Media and Communication Workers

How to become a Poets, Lyricist or Creative Writer

Official title: Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers

Also called: Author, Creative Writer, Fiction Writer, Freelance Writer, Librettist, Lyricist, Nonfiction Writer, Novelist, Poet, Songwriter

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

Main tasks

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.

How to become one

A college degree in English, communications, or journalism is generally required for a full-time position as a writer or author. Experience gained through internships or any writing that improves skill, such as blogging, is beneficial.

Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

College: Creative Arts & Design degrees, Offered by 32 universities in the US

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $76,910 a year The middle half earn $58,230 to $101,950.
About 140,300 people work in this job now, and about 139,900 are projected by 2035. (-0.3%)
People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Poets, Lyricist or Creative Writer?

How much does a Poets, Lyricist or Creative Writer earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $76,910 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $58,230 to $101,950.

Is a Poets, Lyricist or Creative Writer a growing career in the US?

Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 140,300 people now and 139,900 later (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Poets, Lyricist or Creative Writer?

Usually. 83% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Poets, Lyricist or Creative Writer?

People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.