The world of writing is more than one way to describe it – sometimes you’ll want to write something that will never be published, other times you’ll want to write a novel that will become a bestseller. There are countless different ways to approach the craft of writing, and while not all of them will suit everyone, every writer should be able to find something that works for them.
Combining your passion for writing with your college education could mean an entire new world of opportunities for you – or at least change the way you look at the ones you’ve always dreamed about. Here are a few of the most in-demand jobs and roles that can be found post-graduation, thanks to your new-found expertise in creative writing.
Editor
If you’ve been writing for long enough, you’ll know that there are more than a few bad apples in the literary world – people who want to take credit for someone else’s work, people who don’t care about the quality of the writing, and most importantly, people who just want to be in the company of writers. While there’s nothing wrong with wanting to be a writer, it’s a different matter when the only person you want to be selling your work to is the one reading it.
Luckily, there are many different ways you can serve as an editor. From reading over someone’s rough draft and commenting on it to recommending a different perspective on the material or perhaps a different way of structuring it, there are a variety of tasks you can perform as an editor and it’s important to research the different responsibilities associated with each role before making the decision to pursue it. For example, if you’re particularly good at finding spelling errors in others’ work, you might want to explore an editing role where you would be assigned large amounts of content to read and comment on. Alternatively, if you have a particular eye for narrative, you might want to look into an editing position where you would be responsible for helping authors bring their stories to life through effective structure and vivid description. Each editor’s role and responsibilities will be different, but it’s important to find a position that suits your strengths and interests.
Agent
More than anything else, being an agent is about negotiation, communication, and research – three subjects you’ll definitely need for your new role as an attorney. Getting started in literary agency isn’t as simple as it sounds, either. Like most other jobs, becoming an agent requires a certain level of education – in this case, either a law degree or an MBA. After finishing your studies, you’ll need to take the bar exam to become an attorney and then you can search for agents’ openings in your area.
Once you’re working in an agency, your job will be to negotiate contracts between publishers and writers, handle payments at both ends, and create schedules for new releases. If you’re looking for a straight ‘agent-client’ relationship, where you provide purely transactional support to writers, you might want to look for an independent agent instead – someone who can offer a broader range of services and can act as a point of contact for your clientèle. Ultimately, though, in most cases, you’ll just be doing administrative work and following instructions, so the structure of your job will depend on the size of the agency and what other responsibilities you have. Finding a good fit is essential if you want to make the most of this new opportunity.
Publisher
Being a publisher is a lot like being an agent – negotiate contracts, handle payments, research markets – but on a much larger scale. If you’ve been dreaming of a career in publishing, this might be the right opportunity for you. With the right training, you could end up working for one of the reputable big-name publishing houses in New York or other major cities. Alternatively, you could start your own independent publishing house and make the business a reality.
The advantage of working for a large publishing house is that you’d have access to a wider range of titles and could pitch your services to a much larger audience. Self-publishing has become a popular option for authors who want to get their books out there without having to go through a traditional publisher. If this is the route you choose, make sure to familiarize yourself with all of the different options available to you as a self-publishing author. You could also consider looking for a literary agent to help you get your book in the right hands.
Advertising
Out-of-home advertising is everywhere – credit cards, TV commercials, roadside billboards, and whatever digital advertising you see on social media platforms like social media. If you’ve got a creative mind, you could become an advertising agent – someone who helps businesses spread their message to the public. Working as an advertising agent is a lot like being a publisher in that you’ll be doing a lot of research and following orders, though the responsibilities will be a bit more diverse. For example, you might be required to pitch ideas for new campaigns to clients, devise marketing strategies, or even just run competitions to find the best way to market a product. Sound like a lot of work? Yes, but with enough training and hustling, you could make this your full-time job. Alternatively, you could start your own agency and take on clients as needed.
Fashion
If you’re a fashion-forward individual who also has a creative streak, why not combine the two? You could start your own fashion agency and be the go-to person for all of your clients’ styling needs. As a fashion agent, you will be responsible for putting together outfits for your clients based on their needs – whether they want to look fashionable for a night out or for a special occasion. You will work closely with the customers to understand their needs and style preferences and then, using your talents, create unique and stylish outfits that fit their lifestyle. Sounds like fun, right?
At the end of the day, it’s all about striking while the iron is hot. If you’re serious about making a career out of creative writing, now is the perfect time to venture into the field. There are plenty of opportunities out there, and with hard work, you could land yourself a dream job. If you need some inspiration, why not consider the pros who’ve gone before you? They may not have had the dream jobs you were thinking about, but they certainly succeeded in creating a career for themselves and gave you the inspiration to follow in their footsteps. Now go get ’em!