What Do Writers Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for writers?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what writers do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Writers Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about writers by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Writers originate and prepare written material, such as scripts, stories, advertisements, and other material.
Popular Job Titles For Writers
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Copywriters
- Content Writers
- Article Writers
- Social Media Content Creators
- Content Creators
- Service Writers
- Specification Writers
- Digital Content Producers
- Writers
- Marketing Copywriters
- Curriculum Writers
- Content Developers
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for writers can be found.
Best Industries for Writers
Writers Jobs By Industry
- Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services: 13.5%
- Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers: 10.4%
- Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers: 10%
- Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services: 8.2%
- Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers: 5.3%
- Motion Picture and Video Industries: 4.7%
- Other: 47.9%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of writers can be found working in the Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services sector. In 2023, about 13.5% of all jobs for writers were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (10.4%), Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (10%), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (8.2%), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (5.3%) and Motion Picture and Video Industries (4.7%).
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What Do Writers Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what writers do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work writers do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that writers tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for writers, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Writers
Based on 41,783 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Writers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing | 13,019 | 31% |
| Copywriting | 10,199 | 24% |
| Social Media | 9,013 | 22% |
| Content Creation | 8,216 | 20% |
| Journalism | 8,171 | 20% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Writers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Writing | 20,342 | 49% |
| Communication | 18,448 | 44% |
| Research | 11,541 | 28% |
| Detail Oriented | 10,575 | 25% |
| Editing | 10,384 | 25% |
Based on 41,783 job postings related to writers, marketing was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 31% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for copywriting, social media, content creation, journalism and search engine optimization were also highly sought.
As for common skills, writing was the most desired skill found in job postings for writers, followed by communication, research, detail oriented, editing and english language.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing | 13,019 | 31% |
| Copywriting | 10,199 | 24% |
| Social Media | 9,013 | 22% |
| Content Creation | 8,216 | 20% |
| Journalism | 8,171 | 20% |
| Search Engine Optimization | 6,174 | 15% |
| Project Management | 5,981 | 14% |
| Proofreading | 5,422 | 13% |
| Artificial Intelligence | 3,221 | 8% |
| Content Strategy | 3,177 | 8% |
| Target Audience | 3,090 | 7% |
| Digital Content | 3,048 | 7% |
| TikTok | 2,883 | 7% |
| Fact Checking | 2,877 | 7% |
| Social Media Content | 2,718 | 7% |
| Blogs | 2,397 | 6% |
| Content Development | 2,338 | 6% |
| Digital Marketing | 2,244 | 5% |
| Adobe Photoshop | 2,227 | 5% |
| Newsletters | 2,171 | 5% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Writing | 20,342 | 49% |
| Communication | 18,448 | 44% |
| Research | 11,541 | 28% |
| Detail Oriented | 10,575 | 25% |
| Editing | 10,384 | 25% |
| English Language | 10,214 | 24% |
| Grammar | 6,025 | 14% |
| Management | 6,025 | 14% |
| Leadership | 4,863 | 12% |
| Ability To Meet Deadlines | 4,776 | 11% |
| Sales | 4,733 | 11% |
| Self-Motivation | 4,729 | 11% |
| Presentations | 4,608 | 11% |
| Problem Solving | 4,547 | 11% |
| Customer Service | 4,536 | 11% |
| Time Management | 4,196 | 10% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 4,132 | 10% |
| Microsoft Office | 4,035 | 10% |
| Multitasking | 3,952 | 9% |
| Microsoft Excel | 3,827 | 9% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Writers
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Copywriters | 10,396 | 21.5% |
| Content Writers | 6,408 | 13.3% |
| Article Writers | 5,746 | 11.9% |
| Social Media Content Creators | 3,591 | 7.4% |
| Content Creators | 3,227 | 6.7% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was copywriters, with 4,794 unique job postings. Content writers were second, with 1,471 postings, followed by article writers, social media content creators and content creators.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to writers.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Copywriters | 10,396 | 21.5% |
| Content Writers | 6,408 | 13.3% |
| Article Writers | 5,746 | 11.9% |
| Social Media Content Creators | 3,591 | 7.4% |
| Content Creators | 3,227 | 6.7% |
| Service Writers | 2,695 | 5.6% |
| Specification Writers | 1,174 | 2.4% |
| Digital Content Producers | 1,782 | 3.7% |
| Writers | 1,220 | 2.5% |
| Marketing Copywriters | 1,192 | 2.5% |
| Curriculum Writers | 910 | 1.9% |
| Content Developers | 1,051 | 2.2% |
| Content Specialists | 726 | 1.5% |
| Ticket Writers | 941 | 1.9% |
| Digital Content Creators | 867 | 1.8% |
| Digital Producers | 824 | 1.7% |
| Customs Entry Writers | 2,742 | 5.7% |
| Social Media Managers/Content Creators | 983 | 2% |
| Entry Writers | 1,287 | 2.7% |
| Breaking News Editors | 531 | 1.1% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for writers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for writers.
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