Can You Write for a Living? A Guide to Professional Writing Outside Of Literature
Young writers face a unique challenge entering the modern job market. In an age dominated by Big Tech and engineering, theyâre often told there are few, if any, viable ways to support themselves through writing.
Early in my own career, I heard these sentiments constantly. This led me, and thousands of others, to ask a slew of questions about our pride and joy.
Can writing be a career? How much can you earn from writing as a career? What education do you need for roles outside of literature? The answers to these honest questions are⌠sparse, to say the least. You can find a top 10 list on the highest-paying writing careers, but these tend to lack real insight into educational requirements, daily tasks, or the industries in need of writers. With such a lack of information, feelings of confusion and hopelessness are a given, however unfounded they tend to be.
The purpose of this article is to provide aspiring writers with a solid foundation for job titles and industries they can target. By the end of this guide, you'll understand the industries that hire writers, the careers available to them, expected salaries, educational pathways, and the skills employers value most. More than anything, my job today is to show you the water before you get kicked into the river.
What Do Writers Do for Businesses
Before we dive into specifics, we need to establish a baseline understanding of what writing actually does within a business or corporate environment. Why do companies hire writers? How do professional writers contribute to businesses?
Establish Communication & Trust
Every company communicates with customers, employees, investors, partners, or the public. Writers help ensure those communications are clear, consistent, and trustworthy. They play a crucial role in establishing clear channels of communication, utilizing clear language and a distinct voice to foster trust between the corporation and its clients.
In the digital age, most businesses attract customers through online channels such as social media and websites. As such, these companies must be visible online, or their clientele is sure to go elsewhere. Through SEO techniques and audience-focused content, writers are experts at producing text that draws real attention to a businessâs online domain.
Create, Update, and Maintain Company Texts
Businesses constantly create, revise, and retire documentation. Policies change, products evolve, regulations shift, and software updates introduce new procedures. Writers ensure manuals, internal documentation, onboarding materials, knowledge bases, and training resources are produced as needed and remain accurate, organized, and usable.
What Industries Need Writers
Who actually hires writers? What types of companies need them? Many young professionals shoot themselves in the foot by failing to ask this key question. Itâs easy to fire hundreds of applications out on LinkedIn, but interviews go to people who apply where the need is. So, who needs writers?
Whether at a dedicated marketing agency or an in-house marketing department, businesses rely on writers to garner a clientele. Companies have mere moments to grab a potential customerâs attention, establish an identity, encourage purchases, generate leads, or build real interest. A writer can ensure that these companies have a voice and a stated function that people can resonate with. They can research, strategize, and produce quality written content to drive the right audience to the right business.
Manufacturing companies need technical documentation and clear communication. Workers need clear instructions to manufacture, install, and repair products, while customers need documentation that explains how those products work and how to use them safely. Even after those needs are met, customers still need a reason, whether functional or emotional, to choose one product over another. A writer can be instrumental in streamlining the flow of information within and coming out of a manufacturing company, being able to properly articulate functions, needs, and issues through manuals, guides, and bulletins.
Complex software systems require well-crafted documentation for customers to use them as intended, while the growth of those systems often depends on clear proposals that help companies win contracts, secure partnerships, and communicate technical solutions to potential clients. Writers play an invaluable role in that communication pipeline by producing technical documentation, persuasive proposals, and user-focused interface content. Their ability to translate complex ideas into clear, accessible language helps tech companies build better products, support their customers, and grow their business.
Medical & General Sciences
Clear communication is essential in medicine and the sciences. Organizations in these fields communicate information that directly affects people's health and well-being, making it that much more important that the data itself is understandable. Because of this, key research information has to be summarized for easy access, clinical trials need clear explanations, and documentation needs to be made for patients. A skilled writer can make sure this data is communicated efficiently, preventing the spread and usage of inaccurate information that can harm others or produce damaging products.
The legal industry is built on documentation and written communication. Laws need to be explained in a way that others can understand, and often require careful research to be effectively utilized within a case. Furthermore, client communication and the production of understandable documentation are non-negotiable; firms need to do this to obtain and retain clientele. A writer knowledgeable in law provides law firms and legal departments with a trusted resource for expert communication and research to effectively handle cases.
Authorâs Note: The industries and jobs listed in this section do not represent an all-inclusive list of all possible writing roles. They rather serve as a short overview of potential industries and positions for young writers to be aware of.
Good Writing Jobs To Target For Young Professionals
What are professional writing careers? What roles can you target? How much education do you need?Â
At the end of the day, every young professional needs a goal to strive for; that goal can very well be the difference between sinking and swimming. Fortunately, writing has plenty of job titles outside the educational and literary spheres that offer a real way to make a living with the written word.
The following table displays general information about some of these careers:Â
Education Preference: Many writing careers do not strictly require a degree, though employers may still prefer candidates who have one.
Job TitleAverage Salary RangeEducation PreferenceTypical ResponsibilitiesSEO Content Writer57K-89.9KNoneCreate SEO-optimized content and conduct keyword research Copywriter63.3K-91.8KNoneWrite persuasive marketing copy and research target audiences. UX Writer63.3K-99.2KNoneWrite interface text for apps, websites, and digital products. Technical Writer67K-111.3KBachelorâs Degree (4 Years)Compose technical documentation and obtain fresh information from expertsCommunications Writer62.8K-100.4KBachelorâs Degree (4 Years)Write press releases, internal updates, and company social media postsProposal Writer69.8K-100.4KBachelorâs Degree (4 Years)Research and write proposals to win contracts and new business.Grant Writer56.6K-79.1KBachelorâs Degree (4 Years)Research for and create proposals to secure grant fundingScience Writer84.5K-116.7K Bachelorâs Degree (4 Years) and/or Advanced DegreeResearch, document, and clearly communicate complex scientific information for the general public and other groupsMedical Writer86K-128.1KBachelorâs Degree (4 Years) and/or Advanced DegreeCollaborate with experts and write documentation on clinical trials, medical techniques, and pharmaceutical productsLegal Writer63.3K-96K Bachelorâs Degree (4 Years) and/or Advanced DegreeDraft legal documents, contracts, and client-facing materials.Â
Authorâs Note: The salary ranges in this table were acquired by averaging out the salary ranges from ZipRecruiter, Glassdoor, Salary.com, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics when applicable. These figures do not represent a definitive minimum and maximum of what someone can make within these roles; salaries will vary based on the company and the specifics of the job.
Regardless of the job title you want to pursue, it is important to know that, in the writing world, portfolios are vital. Many roles in the field donât strictly require a degree, but they do require tangible evidence that the candidate is competent.
Employers want to see what their potential writer is capable of, what their writing style is, and where their expertise is from a literary standpoint. Whether you self-publish or publish work through other channels, take time and put in effort to create compositions that showcase your skills and passion, especially in the earliest years of your career. Itâs never too early. Write, write, write, and give the world ways to see you and your talents.
Finally, notice that there isn't a single path into professional writing. Some careers, such as SEO content writing and copywriting, place much greater emphasis on your portfolio than on any degree. Others, including medical writing and science writing, often require specialized academic backgrounds. Understanding these differences can help you choose a path that aligns with both your interests and your educational goals.
Can you write for a living? Yes, without a doubt, and the options for it arenât purely found in education and literature. Thousands of small businesses and corporations require skilled writers to effectively communicate with employees and clients, establish online visibility, and create essential company documentation. There are careers more lucrative, but for a creative or deeply analytical mind, there are few professions better than professional writing.
Source: Can You Write for a Living? A Guide to Professional Writing Outside Of Literature
