Authors and writers (except technical)
High opportunity occupation
Career Overview
Authors and writers plan, research and write books, scripts, storyboards, plays, essays, speeches, manuals, specifications and other non-journalistic articles for publication or presentation.
Authors and writers may be self-employed or work for:
- Advertising agencies
- Governments
- Large corporations
- Private consulting firms
- Publishing firms
- Multimedia/new-media companies
Job Titles
Duties
Novelists, playwrights, script writers, poets and other creative writers:
- Create and write novels, plays, scripts, poetry and other material for publication or presentation
- May conduct research to establish factual content and to get other necessary information
Content writers (non-technical):
- Write e-copy, blog posts, e-books, podcasts and other forms of Web-based content
- Conduct research on a variety of topics to inform writing and may consult with clients to determine the goals of the writing
Copywriters:
- Study and identify selling features of products and services and write text for advertisements and commercials
Special duties
Authors and writers may specialize in a particular subject or type of writing.
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
3,920% Employed Full Time
35%Work takes place in a conventional indoor office setting.
Career Pathways
Workers entering this field typically begin their employment in entry-level positions. These positions may involve work in public relations, marketing publicity, website editing or writing in the public sector or non-governmental organizations.
With experience, workers may progress to supervisory and management positions, such as editor-in-chief or managing editor at large newspapers, magazines or publishing houses.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
- Copywriters usually require a university degree or college diploma in French, English, marketing, advertising or another discipline.
- Creative writing programs are offered by universities and colleges.
- Talent and ability, as demonstrated by a portfolio of work, are important hiring criteria.
- Membership in a guild or union related to the occupation may be required.
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Broadcasting Related
- Writing (Creative, Editing, Technical)
- English/Literature Related
- Linguistics Related (Arts)
- Linguistics (Science)
- Journalism
- Publishing
- Pre-press/Desktop Publishing/Digital Imaging Design
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.
Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
3,920Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 35 | 0.9% |
| Kootenay | 70 | 1.8% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 2,600 | 66.2% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 50 | 1.3% |
| Northeast | 0 | 0.0% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 285 | 7.3% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 885 | 22.5% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
1,930Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 10 | 0.1% |
| Kootenay | 20 | 0.8% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 1,290 | 1.7% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 20 | 4.6% |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 210 | 2.0% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 380 | 1.0% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Information, Culture and Recreation | 1,210 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 450 |
| Retail Trade | 80 |
| Educational Services | 60 |
| Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services | 40 |
Resources
Resource information is currently not available.
Career Videos
Watch the video below to see what it's like to be an author.
Watch the video below to see what it's like to be an author.
