CaliforniaColleges

Savedfor:TaylaHookham-Renaud

CareerProfile

CreativeWriter/Poet
WhatTheyDo
JusttheFacts

Createsoriginalwrittenworksforpublicationorperformance.Maywriteasprivateauthor,or
forclientssuchaspublishers,motionpicturestudios,televisionnetworks,radiostations,
magazinesandtradejournals,newspapers,andadvertisements.Usespersonalcomputers
orwordprocessors,andmayusedesktoporelectronicpublishingsystems.
ThiscareerispartoftheArts,Audio-VideoTechnologyandCommunicationscluster
JournalismandBroadcastingpathway.

Apersoninthiscareer:
Writesfictionornonfictionprosesuchasshortstories,novels,biographies,articles,descriptive
orcriticalanalyses,andessays.
Plansprojectarrangementsoroutlines,andorganizesmaterialaccordingly.
Developsfactorssuchasthemes,plots,characterizations,psychologicalanalyses,historical
environments,actionanddialogueinordertocreatematerial.
Choosessubjectmatterandformtoexpresspersonalfeelings,experiencesorideas,orto
narratestoriesorevents.
Reviseswrittenmaterialtomeetpersonalstandardsandtosatisfytheneedsofclients,
publishers,directorsorproducers.
Conductsresearchtoobtainfactualinformationandauthenticdetail,usingsourcessuchas
newspaperaccounts,diariesandinterviews.
Conferswithclients,editors,publishersorproducerstodiscusschangesorrevisionstowritten
material.
Followsappropriateprocedurestogetcopyrightsforcompletedwork.
Preparesworksinanappropriateformatforpublication,andsendsthemtopublishersor
producers.
Writesnarrative,dramatic,lyricorothertypesofpoetryforpublication.

RelatedCareers
Editor
Collegeor
UniversityFaculty
Member
Reporter
TechnicalWriter
PublicRelations
Specialist
Radio/TV
Announcer
Newscaster

Multimedia
Watchaoneminutevideo
showingwhat
it'sliketowork
inthiscareeror
relatedcareers
Writersand
Authors
watchvideo
GetQuickTime
Player

WorkingConditionsandPhysicalDemands
Peoplewhodothisjobreportthat:
Youwouldsitmostofthetime.There'ssomewalkingandstanding.Youmayhavetoliftandcarrythingslikebooks,papersor
toolsweighing10lbs.orless.
Workinthisoccupationinvolvesusingyourhandstohold,control,andfeelobjectsmorethanone-thirdofthetime
Exposedtohazardoussituationsinvolvingpossibleinjurysuchascuts,bites,stings,andminorburnsmorethanoncea
month
Workinthisoccupationrequiresbeinginsidemostofthetime
Workinthisoccupationinvolvesmakingrepetitivemotionsmorethanone-thirdofthetime
Workinthisoccupationinvolvessittingmorethanone-thirdofthetime
Workinginthiscareerinvolves(physicalactivities):

Seeingclearlyupclose
Speakingclearlyenoughtobeabletobeunderstoodbyothers
Identifyingandunderstandingthespeechofanotherperson

WorkHoursandTravel
Regularworkinghoursandlimitedtravel

SpecialtyandSimilarCareers
Careersthataremoredetailedorclosetothiscareer:
BookReviewer--Reviewsbooksbygivingadescription,criticalanalysis,andanevaluationonthequality,meaning,and
significanceofabook.
Critic--Writescriticalreviewsofliterary,musical,orartisticworksandperformancesforbroadcastandpublication.
GhostWriter--Collaborateswithsomeoneandusesthatperson'sknowledgeandexperiencesasresearchmaterialforwhat
he/shewrites.
Lyricist--Writeswordstobesungorspokentoaccompanimentofmusic.
ComicBookWriter-DocumentaryScriptWriter-GreetingCardWriter-MovieWriter--

IsThisForYou?
Interests:

Thefollowingcategoriesdescribetheworkinterests(compatiblewithHolland'sModel)of
peoplewhotendtosucceedinthiscareer:

YourInterests:

Thelasttimeyou
tooktheInterest
ArtisticYouarea"creator".Youenjoythingslikeart,musicandbooks,andexpress
Profileryourresults
yourfeelingseasily.Youdon''tlikerigidrulesandstructure.
InvestigativeYouarea"thinker".Whenyouhaveaproblem,youliketoanalyzeitand were:
lookatdifferentwaystosolveit.Youliketoworkbyyourself,andyoudon''tlike
ARTISTIC
explainingyourideastootherpeople.
INVESTIGATIVE

TaketheInterestProfileragain.

WorkValues:
Workvaluesareaspectsofworkthataresatisfyingtoyou.Thefollowing
workvaluesaregenerallyassociatedwiththiscareer.
AchievementIt'sveryimportanttoyouthatyourworkallowsyoutouse
yourbestabilities.Youwanttoseetheresultsofyourworkandgeta
feelingofaccomplishment.
IndependenceIt'sveryimportanttoyouthatyourworkallowsyouto
makedecisionsonyourown.Youwanttotryoutyourownideasandwork
withlittlesupervision.
TellmemoreaboutWorkValues...

Aptitudes:
Aptitudesreflectaperson'sabilitytoacquireskillsandknowledge.
Thefollowingaptitudesareimportantforsuccessinthiscareer:
Generallearningability
Verbalaptitude

YourWorkValues:
Nowthatyouknowtheworkvaluesforthis
career,wouldyouliketofindyourpersonal
workvalues?
TrytheWorkValuesSorter.

GenerallearningabilityTop10%
VerbalaptitudeTop10%
NumericalaptitudeBottom10%
SpatialperceptionBottomthird
FormperceptionBottom10%
ClericalperceptionBottom10%
Eye-handcoordinationBottomthird
FingerdexterityBottomthird
ManualdexterityBottomthird

TellmemoreaboutAptitudes...

SkillsYouNeed
BasicSkills
Thefollowingskillsareimportantfor
thiscareer:
Readingcomprehensionhigh(level6)
Activelisteninghigh(level6)
Writinghigh(level7)
Speakingmedium(level5)
Criticalthinkingmedium(level5)
Activelearningmedium(level5)
Learningstrategiesmedium(level4)
Monitoringmedium(level4)

YourBasicSkills:
Nowthatyouknowthebasicskillsforthiscareer,wouldyouliketofindyour
personalbasicskills?
TrytheBasicSkillsSurvey.

Theseskillsarenecessarybutnotas
important:
Mathematicslow(level2)
Sciencelow(level2)
TellmemoreaboutBasicSkills...

TransferableSkills
Here'salistofskillsusedinthiscareerthat
arealsousedinothercareers.
Highlevelofskillrequired
Amusingandentertainingaudiences
Compilingandcatalogingwritteninformation
Givinginformationoneventsandprocedures
Preparingandorganizingverbalrecords
Writingandreportingonnewsevents
Writingideas

YourTransferableSkills:
Nowthatyouknowthetransferableskillsforthiscareer,wouldyouliketo
findyourpersonaltransferableskills?
TrytheTransferableSkillsChecklist.

TellmemoreaboutTransferableSkills...

WorkplaceSkills
Workplaceskillsarepracticedactivitiesthathelppeoplebecomesuccessfulinallkindsofcareers.Here'salistofthe
workplaceskillsthatareusedinthiscareer.
Mediumlevelofskillrequired
Complexproblemsolving
Judgmentanddecisionmaking
Socialperceptiveness
Timemanagement
TellmemoreaboutWorkplaceSkills...

ImproveYourSkills:

Skillsarewonderfulbecauseyoucanalwaysimprovethem!Allittakesisalittlehardworkandmotivation.
Soifyouseethatacareerrequiresmoreskillthanyoucurrentlyhave,don'tworryit'salwayspossibletolearnmore
skills.

WhatToLearn
HighSchool
Whathighschoolcoursesshouldyoutakeifyou'reinterestedinthiscareer?
GetyouranswersfromtheArts,Audio-VideoTechnologyandCommunicationsclusterJournalismandBroadcasting
pathway.

BeyondHighSchool
Here'salistofprogramsthatyoushouldconsiderifyou'reinterestedinthiscareer:
Communication,General
SpeechCommunicationandRhetoric
MassCommunication/MediaStudies
Journalism
BroadcastJournalism
Communication,Journalism,andRelatedPrograms,Other
FamilyandConsumerSciences/HumanSciencesCommunication
Writing,General
CreativeWriting
Professional,Technical,Business,andScientificWriting
RhetoricandComposition
PlaywritingandScreenwriting
Business/CorporateCommunications

EducationLevel
Educationtrainingandexperiencearerequiredatdifferentlevelsforsuccessindifferentoccupations.
Bachelor'sdegree
Acollegedegreegenerallyisrequiredforapositionasawriter.Althoughsomeemployerslookforabroadliberalarts
background,mostprefertohirepeoplewithdegreesincommunications,journalism,orEnglish.

ExtraRequirements
Someassociationsoffercertificationsforwritersandauthors.Certificationcandemonstratecompetenceand
professionalism,makingcandidatesmoreattractivetoemployers.Forexample,theAmericanGrantWriters'Association
(AGWA)offerstheCertifiedGrantWitercredential.Certificationcanalsoincreaseopportunitiesforadvancement.
Foradditionalinformation,visitthesewebsites:
http://www.agwa.us

MoneyAndOutlook

CaliforniaEarnings
AverageAnnualWage

$83,620

EntryAnnualWage

$35,860

ExperiencedAnnualWage $127,080
AverageHourlyWage

$40.20

EntryHourlyWage

$17.24

ExperiencedHourlyWage $61.09
MedianHourlyWage

$35.27

CaliforniaRegionalEarnings
CaliforniaMetropolitanAreasWages
Region

Riverside-SanBernardino-OntarioMSA

Average

EntryLevel

Experienced

$66,050or$31.75/hr $31,740or$15.26/hr $110,910or$53.32/hr

Region

Average

EntryLevel

Experienced

Oakland-Fremont-HaywardMD

$75,200or$36.16/hr $41,320or$19.87/hr $106,550or$51.22/hr

SanLuisObispo-PasoRoblesMSA

$47,820or$22.99/hr $24,010or$11.54/hr $67,920or$32.66/hr

Sacramento-Arden-Arcade-RosevilleMSA $48,750or$23.44/hr $32,210or$15.48/hr $76,490or$36.77/hr

SanDiego-Carlsbad-SanMarcosMSA

$70,540or$33.91/hr $34,490or$16.58/hr $95,130or$45.74/hr

SanJose-Sunnyvale-SantaClaraMSA

$75,890or$36.49/hr $36,820or$17.70/hr $117,980or$56.72/hr

SantaRosa-PetalumaMSA

$56,660or$27.24/hr $26,960or$12.96/hr $106,300or$51.11/hr

SantaAna-Anaheim-IrvineMD

$79,940or$38.43/hr $36,020or$17.32/hr $140,550or$67.57/hr

SanFrancisco-SanMateo-RedwoodCityMD $73,520or$35.35/hr $37,920or$18.23/hr $114,950or$55.27/hr

NationalEarnings
TheearningsinformationbelowisfortheoccupationalgroupWritersandAuthors.TheoccupationCreativeWriter/Poetis
partofthisgroup.
AverageAnnualWage

$67,870

AverageHourlyWage

$32.63

AverageAnnualRange

$28,640to$114,820

Note:variationsinsalariesreflectdifferencesinsizeoffirm,location,levelofeducationandprofessionalcredentials.
Wheredothesenumberscomefrom?

California'sEmploymentandOutlook(State-wide)
Stable
Annualgrowthrateisestimatedtobe9%
JobOpenings 670estimatedannualjobopenings
Outlook

Employment 21,700wereemployedinthisoccupation

California'sRegionalEmploymentandOutlook
Regionswithincreasingoutlook(over20%growthrateexpected)
Employment

ProjectedGrowth
Rate

Hanford-CorcoranMSA

30

33%

Oxnard-ThousandOaks-Ventura
MSA

130

31%

Region

AnnualOpenings
(growth)

AnnualOpenings
(replacement)

Annual
Openings

Regionswithstableoutlook(0to20%growthrateexpected)
Employment

ProjectedGrowth
Rate

Oakland-Fremont-HaywardMD

930

17%

EasternSierraRegion

10

0%

FresnoMSA

90

0%

Bakersfield-DelanoMSA

260

8%
6%

Region

LosAngeles-LongBeach-Glendale 12,540
MD

AnnualOpenings
(growth)

16

AnnualOpenings
(replacement)

Annual
Openings

20

36

76

271

347

SalinasMSA

90

0%

SantaAna-Anaheim-IrvineMD

810

19%

15

18

33

5%

10

12%

10

18

28

7%

20

26

Riverside-SanBernardino-Ontario 390
MSA
Sacramento-ArdenArcadeRosevileMSA

820

SanJose-Sunnyvale-SantaClara 900

Employment

ProjectedGrowth
Rate

SanDiego-Carlsbad-SanMarcos
MSA

1,020

18%

17

22

39

SanFrancisco-SanMateoRedwoodCityMD

2,180

8%

18

47

65

SanLuisObispo-PasoRoblesMSA 90

11%

SantaBarbara-SantaMaria-Goleta 230
MSA

9%

SantaCruz-WatsonvilleMSA

130

0%

Vallejo-FairfieldMSA

40

0%

SantaRosa-PetalumaMSA

200

15%

Region

AnnualOpenings
(growth)

AnnualOpenings
(replacement)

Annual
Openings

MSA

Regionswithdecreasingoutlook(negativegrowthrateexpected)
Region

NorthValleyRegion

Employment

ProjectedGrowth
Rate

20

-50%

AnnualOpenings
(growth)

AnnualOpenings
(replacement)

NationalEmploymentandOutlook
Outlook

JobOpenings

Employment

Growth

stable
Theemploymentchangefrom2012to2022isestimatedtobe+3%.
(TheNationalaverageforalloccupationsis+10.8%)
verysmallnumber
Atotalof3180averageannualopeningsareexpectedforthisoccupationbetween2012and2022.
(TheNationalAverageforalloccupationsis4,638openings)
smalloccupation
ThiswasasmalloccupationintheUnitedStates,employing129,100workersin2012.
(TheNationalaverageforalloccupationsis133,353workers)
Slowerthanaveragegrowth

Self-Employment In2012,64.4%ofthepeopleinthisoccupationwereself-employed.

Largeconcentrationsofthisoccupationarefoundintheseindustries

Industries

Self-employedworkers,alljobs(NAICS000600)(64.4%)
Information(NAICS510000)(11.6%)
Publishingindustries(exceptInternet)(NAICS511000)(5.6%)
OtherServices(exceptPublicAdministration)(NAICS810000)(5.4%)
Newspaper,periodical,book,anddirectorypublishers(NAICS511100)(5.2%)

Connections
InternetSites
Myfuture.com
http://www.myfuture.com

RelatedCareerInformationSources
O*NET-SOCoccupation
Poets,LyricistsandCreativeWriters27-3043.05
http://www.onetcenter.org/online.html
SOCoccupation
WritersandAuthors27-3043
http://www.bls.gov/soc/
OccupationalOutlookHandbook
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/

Annual
Openings

MilitaryCareerOpportunities
Noneavailable

JobBankLinks
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