Writers
Education & Training
Preparation
To work as a writer, you typically need to:
- have a high school diploma or GED;
- have a bachelor's degree; and
- complete long-term on-the-job training.
Education after high school
There are several ways to prepare for this occupation. One way is to complete a bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, or English. Another approach is to get a liberal arts degree. In general, liberal arts programs teach you how to write. Thus, you can major in English, psychology, sociology, or several other areas. You gain knowledge of that area and you learn to write.
Work experience
You can develop writing skills in many ways. For example, you can prepare for this field by working on a school newspaper or yearbook. Any writing experience is valuable, paid or not. Many students work as interns while they are in high school or college to get experience. You should keep examples of your work in a portfolio.
On-the-job training
Beginning writers often start with smaller firms or do routine tasks at first. You often begin by doing research or proofreading for experienced writers. You write routine pieces to gain experience. Later, you get more control over your work and tougher writing assignments. Training typically lasts at least one year.
Related Programs (Current training programs available)
- Communication, General.
- Communication Studies/Speech Communication and Rhetoric
- Mass Communication/Media Studies
- Journalism
- Broadcast Journalism
- Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other
- Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Communication
- English Composition
- Writing, General.
- Creative Writing
- Technical and Business Writing
- Rhetoric and Composition.
- Speech and Rhetorical Studies
- Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies, Other.
- General Literature.
- Children's and Adolescent Literature.
- Playwriting and Screenwriting
- Business/Corporate Communications
Fields of Study (What to study to prepare for this career)
Click on any of the Fields of Study listed below to find out more about preparing for this career.
- African Studies
- African-American and Black Studies
- American Studies
- Asian Studies
- Asian-American Studies
- Broadcast Journalism
- Central and Eastern European Studies
- Communication and Speech Studies
- Comparative Literature
- Creative Writing
- Desktop Publishing and Digital Imaging
- Digital Communication and Media
- Dramatic Arts
- East Asian Studies
- English Composition and Writing
- English Language and Literature
- Family and Consumer Sciences, General
- Film Studies
- Journalism
- Latin American Studies
- Latino Studies
- Mass Communication Studies
- Native American Studies
- Near and Middle Eastern Studies
- Playwriting and Screenwriting
- Public Relations
- Radio and Television
- Russian Studies
- Science, Technology, and Society
- Sociology
- South and Southeast Asian Studies
- Technical and Business Writing
- Web Page and Multimedia Design
- Western European Studies
- Women's Studies
Level of Education
The table below lists the level of education attained by a subset of workers in this occupation. The workers surveyed were between age 25 and 44.
| Education level attained | Percentage of workers in this occupation* |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 1 |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3 |
| Some college, no degree | 9 |
| Associate degree | 3 |
| Bachelor's degree | 50 |
| Master's degree | 26 |
| Doctoral (Ph.D.) or professional degree | 8 |
* National data for writers and authors (SOC 27-3043).
Helpful High School Courses
In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum may be different from your state's graduation requirements.
You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.
Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this occupation include:
- American Literature
- Computer Applications
- Creative Writing
- English Literature
- Keyboarding
- Technical Writing
- World Literature
Many writers are self-employed. If you want to run your own business some day, you should consider taking these courses as well:
- Accounting
- Entrepreneurship
- Introduction to Business
The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.
You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.
Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career.
Source: Minnesota Department of Education.
