Writers and Authors
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
Drafts begin as a script, story, advertisement, or other piece, then get rewritten so the language and tone fit the product and the medium. Advertising assignments are planned with a creative director and art director, using advertising trends and consumer surveys to decide how to present a product. Clients review drafts, discuss themes and methods, and request changes; the same workload can include articles, bulletins, sales letters, and speeches. Time is split between writing and meetings to present ideas. The work fits a preference for original drafting, careful word choice, and changing tone for different products and media.
Typical education: Bachelor’s Degree (4-year)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$76'910
Median Wage Market Position
$76'910
What you might do
- Draft scripts, stories, ads, and articles
- Vary language and tone for each medium
- Present drafts and ideas to clients
- Discuss product themes and copy changes
- Decide with directors how to present ads
- Review ad trends and consumer surveys
Skills that matter
- Writing ads, articles, and sales letters
- Tone and language shifted by product and medium
- Drafts and ideas presented to clients
- Talks with clients about themes and changes
- Advertising trends and surveys read for direction
- Campaigns planned with creative and art directors
AI & the future of this role
Outline generation, first drafts, and formulaic copy are areas models might handle cheaply. Distinctive voice, original research, and audience trust can still set work apart, though commoditized writing demand may ease over the decade.
Does Writers and Authors fit your values?
Take the free LostInCareer assessment to see personalized matches based on your core values—not just a personality label.
Related careers
Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details