What Can You Do With A Creative Writing Degree?

Creative Writing Career Prospects include being a journalist, marketer, creative director, and more. 

You want to be a Creative Writing student, but you’re unsure what careers are available once you finish. That’s why you’re here. Right? You’re afraid to find yourself struggling to find work within your chosen field.

Not to worry! We’ve got your back. 

Do you know we give our Creative Writing summer course students personalised 1:1 sessions with expert tutors? We do this to help them decide their next steps in education. 

We’ve also put together this article where you can explore the many career paths open to Creative Writing graduates. You have many options, from writing for magazines and newspapers to becoming a publisher or copywriter. 

So don’t despair if things don’t go exactly as planned – the future is bright for Creative Writing students! Read to discover more.

1. Journalist

Average Base Salary: £26,098

A journalist collects and reports news. They may work for the following:

• Newspaper
• Magazine
• Online Publication
• Television
• Radio network

Journalists are often assigned specific topics to write about, but they may also pitch their own story ideas. Common responsibilities include:

• Read press releases to stay up-to-date
• Research reliable sources and information 
• Attend events to establish and maintain a network of connections
• Interview sources and verify facts and statements 
• Write, edit and submit copy to the editor/s
• Proofread
• Stay updated and comply with contempt, privacy, and defamation law
• Work closely with sub-editors, editors, photographers, graphic designers, and the rest of the team

Are you inquisitive? Do you have a thirst for knowledge? And are you passionate about informing the public about the truth? Then you’d love to become a journalist!

2. Marketer

Average Base Salary: £28,898

Who spreads the word that a certain product or service is available in the market? The Marketer! They connect the target customer to the company. Thereby opening up doors for sales and revenue. 

Marketers develop and execute marketing plans and strategies to reach the ideal customer. Here are some of their daily responsibilities:

• Develop marketing goals and strategies
• Work with clients to identify the target market
• Create campaigns that reach the target market
• Measure and evaluate campaign results
• Liaise with other departments within the company, such as sales, product development, and research and design
• Collaborate with external partners, such as advertising agencies, printers, and web developers
• Create and/or oversee the creation of marketing materials, including brochures, leaflets, posters, website content, and email campaigns
• Plan and organise marketing events
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of best practices in marketing

Do you know why Creative Writing helps you become a great marketer? Because it is by the power of words that you’re able to communicate why a customer should care about the product or service you’re marketing.

Who is best suited to be a marketer? Someone creative, proactive, and customer-oriented. If you’re any of these, you’ll find marketing a fulfilling and enjoyable career!

3. Creative Director

Average Base Salary: £72,543

A Creative Director is a senior management position within a company’s marketing department responsible for the organisation’s creative output. They manage a team of creatives and are responsible for developing and implementing ideas and strategies.

The Creative Director is also responsible for ensuring that the final product meets the client’s requirements and often has a say in the overall branding and design of the company.

Responsibilities of Creative Directors include:

• Hire and manage a team of creatives
• Develop and implement creative ideas and strategies
• Ensure the final product meets the client’s requirements
• Create the brand and design of the company
• Coordinate with various departments to ensure the successful completion of projects
• Oversee the work of artists, designers and writers
• Contribute ideas to enhance campaigns
• Present creative concepts to clients
• Evaluate designs, artwork and copy for accuracy and conformity
• Stay on top of marketing campaigns

Do you have strong creative and leadership abilities? And do you have an eye for marketing? Then, you’ll be a capable Creative Director!

4. Publisher

Average Base Salary: £32,420

A publisher’s main job is to prepare a work of art for sale to the public. In the contemporary sense, a “work of art” can include the following:

• Software
• Music
• Information
• Literature

But traditionally, a publisher creates and distributes written works, such as:

• Newspapers
• Magazines
• Books

Publishers are responsible for a wide variety of tasks, including:

• Collect, review, and read submissions
• Provide feedback
• Work with authors and edit manuscripts to ensure the content is up-to-date, accurate, and meets contractual obligations.
• Create and develop marketing plans to promote publications.
• Develop relationships with distributors and other publishers.
• Negotiate contracts with authors and distributors.
• Analyse the performance of publications to identify potential areas of improvement.
• Make sure that all legal requirements are met.

A Creative Writing university degree gives you a solid foundation for becoming a publisher. Since you understand the fundamentals of written work, you know what makes a submission compelling.

In addition, you can provide feedback to ensure the content is the best it can be. 

If you’re enthusiastic about helping writers to get their best work out there and help them connect to their desired readers, becoming a publisher might be the path for you!

5. Digital Copywriter

Average Base Salary: £30,122

Digital Copywriters have one objective: promote a product or service. How? Create content for digital platforms like websites, blogs and social media.

They use their Creative Writing skills to write clear and attractive copy that appeals to the target audience and helps to promote a product or service.

Responsibilities of Digital Copywriters include:

• Develop creative ideas and strategies
• Research topics to stay up-to-date with current trends
• Create content for websites, blogs and social media
• Write copy that appeals to the target audience
• Ensure that all content meets the requirements of the client
• Optimise content to be search engine friendly
• Proofread and edit copy

Creative Writing graduates have the necessary skills to craft content that resonates with readers. Since they know what makes content engaging and effective.

Do you understand how people think, read and interact online? And do you know how to relate readers to a product or service? Then becoming a Digital Copywriter is ideal for you.

6. Translators

Average Base Salary: £26,245

Translators bridge the gap between languages. They convert written text from one language to another. Is the goal to make the target reader understand the text in their own language? Definitely! But it’s more than that.

Translators do more than ensure that the meaning, facts, and ideas remain accurate. They also see to it that the flow of the translation reads similarly to the original. Therefore, cultural nuances should also be taken into consideration.

What are the responsibilities of translators?

• Read and comprehend text accurately in two or more languages
• Adapt words from one language into another while maintaining their original meaning
• Proofread and edit translations to ensure accuracy
• Be aware of cultural differences between languages
• Adapt the original’s tone and style
• Keep up to date with developments in the fields they specialise in
• Use formatting and editing tools

Creative Writing graduates have the skills needed to become effective translators. Why? Because Creative Writing teaches you the fundamentals of storytelling and efficient use of words. It also gives you an understanding of grammar, syntax, and style.

If you can write well in English and another language, then becoming a Translator could be your Creative Writing career path!

7. Creative Writing Professor

Average Base Salary: £69,018

Creative Writing professors use their personal experiences to help students grow as writers. How? By providing guidance, support, and advice to their students.

Moreover, they encourage students to explore different genres and styles and help them find their own voice.

Do you know that Creative Writing professors are often published authors themselves? As a result, they have a wealth of knowledge and experience that they bring to the classroom to help students cultivate their creative writing career paths.

Here are some of the responsibilities of Creative Writing professors:

• Create and develop engaging Creative Writing courses
• Engage in Creative Writing research projects
• Provide support and guidance to Creative Writing students
• Maintain an atmosphere that encourages creativity and collaboration
• Edit students’ work
• Mentor Creative Writing students on their career paths
• Constantly improve Creative Writing skills by partaking in professional writing projects

Who else is more qualified to grow into the role of a Creative Writing Professor than Creative Writing graduates themselves? They already have expertise in understanding writing, storytelling, and narrative structure.

And they possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills to help Creative Writing students realise their potential and guide them towards success.

If you’re looking for an exciting Creative Writing career path combining teaching and writing, being a Creative Writing professor is the perfect option!

8. Historian

Average Base Salary: £34,377

A Historian researches and writes about the past. They use historical evidence to examine people, events, and cultures from different historical periods. They often specialise in a particular niche they find most interesting.

Do you know that historians often travel to different locations to pursue their research?

After gathering enough material, they write books and articles to share the information they’ve collected with interested readers.

Some of the Historian’s responsibilities include the following:

• Research and study historical sources
• Travel to conduct field research
• Document research process
• Write articles, books, and other forms of historical documentation
• Teach history to students
• Provide insight on current events by drawing comparisons to the past

Why are Creative Writing graduates suitable Historians? Because they have the necessary research, writing, and communication skills to bring historical events to life for readers.

So, are you curious and analytical but also creative and expressive? Then being a historian matches you well!

9. Public Relations Officer

Average Base Salary: £35,003

Public relations officers maintain relationships between companies and stakeholders, such as clients, partners, media outlets and the general public. In addition, they create strategies to increase brand awareness and reach out to relevant audiences.

During times of crisis, PR officers deal with negative feedback and help to protect the company’s reputation. Here are some of the responsibilities of a Public Relations Officer:

• Develop PR strategies and campaigns
• Write press releases, newsletters, and other communication materials
• Create content for social media channels
• Monitor public opinion about the company
• Organise events to promote the brand
• Network with stakeholders and partners
• Manage media relations

Creative Writing graduates make excellent PR officers because of their well-developed communication skills. Plus, they know the power of words and how to use it.

Are you good at expressing yourself in writing? Do you have an eye for detail and an understanding of public sentiment? Then, consider becoming a PR officer!

Other Potential Career Paths 

Other potential career paths include:

• Editor-In-Chief
• Web Content Editor
• Content Manager
• SEO Specialist
• Arts Administrator
• Talent Agent
• Librarian
• Blogger
• Email Marketing Specialist

Do any of these Career Prospects appeal to you? Convinced that getting a Creative Writing degree will help you reach your career goals? Perhaps you’d like to start preparing now. 

To begin, check out what creative writing A-Level requirements you’ll need to study Creative Writing at university level.