Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers

What the job really is

Create original written works, such as scripts, essays, prose, poetry or song lyrics, for publication or performance.

At a glance

• Sector: Arts, Design & Media
• O*NET-SOC code: 27-3043
• O*NET job zone: 4 — considerable preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• 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.
• Revise written material to meet personal standards and to satisfy needs of clients, publishers, directors, or producers.
• Choose subject matter and suitable form to express personal feelings and experiences or ideas, or to narrate stories or events.
• Prepare works in appropriate format for publication, and send them to publishers or producers.
• Conduct research to obtain factual information and authentic detail, using sources such as newspaper accounts, diaries, and interviews.
• Confer with clients, editors, publishers, or producers to discuss changes or revisions to written material.
• 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.
• Write narrative, dramatic, lyric, or other types of poetry for publication.
• Write words to fit musical compositions, including lyrics for operas, musical plays, and choral works.

Tools and technology

Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Creative Cloud software, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, Facebook, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, WordPress, Apple iWork Pages

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Writers and Authors
• Editors
• News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists
• Producers and Directors
• Technical Writers
• Film and Video Editors
• Proofreaders and Copy Markers
• Music Directors and Composers

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 4 (considerable preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.