Writers and Authors
Tasks Include:
- Discuss with the client the product, advertising themes and methods, and any changes that should be made in advertising copy.
- Present drafts and ideas to clients.
- Vary language and tone of messages based on product and medium.
- Develop advertising campaigns for a wide range of clients, working with an advertising agency's creative director and art director to determine the best way to present advertising information.
- Write articles, bulletins, sales letters, speeches, and other related informative, marketing and promotional material.
- Review advertising trends, consumer surveys, and other data regarding marketing of goods and services to determine the best way to promote products.
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™; US Department of Labor (BLS); Virginia Workforce Connection. (Using onet28)
Projections Quick View:
Virginia: -0.9%
National: +4.1%
Education
Bachelor's Degree
Job Zone:
Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Income Range:
Highest ($50,000 and up)
Median Earnings:
National
$73,150.00
State
$75,540.00
Regional
Writers and Authors
Description
Career Cluster: | Arts, Audio/Video Technology & Communications |
Originate and prepare written material, such as scripts, stories, advertisements, and other material.
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet28)
Writers and Authors
Education
Required Level of Education
- Bachelor's Degree = 46.95%
- Some College Courses = 35.37%
- Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) = 17.68%
Related Work Experience
- Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years = 57.04%
- Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year = 24.93%
- Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years = 7.24%
- Over 6 years, up to and including 8 years = 4.70%
- None = 3.05%
- Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months = 3.05%
On-Site or In-Plant Training
- None = 45.42%
- Up to and including 1 month = 42.61%
- Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months = 7.24%
- Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months = 4.70%
- Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years = 0.03%
On-the-Job Training
- Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month = 84%
- Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months = 7.24%
- Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year = 4.73%
- Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months = 3.99%
- None or short demonstration = 0.03%
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet28)
Writers and Authors
Tasks
Core Tasks Include:
- Discuss with the client the product, advertising themes and methods, and any changes that should be made in advertising copy.
- Present drafts and ideas to clients.
- Vary language and tone of messages based on product and medium.
- Develop advertising campaigns for a wide range of clients, working with an advertising agency's creative director and art director to determine the best way to present advertising information.
- Write articles, bulletins, sales letters, speeches, and other related informative, marketing and promotional material.
- Review advertising trends, consumer surveys, and other data regarding marketing of goods and services to determine the best way to promote products.
Supplemental Tasks Include:
- Conduct research and interviews to determine which of a product's selling features should be promoted.
- Invent names for products and write the slogans that appear on packaging, brochures and other promotional material.
Tasks Include:
- Collaborate with other writers on specific projects.
- Conduct research to obtain factual information and authentic detail, using sources such as newspaper accounts, diaries, and interviews.
- Consult with sales, media and marketing representatives to obtain information on product or service and discuss style and length of advertising written material.
- Edit or rewrite existing written material as necessary, and submit written material for approval by supervisor, editor, or publisher.
- Follow appropriate procedures to get copyrights for completed work.
- Plan project arrangements or outlines, and organize material accordingly.
- Prepare works in appropriate format for publication, and send them to publishers or producers.
- Revise written material to meet personal standards and to satisfy needs of clients, publishers, directors, or producers.
- Work with staff to develop script, story, or advertising concepts.
- Write advertising material for use by publication, broadcast, or internet media to promote the sale of goods and services.
- Write fiction or nonfiction prose, such as short stories, novels, biographies, articles, descriptive or critical analyses, and essays.
- Write to customers in their terms and on their level so that the script, story, or advertisement message is more readily received.
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet28)
Writers and Authors
Knowledge
% | Subject | Description |
---|---|---|
100.00 | English Language | Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. |
82.50 | Sales and Marketing | Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems. |
80.00 | Communications and Media | Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media. |
75.25 | Customer and Personal Service | Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. |
63.50 | Computers and Electronics | Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming. |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet28)
Writers and Authors
Skills
% | Subject | Description |
---|---|---|
93.75 | Writing | Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience. |
78.00 | Reading Comprehension | Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents. |
72.00 | Active Listening | Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. |
72.00 | Speaking | Talking to others to convey information effectively. |
65.50 | Time Management | Managing one's own time and the time of others. |
65.50 | Critical Thinking | Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems. |
59.50 | Active Learning | Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making. |
59.50 | Social Perceptiveness | Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do. |
59.50 | Coordination | Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions. |
59.50 | Persuasion | Persuading others to change their minds or behavior. |
56.25 | Judgment and Decision Making | Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. |
53.00 | Service Orientation | Actively looking for ways to help people. |
50.00 | Monitoring | Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action. |
50.00 | Complex Problem Solving | Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions. |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet28)
Writers and Authors
Abilities
% | Subject | Description |
---|---|---|
90.50 | Written Expression | The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand. |
78.00 | Written Comprehension | The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. |
75.00 | Oral Comprehension | The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. |
75.00 | Oral Expression | The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. |
72.00 | Fluency of Ideas | The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity). |
72.00 | Originality | The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem. |
65.50 | Speech Clarity | The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you. |
65.50 | Speech Recognition | The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person. |
59.50 | Near Vision | The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). |
53.00 | Deductive Reasoning | The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense. |
53.00 | Inductive Reasoning | The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events). |
50.00 | Problem Sensitivity | The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem. |
50.00 | Information Ordering | The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations). |
50.00 | Category Flexibility | The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways. |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet28)
Writers and Authors
Work Activities
% | Subject | Description |
---|---|---|
86.50 | Getting Information | Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. |
79.00 | Communicating with People Outside the Organization | Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail. |
75.75 | Selling or Influencing Others | Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions. |
75.50 | Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates | Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. |
70.75 | Thinking Creatively | Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions. |
67.25 | Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships | Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. |
64.75 | Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others | Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks. |
64.25 | Making Decisions and Solving Problems | Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. |
64.25 | Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge | Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. |
64.25 | Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work | Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. |
62.50 | Developing Objectives and Strategies | Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them. |
61.50 | Developing and Building Teams | Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members. |
60.25 | Working with Computers | Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information. |
55.75 | Scheduling Work and Activities | Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others. |
51.50 | Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates | Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance. |
50.00 | Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others | Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used. |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet28)
Writers and Authors
Work Styles
% | Subject | Description |
---|---|---|
96.50 | Dependability | Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations. |
92.00 | Persistence | Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles. |
90.25 | Initiative | Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges. |
89.75 | Cooperation | Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude. |
88.00 | Attention to Detail | Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. |
82.75 | Adaptability/Flexibility | Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace. |
81.25 | Stress Tolerance | Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations. |
80.75 | Self-Control | Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations. |
74.00 | Independence | Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done. |
73.75 | Achievement/Effort | Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks. |
68.25 | Analytical Thinking | Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems. |
67.25 | Integrity | Job requires being honest and ethical. |
66.25 | Leadership | Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction. |
58.75 | Innovation | Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems. |
57.75 | Concern for Others | Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job. |
53.50 | Social Orientation | Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job. |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet28)
Writers and Authors
Work Values
% | Subject | Description |
---|---|---|
66.67 | Achievement | Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement. |
55.50 | Support | Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical. |
52.83 | Working Conditions | Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions. |
50.00 | Relationships | Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service. |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet28)
Writers and Authors
Work Context
% | Subject | Description |
---|---|---|
100.00 | Electronic Mail | How often do you use electronic mail in this job? |
97.60 | Contact With Others | How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it? |
94.00 | Time Pressure | How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines? |
93.60 | Telephone | How often do you have telephone conversations in this job? |
90.80 | Frequency of Decision Making | How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization? |
90.60 | Face-to-Face Discussions | How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job? |
89.20 | Level of Competition | To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures? |
87.80 | Spend Time Sitting | How much does this job require sitting? |
87.60 | Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results | What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer? |
83.60 | Importance of Being Exact or Accurate | How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job? |
83.40 | Coordinate or Lead Others | How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job? |
79.40 | Letters and Memos | How often does the job require written letters and memos? |
77.40 | Deal With External Customers | How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job? |
77.00 | Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable | How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable? |
76.00 | Work With Work Group or Team | How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job? |
72.80 | Structured versus Unstructured Work | To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals? |
71.60 | Responsibility for Outcomes and Results | How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers? |
71.20 | Freedom to Make Decisions | How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer? |
63.60 | Physical Proximity | To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people? |
62.60 | Importance of Repeating Same Tasks | How important is repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job? |
62.00 | Frequency of Conflict Situations | How often are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job? |
55.80 | Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People | How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements? |
54.80 | Indoors, Environmentally Controlled | How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions? |
52.40 | Public Speaking | How often do you have to perform public speaking in this job? |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet28)
Writers and Authors
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Overall Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Job Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
- Examples
- Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, conservation scientists, art directors, and cost estimators.
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet28)
Writers and Authors
Earnings Benefits*
Region | Entry Level | Median | Experienced |
---|---|---|---|
United States | $39,610.00 | $73,150.00 | $105,000.00 |
Virginia | $38,330.00 | $75,540.00 | $101,490.00 |
Region | Entry Level | Median | Experienced |
Alexandria/Arlington | $59,733.93 | $100,756.29 | $123,903.02 |
Bay Consortium | $45,959.08 | $81,661.54 | $108,530.02 |
Capital Region Workforce Partnership | $30,816.61 | $67,323.86 | $89,665.80 |
Central VA/Region2000 | $27,797.88 | $52,499.15 | $66,006.08 |
Crater Area | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Greater Peninsula | $43,987.09 | $65,849.28 | $86,816.33 |
Hampton Roads | $41,493.81 | $68,796.36 | $85,759.20 |
New River/Mt. Rogers | $38,394.08 | $60,004.96 | $68,362.29 |
Northern Virginia | $60,502.37 | $93,658.58 | $123,458.57 |
Piedmont Workforce | $36,928.85 | $65,512.83 | $85,885.89 |
Shenandoah Valley | No Data | No Data | No Data |
South Central | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Southwestern Virginia | No Data | No Data | No Data |
West Piedmont | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Western Virginia | $31,371.14 | $66,132.77 | $112,759.57 |
* Earnings Calculations:
Regional Earnings:
Entry = Annual mean of the lower 1/3 wage distribution;
Experienced = Annual mean of the upper 2/3 wage distribution.
National and State Earnings:
Entry = Annual 10th percentile wage;
Experienced = Annual 75th percentile wage.
The data sources for the information displayed here include: US Department of Labor (BLS); Virginia Workforce Connection. (Using onet28)
Writers and Authors
Employment Projections
Current | Projected | % Change | |
---|---|---|---|
United States | 142,800 | 148,700 | +4.1% |
Virginia | 3,840 | 3,804 | -0.9% |
Region | Current* | Projected | % Change |
Alexandria/Arlington | 750 | 693 | -7.6% |
Bay Consortium | 235 | 242 | +3.0% |
Capital Region Workforce Partnership | 594 | 625 | +5.2% |
Central VA/Region2000 | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Crater Area | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Greater Peninsula | 184 | 161 | -12.5% |
Hampton Roads | 246 | 200 | -18.7% |
New River/Mt. Rogers | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Northern Virginia | 935 | 966 | +3.3% |
Piedmont Workforce | 341 | 388 | +13.8% |
Shenandoah Valley | No Data | No Data | No Data |
South Central | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Southwestern Virginia | No Data | No Data | No Data |
West Piedmont | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Western Virginia | No Data | No Data | No Data |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: US Department of Labor (BLS); Virginia Workforce Connection. (Using onet28)
Writers and Authors
Related Occupations
Related Occupations
The related occupations here have similar general capabilities and interests; career explorers may also be interested in the related occupations:- Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers
- Editors
- Public Relations Specialists
- Advertising Sales Agents
- News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists
- Technical Writers
- Advertising and Promotions Managers
- Producers and Directors
- Art Directors
- Search Marketing Strategists
- Proofreaders and Copy Markers
- Graphic Designers
- Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes
- Marketing Managers
- Film and Video Editors
- Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
- Special Effects Artists and Animators
- Web and Digital Interface Designers
- Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys
- Media Programming Directors
Careers in Journalism and Broadcasting Pathway:
- Audio and Video Technicians
- Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys
- Broadcast Technicians
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film
- Communications Equipment Operators, All Other
- Editors
- Film and Video Editors
- Lighting Technicians
- Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Other
- News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists
- Photographers
- Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers
- Sound Engineering Technicians
- Technical Writers
- Writers and Authors
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet28)
Writers and Authors
View Videos
CareerOneStop Video
View Video & Transcript on CareerOneStop
CareerOneStop Arts, Audio/Video Technology & Communications Videos
Overview
Occupations
The data sources for the information displayed here include: New York State Department of Labor; New Jersey Department of Labor; California Occupational Information Coordinating Committee; CareerOneStop. (Using onet28)
Writers and Authors
Military Training
The following military job classifications are available for this occupation:
- Information
- Information and Education, General
The data sources for the information displayed here include: Defense Manpower Data Center. (Using onet28)
Writers and Authors
Proficiency Ratings
These proficiencies are scored on a scale from 1 to 5 with 1 being not
important to the job and 5 being extremely important to the job.
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet28)
Writers and Authors
Titles
- Advertising Copy Writer
- Advertising Copywriter
- Biographer
- Copy Writer
- Copywriter
- Lyricist
- Novelist
- Playwright
- Poet
- Program Writer
- Radio Script Writer
- Screen Writer
- Short Story Writer
- Song Lyricist
- Television Writer
- Verse Writer
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet28)
Writers and Authors
Related Schools
- Averett University
- Bluefield University
- Bridgewater College
- Brightpoint Community College
- Christopher Newport University
- DeVry University-Virginia
- Eastern Mennonite University
- Emory & Henry College
- Ferrum College
- George Mason University
- Hampton University
- Hollins University
- James Madison University
- Liberty University
- Longwood University
- Mary Baldwin University
- Marymount University
- Norfolk State University
- Northern Virginia Community College
- Old Dominion University
- Patrick Henry College
- Radford University
- Randolph College
- Randolph-Macon College
- Regent University
- Richard Bland College
- Roanoke College
- Shenandoah University
- Sweet Briar College
- University of Lynchburg
- University of Richmond
- University of Virginia-Main Campus
- Virginia Commonwealth University
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Virginia State University
- Virginia Union University
- Virginia Wesleyan University
- Washington and Lee University
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet28)