Becoming a Creative Writer via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
Full Sail University, one of the highest ranking online
schools,
is a US school (accredited) offering creative writing courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
creative writers,
writers,
storytellers,
freelances, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 43,390 people employed as
writers and authors alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$64,560.
Editors make on average $58,440
per year and there are about 105,040
of them employed today.
Colleges and universities like Full Sail University that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for a Creative Writer
- Magazine
- Institution
- Advertising agency
- University
- Writer's workshops
- Newspaper
- Website design companies
- Video/multimedia productions
- Graphic design firm
- School
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Creative Writer
- Freedom to use creativity
- High job satisfaction
- Choose subject matter and suitable form to express personal feelings and experiences or ideas
- Plan project arrangements or outlines, and organize material accordingly
- Confer with clients, editors, publishers, or producers to discuss changes or revisions to written material
- Build a personal portfolio
- Write fiction or nonfiction prose such as short stories, novels, biographies, articles, descriptive or critical analyses, and essays
- Conduct research to obtain factual information and authentic detail
- Write narrative, dramatic, lyric, or other types of poetry for publication
- Establish and maintain relationships
Potential Drawbacks
- Continually develop new ideas
- Follow appropriate procedures to get copyrights for completed work
- Finding interesting ways to approach existing issues and topics
- Work in this area is often difficult to attain
- Requires excellent communication skills
- Submitting your work for approval
- Organize, plan and prioritize work
- Writing about contemporary issues that will interest your target audience
- Working on a typewriter or while looking at a computer screen
- Competitive nature of work
Related Professions to Consider
- Associate Creative Directors
- Creative Writers
- Creative Article Writers
- Newspaper Editors
- Freelance Creative Writers
- Technical Writers
- Creative Directors
- Corporate Marketing Writers
- Web Writer Editors
- Creative Services Project Managers
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Creative Writer
- How long have you been writing professionally?
- Have you any recognizable published works?
- What is your favorite piece of written work?
- Who is your favorite writer?
- Are you able to work under deadlines?
- Do you like everything you've ever written?
- Who is your least favorite writer?
- What is your expected salary?
- Have you been paid by salary or by piece in the past?
- Are you comfortable with extreme editing of your work?
Common Collaborating Professions
- Novelists
- Playwrights
- Biographer
- Textbook Writer
- Songwriters
- Screen Writers
- Script Writers
- Technical Writers
- Freelance Writers
- Editors
Creative Writer Training books
Creative Writer (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- Journalism
- Communication
- English
- American Literature
- Theater Arts
- Poetry
- Film Studies
- Comparative Literature
- Speech and Rhetorical Studies
- Linguistics
Creative Writer Salary Information
Category: Editors
| Total # Employed in the US |
105,040 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$28.1/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $13.67 |
$17.95 |
$24.42 |
$34.18 |
$46.81 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$58,440 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $28,430 |
$37,340 |
$50,800 |
$71,090 |
$97,360 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.7% |
3.9% |
10.9% |
4.0% |
55.6% |
20.3% |
4.6% |
|
Editors — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Oklahoma |
$37.05/hr
|
$77,060
|
| Virginia |
$33.34/hr
|
$69,340
|
| Florida |
$32.61/hr
|
$67,830
|
| Hawaii |
$31.23/hr
|
$64,960
|
| Delaware |
$30.36/hr
|
$63,140
|
| Missouri |
$29.63/hr
|
$61,640
|
| District of Columbia |
$29.59/hr
|
$61,540
|
| North Dakota |
$29.24/hr
|
$60,830
|
| Colorado |
$29.2/hr
|
$60,740
|
| Idaho |
$28.37/hr
|
$59,020
|
| Connecticut |
$27.16/hr
|
$56,490
|
| North Carolina |
$27.1/hr
|
$56,360
|
| Mississippi |
$27.02/hr
|
$56,190
|
| Kansas |
$26.17/hr
|
$54,430
|
| New York |
$25.46/hr
|
$52,950
|
| Oregon |
$25.4/hr
|
$52,830
|
| Utah |
$25.37/hr
|
$52,780
|
| Alaska |
$25.01/hr
|
$52,020
|
| Michigan |
$24.93/hr
|
$51,860
|
| Ohio |
$24.48/hr
|
$50,920
|
| Wyoming |
$24.16/hr
|
$50,250
|
| Guam |
$24.07/hr
|
$50,060
|
| Indiana |
$24.05/hr
|
$50,020
|
| Arkansas |
$24.04/hr
|
$50,010
|
| New Hampshire |
$23.55/hr
|
$48,990
|
| Tennessee |
$23.5/hr
|
$48,880
|
| Nebraska |
$23.43/hr
|
$48,730
|
| Kentucky |
$22.89/hr
|
$47,610
|
| Montana |
$22.88/hr
|
$47,590
|
| Louisiana |
$22.8/hr
|
$47,420
|
| Washington |
$22.33/hr
|
$46,450
|
| West Virginia |
$22.29/hr
|
$46,360
|
| South Carolina |
$21.98/hr
|
$45,710
|
| Maryland |
$21.21/hr
|
$44,120
|
| Wisconsin |
$20.94/hr
|
$43,560
|
| Puerto Rico |
$20.89/hr
|
$43,450
|
| Alabama |
$20.75/hr
|
$43,160
|
| California |
$20.27/hr
|
$42,160
|
| Massachusetts |
$20.12/hr
|
$41,850
|
| Maine |
$19.9/hr
|
$41,390
|
| New Jersey |
$19.49/hr
|
$40,530
|
| New Mexico |
$19.1/hr
|
$39,720
|
| Pennsylvania |
$18.79/hr
|
$39,070
|
| Iowa |
$18.2/hr
|
$37,850
|
| Nevada |
$18.14/hr
|
$37,730
|
| South Dakota |
$17.26/hr
|
$35,900
|
Category: Technical writers
| Total # Employed in the US |
46,270 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$31.55/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $17.82 |
$22.94 |
$30.16 |
$38.7 |
$48.09 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$65,610 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $37,070 |
$47,710 |
$62,730 |
$80,490 |
$100,020 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.8% |
4.9% |
14.1% |
6.1% |
48.9% |
18.8% |
6.4% |
|
Technical writers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Missouri |
$38.41/hr
|
$79,900
|
| Colorado |
$38.4/hr
|
$79,880
|
| North Carolina |
$35.65/hr
|
$74,150
|
| Florida |
$34.76/hr
|
$72,310
|
| North Dakota |
$33.35/hr
|
$69,360
|
| Ohio |
$33.12/hr
|
$68,890
|
| Idaho |
$33.06/hr
|
$68,760
|
| Oklahoma |
$32.77/hr
|
$68,160
|
| Mississippi |
$32.69/hr
|
$68,000
|
| Connecticut |
$32/hr
|
$66,570
|
| Oregon |
$31.3/hr
|
$65,100
|
| Tennessee |
$30.86/hr
|
$64,180
|
| Nebraska |
$30.53/hr
|
$63,510
|
| Kansas |
$30.53/hr
|
$63,500
|
| Arkansas |
$29.94/hr
|
$62,270
|
| Alaska |
$29.84/hr
|
$62,070
|
| Utah |
$29.61/hr
|
$61,580
|
| Virginia |
$29.41/hr
|
$61,180
|
| Kentucky |
$29.12/hr
|
$60,580
|
| Wyoming |
$28.78/hr
|
$59,860
|
| District of Columbia |
$28.34/hr
|
$58,940
|
| Delaware |
$28.32/hr
|
$58,910
|
| Wisconsin |
$28.19/hr
|
$58,640
|
| Montana |
$27.86/hr
|
$57,950
|
| Louisiana |
$26.8/hr
|
$55,750
|
| Washington |
$26.73/hr
|
$55,600
|
| South Carolina |
$26.47/hr
|
$55,050
|
| Hawaii |
$26.36/hr
|
$54,840
|
| New Hampshire |
$26.36/hr
|
$54,830
|
| Iowa |
$25.84/hr
|
$53,740
|
| Maryland |
$25.65/hr
|
$53,350
|
| New York |
$25.63/hr
|
$53,300
|
| Guam |
$25.54/hr
|
$53,120
|
| Alabama |
$25.35/hr
|
$52,730
|
| Massachusetts |
$24.48/hr
|
$50,920
|
| New Mexico |
$24.09/hr
|
$50,100
|
| Maine |
$24.08/hr
|
$50,090
|
| Puerto Rico |
$23.45/hr
|
$48,770
|
| Michigan |
$23.36/hr
|
$48,580
|
| California |
$22.79/hr
|
$47,410
|
| Pennsylvania |
$21.49/hr
|
$44,690
|
| South Dakota |
$21.48/hr
|
$44,680
|
| Nevada |
$21.26/hr
|
$44,220
|
| West Virginia |
$21.16/hr
|
$44,010
|
| New Jersey |
$18.66/hr
|
$38,800
|
| Indiana |
$17.42/hr
|
$36,220
|
Category: Writers and authors
| Total # Employed in the US |
43,390 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$31.04/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $13.5 |
$18.63 |
$25.91 |
$36.41 |
$50.82 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$64,560 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $28,070 |
$38,760 |
$53,900 |
$75,740 |
$105,710 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.6% |
3.4% |
9.6% |
3.2% |
47.9% |
26.2% |
9.0% |
|
Writers and authors — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Colorado |
$42.11/hr
|
$87,600
|
| Oklahoma |
$40.48/hr
|
$84,200
|
| Florida |
$37.42/hr
|
$77,820
|
| Alaska |
$33.59/hr
|
$69,860
|
| Delaware |
$33.38/hr
|
$69,440
|
| Connecticut |
$31.52/hr
|
$65,570
|
| Mississippi |
$31.37/hr
|
$65,260
|
| Virginia |
$31.3/hr
|
$65,110
|
| Arkansas |
$30.29/hr
|
$63,000
|
| Kansas |
$30.28/hr
|
$62,990
|
| New York |
$30.19/hr
|
$62,790
|
| Missouri |
$30.14/hr
|
$62,690
|
| North Dakota |
$29.57/hr
|
$61,500
|
| Nebraska |
$27.56/hr
|
$57,320
|
| District of Columbia |
$27.31/hr
|
$56,810
|
| Wyoming |
$26.9/hr
|
$55,960
|
| Indiana |
$26.37/hr
|
$54,850
|
| Ohio |
$25.89/hr
|
$53,860
|
| New Mexico |
$25.69/hr
|
$53,440
|
| New Hampshire |
$25.69/hr
|
$53,430
|
| Idaho |
$25.68/hr
|
$53,420
|
| Utah |
$25.57/hr
|
$53,190
|
| Oregon |
$25.31/hr
|
$52,650
|
| North Carolina |
$25.09/hr
|
$52,180
|
| Michigan |
$24.81/hr
|
$51,610
|
| South Carolina |
$24.7/hr
|
$51,380
|
| Tennessee |
$24.23/hr
|
$50,400
|
| Nevada |
$23.01/hr
|
$47,860
|
| Washington |
$22.98/hr
|
$47,800
|
| Montana |
$22.83/hr
|
$47,480
|
| Hawaii |
$22.69/hr
|
$47,190
|
| California |
$22.5/hr
|
$46,800
|
| Alabama |
$22.46/hr
|
$46,710
|
| Maine |
$21.93/hr
|
$45,610
|
| Puerto Rico |
$21.16/hr
|
$44,010
|
| Louisiana |
$20.69/hr
|
$43,040
|
| New Jersey |
$20.55/hr
|
$42,740
|
| Wisconsin |
$19.82/hr
|
$41,220
|
| Massachusetts |
$19.53/hr
|
$40,620
|
| South Dakota |
$19.32/hr
|
$40,180
|
| Kentucky |
$19.29/hr
|
$40,120
|
| Maryland |
$19.23/hr
|
$39,990
|
| West Virginia |
$18.63/hr
|
$38,750
|
| Iowa |
$18.18/hr
|
$37,820
|
| Pennsylvania |
$15.65/hr
|
$32,560
|
Category: Proofreaders and copy markers
| Total # Employed in the US |
14,050 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$15.63/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $8.56 |
$11.07 |
$14.76 |
$19.38 |
$24.13 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$32,500 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $17,810 |
$23,020 |
$30,700 |
$40,320 |
$50,190 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 3.0% |
19.2% |
20.9% |
7.0% |
35.3% |
13.0% |
1.6% |
|
Proofreaders and copy markers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Missouri |
$19.63/hr
|
$40,830
|
| Virginia |
$19.02/hr
|
$39,560
|
| Kansas |
$18.81/hr
|
$39,130
|
| Florida |
$18.15/hr
|
$37,760
|
| Colorado |
$17.93/hr
|
$37,280
|
| Mississippi |
$17.34/hr
|
$36,060
|
| Oklahoma |
$17.27/hr
|
$35,930
|
| North Dakota |
$17.13/hr
|
$35,630
|
| Connecticut |
$16.85/hr
|
$35,050
|
| Guam |
$16.22/hr
|
$33,750
|
| Oregon |
$15.84/hr
|
$32,940
|
| New York |
$15.78/hr
|
$32,810
|
| Puerto Rico |
$15.41/hr
|
$32,060
|
| Utah |
$15.32/hr
|
$31,870
|
| Montana |
$15.28/hr
|
$31,780
|
| Washington |
$15.17/hr
|
$31,560
|
| Delaware |
$15.1/hr
|
$31,420
|
| Alabama |
$15.09/hr
|
$31,390
|
| North Carolina |
$14.99/hr
|
$31,180
|
| Nebraska |
$14.98/hr
|
$31,160
|
| Nevada |
$14.69/hr
|
$30,550
|
| South Carolina |
$14.6/hr
|
$30,370
|
| Hawaii |
$14.53/hr
|
$30,230
|
| Maryland |
$14.4/hr
|
$29,940
|
| Tennessee |
$14.3/hr
|
$29,740
|
| Wisconsin |
$14.29/hr
|
$29,720
|
| New Hampshire |
$14.15/hr
|
$29,430
|
| Michigan |
$13.8/hr
|
$28,710
|
| Louisiana |
$13.71/hr
|
$28,520
|
| Idaho |
$13.65/hr
|
$28,400
|
| Wyoming |
$13.29/hr
|
$27,650
|
| Kentucky |
$13.09/hr
|
$27,230
|
| Iowa |
$12.97/hr
|
$26,990
|
| New Mexico |
$12.21/hr
|
$25,400
|
| California |
$12.2/hr
|
$25,370
|
| Maine |
$12.13/hr
|
$25,220
|
| South Dakota |
$11.92/hr
|
$24,790
|
| Arkansas |
$10.35/hr
|
$21,520
|
| Pennsylvania |
$9.37/hr
|
$19,480
|
