When a nineteenth century
British author wrote
“the pen is mightier than the sword,”
he was referring to
the tremendous power of words
used skillfully by writers and authors.
Writers use their language skills
to produce content for an audience.
They compose books, movie screenplays,
magazine articles, and web content.
Writers need creativity
to come up with ideas,
critical thinking skills
to convey their concepts clearly,
and persuasively, when needed,
and adaptability to understand
their audience’s perspectives.
The work of different types of writers
varies significantly:
creative writers like novelists,
songwriters, poets, and playwrights
are generally self-employed,
and may labor for months or years
before getting published,
while technical writers and copywriters
often work 9-to-5 jobs
with a clear career path.
Copywriters work on ad campaigns,
and technical writers prepare
instruction manuals and how-to guides.
Using specialized skills,
often learned on the job,
they simplify complex ideas for the public,
or write highly-technical material
for a specific professional audience.
Writers and authors often work in offices,
but may work from any location
with Internet access.
Most writers have a bachelor’s degree in
communications, journalism, or English,
and lots of writing practice.
Aspiring writers who want to enter the field
often gain experience from internships,
blogging about their personal interests,
writing for school publications,
small businesses or non-profits,
or local news organizations.