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What
do writers do? Writers
and editors write! Writers write stories, or they write about things that really
happened. They write books, and they write articles for magazines or journals.
They write for newspapers, and they write for radio and television. Editors tell
writers what to write about. They also decide if what a writer has written is
good or not so good. If it is not so good, they change the words to make it good.
When a writer begins to write, he or she gathers information. The writer may get
this information just by looking or by doing research at the library. Or the writer
may interview someone. Writers write something, and then they change it. Then
they change it again. They keep changing it until they feel they get it right. There
are different kinds of writers. Newswriters write for newspapers or news broadcasts.
Columnists write about people, places, and things. Editorial writers write how
they feel about something. Technical writers give instructions on how to use a
machine or how to do something. Copy writers write ads. Editors
write, too. They also review, rewrite, and change the words of writers. But their
most important job is to plan what should be in a book, a magazine, or a newspaper.
They decide what to print based on what they think readers will want to read.
They assign topics to writers. And they make sure that the book, magazine, or
newspaper comes out on time. Editors
have people who help them do their jobs. These workers are called assistant editors
or editorial assistants. Sometimes they are called copy editors or production
assistants. They correct errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. They make
sure that a book or a magazine is correct and easy to read. They also may do research
for writers. They figure out what each page of the book or magazine should look
like. Most writers and editors use computers to help them do their work. Some
writers and editors work in quiet offices. Others work in noisy rooms. Some writers
and editors have to travel. Others talk to people over the telephone or go to
the library. Writers
and editors work 35 to 40 hours a week. Some work at night or on weekends. Writers
may work overtime to meet deadlines or to cover the latest stories. They often
face a lot of pressure to meet the deadlines. On some jobs, deadlines are daily. How
do you get ready to be a professional writer? A
writer or editor must have a college degree. To get a job, the best subjects to
study are communications, journalism, and English. If you are going to be a technical
writer, you may want to study science. If you write well, you may be able to pick
up technical knowledge on the job. If
you want to be a writer or editor, you must be able to write clearly. You should
also love to write. You should be creative and curious about the world. A good
writer or editor has a lot of knowledge and doesn't give up easily. Editors must
have good judgment so they can figure out what to accept and what to reject. They
often have to guide and encourage others in their work. You
may be able to get a job on your high school or college newspaper. Of course,
you won't get paid, but you will get experience. You may be able to be an intern
in a firm. Interns write short pieces and do research. That way, they learn about
the publishing business. How
much do writers get paid? Half
of all writers and authors earned between $29,150 and $58,930 a year in 2002.
The lowest-paid 10 percent earned less than $21,320. The highest-paid 10 percent
earned more than $85,140 a year. Earnings for technical writers and editors were
about the same. How
many jobs are there? Writers
and editors held about 319,000 jobs in 2002. Nearly a fourth worked for newspaper,
magazine, book, and directory publishers. Many worked in radio or TV or computer
software firms. Some worked for advertising agencies and many other business and
nonprofit organizations. Others worked for government or for movie studios. Jobs
with major book publishers, magazines, broadcast companies, advertising agencies,
and public relations firms are in the largest U.S. cities. Jobs with newspapers,
business and professional journals, and technical and trade magazines are spread
out over the country. Thousands of other persons work as freelancers. They earn
money from the articles or books they write or edit. What
about the future? There
will be a lot of competition for writing and editing jobs. This is so because
so many people want to become writers or editors. If you don't mind low pay, you
can work at a small newspaper or at a small radio or TV station. Technical writers
and those with the skills to work on the Internet may have an advantage in finding
a job. BLS expects
jobs for writers and editors to increase about as fast as the average for all
occupations through the year 2012. Jobs in firms that publish books or magazines
are expected to grow. So should jobs in advertising. The demand for technical
writers will grow. There will be many new jobs as workers go to other fields or
retire. Many freelancers leave because they cannot earn enough money. Are
there other jobs like this? - Advertising,
marketing, promotions, public relations, and sales managers
- Interpreters
and translators
- Public
relations specialists
- Reporters
- Teachers—postsecondary
Source:
Occupational Outlook Handbook -- U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Selected
Resources: How
to Become a Writer Or, Have You Earned This Cliche? NYTimes
Become
a Writer
The Writer Magazine
Writing World
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