“There Are No Writing Jobs” is a Blatant Lie
Three in-demand, well-paying writing careers (plus a bonus).
Writing is a weird skill.
Everyone can write, but not everyone can… write write.
The US has a literacy rate of nearly 80%. Just about everyone can write at some level. And that’s for good reason.
Writing is a baseline skill that is necessary for learning other skills. We don’t teach kindergarteners to code, because coding is a specialized skill. Coding doesn't hold much value for kids who don’t want to become software developers. At least, not right now.
But writing is a necessity. It makes you a better speaker, learner, and thinker. Take a look at any — and I mean any — job post, and I guarantee they are looking for someone who can communicate. It’s a vitally important skill.
So, we teach kids to write.
But there’s a major difference between being able to write and being a skilled writer. The gap in between is what creates opportunities for people to get paid to write.
Technically, everyone can draw. I can pick up a pen, conjure up some inspiration, and draw a picture. And so can just about everyone else.
That doesn’t mean I should be designing the cover of books, though. Publishing companies hire professional artists to draw for them.
In a similar fashion, organizations need professional writers. The success of many key business functions — marketing, communications, user experience — depends on good, well-researched writing.
I’ve always been told that “there are no writing jobs”. That statement is an instant dream killer. I thought that great writers were forced to chase the extremely risky enterprise of book writing or the crowded journalism space.
But that statement is wrong. In fact, there are tons of jobs specifically designed for writers. And these opportunities are abundant, well-paying, and rewarding.
So writers, rejoice: you can find a job that utilizes writing. From writing sales pages to composing user manuals, the opportunities are endless.
Here are some of the types of writing businesses are hiring for in 2022:
Copywriting
Copywriting is the most talked about form of paid writing — and for good reason. It’s popular, well-paying, and fun.
This style of writing falls under the marketing arm of most businesses. Copywriting is used to make readers take action — whether that’s buying a product, signing up for an email list, or following a social media page. It’s short, persuasive, and direct, but it’s a craft that takes expertise to perfect.
Businesses hire copywriters to fulfill three needs: time, specialization, and perspective.
Sure, business owners could write their own copy, but crafting great copy is a time-consuming process. Outsourcing copy saves business owners time, and it places the task into specialized hands.
Copywriters usually have the marketing background to add meaningful expertise to copy. These writers are typically experts in subjects like target audiences, brand voice, and tone. With this know-how, copywriters create copy that connects with customers and makes them act.
Lastly, it can be helpful to get an outside voice’s perspective on your copy. Copywriters help business owners dumb down their content. Jargon and complicated language are a recipe for bad copy that makes readers run from your website. With their fresh perspective, copywriters help business owners write direct, understandable, and readable copy.
This career is popular, but it’s still growing. There are currently over 130,000 copywriters in the US, and copywriting opportunities are expected to grow by 7.6% over the next four years.
If you’re a writer with an eye for marketing, branding, and consumer behavior, copywriting could be an excellent career for you.
Content Writing
Another well-known writing field is copywriting’s deeper, more mysterious cousin: content writing.
Content writing focuses less on persuasion and more on engagement. This style of writing tends to be longer and more detailed, and it can include company blogs, newsletters, and marketing materials.
Businesses hire content writers to save time and create a stream of meaningful content.
Have you ever sat down to write a 1500-word blog post? It takes a while, trust me.
It’s not just writing, either: you also need to outline, do research, and conduct interviews to prepare yourself. We’re talking several hours to create one good piece of written content.
Many business owners want to distribute on-brand content to the public, but they simply don’t have time. So they outsource this function to a content writer, who takes the time to compose well-written and researched pieces.
Consumers value deep experiences and connections with brands. Publishing content fills this desire; business owners are able to directly educate, update, and engage their audience.
Whether that’s through a blog, social media, or newsletter, this writing function is essential for any company looking for success in 2022. Content writing is a smaller field than copywriting, but it may be primed for growth over the next decade as businesses respond to consumer trends.
If you enjoy crafting long-form content, doing research, and connecting with consumers, content writing may be an excellent career for you.
Technical Writing
Technical writing is a lesser-known writing field, but it’s different than any entry on this list.
It’s also the most profitable entry on this list, and it is growing at a rapid pace.
Businesses are chock full of complicated information. Communicating — both internally and externally — is difficult when the subject at hand is complicated or specialized.
Technical writers help businesses communicate across departments and directly to consumers. Their job is to make complex information easy to understand through writing. This may be accomplished through crafting user manuals, writing code documentation, or publishing content online.
Technical writing is the most specialized career on this list. These professionals need to have deep subject matter expertise in a particular field — whether that’s finance, engineering, or computer science — and they need to have outstanding communication skills.
But using these skills in tandem, technical writers are essential. These writers earn an average salary of over $70k, and innovative companies like Google, Microsoft, and Tesla are always hiring.
For writers with technical expertise, this avenue of writing can be lucrative, fulfilling, and challenging in all the right ways.
Bonus: UX Writing
UX writing is a newer writing career, and the role can often feel like a mixture of a designer, researcher, and writer. But nonetheless, UX writing has opened a new door for writers who are interested in usability and product design.
If you’ve ever helped your grandpa sign up for an online account, you know how crucial user experience is. Great UX writing and design help users know where to click, what information to enter, and how to use the underlying product or service.
UX writers are tasked with researching different designs and copy, with the end goal being to make the product easy to use.
This career is an excellent option for writers with a background in web design, coding, digital products, or tech. Like technical writers, UX writers are often hired by tech companies, since they tend to be focused on user experience.
And as you could probably guess, UX writers are well-paid; GlassDoor reports these writers make over $74k per year.
The sentiment that “there are no writing jobs” is wrong. Businesses need writers on staff to sell products, engage customers, document information, and design usable products.
Plus, all four of these functions — and more — can be pursued through a freelance career, as well.
So writers, don’t be discouraged. You can find a way to get paid to do what you love.
What types of paid writing did I miss? Leave a reply!
