Writers and authors have the challenge of putting words on pages and screens. They have to consider how many and which words to use, flow of sentences, and impact on readers. All of this must lead to a goal – website text must get customers to buy a product, while the story of a novel must resonate with audiences. It is a career path that can be very rewarding and extremely frustrating, and can be pursued in many different ways.

There were over 54,000 people working as authors or writers in Canada in 2014. They were writing things such as content for companies to sell products, creative stories for readers, and blogs for websites. Writers have to be very self-determined, as they often write on their own remotely. It can be lonely work. They have to make sure their words are to the liking of the editor or employer they are submitting to, and sometimes have to deal with very negative feedback. However, writers have a lot of freedom that is different from many full-time jobs. They can work from home, libraries, or coffee shops, and do not have a strict day-to-day schedule. Writers have the satisfaction of creating works that are shared online or in books, and are read by a great number of people.

A writer earns an average annual salary of around $40,500. At first, they can expect to start at around $26,700, but can work up to over $66,000. Those who focus on technical writing or proofreading can expect to make more than others. Although there are many people seeking jobs in the field, there are also many job openings. From 2015 to 2024, it is expected that there will be slightly more job opportunities than people seeking jobs in the writing industry. They may not get the exact job they wanted, but hopeful writers can definitely find something related to what they want.

Most people in the field end up in arts, entertainment and recreation. There are many college courses and programs that offer credentials to begin this journey. Most employers will be looking for an undergraduate degree in a writing-heavy subject, such as English or History. From there, hopefuls can take on internships or workshops to get their foot in the door. These opportunities help them meet the right people. Networking plays a big role in finding success.

Since authors and writers have a lot of freedom and often work a freelance lifestyle, it makes it very possible to change fields and pursue other work. Scriptwriters can work on articles at the same time. Technical writers can do blogs on the side. As long as one can manage their time and make enough to cover basic expenses, there are a lot of opportunities to change fields or advance in the industry. It is a good idea to have a consistent part-time job. This will make sure there is enough time to write, but also make sure there is income during periods when there are few writing opportunities.

Authors and writers can change lives with their words. Modern technology makes it possible to share these words in many different ways, providing job opportunities across the globe. Those looking to become writers need to be prepared to put in the effort to seek out those opportunities and deal with a great amount of uncertainty. The best thing to do is to start writing right this minute. Keep networking with new people, keep job searching, and no matter what, keep writing.

Sources:

Job Bank. “Authors and Writers.” https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/report-eng.do?area=9219&lang=eng&noc=5121&action=final&ln=n&s=2

PayScale. “Writer Salary.” https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Writer/Salary

Truity. “Writer or Author.” https://www.truity.com/career-profile/writer-or-author