Poets, lyricists, and creative writers create original written works, such as scripts, essays, prose, poetry, or song lyrics, for publication or performance.

  • 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.
  • Attend book launches and publicity events, or conduct public readings.
  • Collaborate with other writers on specific projects.
  • Write narrative, dramatic, lyric, or other types of poetry for publication.
  • Adapt text to accommodate musical requirements of composers and singers.
  • 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.
Work Context
  • Freedom to Make Decisions — 97% responded "A lot of freedom".
  • Structured versus Unstructured Work — 82% responded "A lot of freedom".
  • Level of Competition — 67% responded "Extremely competitive".
  • Spend Time Sitting — 60% responded "Continually or almost continually".
  • Electronic Mail — 52% responded "Every day".
  • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 34% responded "Extremely important".
  • Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions — 31% responded "More than half the time".
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Work Activities
  • Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
  • Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Developing Objectives and Strategies — Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
  • Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Edit written materials.
  • Determine presentation subjects or content.
  • Write material for artistic or entertainment purposes.
  • Coordinate artistic activities.
  • Write material for artistic or entertainment purposes.
  • Obtain copyrights or other legal permissions.
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Knowledge

English Language
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.

Skills

Writing
  • Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Reading Comprehension
  • Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening
  • 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
  • Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
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Abilities

Written Expression
  • The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Fluency of Ideas
  • 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
  • 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
  • The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Office suite software
  • Google Drive Hot Technology
  • OpenOffice.org
Word processing software
  • Microsoft Word Hot Technology
  • RoughDraft
  • ScriptPerfection Power Writer
  • Storymind StoryWeaver
  • Apple iWorks Pages
  • WhiteSmoke
  • Write Brothers Dramatica
  • Ravenshead Services WriteItNow
  • Power Structure
  • Ashley Software Writer's Blocks
  • AutoCrit Editing Wizard
  • Contour Storyteller
  • Literature & Latte Scrivener
  • MasterWriter
  • WriteWay Pro
Text to speech conversion software
  • Text to speech software
Web page creation and editing software
  • Tumblr
  • WordPress
  • Red Sweater MarsEdit
  • Bare Bones Software BBEdit
  • Blogger