A writing and editing career often starts out with a position as an intern, editorial assistant, proofreader, or fact-checker. Writers find opportunities to contribute (freelance or otherwise) to local newspapers, websites, or school papers. This provides materials to begin building a portfolio.
Depending on what field you want to go into (book publishing, newspaper publishing, website publishing, etc.), entry-level jobs come in a variety of packages. Among editorial and writing careers, the following career paths in either print or online publications are the most familiar.
Career Path
The creative writing field is very broad and includes a variety of genres and options:
| Children's literature | Fiction |
| Poetry | Articles |
| Romance | Non-fiction |
| Science fiction/ Fantasy | Mystery/Suspense |
| Scriptwriting | Playwriting |
| Science writing |
These writers work with the help of an agent to sell or get their works published.
It's hard to break into the field, but it can be lucrative. Get connected with others in the industry to get your foot in the door. An advanced degree in English (MFA) is helpful but not always necessary.
Compensation
|
Editorial Assistant |
$20,000-35,000 |
| Copyeditor | $25,000-45,000 |
| Reporter/writer | $20,000-125,000 |
| Ass./Section Editor | $25,000-75,000 |
| Senior Editor | $50,000-120,000 |
| Managing Editor | $45,000-120,000 |
| Executive Editor | $50,000-200,000 |
Salaries in these fields range widely across the board. Small publications tend to pay less than big publications. New media and online companies generally have better compensation, but also add a lot of pressure to their offline counterparts to raise salaries.
The type of writing you do will influence the amount you make. Business writers or writers who know a lot about a specific industry/technology will make more than feature writers or reporters who are doing work that most are interested in.
Resources Links
- http://www.writersdigest.com/
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http://www.fiber-net.com/pub/hge/
The New Writer’s Market, enables authors to publish their work. -
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/home.htm
Occupational Outlook Handbook information on writers and editors. - http://www.bookwire.com/