careers in research and writing

Writing Careers: 6 Jobs To Check Out

Updated: Jun 20, 2024, 10:41am

Key Takeaways

• Writing careers are a diverse field, encompassing fiction, poetry, screenwriting and a wide variety of nonfiction genres.
• A love of the written word can propel you to a career as a professional writer, editor or reporter. You can also pursue writing-heavy fields such as marketing and public relations.
• Along with top-notch communication skills, writers need strong abilities in areas such as time management, organization and research.
• Specializations for writing careers include travel writing, speech writing, content writing and copywriting.
• Professional organizations can provide support and networking opportunities to advance your writing career.

It was the spring of 1948, and Patricia Highsmith was 27 years old. The budding American author—still widely undiscovered, as her first novel would not be published until two years later—opened her diary and let an introspective question onto the page:

“Shall I be like those people without number who feel a destiny to write magnificent works one day?”

If you harbor dreams of a writing career like Highsmith did, perhaps you’ve asked yourself similar questions. “Is it possible for me to become a full-time writer? Are there any good jobs in writing to begin with?”

The short answer is yes. Writing is a diverse, wide-ranging field that opens doors to a large selection of career paths. As a writer, you can report for your local paper, craft ad copy or draft technical documentation for tech companies.

For what it’s worth, the answer was yes for Highsmith, too; she would ultimately go on to become one of the country’s most revered masters of the psychological thriller. But you don’t need to author spine-chilling crime scenes to make a career out of writing. Read on to discover six jobs that could kickstart your professional writing career.

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What Is the Field of Writing?

Writing is the act of storytelling in pursuit of a specific purpose or goal. That purpose may be to inform, persuade, describe or simply inspire—it depends on the medium and the writer’s intent.

Because writing touches most every aspect of life as we know it, the options for pursuing a writing career are plentiful. Writers work in all kinds of industries, including science and technology, publishing and public relations, and marketing and advertising.

Careers in Writing

Writers assume a broad range of roles in various industries. Here are several examples of common writing careers. The below salary data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Median Annual Salary: $75,020 Minimum Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in English or a related field Job Overview: Editors read, revise and publish pieces of written work. They review texts for spelling and grammar errors, check for factual accuracy and offer their suggestions for strengthening stories. In some cases, editors may even determine whether an author’s submission—such as an opinion piece or a short story—will be featured in a publication.

Technical Writer

Median Annual Salary: $80,050 Minimum Required Education: Bachelor’s degree Job Overview: Technical writers break down complex technical processes or products and explain them in clear terms. They create instruction manuals, brochures, how-to guides and articles, often for software and other tech products. Technical writers collaborate with other professionals—like hardware and software engineers —to gain a better understanding of how a product or digital service works for documentation. Medical writers, considered a subset of technical writers, apply these skills to the medical and healthcare fields.

Writer or Author

Median Annual Salary: $73,690 Minimum Required Education: Bachelor’s degree Job Overview: Writers and authors develop various types of written content, including books, newspaper and magazine articles, film scripts and blog posts. They work closely with editors to craft well-written copy and drive compelling narratives. Some writers and authors work as full-time staff members; others work as freelance writers or contractors, contributing pieces to various clients or publications.

Median Annual Salary: $57,500 Minimum Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in journalism or a related field Job Overview: Reporters keep the public informed about breaking news events and other current information. They research and pitch newsworthy stories, interview sources, write under tight deadlines and analyze data that might inform their reporting, such as court records or video camera surveillance. Some reporters work for newspapers and magazines. Others write and report for broadcast on radio or television.

Public Relations (PR) Specialist

Median Annual Salary: $66,750 Minimum Required Education: Bachelor’s in public relations or a related field Job Overview: Public relations specialists leverage their writing skills to influence public perception about their clients. They draft press releases and pitch stories to members of the media to spread positive awareness about the organizations or individuals they represent. PR specialists also craft messaging for social media to help maintain their clients’ image.

Marketing Manager

Median Annual Salary: $157,620 Minimum Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in marketing or a related field Job Overview: Marketing managers plan and execute marketing campaigns. They develop pricing strategies, monitor customer trends, and coordinate their marketing efforts with sales, advertising and public relations teams. Within this field, content marketing managers specialize in building their companies’ brands and reaching the public through content-based strategies such as blog posts, website content and white papers.

Key Skills for Writing Careers

Naturally, a successful writer needs strong written communication abilities, but several other skills will stand you in good stead as you pursue your writing career.

• Organization . Organizational skills apply not only to keeping track of your deadlines and tasks, but also to your writing itself. A good eye for organization can help you structure your writing effectively, support your points and lead your readers toward the conclusion or experience you’re aiming for.
• Research . Whether you’re a journalist, a technical writer, a content writer or a creative writer, getting the details right matters. Writers need excellent research skills to uncover pertinent information and background context on their subjects.
• Time management . The ability to manage your time effectively is particularly critical if you pursue a freelance writing career. The BLS reports that 62% of writers and authors are self-employed.
• Openness to feedback . While writing is often seen as a lonely occupation, in reality writers frequently collaborate with many other professionals. The ability to accept and respond to feedback can smooth your working relationships and improve your craft.
• Spelling and grammar . Contemporary digital tools mean that writers get some extra assistance in the proofreading process these days, but a computer program may not catch every error. A strong grasp of the nuts and bolts of English grammar and spelling is still essential.
• Creativity . Fiction authors are not the only writers who need to be creative. Even if you’re a technical writer composing a how-to guide or a journalist reporting on a city council meeting, a creative outlook can make your writing more engaging and relatable.

Writing Specializations

Many writers pursue specializations, focusing on a specific type of writing. Below are a few common options for writing specializations.

Travel Writing

Frequent jet-setters and lovers of language may consider making a career of travel writing. Travel writers write in various formats—including memoirs, journalistic articles, blogs and guides—to inform and inspire readers about popular destinations, hidden gems, local cuisines and global cultures.

Creative Writing

Creative writers use a blend of their imaginations and lived experiences to create works of poetry and prose, including both fiction and creative nonfiction. These writers leverage their expert wordsmithing abilities to invoke emotion and offer readers a unique perspective on the world through their works.

Speech Writing

Speech writers draft speeches for politicians, executives, public figures and other leaders. Speeches are often written with mechanics of the spoken word in mind, and speech writers must use compelling narratives to keep listeners engaged.

Copywriting

Ads, emails, websites, social media campaigns—these all require copy, and it’s up to copywriters to craft it in a way that captivates and converts audiences.

Content Writing

Content writers contribute to web-based publications like blogs and media websites. Also referred to as content marketing or content creation, content writing involves the use of storytelling principles and technical SEO to offer customers valuable information and build brand loyalty.

Screenwriting

Behind every film, play or show is a screenplay. And behind that screenplay is a writer (sometimes several) who drafts the characters, narrative arc, plot and setting that drive the story forward.

Professional Organizations for Writing

Many professional writing organizations exist to support writers in their careers. Here are a few examples.

American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA)

ASJA is the country’s largest professional network of journalists, authors and freelance writers. Members benefit from career support, networking opportunities and workshops. To become a member, writers must have had clips published in national outlets or published works of nonfiction.

PEN America

PEN America advocates for the protection of free expression in literature and writing. The organization aims to defend writers, authors and journalists to ensure their rights to write freely without censorship.

Authors’ Guild

The Authors’ Guild is a professional organization for published writers. Its mission is to support working writers by creating community, defending freedom of expression and advocating for living wages for writers.

Mystery Writers of America (MWA)

MWA is an organization dedicated to the advancement of crime and mystery fiction authors. Alongside advocacy and community, MWA offers scholarships, literacy programs and conferences.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Writing Careers

What writing careers are there.

Writing careers are diverse in nature. Some examples of careers in writing include copywriting, screenwriting, content marketing and journalism, to name a few.

What career should I do if I like writing?

If you’ve already established that you’d like to incorporate writing in your career, ask yourself next: What kind of writing interests me? If you’re excited about exploring remote areas of the world and logging your findings, travel journalism might be right for you. Maybe you’re interested in making software more accessible to all; technical writing could be in your wheelhouse.

Is writing a high-paying job?

Writing can certainly be a lucrative career path, depending on your chosen field. According to the BLS, technical writers make a median annual salary of over $78,000. Marketing managers—who use writing extensively throughout their careers—make a median of $140,040 per year.

Are writing jobs in demand?

Demand varies depending on what kind of writing job you pursue. While the BLS projects jobs in journalism to decline by 3% from 2022 to 2032, and editors are projected to see a 4% employment drop, other writing-heavy careers are holding steady or increasing. For example, the BLS projects a 4% job growth rate (about average) for writers and authors as a whole, along with faster-than-average growth for technical writers, PR specialists and marketing managers.

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Cecilia is a freelance writer, content marketing strategist and author covering education, technology and energy. She is a current contributor to the Forbes Advisor education vertical and holds a summa cum laude journalism degree from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

9 High-Paying Writing Jobs for Word People: Editors, Writers, and Beyond

Thanks to the “starving artist” stereotype, most people don’t consider writing a lucrative career path. Outside of the few writers who luck out and make it big with a New York Times bestseller or an award-winning screenplay, people might picture a Dickensian peasant who can’t afford fingers for their gloves or, more modernly—someone like Nick from New Girl , forever mooching off his friends with quote-unquote real jobs and swearing that he’s working on his zombie novel. 

But the truth is, you don’t need to choose between your love of writing and a stable, profitable career. There are plenty of writing-centric jobs out there that pay well; you just need to know where to look.

We’ve compiled a list of nine high-paying jobs you should definitely consider if you love to write. For the purposes of this article, we’re defining a high-paying job as one where the average salary, based on data from the compensation resource PayScale , is above the median salary for all occupations in the U.S.—which, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , was $55,068 in 2022. In many cases, the salary range and more senior roles along the same path mean your long-term earning potential is even higher.

Average salary : $57,164 Salary range: $38,000–$85,000

Editors oversee a piece of writing from inception to publication. Depending on the type of writing they’re editing (and the writer they’re working with), this can include honing the thesis, framing, and structure; ensuring the facts are accurate and the sources credible; making suggestions about how to improve the writing (for example, calling out inconsistencies in voice or tone); eliminating unnecessary sentences or paragraphs; and correcting grammar and spelling mistakes. Editors can work in a variety of settings, including for book publishers, media companies, magazines, newspapers, and any organization that produces written content or communications. 

Editors need to have an in-depth understanding of all things writing—including grammar, style, narrative, and structure. As such, most editors are writers themselves and/or hold a degree in a writing-related field (like English or journalism). The financial opportunity for editorial professionals increases as you progress in your career—with senior editors making an average of $75,646 per year and editorial directors pulling in an average of $100,936 annually.

Find editor jobs on The Muse

2. Content marketing manager

Average salary : $71,590 Salary range: $49,000–$104,000

Content marketing managers lead the charge when it comes to developing and executing content for a company. While some content marketing managers take a generalist approach, many specialize in creating and overseeing specific types of content—such as blog posts, ebooks, white papers, website content, and social media posts.

While content marketing managers do spend a significant amount of time creating content (including writing), they also spend a good amount of time on strategy—making this a great role if you love to write, but don’t want to spend all your time tapping at a keyboard. You’ll also have a chance to think about the bigger picture and figure out how content can support an organization’s overall mission and goals.

Some companies want their content marketing managers to hold degrees, but many are more interested in a candidate’s ability to strategize, create, and promote content—so as long as you’re a solid writer and understand the basics of content marketing, there are definitely opportunities to get into the field. Content marketing managers also have the opportunity for upward mobility (and the increased salary that goes with it)—with content marketing directors making an average of $103,327 per year.

Find content marketing manager jobs on The Muse

3. Communications manager

Average salary : $69,856 Salary range: $46,000–$109,000

Communications managers are, as you might guess, in charge of a company’s communications—often both internal and external. Responsibilities could include defining and developing the company’s voice, developing and managing the company’s communication strategy, writing internal guides and resources, managing client- and customer-facing communications (such as press releases, press conferences, or other media opportunities), and ensuring that all business communications, internal and external, are in line with the company’s mission and goals.

Because a communication manager is managing the company’s communication, a lot of writing and editing is involved—but there are also plenty of strategic responsibilities and opportunities to interact with colleagues and external partners to keep things interesting.

To get your foot in the door as a communications manager, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, or a related field. And while communications managers demand competitive salaries, the financial opportunities will only increase as you grow in your career—with senior communications managers making an average of $105,624 per year and VPs making an average of $156,617.

Find communications manager jobs on The Muse

4. Technical writer

Average salary : $63,929 Salary range: $46,000–$91,000

Technical writers are responsible for writing copy that translates complex technical ideas into something a general audience can read and understand—including for instruction manuals, tutorials, journal articles, and educational resources.

As the title implies, writing is the main part of any technical writing gig. But to succeed in this role, you’ll need more than writing chops; you’ll also need a deep understanding of tech-related concepts—and the ability to communicate those concepts using nontechnical language. As such, technical writers often have a degree in English, communications, journalism, or similar, along with background knowledge relevant to the subject matter they’ll be writing about, such as computer science, information technology, scientific research in a certain field, environmental policies, or manufacturing processes (although, depending on the role and company, a degree might not be required to land a job). For senior technical writers, the average salary jumps up to $86,122.

Find technical writer jobs on The Muse

5. Medical writer

Average salary : $78,571 Salary range: $60,000–$108,000

Similar to a technical writer, a medical writer takes extremely complex concepts and ideas and translates them into easier-to-digest copy—only medical writers have a particular focus on all things healthcare. Medical writers can work in a variety of environments, including businesses (for example, pharmaceutical companies, medical device companies, supplement companies, or health tech startups), medical associations, or healthcare providers. They may work on a number of project types, including medical articles, policy documents, or training and educational materials.

Because medical and scientific know-how is a must to succeed, most medical writers have an academic background in biology or other sciences and some have experience in the medical field (for example, as a nurse). However, depending on the role, having impeccable research skills and the ability to understand medical concepts and translate them for the target audience may be enough to get into the field. And while medical writers make a great salary from the get-go, there’s also room for growth—with senior medical writers making an average of $97,850 per year.

Find medical writer jobs on The Muse

6. PR manager

Average salary : $73,930 Salary range: $50,000–$108,000

Public relations managers (also commonly referred to as PR managers) are responsible for building brand awareness and driving positive brand sentiment for a person, company, product, or service. They might accomplish those goals by building relationships with the media, drafting press releases, developing and leading consumer-facing campaigns, and minimizing the impact of negative press—among other strategies.

PR managers may work for an independent business (like a restaurant), a business group or corporation (like a hotel chain or a book publisher), a nonprofit (like a food bank), an academic or other institution (like a university), or an individual (like a politician, celebrity, or author) and generally need a bachelor’s degree in public relations, communications, marketing, or a related field. And while PR managers enjoy a great average salary, candidates who prove they can drive brand awareness and positive press can typically demand higher compensation packages—and PR directors make an average of $100,660.

Find PR manager jobs on The Muse

7. Copywriter

Average salary : $56,592 Salary range: $40,000–$79,000

Copywriters are responsible for writing material that persuades the reader to take action—whether that’s in the form of an advertisement, a website landing page, or a sales letter. Ultimately, copywriters create the content that helps businesses drive sales—making them an incredibly valuable asset to companies looking to engage their customers and move the needle on conversions and revenue.

While some companies will require their copywriters to hold a degree, many are primarily concerned with their ability to write copy that drives results. It should be noted that while the average copywriter demands a solid salary, many companies out there are willing to pay big bucks for results—so if you’re gifted at writing sales copy, you’ll likely be able to demand a higher salary. A senior copywriter, for example, makes an average of $79,618.

Find copywriter jobs on The Muse

8. Research analyst

Average salary : $59,644 Salary range: $44,000 - $85,000

Research analysts are responsible for collecting, verifying, organizing, and analyzing data—and using it to reach key business conclusions and make data-backed recommendations to their employer. Research analysts can work in a variety of fields and departments (including finance, marketing, economics, and operations).

While much of a research analyst’s job has to do with data, another major part of their role is sharing their analysis and findings to stakeholders within the company—and that means writing detailed reports and preparing and giving presentations. So if you’re looking for a job that combines your love of research and data with your love of writing? This could be the opportunity for you.

Generally, you need at least a bachelor’s degree to get started as a research analyst, but once you’ve got your foot in the door, there’s serious opportunity for growth—with senior research analysts making an average of $71,185 per year and, for those who want to eventually take on more of a leadership role, research directors making an average of $108,966 per year.

Find research analyst jobs on The Muse

9. Curriculum developer

Average salary : $69,161 Salary range: $48,000–$98,000

Curriculum developers are responsible for researching and writing academic, educational, and/or training materials, including textbooks, digital and college course materials (such as outlines and syllabi), and other resources to aid in teaching and/or training. Depending on the type of curriculum they specialize in, curriculum developers may work for universities, research institutions, nonprofits, or corporations.

Most curriculum developers have at least a bachelor’s degree, top-notch research and writing skills, and in-depth knowledge in their area of focus (for example, a curriculum developer writing a textbook on math would need to have an in-depth understanding of the subject matter). Next steps on your career path might include curriculum director (with an average salary of $76,049) or training director (with an average salary of $92,412).

Find curriculum developer jobs on The Muse

36 Top Science Writing Jobs (Become a Science Writer)

Got a knack for neutrons?

A penchant for paleontology?

Then it’s time to take a look at science writing jobs.

Considering many scientific journalists are also working professionals (or have some degree of experience within the scientific field) the scientific writer salary is on the higher end of the pay spectrum.

As a working professional and budding freelance writer, you might not realize how much science writer jobs actually make.

Major, well known publications and companies are always looking to hire subject matter experts to help distill down high level academic reports into articles that the general public will understand.

But there is so much more to science writing than just relaying data.

And as a budding freelance writer, niching down to something like science writing jobs not only will help you stand out in that niche, but it will also make it easier to land work since once you find that first writing job you can ask for referrals.

So if you are ready to take your freelance writing career (or professional scientific career) to the next level, then let’s dive into what a science writer does and how you can land those highly sought after gigs.

What Does a Science Writer Do?

Freelance science writing jobs can cover a wide range of topics and platforms.

As a science writer, sometimes known as a scientific journalist, you need top research skills and be able to write and edit scientific articles and news for both professional and everyday publications.

Science writers not only need to be adept at understanding complex scientific concepts, they also need to be able to break those concepts down into layman’s terms for the general public to understand.

Scientific writers can also cross over with technical writing if they are in the academic field. They can also lean more towards journalism and report on news sites and press releases.

It’s also recommended you have a degree in the sciences as this will help you with writing your articles and make you look more experienced than a typical freelance writer.

How Much Does a Science Job Pay?

If you haven’t figured it out already, the more niche and in demand the topic you write about, the more you can make from your writing.

According to Zippia , the average salary of a scientific writer in the United States is around $120,000!

Top companies from Pfizer to Merck hire scientific writers. From writing about the latest health crisis in breaking news to informed consent documents for clinical trials, there is no shortage of interesting and well paying science writer jobs.

A scientific writer salary can vary based on if the position is remote or at a specific location, the size of the company hiring, and hiring prerequisites such as necessary education and experience level.

Some of these higher paying positions require many years of experience in the medical or science field and even graduate degrees.

How to Become a Science Writer

There are many ways to become a scientific journalist. Often, those that have been in the science field go into writing about their expertise.

Think Phds and high level academics.

As mentioned previously, many science writers have some type of science degree and experience in the field. There is also the possibility that those in the science fields can take further coursework in journalism in order to relay complex scientific information into something that the general public would understand in a way they find interesting.

If you have been in the academic or scientific field for some time and are looking for a change, then consider scientific writing jobs.

If you are serious about becoming a scientific writer, then consider joining the National Association of Science Writers . They offer a wealth of resources from interest based discussion groups to helpful resources for freelancers.

List of Scientific Writing Jobs

Freelance science writing jobs can vary from physics to psychology. There are so many different niches that can fall into the science writer category that often overlap with other categories, it’s crazy!

Here are just a few niches in the sciences field.

1. Bioanalytics

Bioanalytics involves measuring drugs and their metabolites and biotics in biological systems. It’s a sub-discipline of analytical chemistry that takes into account biological molecules in unnatural locations as well as proteins, DNA, and large molecule drugs.

You may may writing jobs in this field through clinical trial laboratory services, which are facilities that research the effects of medical, surgical, or behavioral intervention.

2. Psychology

Psychology is often referred to as the “science of the mind” and strives to understand the mind as well as behavior. It includes the study of the conscious and unconscious mind as well as thoughts and feelings.

Worth Checking Out: Folk Rebellion

Biology is a field of science that looks at studying life, from the biology of a cell to the anatomy of plants to the evolution of population. It is a natural science with a broad scope.

Because it has such a broad scope, where you find a biology science writing job really depends on your field of expertise.  

Worth Checking Out: New Scientist

4. Environmental

Environmental science is a field of study that looks at physical, biological, and information sciences in order to study the environment and find solutions to environmental problems.

Because climate change and other environmentally-related issues seem to be at the forefront of modern media, you can find writing work through journalism, copy writing, technical writing, and many other forms of content.

Worth Checking Out: AJ Magazine

5. Insects and Bees

The study of insects and bees is known as entomology, which is a branch of zoology. This field of study includes genetics, taxonomy, morphology, physiology, behavior, and ecology.

With more and more people coming to understand the importance of insects to our ecosystem, especially bees, there are many online opportunities to find writing jobs in this field.

Worth Checking Out: Bee Culture

6. Health science

This field of applied science deals with human and animal health in two parts: the study and research of health and its application when it comes to improve health and cure diseases.

Health science writers are usually journalists who make money by writing for web and print publications. This can include forms of writing such as technical writing and anecdotal content.

Physics is a branch of science that studies the motion and behavior of matter through space and time by looking at energy and force. The focus of physics is to understand how the universe works.

Paid writing jobs in physics include technical writing as well as creating content based on research or theories.

Worth Checking Out: Discover Magazine

8. Pathology

When it comes to the cause and effects of diseases and injury, the science of pathology is used to study diseases by incorporating biological research and medical practices.

This type of science can include anything from pharmaceuticals to cancer treatments.

Worth Checking Out: Everyday Health

9. Paleontology

Paleontology is the study of ancient life, from prehistoric animals and plants to modern fungi and microbes.

It also includes the study of fossils in order to classify organisms and study their interactions with each other and their environments.

Worth Checking Out: Smithsonian

10. Medical Research

Medical research is a broad field that involves fundamental scientific principles and applies them to clinical research when it comes to new medicines, treatments, etc.

Worth Checking Out: Science Mag

11. Sustainability

Sustainability science focuses on a broad-based approach to bring together natural and social sciences, engineering, and medicine and recently emerged as a new academic discipline.

Worth Checking Out: Earth Island Journal

12. Forensics

Forensic science involves the application of science to criminal and civil laws to aid during investigations by gathering and processing evidence.

This can include anything from blood analysis in criminal cases to forensic accounting to investigate fraud and scams.

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is a molecule that contains the necessary information to build and maintain an organism. All living things have DNA and a portion of it is passed along to offspring.

Worth Checking Out: Oxford Academic

14. Ecology

Ecology is the scientific study of the relationship between living organisms and their physical environment. This field focuses on organisms at the individual, population, and biosphere levels.

Worth Checking Out: Humanosphere

15. Geology

Geology studies the Earth’s physical structure and substances. This includes the history of rocks and how we can use the world’s resources in the most economical way.

Worth Checking Out: Hakai Magazine

16. Chemistry

Chemistry is a field of science that studies the properties and behavior of matter by looking at the compounds composed of atoms, molecules, and ions and their structures, properties, and behaviors.

Worth Checking Out: inChemistry

Scientific writers can also go by many names, which include but are not limited to scientific journalist, scientific research/research writer, data and policy analyst writer, research analyst, and even script writers for science shows and YouTube channels.

Examples of Science Writing

There is a lot more to science based writing than just breaking down boring research terms into something that everyday people will understand.

To help you better understand the various types of writing gigs available for science writers, here are 10 examples:

• Press releases : Press releases are a short summary of research and journalists often use them when deciding to write a news article on recent scientific research.
• Books/manuals/pamphlets : Scientific books, manuals, and pamphlets are usually written to describe and interpret research published in journal articles to large populations of individuals.
• Reports and white papers : Reports produced by researchers and government agencies can provide vital information to scientists as well as the general population. These reports are usually found in scholarly databases and on the internet.
• Newsletters and email newsletters : Many scientific sites and blogs keep their readers informed on current news and research by sending out newsletters and email newsletters .
• Case studies : This form of content are typically used to test hypotheses as well as provide insight and information to sell a product or service.
• Science news articles : You can write video scripts for website introductions, how-to videos or instructional/training videos for the scientific community.
• Video scripts : Blog posts are a versatile and personal medium for science writing that can address scientific information on a professional level or translate it into terms that lay-people can understand.
• Blog posts : There are many publications out there that publish science new articles. These articles often refer to a recent study published as a primary research article.
• Academic journals : Academic journals contain articles that focus on scientific research and are intended for an academic or technical audience, not general readers. As long as you have experience in the research field, you can write the articles without being involved in the research.
• Contracts and scientific documents : These can include research contracts as well as agreements between companies and clinics.  

Where to Find Scientific Writing Gigs

Other than just searching through Indeed for science writer jobs, check out these paying markets for science writers:

Discover Magazine

Discover magazine is a very well known science magazine that covers everything from scientific breakthroughs to technology and space travel. It is also among one of the highest paying scientific writing jobs for print at around $1 per word and about $300 per web story.

The editors at Discover magazine are always on the lookout for enlightening and informative articles that will get their readers excited about science.

Their motto is “science is for everyone,” and appreciate writing that is conversational in tone that also offers topics grounded in research.

If you are interested in pitching them, be sure to thoroughly read through their pitching guidelines first.

New Scientist

New Scientist is constantly on the lookout for new and intriguing science and technology pieces that will both entertain and inform their audience. Their audience ranges from physicists to those with no scientific background at all.

Their stories are timely and up to date and extremely time sensitive.

While they don’t reveal what they pay their freelancers, it’s based on the piece and agreed upon by that editorial manager.

Earth Island Journal

An international magazine with a focus on environmental concerns, Earth Island Journal looks for compelling and distinctive stories. If you are a writer that is always looking towards the future and what the next big threat to the environment might be, then you should consider pitching here.

They purposely look to focus on stories that are likely overlooked by other scientific publications. They focus on a wide range of environmental issues, such as climate, energy, wildlife conservation, public policy, animal rights, public health, as well as film, books, and music that is environmentally related.

They pay about $0.25 per word for print articles and about $100 for online reports. If you are new to writing for these types of publications, it is a bit easier to get into web publications.

A\J: Alternatives Journal

The Alternatives Journal is the “voice of Canada’s Environment.” They focus on a variety of environmental issues with a delicate balance of an academic journal and general interest magazine.

They look for both feature articles of 1,000 to 4,000 words in length to smaller, less analytical reports ranging from 500 to 1,200 words. They follow a strict style guideline and rigorous fact checking.

While writing for A\J will look great on a freelance resume, their pay is a little lower at $0.10 per word.

Humanosphere

Are you a science buff with a social warrior heart? Humanosphere believes that the best stories can come from the most unlikely of places. They are on the search for writers who have great research skills but also are able to stand their ground. Humanosphere loves stories that focus on the environment, education, and gender equality.

They don’t shy away from funny, provocative, or even snarky humor. Pieces can range anywhere between 500 to 2,500 words and payment is based on the assignment.

Popular Science

Popular Science has been around since the late 1800’s. Nope, that isn’t a typo. They cover everything from emerging technologies, automobiles, photography, and space, just to name a few.

Their goal is to provide readers with information on how certain technologies work and how those technologies directly benefit the reader. They look for stories that have strong storytelling, humor, human interest, and anecdotes. Pay for each piece is agreed upon per submission.

Science Magazine

From genetics to geology, Science covers a wide range of science topics as well as policy. It also covers issues that are of importance to the scientific community, such as technology, engineering, and even sexual harassment. They strive to include quotes from women and individuals of color within their news briefs, trend stories, features, and news analysis articles.

While the rate of pay depends on experience level, most pieces pay per word.

Smithsonian Magazine

The submission process for the Smithsonain is pretty straightforward. There is an easy to fill out form that gets sent directly to the magazine’s editors. While they are sure to get a large volume of submissions, this would be a great publication to add to your resume.

You can choose to send a submission to the following sections: history, science, arts, travel, and innovation.

There You Go!

At this point you should hopefully have a better understanding of what it takes to get a science writer job. Whether you are already a full time freelancer or professional looking to expand your income and professional standing through writing.

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23 Awesome Jobs for Writers That Offer Real Opportunities

By Publisher | Last Updated September 7, 2022

Here's a news flash: Good jobs for writers really do exist. You can parlay your love of the written word into a paying gig. The truth is that the technology, media, entertainment, public relations, marketing, publishing, and advertising industries all need people who can craft high-quality content. The range of possible writing careers is far broader than you might expect.

But, as with any creative field, it can be difficult to pinpoint opportunities. That's partly because writing jobs, in contrast to other occupations, don't follow a set formula. (If you want to become an engineer, you get an engineering degree. If your goal is to become a nurse, you complete a nursing program. But if you dream of becoming a writer, the path you need to take isn't nearly as clear-cut.)

That's why we've compiled a list of 23 jobs for many types of writers across many different fields. We've also included some tips on how to find legit freelance writing opportunities. And if you're wondering how to support yourself while getting established, you might want to check out our suggestions for day jobs that let you write on the side.

• 23 jobs for writers
• How to find legitimate freelance writing jobs
• The pros and cons of ghostwriting
• Day jobs for aspiring writers

Salary information is based on May 2021 data from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program and the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) .

Jobs for Writers

1. Content strategist

Content strategists combine strong writing and communication skills with analytical thinking and marketing know-how to plan, create, and manage online content that achieves specific business goals. They apply principles of search engine optimization (SEO) and study analytics to figure out what kind of content is working (and what kind isn't) so that they can adjust their strategy accordingly. Training in journalism, communications, or technical writing can be a good first step toward this career.

• Median salary: $133,380

2. Communications director

Overseeing various types of corporate communications and making sure the public views your company in a favorable light requires a blend of top-notch writing and marketing skills. In this role, you establish the communications goals of a company and develop branding and style guidelines for press releases, articles, newsletters, email campaigns, advertisements, and other marketing materials. This is a high-level position that requires several years of experience; be prepared to work your way up.

• Median salary: $119,860

3. Technical writer

A key skill for any technical writer is the ability to take complex technical jargon and turn it into plain English. These writers design and develop software manuals, user guides, technical specifications, and other complex documentation. A big part of the job involves drawing useful and relevant information out of software developers, engineers, and other professionals, so solid interpersonal skills are essential. Of all jobs in writing, this one has one of the best outlooks: It's expected to see faster-than-average job growth between 2020 and 2030, according to the OOH.

• Median salary: $78,060

4. Proposal writer

A common fixture in consulting firms and sales departments, proposal writers prepare documents related to pricing, marketing, and product design. They assess requests for proposals (RFPs) and develop responses to help their employers win new business and secure contracts. To succeed in this role, you need excellent organizational and writing skills as well as an eye for detail and a solid understanding of how your company can meet the needs of potential clients.

5. Grant writer

Crafting proposals to secure financial support for foundations, non-profit agencies, and other organizations is a responsibility that falls to grant writers. They are a key part of the fundraising staff in many places. Grant writers are in charge of identifying funding sources and developing written materials that target each potential donor. Flexibility is important; some donors expect a one-page document, while others look for much lengthier proposals.

6. Web content writer

Many companies need writers who are highly skilled in researching and writing digital content like blogs, articles, and landing pages. You might be required to conduct online research or interview subject matter experts to gather information. Having some knowledge of search engine optimization (SEO) techniques is very helpful.

• Median salary for a writer or technical writer: $69,510 - $78,060

7. Speechwriter

It's not just politicians and government officials that rely on speechwriters: You could also work for business executives, notable celebrities, or public relations firms. To do this job effectively, you need to be able to write persuasively about policies or principles that you may not always agree with. A degree in journalism, communications, or political science is a good place to start. Joining Toastmasters or observing debates can also be good training.

• Median salary: $69,510

8. Screenwriter

Do you dream of creating the next Hollywood blockbuster? Screenwriters are the creative energy behind films and television shows. You could adapt a novel for the big screen, write an episode of an established show, or develop an original movie script from scratch. You need to understand the basic structure of a screenplay as well as how to create interesting characters and write peppy dialog. You also need to be open to constructive criticism: Making revisions is how screenwriters spend most of their time.

9. Novelist

When people think of careers in writing, this is often one of the first that comes to mind. If you can create compelling characters that people want to know more about, and put them in unique situations that force them to tackle a problem or undergo a change, you might have what it takes to make it as a novelist. It's not enough to have a great idea; you also need to develop an outline and work out plot points, dialog styles, and character arcs. Traditionally, novelists have worked with literary agents to market and sell their books, but self-publishing is an increasingly popular option.

10. Advertising copywriter

Creating captivating copy for print, online, television, or radio advertisements is another way to put your writing skills to good use. The ultimate aim of an advertising copywriter is to make people want to buy a particular product or service. Whether you're creating slogans, billboards, radio jingles, or social media ads, you need to be able to say a lot with just a few words. Internships can be a good way to get started in this field.

11. Marketing communications specialist

• Median salary: $63,920

12. Book editor

Suggesting changes and improvements to a manuscript that an author has slaved over for months or years requires tact and diplomacy as well as editing skills. Book editors are responsible for shaping and developing a manuscript to get it ready for publication. Your job is to bring a fresh eye to a piece of text and work with the author to strengthen the fundamentals and structure of the story. Many editors work for publishing houses, but going out on your own as a freelancer is also possible.

• Median salary: $63,350

13. Copy editor

Copy editors are the quality assurance technicians of the writing world. They carefully read through a piece of written material to root out spelling errors, grammar problems, and style inconsistencies. While a book editor deals with the big-picture structure and form of a story, a copy editor gets into the nitty-gritty details and makes sure the text aligns with editorial guidelines. In some cases, copy editors are also responsible for fact checking. You'll likely need an English or journalism degree to snag a copy editing job.

14. Public relations specialist

Cultivating relationships is key to the success of a public relations specialist. After all, you need to be on good terms with journalists, editors, bloggers, and other content producers in order to effectively control and manage the public image of your client or company. The ability to convey a message clearly and succinctly will serve you well in this field. Internships are a great way to get your foot in the door of many public relations firms.

• Median salary: $62,800

15. Social media specialist

More and more companies are realizing they need to maintain a social media presence, which means lots of opportunity for writers who know how to tailor messages to the demographics, text limits, and content styles of platforms like Facebook and Twitter. You could find yourself blogging about the latest high-tech gadget or analyzing metrics on the company's audience and views. Training in marketing or communications can be helpful.

• Median salary: $49,900

16. Translator

If you can write fluently in more than one language, you can seek work as a translator. And you may not have to look far to find opportunities: Employment in this field is expected to grow 24 percent between 2020 and 2030. You could work in areas like law, healthcare, publishing, and education. You need meticulous attention to detail to do this kind of work. Just remember: It won't be your job to make changes to (or improve upon) the text.

• Median salary: $49,110

17. Columnist

Columnists are basically unshackled reporters: They're paid to give a subjective opinion on current events. As a columnist, you're expected to offer persuasive and reasoned opinions and perspectives on anything from city council's latest traffic bylaw to the current state of the U.S. economy. Many columnists also write books or serve as experts on radio and TV talk shows. You need several years of experience in your niche (e.g., politics, humor, fashion, sports, whatever) to be considered for a columnist role.

• Median salary: $48,370

18. Journalist

Whether you focus on TV, radio, print, or the Web (or more likely a combination of those), you will spend much of your time as a journalist searching out newsworthy information and turning your findings into articles, scripts, and podcasts. Most journalists start with entry-level writing jobs as general reporters, but with experience you could work your way into a niche like sports, business, science, or the arts. News can break anywhere, anytime, so be prepared for a non-traditional schedule.

19. Film critic

Being a film critic involves more than just getting to watch movies for free. You get to frame your thoughts as an informative review that draws people in. That means you need to have a thorough understanding of the filmmaking process. You also need to have solid interviewing skills and a knack for finding unique angles that make your story stand out from the crowd, so getting some journalism training will serve you well.

• Median salary: $48,370 for all reporters

20. Proofreader

Proofreaders are the last line of defense for a piece of content. They make sure there are no errors in the grammar, spelling, spacing, or margins of a document. In the publishing world, proofreading is the final step after the copy edit is complete. Proofreaders also check that the table of contents is formatted correctly and that any photos have appropriate captions. A degree in English or journalism can give you the skills you need for this job.

• Median salary: $43,940

21. Greeting card writer

More than 75 percent of people buy greeting cards based on the connection they make with the text, according to the Greeting Card Association . Whether you're creating a funny happy birthday message or a compassionate get-well card, you need to craft concise verses that touch people's emotions. The key is to come up with something that a broad spectrum of people can relate to. Playing around with rhymes, allusions, and metaphors can be good practice.

22. Travel writer

For wordsmiths with wanderlust, a career as a travel writer may be what's needed to satisfy those creative and nomadic urges. You could develop a wide range of content, from guidebooks and magazine features to blogs and how-to-travel articles. Coming up with original and interesting ways to describe a destination can be a real challenge. This is almost entirely freelance work, which means self-promotion is a big part of the job.

23. Ghostwriter

A ghostwriter is an "invisible" contributor to a piece of content. You write it; your client gets to claim the credit for it. As a ghostwriter, you could be writing corporate blogs, putting out social media updates in a celebrity's name, or transforming a client's ideas, research, or life stories into a book. Ghostwriting can lead to many opportunities, though the field is not without controversy.

• Average earnings: Rates vary enormously

How to Find Legitimate Freelance Writing Jobs

Whether you're a newbie looking for your first paid gig or an experienced professional seeking a bit of side business, going freelance may be right up your alley. But finding legitimate job postings can be a challenge. We've listed a few sites here that gather and post solid opportunities. (And most of these sites won't charge you anything to access their listings.)

• JournalismJobs.com features reporting, writing, and editing jobs.
• Mediabistro lists freelance jobs in areas ranging from magazines to marketing.
• All Freelance Writing includes opportunities for bloggers, journalists, and technical writers.
• Morning Coffee lists jobs related to copywriting, blogging, translation, and journalism. (Sign up to receive the free weekly newsletter or check the online jobs section that's updated daily.)
• ProBlogger features writing jobs in a huge variety of niches.
• Freelance Writing Jobs offers listings for grant writers, copywriters, journalists, and content writers.
• FlexJobs has listings for copywriters, technical writers, news writers, and more, though you do have to pay a fee to see the details of the listings.

Always be sure to read the fine print before you apply for any project. Some sites offer their listings for free but take a cut of any earnings you receive. And beware of content mills that expect writers to churn out articles at a breakneck pace for absurdly low rates (sometimes as low as one cent per word). It's up to you to do your research and decide if an opportunity is right for you.

The Pros and Cons of Ghostwriting

Does the idea of writing under someone else's byline intrigue you? A growing number of executives, politicians, celebrities, and notable professionals are hiring ghostwriters to turn their thoughts into a marketable form of content. Working as a ghostwriter can be a great way for aspiring writers to polish their skills and make some money. But before you decide to become a pen-for-hire, you need to understand the pros and cons.

• You can write about any or all topics without worrying about being publicly judged on the quality of your work, since your name is not attached to the content. If you have an established reputation in a particular niche, ghostwriting in another area can let you experiment without damaging your public brand.
• You get a chance to step into the lives of fascinating people who have reached the pinnacle of their professions.
• You can often charge more for ghostwritten copy precisely because of the lack of recognition you receive for the work. Plus, you usually get paid up front instead of having to wait on royalties from sales.
• Promoting the book is not your responsibility (and sales make no difference to you if you received a one-time payment up front), so you can just move right on to the next project.
• No byline generally means you can't use your work in your portfolio, which obviously makes it difficult to demonstrate your writing chops to potential clients. You can end up relying on your existing clients to refer you to future business, which doesn't always happen.
• Letting someone else take credit for your work can be demoralizing. You will likely have to sign a non-disclosure agreement that specifies you can never imply that the name on the cover isn't the person who actually authored the book. You might even have to watch your client explain to an interviewer how he or she went about writing the words you so painstakingly crafted.
• If the book becomes a best-seller or wins a Pulitzer, you get no part of the royalties or rewards.

Some writers view ghostwriting work as a simple business transaction and wholeheartedly recommend it. Others feel it's unethical to allow someone to purchase content and pass it off as their own. Make sure you do your research before getting involved so that you fully understand the deal.

Day Jobs for Aspiring Writers

Getting established as a writer takes time, but you probably still have bills to pay. You might want to consider a side job that won't stress you out but will still let you have plenty of time to work on your craft. Here are a few suggestions:

• Retail stock clerk: Unloading trucks and putting items on shelves is physical work, but it's often done at night or in the early morning, leaving you time for creative pursuits.
• Cab driver: This is a fairly low-stress career that lets you choose your own hours. Plus, you can get great material for stories as you meet people from different walks of life.
• Security guard: You might be able to write during long stretches of downtime, especially if you work night shifts.
• Bartender or restaurant server: You can make extra money from tips and meet lots of colorful characters who might inspire your writing.
• Office cleaner or housekeeper: This kind of work keeps you physically active without draining your mental resources.
• Tutor or writing coach: You can keep your creative juices flowing by helping others polish their prose.

Write Your Next Chapter

Now that you know that plenty of jobs for writers are out there, it's time to think about how you can best prepare to take advantage of those opportunities. Do you have the skills you need for the job you want? Vocational colleges and trade schools offer career-focused training for all kinds of occupations that involve writing. So explore convenient programs near you by entering your zip code into the search tool below!

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10 writing careers that involve: research

When considering possible career paths that incorporate writing, some obvious options are being an author or editor. But really, there are Tons of options out there.

If you’re interested in pursuing a career that incorporates writing AND research, here are some potential roles to consider:

1. Journalist

Journalists often write articles or scripts that report news stories. But in order to deliver well-rounded pieces, they have to do a fair bit of research, which can entail conducting interviews, analyzing data, finding additional sources and doing outside learning about the subjects they cover.

2. Research Analyst

Whether you’re working in market research analysis, operations research analysis or economic research analysis, research is a given. But, chances are that these roles will require you to write your findings and analyses in weekly, monthly or annual reports too.

3. Literary agent

Literary agents act on behalf of an author to secure a publishing deal and communicate with those involved in publishing and promoting the author’s work. It’s important for literary agents to understand what kind of works different imprints look for and changing trends in publishing, which requires research. And, for unestablished literary agents, the work usually requires more researching to find unsigned writers than sifting through an endless query inbox.

4. Copywriter

A copywriter writes advertising materials for promoting and selling goods and services. As part of the role, copywriters research the goods/services to find the best selling points to highlight, the companies they’re working to find the most complementary tones and language to use for them and the competition.

5. Technical writer

A technical writer translates complex information into written texts like instruction manuals, user manuals and journal articles . Some technical writers also create social media posts, web pages and press releases. In order to write these types of documents, technical writers must often research to be well-versed with the subject matter they’re describing.

6. Attorney

Attorneys (or law clerks which assist attorneys and judges) do extensive legal research for their cases and write letters and professional documents . These may include correspondence, motions, briefs and other documents.

7. Publicist

Publicists write press releases and media alerts to generate more awareness for their clients and their latest achievements and releases. Publicists also create and maintain media lists and media coverage and need to stay up-to-date with their activity and competition, which all requires research.

8. Content marketer

Content marketing is a branch of marketing which, instead of involving explicitly pitching a product or service, relies on generating materials like written blogs and social media posts to create an interest in a company’s product or service. The research comes in understanding which approaches yield the best results and adapting to changing trends.

If you’ve ever wondered how your favorite author developed the murderer of a thriller that well, no, they’re not drawing on personal experience… In most cases, at least. What’s more likely is that they spent hours researching to write it well. In order to depict different professions, lifestyles, cultures, settings, etc., well, it’s often standard for authors to research what they haven’t experienced firsthand.

10. Broad research

No matter what kind of research you’re interested in doing, whether it be scientific, academic or some other focus, it’ll probably require writing a report or article that will present and explain your findings. These works also often have the potential to be published traditionally or in a peer-reviewed journal.

ADDIE JOSEPH

October 27, 2020

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11.1 The Purpose of Research Writing

Learning objectives.

• Identify reasons to research writing projects.
• Outline the steps of the research writing process.

Why was the Great Wall of China built? What have scientists learned about the possibility of life on Mars? What roles did women play in the American Revolution? How does the human brain create, store, and retrieve memories? Who invented the game of football, and how has it changed over the years?

You may know the answers to these questions off the top of your head. If you are like most people, however, you find answers to tough questions like these by searching the Internet, visiting the library, or asking others for information. To put it simply, you perform research.

Whether you are a scientist, an artist, a paralegal, or a parent, you probably perform research in your everyday life. When your boss, your instructor, or a family member asks you a question that you do not know the answer to, you locate relevant information, analyze your findings, and share your results. Locating, analyzing, and sharing information are key steps in the research process, and in this chapter, you will learn more about each step. By developing your research writing skills, you will prepare yourself to answer any question no matter how challenging.

Reasons for Research

When you perform research, you are essentially trying to solve a mystery—you want to know how something works or why something happened. In other words, you want to answer a question that you (and other people) have about the world. This is one of the most basic reasons for performing research.

But the research process does not end when you have solved your mystery. Imagine what would happen if a detective collected enough evidence to solve a criminal case, but she never shared her solution with the authorities. Presenting what you have learned from research can be just as important as performing the research. Research results can be presented in a variety of ways, but one of the most popular—and effective—presentation forms is the research paper . A research paper presents an original thesis, or purpose statement, about a topic and develops that thesis with information gathered from a variety of sources.

If you are curious about the possibility of life on Mars, for example, you might choose to research the topic. What will you do, though, when your research is complete? You will need a way to put your thoughts together in a logical, coherent manner. You may want to use the facts you have learned to create a narrative or to support an argument. And you may want to show the results of your research to your friends, your teachers, or even the editors of magazines and journals. Writing a research paper is an ideal way to organize thoughts, craft narratives or make arguments based on research, and share your newfound knowledge with the world.

Write a paragraph about a time when you used research in your everyday life. Did you look for the cheapest way to travel from Houston to Denver? Did you search for a way to remove gum from the bottom of your shoe? In your paragraph, explain what you wanted to research, how you performed the research, and what you learned as a result.

Research Writing and the Academic Paper

No matter what field of study you are interested in, you will most likely be asked to write a research paper during your academic career. For example, a student in an art history course might write a research paper about an artist’s work. Similarly, a student in a psychology course might write a research paper about current findings in childhood development.

Having to write a research paper may feel intimidating at first. After all, researching and writing a long paper requires a lot of time, effort, and organization. However, writing a research paper can also be a great opportunity to explore a topic that is particularly interesting to you. The research process allows you to gain expertise on a topic of your choice, and the writing process helps you remember what you have learned and understand it on a deeper level.

Research Writing at Work

Knowing how to write a good research paper is a valuable skill that will serve you well throughout your career. Whether you are developing a new product, studying the best way to perform a procedure, or learning about challenges and opportunities in your field of employment, you will use research techniques to guide your exploration. You may even need to create a written report of your findings. And because effective communication is essential to any company, employers seek to hire people who can write clearly and professionally.

Writing at Work

Take a few minutes to think about each of the following careers. How might each of these professionals use researching and research writing skills on the job?

• Medical laboratory technician
• Small business owner
• Information technology professional
• Freelance magazine writer

A medical laboratory technician or information technology professional might do research to learn about the latest technological developments in either of these fields. A small business owner might conduct research to learn about the latest trends in his or her industry. A freelance magazine writer may need to research a given topic to write an informed, up-to-date article.

Think about the job of your dreams. How might you use research writing skills to perform that job? Create a list of ways in which strong researching, organizing, writing, and critical thinking skills could help you succeed at your dream job. How might these skills help you obtain that job?

Steps of the Research Writing Process

How does a research paper grow from a folder of brainstormed notes to a polished final draft? No two projects are identical, but most projects follow a series of six basic steps.

These are the steps in the research writing process:

• Choose a topic.
• Plan and schedule time to research and write.
• Conduct research.
• Organize research and ideas.
• Draft your paper.
• Revise and edit your paper.

Each of these steps will be discussed in more detail later in this chapter. For now, though, we will take a brief look at what each step involves.

Step 1: Choosing a Topic

As you may recall from Chapter 8 “The Writing Process: How Do I Begin?” , to narrow the focus of your topic, you may try freewriting exercises, such as brainstorming. You may also need to ask a specific research question —a broad, open-ended question that will guide your research—as well as propose a possible answer, or a working thesis . You may use your research question and your working thesis to create a research proposal . In a research proposal, you present your main research question, any related subquestions you plan to explore, and your working thesis.

Step 2: Planning and Scheduling

Before you start researching your topic, take time to plan your researching and writing schedule. Research projects can take days, weeks, or even months to complete. Creating a schedule is a good way to ensure that you do not end up being overwhelmed by all the work you have to do as the deadline approaches.

During this step of the process, it is also a good idea to plan the resources and organizational tools you will use to keep yourself on track throughout the project. Flowcharts, calendars, and checklists can all help you stick to your schedule. See Chapter 11 “Writing from Research: What Will I Learn?” , Section 11.2 “Steps in Developing a Research Proposal” for an example of a research schedule.

Step 3: Conducting Research

When going about your research, you will likely use a variety of sources—anything from books and periodicals to video presentations and in-person interviews.

Your sources will include both primary sources and secondary sources . Primary sources provide firsthand information or raw data. For example, surveys, in-person interviews, and historical documents are primary sources. Secondary sources, such as biographies, literary reviews, or magazine articles, include some analysis or interpretation of the information presented. As you conduct research, you will take detailed, careful notes about your discoveries. You will also evaluate the reliability of each source you find.

Step 4: Organizing Research and the Writer’s Ideas

When your research is complete, you will organize your findings and decide which sources to cite in your paper. You will also have an opportunity to evaluate the evidence you have collected and determine whether it supports your thesis, or the focus of your paper. You may decide to adjust your thesis or conduct additional research to ensure that your thesis is well supported.

Remember, your working thesis is not set in stone. You can and should change your working thesis throughout the research writing process if the evidence you find does not support your original thesis. Never try to force evidence to fit your argument. For example, your working thesis is “Mars cannot support life-forms.” Yet, a week into researching your topic, you find an article in the New York Times detailing new findings of bacteria under the Martian surface. Instead of trying to argue that bacteria are not life forms, you might instead alter your thesis to “Mars cannot support complex life-forms.”

Step 5: Drafting Your Paper

Now you are ready to combine your research findings with your critical analysis of the results in a rough draft. You will incorporate source materials into your paper and discuss each source thoughtfully in relation to your thesis or purpose statement.

When you cite your reference sources, it is important to pay close attention to standard conventions for citing sources in order to avoid plagiarism , or the practice of using someone else’s words without acknowledging the source. Later in this chapter, you will learn how to incorporate sources in your paper and avoid some of the most common pitfalls of attributing information.

Step 6: Revising and Editing Your Paper

In the final step of the research writing process, you will revise and polish your paper. You might reorganize your paper’s structure or revise for unity and cohesion, ensuring that each element in your paper flows into the next logically and naturally. You will also make sure that your paper uses an appropriate and consistent tone.

Once you feel confident in the strength of your writing, you will edit your paper for proper spelling, grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and formatting. When you complete this final step, you will have transformed a simple idea or question into a thoroughly researched and well-written paper you can be proud of!

Review the steps of the research writing process. Then answer the questions on your own sheet of paper.

• In which steps of the research writing process are you allowed to change your thesis?
• In step 2, which types of information should you include in your project schedule?
• What might happen if you eliminated step 4 from the research writing process?

Key Takeaways

• People undertake research projects throughout their academic and professional careers in order to answer specific questions, share their findings with others, increase their understanding of challenging topics, and strengthen their researching, writing, and analytical skills.
• The research writing process generally comprises six steps: choosing a topic, scheduling and planning time for research and writing, conducting research, organizing research and ideas, drafting a paper, and revising and editing the paper.

Writing for Success Copyright © 2015 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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ThinkWritten

62 Types Of Writing Jobs And Careers for Writers

Looking for work as a writer? Today we look at 62 writing jobs, business opportunities and careers for writers that many people don’t even realize exist within the industry.

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Have you ever wondered how many different types of writing jobs and careers there are? Probably a lot more than you think!

While there are many obvious writing jobs, such as writing articles or books for print or digital media, there are a lot of writing opportunities in industries you may have never even considered, such as the video game industry, healthcare, science, security, entertainment and even the government.

Next time someone tells you that you can’t make money writing or tells you that writing isn’t a “real job”, you can send them to this list because these are legit writing jobs anyone who loves to write can consider either as full-time work or a side hustle.

Without further ado, here are 62 writing jobs and business opportunities you can explore:

1. Academic writing

Also known as “scholarly writing”, this involves producing nonfiction text as part of an academic pursuit. It could be a report on fieldwork or research, scholarly or undergraduate analysis, proposals, or archive interpretations.

2. Advertising and Advertorial Writing  

This type of writing involves producing content that encourages customers to purchase products or services. They are typically commissioned by the company selling these products and services.

Creating advertorials involves writing or producing advertisements in a content-based editorial form. Most advertorials are disguised as opinion or informational articles but include a pitch for a product or service.

The history of advertorial writing dates back to the 19th century, with legislation actually being passed in 1914 to regulate that these types of articles were clearly marked as sponsored as they easily confused consumers.

It’s a highly effective method of advertising and is still very much used and in-demand today.

In addition to advertorials, many companies and brands need advertising copy, whether it is for commercials, online ads or print advertisements which makes this a great writing career opportunity in marketing.

3. Annual report writing

Annual reports are written communications from public companies to their shareholders. These typically detail the current state of the business, its budget, personnel changes, and other information. 

4. Article writing

When we think of writing jobs, article writing is probably the first one that comes to mind. Articles are non-fiction pieces that are commonly published in print and online publication, including news sites, newspapers, and magazines.

Many websites need article writers, but you can also submit articles to print magazines and other publications.

Long-form article writing is often in demand and involves writing pieces that range from 1,000 to 7,500 words. They usually cover complex subjects with plenty of detailed information that will be valuable to specific audiences.  

Magazine article writing involves producing content for periodic publications. These publications may be print or digital, and usually focus on a specialized field, subject, or audience. 

See our tips on how to start freelance writing to learn more about article writing as a career opportunity.

5. B2B writing

B2B or “business to business” writing consists of articles, emails, brochures and white papers within an industry.

They are typically used by companies to sell products and services to other companies and often combine journalism, advertising, and technical writing.

6. Blog outreach

Blogger outreach writing involves establishing relationships and communicating strategically with publishers and influencers. This is usually done for SEO and content marketing, to build backlinks, promote content, and secure guest posting opportunities.

7. Blogging

Blogging involves producing content for a specific audience. It may be done for business or personal expression, to instruct, and educate, or to share news and information. 

You can either start your own blog or you can write for established blogs – many bloggers outsource their writing, especially as a blog grows in popularity!

8. Writing Books and Novels

Book writing encompasses a wide variety of different subjects and includes both print books and ebooks. They can be instructional guides, biographies, historical accounts, fiction or non-fiction.

Books can be self-published, published with a traditional publisher or even commissioned and paid with a one-time fee.

Fiction books are often novels or compilations of short stories. If you like to write fiction, develop characters and have a good idea for a strong novel plot, writing fiction novels or short stories can be very lucrative! This type of writing encompasses several genres, including mysteries, science fiction, fantasy, romance, crime stories, and more.

Non-Fiction books are often instructional, reference, or biographic in nature and can also be a very good source of income for writers, especially if you have an interest in a specific niche or experience in a field.

9. Business plan writing

Business plans detail a company’s objectives and strategies for the immediate or long-term future. They can be used to entice new investors or apply for loans and government assistance. 

Many people need help with writing a business plan, especially when their company is in the start up phase or they are seeking investors or financing. You can create your own business writing business plans for small businesses and startups, or you can find work with online business plan companies to create business plans for their clients.

10. Case studies writer

Case studies are often used to establish a particular brand as an authority in its niche. They may also be used to formulate strategies for solving a particular problem or converting leads into customers.

You can often find work as someone who creates and puts together case studies with companies who offer business-to-business products and software solutions.

11. Columnist

Columnists are writers who produce recurring written pieces or articles for newspapers, magazines, or other publications. These columns are often syndicated, and popular newspaper columnists included Dave Barry and Ann Landers.

This is a good type of writing job because it is steady work and can often lead to other opportunities to make money as a writer such as speaking gigs, book deals and even merchandising.

12. Comic Writer

We don’t often think of cartoons and comics as literary works, but they are! Just because comics may have less words that a novel doesn’t mean the same craft and attention much

While not nearly as many people read comics as they used to, they still enjoy them in other forms, especially online, in film, and in books. Comics are also often great sources to be adapted into films and movies and provide countless opportunities to writers in merchandising and licensing.

Examples of famous comic writers include Charles Shultz of the Peanuts Gang, Gary Larson of Far Side and more recently online comics The Oatmeal by Matthew Inman and Poorly Drawn Lines .

13. Copywriting

Not to be confused with copyrighting, Copywriting involves producing text content for ad campaigns, brochures, and promotional materials. Copywriters craft words that sell and their work often overlaps with other types of writing jobs in this list.

Larger companies may maintain a staff of copywriters fulltime, while smaller firms may hire freelancers as needed.  

Corporate copywriting involves producing brochures, promotional materials, company manuals, and more. The job requires familiarity with business writing and corporate practices and policies. 

Marketing copywriters deliver a brand’s message clearly and concisely while maintaining that brand’s tone or identity. The content they produce usually appears on sales pages, online and print ads, and television spots.

14. Courses and Online Class Writers

Online learning has created a whole new industry of course writers, from creating courses on sites like Udemy , Teachable, and Skillshare and others.

You can either write and sell your own course or you can also find many opportunities to write and create courses for other brands and companies as a for-hire or even salaried position.

15. Curriculum writer

Similar to course writing but more educational-market focused, Curriculum writing involves developing lessons, instructional materials, and academic activities for classroom use. Writers may also review existing materials and revise them to conform to current guidelines and standards. 

As a curriculum writer, you can find work with many online educational institutions and textbook publishers, but many educators looking for side income have found sites like TeachersPayTeachers.com and others can be equally lucrative.

16. Cybersecurity writer

Cybersecurity writing involves the creation of manuals, security policies, and strategy plans for security processes and protocols.

Writers should be able to translate and communicate complex cybersecurity concepts into language that the intended audiences can understand.

17. Ecommerce writing

Ecommerce writing involves generating copy that online stores use for product and landing pages and sales campaigns. The primary objectives are to engage customers, promote the company’s products, and get the site’s pages to rank highly on Google. 

This type of writing job can sometimes overlap with the duties of copywriting as well as catalog and product description writing, especially in the case where a manufacturing company may have both direct and online sales platforms.

18. Editing/Revision/Proofreading

Editing involves analyzing text and ensuring that it flows smoothly and serves its purpose. Revision ensures that a particular piece conforms to its purpose and is structured logically. Proofreading involves identifying and correcting grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors in the text.

19. Email Marketing

Email marketing and copywriting involves writing emails to existing or prospective customers, the objective of which is to encourage them to take a specific action. This could include signing up for a service, reading a blog post, or even just replying to the email.

There are also many writers who have built lucrative careers around writing emails, such as Kate Doster who coaches others to craft compelling emails to engage with their audience.

20. Essay writing

Essay writing is the creation of written pieces that may be articles, opinion pieces, or short stories. They are often written in discursive style, combining ideas, evidence, and arguments to address particular problems or questions.

Opinion writers at newspapers and online magazines often write essays, and collections of essays are also often published in compilations.

There are also many marketplaces where you can write and sell your essays.

21. Frequently Asked Questions and Knowledge Base Writers

FAQ writing involves coming up answers to frequently asked questions by a particular audiences. They may be technical guides or be fairly simple “question-and-answer” pieces.

You can often find these types of writing jobs with companies and brands to create tutorials and informational guides about the products and softwares they offer.

22. Game Narrative Writing

Game narrative writing involves the creation of spoken or written accounts of an in-game story. They usually combine storytelling, player interaction, and even music and imagery to represent events that occur in the game.

If you enjoy gaming and are already developing characters, plots and settings for RPG games, game narrative writing can be a very fun writing job that many people don’t realize exists!

23. Ghostwriting

Ghostwriting is the act of writing a book or article that is credited to someone else. The writer is typically paid a one-time fee for producing the work, and receives no further compensation. 

Many celebrities employ ghostwriters to write their biographies or self-help books, but even regular people employ ghostwriters when they have an idea for a book but aren’t sure how to actually put into their own words.

24. Gift Guide Writing Jobs

Writing gift guides involves compiling products that you recommend to your audience. They are usually tailored to a specific audience or event, making it easier for customers to choose which products to purchase.

Whether you read print or online magazines or blogs, you will definitely encounter a lot of examples of gift guides!

25. Grant writing

Grant writing involves researching and writing proposals for non-profits, with the goal of helping them receive funding from government agencies. Apart from writing the proposal, writers are also expected to follow up queries with the funding organization. 

While this is a very technical type of writing job that requires a lot of education and research, it can pay well and be very fulfilling in knowing you help non-profits and other organizations source funding.

26. Greeting card writing

Greeting card writing involves creating the text that appears on greeting cards. Some writers work on a salary for a greeting card company, while others work as freelancers for different firms and are paid per project.

Other writers may even produce their own line of greeting cards and sell them through Etsy or their own online shops.

27. Guest post writing

Guest blogging involves writing content that appears on another blogger’s site. Guest bloggers typically write for blogs in the same niche they are in, with the goal of attracting traffic to their own site or boosting their domain’s authority via external links.

More and more online publishers are starting to outsource guest posting, which means that writers are often hired and paid anywhere between 2 cents to 10 cents a word to produce the content that is posted as guest blogs.

28. Horoscope Writing

Horoscopes are often viewed as a form of entertainment writing, although most horoscope writers for magazines and online websites do possess some formal training and experience in astrology.

You can find work writing horoscopes for many magazines and newspapers, as well as other online publications. Most horoscope writing professionals combine astrological charting software with a fun and upbeat writing style.

29. Investigative Journalism

Investigative journalism and reporting is an exciting but sometimes risky writing career where the writer is a bit of a detective in finding true information about a topic.

Investigative journalists often report on crimes as well as write about consumer and social justice issues.

This form of writing must be free of bias and include evidence as well as an explanation of how the presented conclusions were reached. 

The most famous example of investigative writing are reporters Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, who unearthed Nixon’s scandals during his presidency.

30. Joke writing

Joke writing is the creation of short, humorous pieces that end with a punch line based on irony, a pun, or even simply nonsense. It usually follows a narrative structure, with tension building up toward the end. 

There are also many types of jokes one can write, whether its knock-knock jokes, one-liners, ancedotes or even some slapstick. As a joke writer, you could become a professional stand-up comedian, or you could even publish books of jokes or overlap into greeting card writing and other markets.

31. Legal writing

There are endless opportunities for writing careers in the field of law, from drafting contracts, generating content for legal sites, writing legal briefs, research papers, communications for clients and more.

Legal writing often requires formal training and education, but there are many levels where legal writers are needed and one can often get started as a paralegal or working as an assistant for an attorney.

32. Letter writing

The art of letter writing dates back for centuries and while many people assume no one writes letters anymore in today’s world of instant messaging and email, the truth is letters are still needed for a number of things all the time.

Business letters are the most commercially viable form of letter writing as a job and involves creating business correspondence from one organization to another. They are typically written in a formal tone and may be requests for information or a specific action. 

However, today many people also seek letter writing services for personal reasons, whether they want someone to write letters to their friends or family for special events, such as a love letter for Valentine’s Day or an anniversary or a Christmas letter.

33. Lyrics and Songwriting

Writing lyrics and songwriting is a type of writing job that can be lucrative as well as fulfilling, especially if you enjoy writing lyrics and story telling. Songwriters typically earn from royalties or they can be employed in-house by record companies.

While songwriting will be a lot easier if you have some basic musical knowledge or can play an instrument, many lyricists have found that they can often outsource these tasks to session musicians or partner with someone else.

If you have been looking into ways to make money writing poetry , songwriting is definitely a writing niche you should explore!

34. Medical writing

Medical writing combines the creativity and language skills of conventional writing with medical knowledge and expertise.

The health care industry requires written content in many different forms, whether its through writing for medical information sites or writing for hospitals, insurance companies, drug manufacturers and about healthcare equipment products.

There are thousands of different niches within the medical industry, so if you have any experience related to the medical field you are sure to find some type of writing work here for you!

35. Memoir Writing and Personal History Writers

A memoir is a type of narrative biography where one writes about their life. While memoirs are traditionally wrote in the first-person, there are millions of people who have memoir-worthy lives who aren’t necessarily great writers but still want their stories told.

Personal history writers are also high in demand, as many people often want to document the lives of the people in their families.

This is a fascinating writing career and business opportunity to explore if you enjoy history, talking with people, and documenting memorable events in life.

If you are interested in pursuing this further as a career, The Life Story Coach is a great resource to get started – and you’ll be pleasantly surprised that this can be a very well-paying writing job to explore!

36. News Reporting and Journalism

News writing involves producing reports for online and print news organizations. Writers may be expected to write about current events or search for interesting subjects to write about. 

Journalists report and write non-fiction pieces on news and current events. This type of writing is commonly used in print and online articles, television and radio news programs, and news sites.

There is a specific style in writing as a journalist and many colleges offer journalism majors. If you like researching news and being involved in your community, journalism provides steady work and many other opportunities to earn money as a writer.

37. Newsletter writing

Newsletter writing involves producing content that builds connections with customers, shares news, generates brand awareness, drives traffic, and increase sales. Newsletters can also be used to inform and educate audiences and establish brand authority. 

Writing newsletters can often be combined with advertorial content, copywriting, and email marketing and can be in print or digital format. The first place to look for newsletter writing jobs is with brands and organizations you are interested in that need a newsletter.

38. Niche industry writing

This involves creating content for a specific niche or audience. Writers are expected to have knowledge or experience in the subject they write about. 

Niche industry writing is an excellent opportunity for those who have experience in a field and are looking to supplement their retirement income or earn some side income.

As more and more companies and publishers look to establish authority and trust amongst consumers, writers with doctoral and masters degrees in psychology, nutrition, health, science, technology, education and other professional fields are in high demand.

39. Non-profit writing

Not to be confused with writing for free, as a non-profit writer your job would be to write the content and communications for non-profit organizations.

You may be involved in the work of writing grants and proposals, or creating text content for promotional materials and fundraising purposes. Writing work may be full-time or be hired by non-profits on a per-project basis. 

40. Podcast Writing

Podcasts are the online form of a radio talk show and are always in need of writing jobs, whether it is writing the scripts and content for the podcast itself or creating the podcast show notes that cite sources, guest bios and other content mentioned in the podcast.

You can either write and create your own podcast, or you can often find freelance work for other podcasters to create their scripts and show notes for them.

41. Press Release Writing

Press release writing is creation of news and information materials released to reporters and news organizations.

They can be used to announce new products or a shift in the company’s direction, new personnel or management, or developments related to the firm. 

42. Product Description Writer

Product description writing involves creating marketing copy that explains specific products. The copy should highlight the product’s main selling points and encourage potential customers to purchase it. 

This job involves writing descriptive content for products in the company’s inventory. Writers may also be required to catalog projects and materials in a service-oriented firm.

43. Proposal writing

Proposal writing involves the production of business or grant proposals that encourage funding agencies to fund research or a particular project. These proposals may require technical jargon for the specific industry and need to conform to specific style guidelines. 

44. Puzzle Writer and Game Creator

We talked about writing and creating puzzles to publish in low content books , but there are also many other opportunities to become a writer for puzzles, games, and activities.

If you love words and puzzles, you can find many writing work opportunities in creating word searches, crossword puzzles, cryptograms, logic puzzles, brain teasers, riddles and more.

You can choose the self-publish route to publish books, or you may even be able to get a syndicated column with daily or weekly newspapers and magazines.

You can also look into creating puzzles and games for toy manufacturers and children’s activity book publishers or even look into developing apps.

45. Quiz writing 

Quiz writing involves creating quizzes or tests for research, educational or entertainment purposes. They can also be used by research and marketing firms to generate traffic and gain insights into consumer habits.

You can find quiz writing job opportunities with survey companies, marketing research companies, brands and organizations, educational institutions or even with magazines publishing personality quizzes.

46. Real estate writing

The real estate industry constantly needs writers and there are tons of freelance opportunities available here, whether you are writing real estate ads, promotional flyers, or even writing content to be entered into MLS listings.

Having a real estate license will be required for any form of real estate contract writing, but licensing requirements are usually easy to obtain and you can find several opportunities working as a licensed assistant for other agents and writing for them. 

47. Recipe writing

Do you like to cook? There’s always a demand for recipe writers!

Recipe writing involves creating ingredient lists and instructions for preparing certain foods or beverages. Recipes may be unique or original or based on existing recipes and modified for a particular demographic. 

You can create recipes for popular food brands, or you can even create your own food and recipe blog or website.

48. Report writing

Report writing involves the analysis of data and the generation of reports based on that data. Reports could be about various subjects, including medical science, information technology, computer science, and more. 

Many companies and professionals send weekly or monthly reports to their clients and need someone to compose these reports to be sent. These types of reports can often be automated but still need to be originally created by a human and periodically reviewed and updating by a qualified writer.

49. Research writing 

Research writing encompasses a wide range of disciplines and fields, from science to business, and academics. Writers typically interview experts, read reports and other research materials, and analyze extensive data to create in-depth articles. 

If you love researching more than writing, another opportunity in research writing careers is to explore freelancing your research services to other writers and content creators.

50. Resume writing 

Resume writing involves writing resumes and job applications for prospective job hunters. The goal is to create cover letters and resumes that increase the candidate’s chances of being accepted for a job. 

There are many services and online marketplaces where you can find work for writing resumes, you can also find salaried positions available with career training organizations, colleges, universities, and educational services.

51. Romance Writing

Romance writing is the creation of literary pieces that revolve around love and relationships – everyone loves a good love story!

Writing romance novels is a bit different from other types of fiction writing, as the industry has specific requirements for the format and type of book.

If you’re interested in writing romance stories, check out our post of Romance Writing Prompts – it’s a great way to test the waters to see if becoming a romance novelist is a career for you to explore!

52. Screenwriting

Screenwriting or scriptwriting is the creation of scripts for films, TV programs, videos and video games.

Screenwriting is a specialized field that requires the work to be written in a specific format, typically utilizing screenwriting software. There are a lot of nuances in this format, and so if you wish to pursue screenwriting it is definitely wise to seek some training.

That being said, there are countless opportunities in screenwriting, whether its formatting someone’s movie idea for them into a script or creating your own original movie or television series.

Many television and movie production companies also employ screenwriters in-house, so there are definitely salaried screenwriting careers available!

53. SEO content writing

Writing for SEO, which stands for Search Engine Optimization, is all about strategically using targeted keywords and phrases within text content so it is easier for search engines to find it.

The goal of SEO content writers is to increase a particular site’s visibility on the search engine results pages and improve its rankings or to improve the function of a website’s internal search engine. 

Writing for SEO takes some skill and practice, but with the right training it is easy to master.

You can find endless opportunities for SEO content writing online in freelance marketplaces as well as many digital publishers and marketing firms who hire SEO writers as paid staff. Just be sure you avoid the content mills and this can be a very well-paying career!

54. Social media content writing

All of us post on social media all of the time – but did you ever consider you could be PAID to post content?

While you can certainly look into sponsored content opportunities if you have a large audience, you can also find social media content manager positions with nearly every brand in every industry.

In this writing job, you will be creating content specifically for the brand’s audience on social media. It may be promotional, informative or entertaining and often overlaps with a bit of advertising and copywriting.

55. Speechwriting

This job involves writing speeches for authority figures and public personalities. The content should captivate and entertain the audience and hold their attention throughout. 

You can find speechwriting opportunities in the public sector, for corporations, or you can even become a public speaker yourself and give talks and presentations.

56. Technical writing

Technical writing involves transforming complex and highly technical text into clear and easy to understand documents for specific audiences. The final text may come in the form of instruction manuals, journals, or guides. 

57. Transcription

Transcription involves the conversion of speech from audio or video to written text. This job requires a high level of accuracy and understanding of language nuances. 

Today it is easier than ever to get into transcription, as there are many software programs that make life MUCH easier for transcribing audio into text.

58. Translation and Transcreation

If you are fluent in more than one language, there are tons of potential careers for you in translation and transcreation.

Corporations who have gone global often need to provide multilingual instruction, and many works published in one language will need to be translated into another.

Multilingual copywriting involves receiving instructions from the client in one language and producing text in another language.

59. Travel writing

Travel writing involves writing about places, people, culture, and various other travel related aspects. This type of writing may also involve producing guides and reviews of various attractions.

Travel writers can find work with travel agencies, travel magazines or even writing for their own travel blog. 

60. UX copywriting

UX or user interface writing involves the creation of written copy to enhance the user experience. Writers may be required to plan and create all the text that appears in an interface, including instructions, error messages, and labels. 

61. Video game writers

If you want a career that pays you to play video games, video game copywriting is one that many people do not even know exists!

This work involves the creation of various types of in-game text. It includes everything from storylines and dialogs to onscreen instructions, how-to and help documentation and more. 

Many other opportunities for writers exist in the video game industry, from creating storylines and plots, characters, and developing settings.

There are also many very successful video game players who have written about game cheats, secrets, and tips.

62. Video scriptwriting 

Video scriptwriting is a less formal type of screenwriting and typically begins with a brief of what the video is about and then breaks it down into scenes and dialogue between the frames of the video.

Believe it or not, this is only a partial list of the many different types of writing jobs available. There are many more to explore, you just need to figure out where your interests and expertise lie – almost every industry needs writers!

Do you have a unique or unusual writing job that’s not on this list? Do you know of any types of companies hiring writers we may have neglected? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

Eric Pangburn is a freelance writer who shares his best tips with other writers here at ThinkWritten. When not writing, he enjoys coaching basketball and spending time with his family.

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27 high-paying jobs for people who love to read

• For those who love reading, there are plenty of jobs that require a lot of research and writing.
• Luckily, many of these positions are also high-paying — ranging from unsurprising jobs such as English professors to perhaps more unexpected careers, such as physicians.
• Using data from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) , a US Department of Labor database, we looked at positions with a median annual salary of over $65,000 where reading comprehension is very important to the job.
• Visit BusinessInsider.com for more stories.

Are you a self-proclaimed bookworm? Can you read quickly and comprehend every sentence you consume?

Good news: your passion for books and excellent reading skills may help land you a lucrative job. Turns out there are a lot of high-paying professions out there that require  strong reading comprehension skills.

Business Insider recently combed through the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) , a US Department of Labor database that compiles detailed information on hundreds of jobs, and looked at salary data on the US Bureau of Labor Statistics' website to find positions with a median annual salary of over $65,000 where reading comprehension is very important to the job. 

Read more : I'm a neurosurgeon, and the habit that completely changed my life can help improve anyone's mind

O*NET ranks how important " u nderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents " is in any job, assigning each a reading comprehension importance score between 1 and 100.

Here are 27 high-paying positions with a score of 80 or higher, in order of lowest to highest pay:

English language and literature professors

They research, analyze, interpret, and present the past by studying historical documents and sources.

Reading comprehension importance score : 94 Median salary : $ 78,150

Labor Relations Specialists

According to O*NET, labor relations specialists may have to "resolve disputes between workers and managers, negotiate collective bargaining agreements, or coordinate grievance procedures to handle employee complaints."

Reading comprehension importance score : 81 Median salary : $ 67,790

Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary

Social work professors instruct college students in the subject matter. Many also conduct research in addition to teaching classes.

Reading comprehension importance score : 81 Median salary : $ 68,300

Epidemiologists

Epidemiologists study patterns and preventions of diseases.

Reading comprehension importance score : 81 Median salary : $ 69,660

Climate Change Analysts

These analysts are charged with researching and analyzing policies and legislations, along with campaigning and fundraising relative to climate change.

Reading comprehension importance score : 81 Median salary : $ 71,130

Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary

These professors instruct college students in philosophy and religion courses.

Reading comprehension importance score : 81 Median salary : $ 71,890

Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary

According to O*NET, these instructors "t each courses pertaining to the culture and development of an area, an ethnic group, or any other group" in addition to researching.

Reading comprehension importance score : 81 Median salary : $ 74,440

History Teachers, Postsecondary

These professors instruct college students in history courses.

Reading comprehension importance score : 81 Median salary : $ 74,590

Logistics Engineers

According to O*NET, these engineers are charged with designing and analyzing operational solutions for projects ranging from transportation to shipment optimization.

Reading comprehension importance score : 81 Median salary : $ 74,600

School Psychologists

School psychologists work in educational environments and help maintain student records as apart of their job. They also interpret test results and report pertinent information.

Reading comprehension importance score : 81 Median salary : $76,990

Molecular and cellular biologists

Molecular and cellular biologists research and study cellular molecules and organelles to understand cell function and organization.

Reading comprehension importance score : 85 Median salary : $ 79,590

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Reading comprehension importance score : 81 Median salary : $ 79,590

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Reading comprehension importance score : 81 Median salary : $ 83,940

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According to O*Net, "Work may include waste treatment, site remediation, or pollution control technology." Additionally, research and designing fall under environmental engineering duties.

Reading comprehension importance score : 81 Median salary : $ 87,620

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Informatics nurse specialists assist with the ongoing development of computerized health care systems." According to O*NET, "[Informatics nurse specialists] may educate staff and assist in problem-solving to promote the implementation of the health care system."

Reading comprehension importance score : 81 Median salary : $ 88,740 

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According to O*NET, these psychologists "apply principles of psychology to human resources, administration, management, sales, and marketing problems." Additionally, they often help devise training programs.

Reading comprehension importance score : 81 Median salary : $ 97,260

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These positions deal with nearly all governmental matters, claims, settlements, and trial activities, along with researching and analyzing laws.

Reading comprehension importance score : 81 Median salary : $ 99,850

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Neuropsychologists apply theories and principles of neuropsychology to diagnose and treat disorders of higher cerebral functioning.

Reading comprehension importance score : 91 Median salary : $ 100,770

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Law professors teach courses in law and engage in research.

Reading comprehension importance score : 81 Median salary : $ 111,140

Lawyers represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, or manage or advise clients on legal transactions. They may specialize in a single area or may practice broadly in many areas of law.

Reading comprehension importance score : 85 Median salary : $ 120,910

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These physicians apply knowledge of general preventive medicine and public health issues to promote health care to groups or individuals, and aid in the prevention or reduction of risk of disease, injury, disability, or death.

Reading comprehension importance score : 85 Median salary : $ 200,890

Allergists and immunologists

Allergists and immunologists diagnose, treat, and help prevent allergic diseases and disease processes affecting the immune system.

Reading comprehension importance score : 88 Median salary : $ 200,890

Sports medicine physicians

Sports medicine physicians diagnose, treat, and help prevent injuries that occur during sporting events, athletic training, and physical activities.

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These doctors treat patients with genitourinary system disorders.

Reading comprehension importance score : 81 Median salary : $ 200,890

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Medical Writer - Research - Limited Tenure (1 Year)

• Rochester, MN

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This is a limited tenure position that has been approved for 1 year that may have the possibility of turning into a regular position. 

Responsibilities include researching, writing and editing clinical research protocols. This includes specific research reports, manuscripts, patient information and documentation required by Mayo and external sponsors/agencies. The position must demonstrate effective collaboration and communication, utilizing participative decision-making when appropriate. Position coordinates and provides overall management of the protocol document from initial concept through study completion, termination and publication. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: ongoing management of the protocol document and process through editing, proofing, coordination of study logistics, (i.e. blood collection kits, data collection booklets, etc) and verification of content to meet institutional and federal standards; communicating with study sites and/or federal agencies; ensuring Mayo standards are adhered to; and ensuring appropriate approvals have been obtained. The individual will accurately apply investigator's scientific data into a cohesive format for the protocol document while ensuring applicable procedures are consistent with internal and external policies and regulatory requirements. The individual will independently maintain and oversee all collaborative functions between the unit/department and its customers. The Research Medical Writer is an active member on committees and task forces and participates on projects as assigned. The individual is responsible for writing and implementing applicable standard operating procedures and working instructions for the department/unit and will ensure compliance with regulatory and other compliance standards, both internal and external. The individual will act as a liaison with external agencies and various internal departments/divisions. They will develop and carry out staff training and mentoring as necessary. In addition, the individual will participate in other protocol development activities and execute other assignments as warranted and assigned.

• Master's degree preferred. A bachelor's degree (BA, BS) is required, preferably in the field of bio-medical science, lab or nursing. 
• Requires experience with medical terminology with a minimum of 5 years' experience in a medical or complex administrative setting required. 
• Previous research/education background with IRB and/or a regulatory/legal environment preferred. 
• Medical writing, data management, comprehension of complex structures, continuous improvement and project management skills are preferred. 
• Must possess exceptional interpersonal, written and oral communication skills. 
• Required to maintain confidentiality of information, demonstrate good decision-making and judgment and have attention to detail and follow-through skills. 
• Must be willing to adapt within a rapidly changing environment. 
• Must be able to manage multiple projects in a deadline-driven environment and exercise appropriate judgment and organizational skills when prioritizing projects and tasks. 
• Must have the ability to work independently in ambiguous situations under pressure and have strong coping skills. 
• Must be dependable, self-directed and able to take the initiative to organize and direct personnel in the various aspects of research studies. 
• Must be proficient in the use of computers, Microsoft applications and databases. 
• Must have demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills and have the ability to effectively and independently manage a large workload with minimal supervision.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.  This position is not eligible for F-1 OPT STEM extension.

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Writing Resiliency: Best Practices for Drafting and Submitting Manuscripts

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If your campus and research program is on temporary hiatus, you may have decided to dedicate some of your time to finally “submit that paper.” If so, you are not alone—journal submission rates significantly increased during the pandemic. This presentation, recorded July 1, 2020, can help you maximize the chances of getting your manuscript accepted in this competitive environment.

This program does not offer CE credit.

Andres De Los Reyes, PhD

Director, Comprehensive Assessment and Intervention Program, University of Maryland at College Park.

Raechel Soicher, PhD

Oregon State University, School of Psychological Science.

Jack C. Lennon, PsyD

Adler University, Department of Psychology.

Garth Fowler, PhD

An associate executive director for education, and the director of the Office for Graduate and Postgraduate Education and Training at APA. He leads the directorate’s efforts to develop resources, guidelines, and policies that promote and enhance disciplinary education and training in psychology at the graduate and postdoctoral level.

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Senior Research Associate

Organization

Founded in 1968, the Guttmacher Institute is a global leader in advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights. Through a unique and interrelated program of high-quality research, evidence-based advocacy and strategic communications, the Institute works to generate new ideas, encourage enlightened public debate, and promote sound policy and program development; its overarching goal is to ensure the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health and rights for all people worldwide. The Institute is engaged in building a more inclusive, transparent and equitable organization.

Position summary

We are hiring three (3) Senior Research Associates (SRA) who are responsible for a variety of research and management tasks. Research tasks may include collection of quantitative data (often by overseeing fielding of surveys), collection of qualitative data, data processing and analysis, contributing to or leading the writing of articles and reports, and coordinating with staff in other divisions, particularly in getting products to publication. An SRA typically will serve as project manager (i.e., managerial lead) on one or more projects and may also serve as project principal (i.e., substantive lead) on projects or project components. SRAs on international projects will often work extensively with in-country partners. 

SRAs contribute to training Research Associates, and often train and oversee Research Assistants. 

A Senior Research Associate works with a substantial degree of independence, usually under the direction of a Senior Research Scientist or other senior research staff. Although an SRA carries out many of the same substantive and management tasks as a Research Associate, she or he must have additional qualifications and must take on additional responsibilities by virtue of greater experience and longer tenure.

Responsibilities

Senior Research Associate–specific responsibilities:

• Provide substantive background to Research Associates (and junior staff) who are embarking on new projects in unfamiliar substantive areas. Methods to do so may be both formal and informal, including compiling relevant literature or holding discussion/information sessions.
• Provide and share expertise on project management and supervision in the context of project implementation. Senior Research Associates can guide Research Associates on interpersonal communication, problem-solving strategies, and other personnel issues that may arise.
• With project partners, especially in but not limited to our international collaborations, design and co-lead training of fieldworkers.  

If staffer has Guttmacher tenure

• Share knowledge and expertise on Guttmacher research implementation processes and methodologies with Research Associates and Research Assistants. Provide training and guidance to Research Associates and Research Assistants on data collection, processing, analysis and presentation as they are commonly performed at Guttmacher. These trainings may occur in the course of a project on which the Senior Research Associate is staffed with a Research Associate, or through more formal mechanisms such as scheduled trainings or presentations. In the international projects, SRAs may lead trainings, in collaboration with project partners.
• Share knowledge and expertise on Guttmacher processes for interdivisional work with Research Associates and Research Assistants

Research tasks

• Act as project principal (substantive lead) on projects, typically smaller or shorter-term ones, or on components of projects.
• Design, format and proofread questionnaires, with direction from senior staff on content; implement or supervise research assistants on formatting, proofreading and translation of these documents.
• Assist with IRB-related preparation as needed; participate in IRB meetings, including presenting to the IRB during reviews.
• Moderate focus groups or conduct personal interviews.
• Schedule, monitor, manage and coordinate a variety of tasks necessary for the fielding of surveys, including:  
• Sample selection and management of respondent databases
• Organize project timetables and activities for initial and follow-up mailings
• Assist with orientation of research assistants to projects, with training in fieldwork skills
• Monitor productivity and quality of work
• Supervise the tracking of survey respondents
• Supervise activities to follow up on survey nonresponse and item nonresponse and clarification
• Develop coding instructions and training of research assistants in coding procedures
• Supervise checking and coding of questionnaires in preparation for data entry
• Supervise all tasks related to maintaining proper documentation of fieldwork activities and archiving of project files concerning fieldwork
• Monitor that a study’s methodological procedures are properly followed to ensure data quality  
• Collaborate with fieldwork partners on study design, including sample selection and study instrument development
• Lead or participate in fieldwork training of partners
• Manage project timelines and activities
• Monitor/supervise fieldwork in collaboration with partners
• Develop checks to ensure quality data entry and data cleaning processes
• Supervise or participate in tasks related to maintaining proper documentation of fieldwork activities  
• Implement data analyses using SPSS, Stata, NVivo or other social science analysis packages; take primary responsibility for certain complex analyses and data management tasks.
• Train and oversee Research Assistants in data cleaning and basic analyses.
• Participate in the drafting and/or review of articles and project reports, serving as first author in some cases.
• Serve as the Research Division’s point person to review and fact check materials as requested by other divisions (such as news releases and social media outputs).
• Present findings and represent Guttmacher at meetings and conferences.

Management tasks

• Serve as project manager (i.e., managerial lead) and work closely with project principals to oversee budget and staffing needs, while monitoring project schedules and work plan.
• Work with Communications and Policy teams, when applicable, to help coordinate communications activities.
• Coordinate projects that involve Guttmacher’s partnering with external collaborating agencies in the U.S. or in other countries; includes coordinating and making logistical and substantive preparations for field visits with both Guttmacher staff and staff of the partner organization, as well as helping coordinate with external communications partners for dissemination activities and launch events.
• Write reports to and participate in calls with funders.
• Assist with interviewing and recruitment of Senior Research Associates, Research Associates, Senior Research Assistants and Research Assistants.
• Participate in mentoring of research assistants.
• Assist in various aspects of project development, for example by developing budget estimates (staffing and direct costs) for fieldwork activities.
• Implement appropriate (confidential if required) storage, archiving or disposal of survey questionnaires.
• Perform other reasonably related job duties as assigned by supervisor or division management.  

Qualifications and skills

• For Position (#1) : We are seeking candidates with expertise in R programming, experience with Bayesian modeling (preferably in the Stan programming language), and a strong statistical background.
• For Position (#2) : We are seeking candidates with strong expertise in Stata programming and data analysis, familiarity in methodologies used to calculate abortion incidence, and program management. In addition, we are looking for someone with experience working with international partners on abortion research and conducting capacity strengthening activities.
• For Position (#3) : We are seeking candidates with strong expertise in Stata programming and data analysis, program evaluation, and program management. Previous experience working on community-based randomized control trials or other quasi-experimental studies would be an advantage.
• Master’s degree in a social science, public health or other relevant field and a minimum of five years of progressively responsible related work experience; or a bachelor’s degree in a related discipline and seven years of progressively responsible related work experience.
• Detailed knowledge of the processes and practices used in the Guttmacher research division to implement research projects, or knowledge of equivalent processes in a similar research setting.
• Demonstrated experience in performing and understanding complex data analysis procedures using statistical packages such as R, Stata and NVivo.
• Strong writing skills.
• Ability to schedule and coordinate work of a team.
• Ability and willingness to train and mentor Research Associates.
• Ability to train and supervise research assistants in implementing project work.
• Ability to liaise with, and to professionally manage communication with, consultants, collaborators, and/or organizations.
• Ability to travel and represent Guttmacher at external meetings and conferences.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to plan ahead and foresee needs and problems.
• Effective communication, organizational and management skills.
• Efficiency, accuracy, high productivity and professionalism

Salary and benefits

Starting salary at 103,745.39 to $165,875.40 commensurate with experience. This is a union position. The Guttmacher Institute practices a hybrid work schedule, requiring in-office attendance 8 days per month at our NYC location. We offer excellent benefits that include medical, dental, vision and life insurance; vacation, personal and sick time; paid parental leave; tuition reimbursement; commuting subsidy; and 401(k) with employer match. The Guttmacher Institute strives to provide the training and support staff need to be successful in their positions and to grow professionally. Guttmacher is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

The Guttmacher Institute seeks to foster a diverse, inclusive and equitable environment, where every employee’s unique talents are valued and recognized as an asset to the achievement of our mission. The Guttmacher Institute is an equal opportunity employer.

To apply, submit resume and cover letter here .

Please note that telephone inquiries will not be acknowledged. No agencies, please.

Guttmacher is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer  

The Guttmacher Institute seeks to foster a diverse, inclusive and equitable work environment, where employees’ talents are valued and recognized as an asset to the achievement of our mission. We endeavor to make the application process accessible to all users. If you need assistance learning about or applying to our employment opportunities, please contact our human resources department at (212) 248-1111 or  [email protected] .