Picture it, stepping out of your college or university gates and into a world of possibilities. You’re a young person, maybe just graduated, and you’ve got a degree in creative writing. What do you see? Do you see yourself working in an office, writing business briefs or perhaps acting as a company secretary? Most likely, you’ll be tempted to throw your arms up in the air and do a little jig. After all, this is what your studies have prepared you for, isn’t it? Well, maybe not exactly.
What will you do now that you’re a creative writing graduate? The answer to that question could be found in the feedback you receive from former tutors, professors and even other graduates. With a creative writing degree from Sheffield Hallam University, you’ll be able to secure job interviews for freelance writing positions or even take on a full-time job as a content creator for a digital publisher. If you’re looking for inspiration, take a look at some of the highest-paying jobs for creative writing graduates.
Freelance Writing
The majority of jobs available to creative writing graduates are in the field of freelancing. If you’re able to secure a good reputation as a writer, landing small writing assignments can evolve into something much more lucrative. The key to this is demonstrating that you can produce high-quality content on demand. If you want to make your life more luxurious, freelance writing is the perfect opportunity to do so. You’ll be taking on projects that interest you, which could include anything from copywriting and content curation for a luxury goods company to editing an e-book for an indie publisher. In fact, a lot of the work you’ll do as a creative writing graduate will be for small businesses, bloggers, and charity foundations. It’s a lucrative industry and one that continues to grow.
Editorial Marketing
If you’re a fast typer and enjoy putting words together, you might consider applying for an editorial marketing job. Like a lot of other content creators, you’ll be producing material for use in online articles or magazines. The scope of the work will vary but could include creating press releases, pitching story ideas to publishers or managing social media accounts for a fashion or lifestyle brand. Like a lot of other jobs in this category, the ideal candidate for this role will be able to demonstrate that they can work efficiently and independently, with a minimum of supervision.
Business & Corporate Law
A less creative but still incredibly lucrative opportunity for graduate lawyers is to set up shop in a law firm or corporation, drafting business contracts, negotiating purchase agreements and completing legal research. If you’d like to make a quick buck, you could consider channelling your inner Sherlock Holmes and specializing in solving legal problems for local businesses. You’ll also be working with larger clients, taking on more complex legal assignments and drafting legal documents, which could include enterprise agreements, shareholders’ agreements or partnership contracts.
Content Creation
If you have a knack for storytelling and can crank out content quickly, you could consider applying for a job in content creation. This role will vary from creating online magazines for businesses to editing podcasts or e-books for publications or influencers. The ideal candidate for this role will be able to take a creative approach to their work, coming up with ideas for content that is both interesting and engaging. If you’ve got a talent for graphic design or photography, you could consider applying for a job as a content strategist, coming up with ideas for editorial boards and websites for businesses. In this role, you’ll work closely with marketing and communications teams to create engaging content that makes a difference.
Novelty Writing
A job in novelty writing is something of a mix between editorial marketing and content creation. It might even be considered a blend of the two. As the name suggests, you’ll be writing short stories for publication in magazines or online. The exact scope of the work will depend on the business but could include copywriting for advertisements, product reviews or social media campaigns, along with the occasional short story. Because these are generally contract jobs, you’ll need to be prepared to work hard but not for long. The pay for this kind of work varies but is typically within the £20,000 to £30,000 range, plus bonuses and benefits. If you’re looking for inspiration, you could take a look at some of the highest-paying books for writers.
Copywriting & Content Strategy
If you’re an experienced copywriter, you might consider applying for a job in content strategy. In this role, you’ll be pitching content to various influencers and bloggers for publication, or creating content for use on a blog or website. Because this is a strategic role, you’ll need to have an eye for marketing and be able to come up with content that is both interesting and engaging. The key to this is being able to craft pitches for influencers to become a regular part of their publication. The ideal candidate for this role will be able to work efficiently on their own, hitting deadlines and providing the best possible content. As a content strategist, you’ll be involved in the whole content creation process, from coming up with the idea for the piece to helping to draft the article or video. Depending on the size of the firm, you could be working with up to five co-workers, with the team splitting the workload. The salary for this role can vary but is likely to be within the £30,000 to £40,000 range, plus perks and benefits. If you’re looking for inspiration, you could take a look at some of the highest-paying books for writers.
Graduate Teaching
If you’re looking for further inspiration, you could teach English as a second language to adults or even children. You’ll be working with students either face-to-face or via online platforms such as Skype, delivering classes and marking assignments. The pay for this kind of work varies but is typically within the £20,000 to £30,000 range, dependent on the experience of the school. If you’re looking to make some extra cash, you could take a part-time job as a casual English teacher in a school but, depending on what type of teacher you are, the hours may be long and the pay isn’t great. Overall, however, teaching is a great way to get into writing and prove that you can work hard while also being able to provide for your family. In addition to all of this, you’ll also be contributing to your local community by helping to raise awareness of mental health issues.
Mental Health Foundation Writing
For those with a talent for writing and a desire to contribute to improving the mental health of those around them, you could consider applying for a job at a charity that focuses on mental health issues. There are a number of prestigious charities that offer lucrative employment to writers, helping to fund your passion for mental health via your writing. The range of assignments available to you will be limited but could include reporting on scientific research or the work of local NGOs, contributing to blogs and social media platforms or even creating your own digital magazine aimed at helping people with mental health problems. Depending on the size of the charity, you could be working with up to five other people, with the team splitting the workload. If you choose to work for a Mental Health Foundation, the income could be enough to fund your busy lifestyle and allow you to contribute to the charity’s important work. Mental health issues aren’t talked about enough, which is why you’ll want to consider taking up this type of work. It can be incredibly rewarding to know that you’re helping to improve the mental health of others.
As you can see, there are a lot of lucrative careers out there for creative writing graduates. If you’ve got a knack for writing, this is the field for you. Make sure to keep your resume up to date and be prepared to make the most of any opportunity that comes your way.