OR How can I turn my writing into a career?
Helping my students turn their love for words and ability to write into a career is exactly what I’ve been trying to do with my life for the past 15 years.
I’m planning a class for spring 2025 that will be the introductory class to my Professional Writing major here at Taylor U. But I’ve set my sights a bit bigger as I also want to invite into the class any student who might be sitting around considering their major and thinking, “But I’m also a pretty good writer.” I want to offer a class where they can explore how their ability with words (which, believe me, isn’t something everyone has) can be leveraged into many types of jobs in their chosen fields.
Here’s the deal: Even though I teach the students who major in Professional Writing about the ins and outs of writing well and book publishing, I don’t leave them with the unrealistic dream that they’ll be able to make a living off the royalties from their published books (if, indeed, they get published). My students who have had their books published often still have day jobs — or have spouses who have day jobs. (I know you writers, laboring in the evenings or early mornings on your manuscripts in between bouts of “real life,” understand this.)
Most of my alumni are using their ability with words in many fields. I currently have former students in the following jobs:
- Copy writer
- Magazine editor
- Book editor
- Freelance editor
- Digital content strategist
- Communications director
- Marketing director
- SEO specialist
- Publicist
- Acquisitions editor
- Literary agent
- Author
- Technical writer
- Social media director
- Proofreader
- Email marketing manager
- Blog writer
- Web writer
- Content writer
And no, AI is not going to replace all of these people. In fact, I plan to teach ways to use AI strategically to help us (and it can). However, we’re going to learn what we humans still need to know to help AI do its thing, as well as to help it deliver what’s needed.
Thus, as I create my syllabus for the coming semester, I hope to expose my students to the many opportunities available to anyone who can string words together in a coherent, concise, and clear manner. Good writers are desperately needed because content is desperately needed almost literally everywhere. Even writing a good email has become a lost art.
What jobs are you aware of that need good writers? Even if you’re a novelist by night or hammering away at your opus, where else do you use your writing skills?
Help me give my students some encouragement!
Linda Taylor: Teacher, Editor, Publishing Professional 
A great list!
Some agents offer internships. The interns read incoming manuscripts. A good way to learn about publishing. Publishers also have editorial assistant jobs.
Educational publishers also need curriculum writers. I worked in educational publishing for many years.
I have a few names of agents … haven’t run across many who are willing to take on interns. If you have a couple to recommend to me, could you email me at linda_taylor1@taylor.edu?
Same with the educational publishers for curriculum writers. That sounds like a really interesting job. Would love it if you could chat via Zoom with one of my classes about that kind of work!
Great post, Linda. Although my alma mater did not have a writing major, which would have been my first choice, I’ve still used what I’ve learned in a myriad of ways throughout the years, including in my very first job right out of college as an insurance administrator writing personal letters in response to difficult claims. I taught business writing at a private college some years later, and also wrote freelance articles for a regional publication. As you know, my first book didn’t release from a traditional publisher until I was 67. Writing well will benefit your students throughout their professional careers. And another example: our 38 year old son majored in writing at APU, and it was that very major that landed him a great job with Apple corporate as a Digital Designer.
I love every bit of this! The business writing piece is so important. I teach that class here (well, they call it Essentials of Written Communication, so it’s a bit wider than business), and in this new class, I want to explore further types of genres. I might just be in touch about some of that with you!