? What's their day job like? What TV shows are they binging? Heck, what's their favorite snack? 

Then psychographics come into play. It’s not just about age and location. It's about what makes them tick. Get to know their values, interests, and lifestyle. The more you know, the better.

Studying Genre-Specific Trends and Themes

Pop into online forums, check out Goodreads reviews, or snoop around in Facebook groups centered around your chosen genre. 

What are readers loving or hating? Any recurring themes or tropes they can't get enough of? Being a little nosy (while being respectful) now can give you a leg up later.

Connecting with Your Readers

Once you know who your readers are, then what? You need to get in front of them to effectively write to market.

Engaging with Your Target Audience

It's time to mingle. Jump onto social media platforms, join those reader groups, and don't be shy to comment and chat. 

Think of this as a two-way street; not only are you promoting yourself, but you're also building genuine connections.

Conduct Surveys and Seek Feedback

Feedback is gold. Want to know if your vampire love triangle subplot is a hit or a miss? Ask! Shoot out surveys, polls, or even DMs if you have permission. 

Listen to the good, the bad, and the ugly. It’s all valuable.

Building an Author-Reader Relationship for Long-Term Success

This isn’t a one-book game. It's a journey. The more you interact, appreciate, and value your readers, the more they’ll stick around for your next book... and the one after that . 

It's easier to keep an existing reader than to find a new one.

Then, once you know your readers and exactly what they like, it’s time to write it.

Crafting Compelling Stories for Targeted Audiences

Now that you’re buddies with your audience, let’s chat about how to write the stories they’ll rave about to all their friends. 

We’re not just talking about a good story; we’re talking about the story for them.

To do that, I’ve got nine tips for you, broken up into three categories: genre, writing style, and your plot and characters.

Choose the Right Genre

1. Explore Popular Genres and Their Characteristics

Here’s the thing: genres are like flavors of ice cream. Sure, vanilla is timeless, but maybe matcha green tea is having its big moment. 

Dive into what’s hot now, but also know the main ingredients. Romance novels are all about relationships and emotional payoff. Thrillers need suspense and unexpected twists . 

And don’t forget to sprinkle some of your unique style on top.

2. Evaluate Personal Interests and Strengths

Real talk? Passion shows. If you’re rolling your eyes writing about zombies because it’s "in," readers will catch on. 

Still aim to write what you love. If you can find a sweet spot between what excites you and what your audience craves, you’re onto a winner.

3. Align Your Genre Choice with the Target Market

Think of it like a Venn diagram. One circle represents what you love to write, the other shows what your audience loves to read. 

That sweet spot in the middle? That’s your golden zone. Aim for that overlap and you're golden.

Tailor Your Writing Style

4. Adapt Tone, Language, and Writing Style

You wouldn't talk to your grandma the same way you’d chat with your best friend after a T-Swift concert, right? Think of your readers in a similar way. 

Know their vibe and match it. If they're young adults , maybe that snarky, informal tone works wonders. But if you're writing historical fiction for a more mature audience, perhaps a refined, elegant style suits better.

5. Address Reader Pain Points and Desires

Stories aren’t just stories. They're ways for readers to live vicariously, to find solace, or even solutions to their real-life problems. 

If you know that your audience struggles with, say, loneliness, a tale of a character finding their tribe can be super impactful.

6. Balance Creativity with Market Preferences

While it's crucial to keep market tastes in mind, don't cage your creativity. Remember why you started writing in the first place. 

Marry your imagination with market insights . Let them coexist.

Create Great Characters and Plots

7. Develop Characters Readers Want

In your market research, hopefully you find what characters are in right now.

Is it a snarky heroine? A track star? An antihero ?

The main characters in your story will be one of the selling points of your story, and readers are looking for specific ones. Think about ways you can integrate these types of characters into your book.

8. Put a Spin on Familiar Plots

I’m not saying you should recycle whatever the current bestseller is, but look for commonalities in successful new releases.

Is it hot right now to include a magic school as the backdrop to your plot? Maybe chosen ones aren’t in right now, so a story about one won’t sell well.

Figure out what works and what doesn’t, then put your unique take on the former.

9. Don’t Be Afraid of Tropes

Tropes can be powerful tools if used correctly, and are even mandatory in some genres (I’m looking at you, romance genre ).

If you’re writing to market, you know which tropes are in and which aren’t. Think about how you can use these tropes effectively without sacrificing quality or creative genius.

Writing a story isn’t just about stringing words together. It's a blend of knowing your readers, understanding their world, and sprinkling in your magic. 

But, when writing to market, you need to understand that thing you’re writing to.

Leveraging Trends and Market Demand

You've got the tools, you know your audience, and you're pumped to write. Now, let's give your work that extra edge by tapping into what's buzzing in the literary world.

Recognize Emerging Themes and Concepts in the Market

Remember when dystopian novels like The Hunger Games had their big moment? Or when everyone was raving about vampires? Being aware of emerging themes gives you a head start. 

You can either hop on the trend train or, if it's saturated, find a fresh twist on it.

Incorporate Relevant Elements into Your Writing

So you've spotted a trend. Now what? 

Weave it into your narrative in a way that feels natural. Maybe it's the setting, a character's job, or even the central conflict. The trick is to make it integral, not just a fancy add-on.

Understand the Needs and Wants of Your Target Readers

This is where your earlier research pays off. If you know that your readers are craving strong female protagonists or are tired of the same old love triangles, give them what they want. 

But, as always, add your unique spin.

Identify Gaps in the Market

Look, the market is big, but it's not always filled evenly. Maybe there's a dearth of LGBTQ+ representation in a particular genre, or perhaps readers are searching for stories set in a specific era or location. 

Find those gaps and fill them with your awesomeness. But make sure you do it appropriately and authentically if you’re dealing with real-life people or topics.

Tailor Your Content to Meet Existing Demand

Listen to your readers. Check out reviews of books in your genre, participate in online forums, and engage with readers on social platforms. 

What are they wishing for? What makes them roll their eyes? Use that feedback to tailor your content.

If you’re writing to market, you need a thick skin. You need to be able to take feedback and adapt your writing accordingly, because you’re writing more for the reader than for yourself.

It's about being alert, adaptable, and always ready to pivot or evolve. Because in the dynamic world of writing, staying static is not an option.

Write Your Book to Market

One thing we haven’t discussed in this article is how quickly you need to write in order to write to market. In the best case scenario, you’re able to spot an upcoming trend and get ahead of it, giving you a month or two to be part of the first wave of books readers get their hands on.

Worst case scenario, you have a month left to write, edit, format, and publish your book.

Either way, time isn’t really a luxury you have, and you need to get your book done quickly.

That’s where Dabble can help you write to market.

Not only does Dabble come equipped with Story Notes to make planning your characters and world a breeze, nor does it just come with the Plot Grid to make it easy to craft a unique and market-reader plot with killer subplots, but its goal setting feature makes writing a book in a short period of time actually feasible.

Need to pen 70,000 words in a month but have a weekend trip and a day full of calls coming up? Dabble will take your goal, your timeline, and your days off, crunch that all up, and tell you exactly what you need to write every day.

Write more one day or can’t reach your goal another? We’ll adjust for you, no problem.

With that sort of accountability, you can get your book out to the market and start raking in those dollar bills. All you have to do is click here to try Dabble out for free and get writing.

Doug Landsborough can’t get enough of writing. Whether freelancing as an editor, blog writer, or ghostwriter, Doug is a big fan of the power of words. In his spare time, he writes about monsters, angels, and demons under the name D. William Landsborough. When not obsessing about sympathetic villains and wondrous magic, Doug enjoys board games, horror movies, and spending time with his wife, Sarah.

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TAKE A BREAK FROM WRITING...

Read. learn. create..

What is creative nonfiction? Oh, it's only a super fun way to tell the truth. Learn more about what it is, how to write it, and where you've seen it right here.

More people than ever before are writing e-books, whether they're hoping to build an author career, promote their own brand, or just want to put a little art into the world. If you're looking to do a little e-book writing yourself, this guide can help.

Your book cover is your first and most important marketing tool. If you could use a little inspiration (plus guidance!) for your next cover design, you've come to the right place.

CREEES Professional Resources Forum

Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies at The University of Texas at Austin

Grad Program: MA in Creative Writing in Russian (Moscow)

Application opens February 2019

For fiction/non-fiction writers in Russian.

MA “Creative Writing”  is:

• Practical and theoretical/historical courses, such as  Creative Writing Workshop ,  Storytelling in Different Media ,  Literary Editing , Poetics of Novel and Screenwriting ;
• Unique professors and teachers, among them famous Russian writers, screenwriters and critics –  Marina Stepnova ,  Lyudmila Ulitskaya ,  Lev Danilkin ,  Sergey Gandlevsky  and  Maya Kucherskaya  as well as prominent philologists, authors of academic and non-fiction books  Oleg Lekmanov ,  Ekaterina Lyamina  and  Alexey Vdovin ;
• Participation in open readings, discussions and  literary expeditions ,  publications in students’ projects ;
• International exchange  – lectures and workshops of the leading specialists in Creative Writing, students’ exchange in the best world universities;
•  Help and support in the process of  employment  in various publishing houses, editorials, Mass Media, high schools and universities and PR;
• Creation and participation in  cultural projects ;
• Flexible timetable  enabling students to work while studying.

Our graduates already work in the best publishing houses, universities and schools in Moscow. Their writing is published in the authoritative literary magazines. Their projects (such as prize  “_Litblog”  for the best literary blogger and first Creative Writing Internet resource in Russian  “Mnogobukv” and collections of prose) have gained much attention.

Language of instruction: Russian

You can apply to non-paid place as a foreign student in February. Looking forward to seeing you at Higher School of Economics!

More information about the programme:  https://www.hse.ru/en/ma/litmaster

• For Beloiters

Beloit College

• Student Life

Job Posting: Tenure-track Assistant/Associate Professor of Creative Writing

Description.

The Department of English at Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin, invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor of Creative Writing beginning in Fall of 2024. We seek a published poet with experience teaching antiracist creative writing workshops who can also contribute courses in a combination of the following areas: multimodal writing, literary studies, new media studies broadly defined, and/or expository writing. The typical teaching load is 3/3, including a multi-genre introduction to creative writing (fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction) and upper-level electives in the candidate’s specialization.

Beloit College has a long and distinctive history in the field of creative writing, including an annual visiting Mackey Chair in Writing and the Beloit Fiction Journal . Creative writing class sizes are small (cap 15) and students are engaged. The successful candidate will have the freedom to design courses to their strengths and interests.

Qualifications: Ph.D. or MFA in English, Creative Writing, or appropriate field. ABD candidates considered. Teaching experience and publications are required.

Because equity and inclusion are central to our students’ liberal education and vital to the thriving of all members of our residential learning community, Beloit College aspires to be an actively anti-racist institution. We recognize our aspiration as ongoing and institution-wide, involving collective commitment and accountability. We welcome employees who are committed to and will actively contribute to our efforts to celebrate our cultural and intellectual richness and be resolute in advancing inclusion and equity. We encourage all interested individuals meeting the criteria of the described position to apply.

Located in a diverse community close to Madison, Milwaukee, and Chicago, Beloit College is a selective undergraduate liberal arts college that attracts students from across the United States and the world. The college emphasizes excellence in teaching, learning beyond the traditional classroom, international perspectives, and collaborative research among students and faculty. It is recognized as one of the Colleges That Change Lives. AA/EEO

How to Apply

Interested candidates should include: a letter of application and a curriculum vitae. Finalists will be asked to submit a teaching statement, a ten to twenty-page writing sample, and three letters of recommendation to the link below. We anticipate inviting finalists to campus by the end of April.

Begin Your Application  

Review of applications begins on April 10, 2024, and continues until the position is filled. If you have questions about the search, you may contact the Chair of the Department, Chris Fink, at [email protected] . .

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Why Even Creative Jobs Are Not Safe From AI

F or a very long time, the creative industry was considered impregnable by the onslaught of artificial intelligence. Jobs that required human creativity, such as writing, creative art, and making music, seemed unreachable for AI.

However, recent advancements in AI technology have completely shattered this perception. With the rise of AI writing tools, AI image generators, AI music generators, and AI video generators, the very foundation of the creative industry seems to be facing an existential threat.

The Changing Nature of Jobs

Not too long ago, the "rise of the machines" was the stuff of science fiction. The idea that AI could take our jobs at a fast pace and at a massive scale was dismissed as something that can only happen in the very distant future. However, it seems we have somehow sleep-walked our way into that future.

Take industrial manufacturing for example. Assembly line workers responsible for putting together cars and electronic parts have been rapidly replaced by AI-powered robots, that, in a lot of cases, have significantly outperformed their human analogs.

Another compelling example is the rapid encroachment of AI-powered chatbots in the field of customer service, a domain once thought to be better with a bit of human empathy. With the complex nature of customer support services, AI chatbots are rapidly emerging as a cost-effective solution for resolving customer requests in the shortest possible time.

Most of the successes that AI has scored have been in fields that do not require an enormous amount of creativity. Up until now, AI has only been suitable for use in fields with a clear-cut operational formula, without the need to think on the go.

But with the rise of large language models—like OpenAI’s GPT and Google’s LaMDA, which are capable of creativity or at least simulating creativity—the creative job market is on the precipice of a drastic change.

Which Creative Fields Will Artificial Intelligence Disrupt?

Artificial Intelligence is already eating its way into the creative field, but which creative fields are likely going to be impacted?

Creative Writing

The once elusive art of creative writing is already seeing its fair share of AI disruption. We all thought machines will never be able to weave words with the eloquence of a human writer. We couldn't have been more wrong.

Things have changed so drastically that journalists, content writers, copywriters, and book authors are now in competition for their jobs with AI content generators like ChatGPT and Bing AI.

The chilling story in the screenshot above was entirely generated using ChatGPT. It may have a few flaws, but the story is as good a story as most human writers will come up with. But stories aren't the only thing AI tools like ChatGPT can write. It can write copies for web pages, product descriptions, and entire books from scratch—all with impressive eloquence.

With this in mind, it isn't hard to imagine that in the not-so-distant days ahead, AI tools like ChatGPT and Bard AI might be the preferred content writing tools by a lot of employers, even if human writers are still kept on the roster.

Making Music

Music production has always been considered one of the most creative and intricate fields, seemingly beyond the grasp of AI. While progress has been admittedly slow on this front, AI-generated music is getting scarily good.

Progress recorded by companies like OpenAI in its Jukebox AI project, and Google in its MusicLM project shows the future of AI-generated music . Although the very idea of outsourcing music-making to AI is a bit too "artificial", it is the reality we face.

The SoundCloud-hosted song above was made by OpenAI's Jukebox music generator. Sure, it is not entirely a masterpiece. However, considering the current pace of development in the field, we imagine it won't take long before AI systems catch up. And when they do, making music might be as demystified as typing a text prompt into an AI-powered tool while it spits out music on demand.

Already, AI text generators can produce impressive lyrics in almost every major genre of music. The lyric in the screenshot above was created entirely by AI. It isn't entirely farfetched to imagine a piece of Grammy-nominated music being made by an AI system.

Photography and Graphic Design

Creating an image worth a second look requires some creativity and technical know-how. You'll typically need to know how to use tools like Adobe Photoshop or a professional camera. You'll also need some creative ideas if you want to make something worthwhile. This is precisely why people pay for people to take pictures and create graphic designs.

However, with the rapid encroachment of text-to-image generation tools like DALL-E and Midjourney, creating an image becomes as simple as describing what you want to see. Want to see a kid flying an airplane? How about an image of the Eiffel Tower in the middle of the desert? The odds are if you can imagine it, AI image generators can create it.

This represents an enormous challenge for human creatives.

The above images were created using DALL-E. While today's text-to-image generation tools are not perfect, it provides a glimpse into a future where creatives in the field of photography and graphic design face an existential threat from even more powerful AI image generators.

No Industry Is Safe From AI Disruption

We have always created arbitrary benchmarks to highlight our uniqueness as humans—that no matter how advanced machines become, they'll never be able to replicate human creativity.

Perhaps in an instinctive need for self-preservation, we've become a bit too dismissive of the potential of technology. We've underestimated our ingenuity as humans to create machines that surpass us. While it isn't entirely clear how much of a disruption AI will cause in the creative space, this much is certain; even creative jobs are not safe from the threat of AI.

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Make sure to prepare for the IELTS exam . Make sure you will get a good score on your test by selecting an English language program. Choose a top language school that can advance you to your intended English level and start your IELTS preparation course .

There are several standardised English tests that you can take to proof your English level, such as the PTE (Pearson Test of English), TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), CAE (Cambridge Advanced English) and IELTS (International English Language Testing System), offered by British Council and IDP. IELTS is the most popular of these tests, with British Council offering more than 1000 test locations and being accepted by more than 11,500 organisations world-wide.

Universities in Moscow that accept the IELTS test

Moscow state technical university of civil aviation, international banking institute, moscow state institute of international relations, russian presidential academy of national economy and public administration, rudn university, national research university - higher school of economics (hse), lomonosov moscow state university (msu), new economic school (nes), national university of science and technology (misis), moscow university touro - international school of business and management, 10 most popular study destinations for students in russia.

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2. United Kingdom

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3. United States

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5. Netherlands

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8. Switzerland

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10. Austria

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