Example Career: Writers and Authors

Career Description

Originate and prepare written material, such as scripts, stories, advertisements, and other material.

What Job Titles Writers and Authors Might Have

• Account Executive
• Advertising Copy Writer
• Copy Writer
• Copywriter

What Writers and Authors Do

• Write to customers in their terms and on their level so that the advertiser's sales message is more readily received.
• Discuss with the client the product, advertising themes and methods, and any changes that should be made in advertising copy.
• Write advertising copy for use by publication, broadcast, or internet media to promote the sale of goods and services.
• Present drafts and ideas to clients.
• Vary language and tone of messages based on product and medium.
• Consult with sales, media and marketing representatives to obtain information on product or service and discuss style and length of advertising copy.
• Edit or rewrite existing copy as necessary, and submit copy for approval by supervisor.
• Develop advertising campaigns for a wide range of clients, working with an advertising agency's creative director and art director to determine the best way to present advertising information.
• Write articles, bulletins, sales letters, speeches, and other related informative, marketing and promotional material.
• Conduct research and interviews to determine which of a product's selling features should be promoted.
• Invent names for products and write the slogans that appear on packaging, brochures and other promotional material.
• Review advertising trends, consumer surveys, and other data regarding marketing of goods and services to determine the best way to promote products.

What Writers and Authors Should Be Good At

• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
• Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

What Writers and Authors Should Be Interested In

• Enterprising - Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• Artistic - Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

What Writers and Authors Need to Learn

• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
• Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.