Creative Writing CAREER INSIGHT
LJMU CAREERS TEAM 0151 231 2048/3719 ❚ careers@ljmu.ac.uk
www2.ljmu.ac.uk/careers
Career Insight: Creative Writing
Introduction A degree in creative writing is a possible route for careers in newspapers and magazines, and to nonfiction work such as education books and biographies. The advertising, PR and marketing industries provide employment opportunities for writers, and creative writing and editing skills are essential for web editors. Other options include screen-writing for feature films, TV comedy, drama and children’s programmes. Community arts workers help plan and organise arts activities including creative writing.
To succeed as a writer, you will need: •
literary skills;
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imagination;
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a clear, entertaining style;
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the ability to work to tight deadlines, while also maintaining attention to detail;
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excellent research skills, both literary and business-related;
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self-discipline and time management skills;
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the ability to work alone for long periods of time;
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networking skills and the ability to develop media contacts;
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marketing skills and an understanding of new media as a tool for self-promotion;
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IT, web, typing and editing skills;
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the necessary financial skills to manage yourself in the employment market;
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the ability to understand and accept criticism as objectively as possible;
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determination and enthusiasm.
Below are some tips for creative Writers •
DO SOME SHORT EXERCISES TO STRETCH YOUR WRITING MUSCLES – if you’re short of ideas, read the Daily Writing Tips article on “Writing Bursts”. Many new creative writers find that doing the washing up or weeding the garden suddenly looks appealing, compared to the effort of sitting down and putting words onto the page. Force yourself to get through these early doubts, and it really will get easier. Try to get into the habit of writing every day, even if it’s just for ten minutes.
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IF YOU’RE STUCK FOR IDEAS, CARRY A NOTEBOOK EVERYWHERE AND WRITE DOWN YOUR OBSERVATIONS. You’ll get some great lines of dialogue by keeping your ears open on the bus or in cafes, and an unusual phrase may be prompted by something you see or smell
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WORK OUT THE TIME OF DAY WHEN YOU’RE AT YOUR MOST CREATIVE. For many writers, this is first thing in the morning – before all the demands of the day jostle for attention. Others write well late at night, after the rest of the family have gone to bed. Don’t be afraid to experiment!
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DON’T AGONIZE OVER GETTING IT RIGHT. All writers have to revise and edit their work – it’s rare that a story, scene or even a sentence comes out perfectly the first time. Once you’ve completed the initial draft, leave the piece for a few days – then come back to it fresh, with a red pen in hand. If you know there are problems with your story but can’t pinpoint them, ask a fellow writer to read through it and give feedback.
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Career Insight: Creative Writing
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HAVE FUN! Sometimes, writers can end up feeling that our writing is a chore, something that “must” be done, or something to procrastinate over for as long as possible. If your plot seems wildly farfetched, your characters bore you to tears and you’re convinced that a five-year old with a crayon could write better prose … take a break. Start a completely new project, something which is purely for fun. Write a poem or a 60-word “mini saga”. Just completing a small finished piece can help if you’re bogged down in a longer story.
The Creative Writing Career List Here’s a list of 20 creative writing jobs that you can consider for your career path. I’m not making any promises. You have to go out and find them yourself, but these are jobs that exist. You just have to look for them and then land them. •
Greeting Card Author
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Comic Book Writer
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Novelist
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Creativity Coach
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Writing Coach
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Advertising (Creative)
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Screenwriter
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Songwriter (Lyricist)
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Freelance Short Fiction Writer
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Creative Writing Instructor
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Legacy Writer (write people’s bios and family histories)
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Ghostwriter
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Travel Writer (if you travel)
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Article Writer (write, submit, repeat)
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Columnist
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Video Game Writer (includes storytelling/fiction!)
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Personal Poet (write personalized poems for weddings, funerals, childbirths, etc.)
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Playwright
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Blogger (don’t tell me you don’t have a blog yet!)
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Creative Writing Consultant
Planning for your career and gaining experience throughout your course will benefit you when you graduate. Take advantage of work experience opportunities and networking events to develop your skills and help you decide what area you want to move into. Try and make links with people through your course and get involved with the wealth of creative activities in Liverpool and beyond to broaden your skillset and open up opportunities. You could also consider setting up a LinkedIn profile and follow relevant organisations through Twitter to keep up to date with opportunities and developments in the creative industries. Many employers use social media to post work experience opportunities so take advantage of using the sites to help you make links and find out more about what opportunities are out there.
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Career Insight: Creative Writing
Because writing is largely a freelance occupation, very few vacancies are advertised and most opportunities are found by making speculative approaches or by answering calls for submissions. It is very important that you make speculative approaches in the style that is appropriate to the opening. Many writers break into the professional by winning local or national writing competitions. These include fiction, poetry, screen /playwriting and usually can be found by a simple web search of 'creative writing competitions,' or 'screen writing competitions.' Finally, some publishers run competitions to find new talent. For example, the children's fiction publishers Chicken House, in conjunction with The Times, run an annual children's fiction competition. There is also the Desmond Elliot prize and the international Dylan Thomas Prize, Monash prize and The Rosie Project which could provide a route forward for students of creative writing.
Options with your degree include: Writing copy for websites Maintaining a company blog Digital Copywriter Copy-editor Editorial Assistant Indexer Lexicographer Press Officer Primary School Teacher http://www.prospects.ac.uk/secondary_school_teacher_job_description.htm Secondary School Teacher http://www.prospects.ac.uk/secondary_school_teacher_job_description.htm Publisher http://prospects.ac.uk/publishing_copy_editor_proofreader_job_description.htm Broadcast Journalist http://prospects.ac.uk/broadcast_journalist_job_description.htm Roles in marketing and PR: •
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/types_of_jobs_advertising_marketing_pr.htm
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http://www.getin2marketing.com/
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http://www.cipr.co.uk/
Roles in human resources management: •
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/types_of_jobs_human_resources.htm
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http://www.cipd.co.uk/
The suggestions listed here are by no means exhaustive so we would encourage you to consider other relevant options, e.g. based on previous work or voluntary experience, skills and interests. To explore job options by sector, check http://www.prospects.ac.uk/types_of_jobs.htm. You can also use
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Career Insight: Creative Writing
career planning tools like http://www.prospects.ac.uk/myprospects_planner_login.htm and http://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-report to generate initial career ideas. You can gain an insight into careers in the creative industries here: http://www.creativechoices.co.uk/industry-insight
Ensure you check entry requirements for each area, e.g. will you need a degree in a specific subject? Is a 2:1 degree classification essential? Will you need to complete a postgraduate degree? Is any specific work experience required? We also recommend that you download a copy of our “Planning your Career” guide from the Careers Team’s website at https://www2.ljmu.ac.uk/Careers/123871.htm. This includes a list of useful questions to help you explore your career options and introduces you to the DOTS model to help you with your career planning.
Main employers All occupational profiles listed on http://www.prospects.ac.uk/types_of_jobs.htm include a section on typical employers and vacancy sources, so use these as a starting point to research potential employers within the career areas that interest you.
Useful links/websites Arts Hub: www.artshub.co.uk listing arts and creative jobs including internships and work experience. The Writers Guild of Great Britain: http://www.writersguild.org.uk/ Indeed.co.uk: www.indeed.co.uk, search for creative jobs and location The Reader Organisation: http://www.thereader.org.uk/ News From Nowhere: local radical book store http://www.newsfromnowhere.org.uk/ The Windows Project: poetry education charity - been in existence for over 30 years http://www.windowsproject.net/index.htm Writing on the Wall: Liverpool Literary Festival runs annually http://www.writingonthewall.org.uk/ Broadcast Now (radio and television): www.broadcastnow.co.uk Careers Service Media Links: www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sitesmedia.htm Publishing, Journalism, Media and Music links.
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Career Insight: Creative Writing
Creative Choices: www.creative-choices.co.uk information, advice and resources to help you build skills and find opportunities in the creative industries. Grapevine Jobs: www.grapevinejobs.com for jobs in broadcast, film and music. Mandy.com: http://www.mandy.com/ film and media database and jobs search. Online Directory of postgraduate courses in the UK: www.prospects.ac.uk/student/pgdir Regional Arts Boards of the Arts Council: www.artscouncil.org.uk/ Novel Writing Monthly: www.nanowrimo.org Daily Writing Tips: www.dailywritingtips.com Writing: www.writing.com Skillset: www.skillset.org profiles on a range of different media career areas.
Purple Revolver: www.purplerevolver.vom Seven Streets: www.sevenstreets.com The Artifice: http://the-artifice.com/write The Skinny: www.theskinny.co.uk Toxteth TV: www.toxteth.tv Your Move: www.yourmove.com Bay TV: www.baytvliverpool.com Brouhaha: http://www.brouhaha.uk.com/ Concept Cupboard: www.conceptcupboard.com
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Career Insight: Creative Writing
FACT: http://www.fact.co.uk/get-involved/opportunities/ Lifestyle Monthly: http://www.lifestylemonthly.co.uk/ Lime Pictures: www.limepictures.com Writing Forward: http://www.writingforward.com/creative-writing/20-creative-writing-careers Artshub: http://www.artshub.co.uk/news-article/features/writing-and-publishing/how-to-win-a-writing-prize243298 Songwriting Opportunities: http://www.songwritingopportunities.com/freelance_writing_opportunities_main.html
General: •
LJMU Vacancy System http://ljmu.prospects.ac.uk/
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Prospects – Careers information and graduate jobs – www.prospects.ac.uk
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TargetJobs - Careers information and graduate jobs – www.targetjobs.co.uk
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Graduate to Merseyside (graduate roles in small businesses on Merseyside) http://www.liv.ac.uk/careers/gradvantage/internships.htm
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Milkround – graduate jobs, placements & internships http://www.milkround.com/
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Get into Teaching http://www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching
Follow relevant companies/websites through Twitter:
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@LJMUCareers
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@TheWritersGuild
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@CreativeChoices
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@mediavolt
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@getintoteaching
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Career Insight: Creative Writing
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@TeachFirst
Sources of work experience Gaining experience, whether it is through writing or in other areas of the creative industries, is really important. Networking is crucial and many contracts are filled through contacts and links with people who have worked together before. Download our mini-guide on “Making yourself employable whilst at University” from https://www2.ljmu.ac.uk/Careers/123871.htm for an overview of the different types of work experience available and some general suggestions about finding work experience opportunities. LJMU has been managing a summer internship programme for Level 5 students in recent years, so keep an eye on your LJMU inbox for details of any opportunities. Contacting media companies, schools, publishers etc. directly at networking events, via email or through LinkedIn may lead to work experience. It is important that you demonstrate that you are interested in the company and have spent some time finding what they do. Even when applying to secure work experience for the first time in this industry, show the employer what you have to offer. Briefly outline the relevancy of your course. Look at the skills outlined above and try to discuss these in your CV, drawing on examples from your course and other work experience or extra-curricular activities to demonstrate these skills. Useful websites to research a range of voluntary opportunities include http://www.do-it.org.uk/ and http://www.volunteeringliverpool.org.uk/. You could also contact LJMU Volunteering Manager Chris Prescott on 0151 904 6356 or c.j.prescott@ljmu.ac.uk to enquire about current opportunities. It is also worth researching relevant organisations/charities and contacting them directly to find out about voluntary roles on offer.
Recruitment schedules Creative writing positions come up as and when required. It is important that you network and engage with employers and utilise the websites and Twitter feeds above to find out about opportunities. Many other roles within the creative industries will be through small or medium sized enterprises/businesses (SMEs). These types of SMEs will recruit ‘as required’. They may use their own application form but most applications will be by CV and covering letter. These positions will be advertised on company websites, relevant recruitment websites and national and local newspapers. The ‘creative’ or ‘speculative’ approach to job hunting is also important when looking for graduate roles. Making contacts and approaching organisations speculatively to look for work is a common route into employment. For more information about the speculative approach to job hunting, download a copy of our guide to ‘The Hidden Jobs Market’ from https://www2.ljmu.ac.uk/Careers/123871.htm. Roles within public sector organisations, such as schools or museums, or creative organisations such as galleries, also recruit as required. However, it is more common to apply using an application form. A comprehensive person specification is usually included in the advertisement. Each point in this has to be addressed within the personal statement section within the application form. If you decide to take a different path outside the creative industries you can look at graduate training schemes, many of which are open to graduates from any discipline. If you are interested in these roles you will need to be aware of the graduate recruitment cycle. Many recruiters begin the graduate recruitment process during the autumn term for final year students. Most closing dates are in November and December but some are earlier so it is important to start researching companies that you want to apply to early on. The application process usually involves completing an online application form, which may require you to answer ‘competency based questions’.
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Career Insight: Creative Writing
Psychometric tests, a telephone interview and an assessment centre will usually follow. You may also need to submit your CV. Always carefully read through the information in the ‘careers’ or ‘graduates’ section of the employer’s website. For more information about graduate schemes, download the ‘Graduate Schemes’ guide from https://www2.ljmu.ac.uk/Careers/123871.htm. You can get advice about the recruitment process by booking a one-to-one appointment with a careers or employability adviser or you can attend workshops at the Careers Zones.
Key events and networking • • •
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Liverpool Careers Fair: usually held in the autumn and spring of each year, see fairs website http://www.liverpoolfairs.org.uk/ for additional events Manchester Careers Fairs: open to students and graduates from any university; check http://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/students/events/ for details Careers and Employability events at LJMU: Keep an eye on our events pages at https://worldofwork.ljmu.ac.uk/events/ for details of upcoming employability workshops, networking sessions and employer talks. You might be interested in the “Pursuing a career in clinical psychology” session we usually run once per semester. LiverpoolSU Clubs and Societies: http://ljmu.unioncloud.org/groups#club-society LinkedIn: You could also consider setting up a LinkedIn account (http://www.linkedin.com/) to network online with professionals and organisations in your chosen industry
Other information LJMU Enterprise Fellowship Programme – Support for LJMU students and graduates interested in starting up their own business. Further details can be found here: http://www.ljmu.ac.uk/startup/ including eligibility, timescales and training dates.
Careers Zone Our campus-based Careers Zones are based in the reception area of James Parsons Building at Byrom Street, in Aldham Robarts Library and in IM Marsh Library. Call in for help with any careers enquiries, to book an appointment with our advisers, pick up careers guides and resources, meet employers, book a practice interview and much more.
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© 2017. Liverpool John Moores University. The content of this document is copyright material of Liverpool John Moores University. No part of this document may be reproduced or distributed without prior written permission of the copyright owner.
Career Insight: Creative Writing
Notes
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Š 2017. Liverpool John Moores University. The content of this document is copyright material of Liverpool John Moores University. No part of this document may be reproduced or distributed without prior written permission of the copyright owner.
Career Insight: Creative Writing
Notes
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