Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers
Create original written works, such as scripts, essays, prose, poetry or song lyrics, for publication or performance.
Also called: Author · Creative Writer · Fiction Writer · Freelance Writer · Librettist · Lyricist
Median pay (national)
$72,270
$41,080–$133,680 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
47,800
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+3.6%
~13,400 openings/yr
Typical entry
Bachelor's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for poets, lyricists and creative writers shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $133,680 versus $41,080 at the bottom 10% — 3.3x. The median of $72,270 leaves roughly 85% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +3.6% from 2024 to 2034 — about as fast as the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 13,400 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 47 states with released data, District of Columbia pays the most for this role (median $121,160, +68% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $37,190 — a 226% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Writing, Reading Comprehension, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
Tailor your resume to Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers
Honest tailoring
See how your resume lines up with Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers
Refit re-angles your real experience toward this role using the skills above — and never invents skills you don't have. A no-fabrication gate checks every change before you see it.
Free. No account needed to see your first re-fit.
Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Writing
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Active Listening
- Learning Strategies
- Monitoring
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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.
- Attend book launches and publicity events, or conduct public readings.
- Follow appropriate procedures to get copyrights for completed work.
Tools & technology
- Adobe Creative Cloud software
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
- WordPress
- Apple iWork Pages
- Ashley Software Writer's Blocks
- AutoCrit Editing Wizard
- Bare Bones Software BBEdit
- Blogger
- Contour Storyteller
- Google Drive
- Literature & Latte Scrivener
- MasterWriter
- OpenOffice.org
Knowledge areas
- English Language
- Communications and Media
- Computers and Electronics
- Administrative
- Sales and Marketing
- Fine Arts
- Psychology
- History and Archeology