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Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers
Overview
Salary
Demand
Core Tasks
Technology Skills
Tools Used
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Top 10 Skills
Top 10 Abilities
Top 10 Work Activities
Detailed Work Activities
Work Context
Education
Majors
Interests
Top 10 Work Styles
Work Values
Related Careers
Overview
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Experience
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Education
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Job Training
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Examples
Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, chemists, art directors, and cost estimators.
Create original written works, such as scripts, essays, prose, poetry or song lyrics, for publication or performance.
Salary Salary
Salary at 10th Percentile: $35K
Salary at 25th Percentile: $49K
Median Salary: $67K
Salary at 75th Percentile: $94K
Salary at 90th Percentile: $133K
Demand
Core Tasks
Write fiction or nonfiction prose, such as short stories, novels, biographies, articles, descriptive or critical analyses, and essays.
Develop factors such as themes, plots, characterizations, psychological analyses, historical environments, action, and dialogue to create material.
Prepare works in appropriate format for publication, and send them to publishers or producers.
Revise written material to meet personal standards and to satisfy needs of clients, publishers, directors, or producers.
Confer with clients, editors, publishers, or producers to discuss changes or revisions to written material.
Choose subject matter and suitable form to express personal feelings and experiences or ideas, or to narrate stories or events.
Conduct research to obtain factual information and authentic detail, using sources such as newspaper accounts, diaries, and interviews.
Plan project arrangements or outlines, and organize material accordingly.
Follow appropriate procedures to get copyrights for completed work.
Write narrative, dramatic, lyric, or other types of poetry for publication.
Attend book launches and publicity events, or conduct public readings.
Adapt text to accommodate musical requirements of composers and singers.
Collaborate with other writers on specific projects.
Write words to fit musical compositions, including lyrics for operas, musical plays, and choral works.
Write humorous material for publication, or for performances such as comedy routines, gags, and comedy shows.
Teach writing classes.
Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Tools Used
Tool
Example
Top 10 Knowledge Required
English Language
98%
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Communications and Media
78%
Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Psychology
69%
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Clerical
59%
Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
Sales and Marketing
59%
Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Sociology and Anthropology
59%
Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
Computers and Electronics
58%
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Fine Arts
57%
Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
History and Archeology
53%
Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
Law and Government
47%
Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Top 10 Skills
Writing
95%
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Reading Comprehension
85%
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening
78%
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking
75%
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Speaking
73%
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Learning
70%
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Complex Problem Solving
68%
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Judgment and Decision Making
68%
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Social Perceptiveness
63%
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Coordination
58%
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Top 10 Abilities
Written Expression
93%
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Fluency of Ideas
85%
The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Originality
85%
The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
Written Comprehension
83%
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Near Vision
80%
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Oral Comprehension
75%
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression
75%
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Inductive Reasoning
70%
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Deductive Reasoning
68%
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Category Flexibility
65%
The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Top 10 Work Activities
Thinking Creatively
99%
Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
Interacting With Computers
85%
Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Getting Information
83%
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
80%
Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
75%
Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
70%
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Developing Objectives and Strategies
69%
Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
Documenting/Recording Information
69%
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization
67%
Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
66%
Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Detailed Work Activities
Edit written materials.
Determine presentation subjects or content.
Write material for artistic or entertainment purposes.
Coordinate artistic activities.
Obtain copyrights or other legal permissions.
Discuss production content and progress with others.
Conduct research to inform art, designs, or other work.
Promote products, activities, or organizations.
Train others on work processes.
Collaborate with others to prepare or perform artistic productions.
Work Context
Freedom to Make Decisions
How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
Structured versus Unstructured Work
To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
Level of Competition
To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
Spend Time Sitting
How much does this job require sitting?
Electronic Mail
How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
How important is repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job?
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
Education
Majors based on the broader career Writers and Authors
Major
Interests
Artistic
100%
Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Investigative
72%
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Enterprising
53%
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Social
34%
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Conventional
29%
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Realistic
24%
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Top 10 Work Styles
Persistence
99%
Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Independence
97%
Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Initiative
94%
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Innovation
93%
Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
Achievement/Effort
92%
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Attention to Detail
90%
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Adaptability/Flexibility
83%
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Stress Tolerance
83%
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Dependability
82%
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Integrity
76%
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Work Values
Achievement
86%
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Independence
81%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Recognition
72%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
Working Conditions
69%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Relationships
39%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Support
29%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
