writers and editors - what do you do for work?

[Anonymous]

I mean, I know you write and edit - but what is your job title? What sort of org or company are you working for? Do you like it?

I'm the OP from another recent thread about layoffs coming at my org. And just trying to think about what I'll want to do next, when the time comes. So just getting some inspiration/ideas here, I hope.

I work in fundraising now - previously did nonprofit comms and journalism. I've come to the point where I prefer editing/leadership/strategy to writing but I'm open. I think!

Thanks for sharing!

[Anonymous]

I am a technical writer. Don't love it but it pays well and very flexible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a technical writer. Don't love it but it pays well and very flexible.

Say more, please? How did you get started?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a technical writer. Don't love it but it pays well and very flexible.

Say more, please? How did you get started?

NP, here. I was looking into technical writing and found the Society for Technical Communicators (STC). Take a look at their website as it might have info you find helpful as you consider your next move.

Technical writing is well paid. They do want people to have technical writing and sometimes UX experience. I wish I'd gone that route back in the day.

[Anonymous]

Reminds me that Edward P. Jones edited a tax journal (I think) for years while he wrote fiction on the side, and didn't quit until he won the Pulitzer for The Known World.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reminds me that Edward P. Jones edited a tax journal (I think) for years while he wrote fiction on the side, and didn't quit until he won the Pulitzer for The Known World.

I later held the same job he had. He was at Tax Analysts for a long time, a lot longer than I was.

I now freelance, and I also work as an editor at a company that assists international med grads seeking residency in the US (I help them with their personal statements). I'm trying to write a book. But have been trying to do that for a long time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a technical writer. Don't love it but it pays well and very flexible.

Say more, please? How did you get started?

I am also a technical writer. I work in software development as a contractor. I write and edit user online documentation. I also edit system documentation such as interface documents or requirements specifications, etc.

It is very flexible, allows me to work from home and pays very well.

[Anonymous]

Senior editor at a non profit. Love my job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reminds me that Edward P. Jones edited a tax journal (I think) for years while he wrote fiction on the side, and didn't quit until he won the Pulitzer for The Known World.

I later held the same job he had. He was at Tax Analysts for a long time, a lot longer than I was.

I now freelance, and I also work as an editor at a company that assists international med grads seeking residency in the US (I help them with their personal statements). I'm trying to write a book. But have been trying to do that for a long time.

I would love to do something like that. Are there any opportunities? Do you have to be fluent in a foreign language?

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP who is the technical writer. I had a MA in humanities and it was difficult to find a job. Came across technical writing at a tech company and applied blind. No connections or prior experience. It may have helped that my BA and MA were both from top schools (ivy), but who knows. It was a starting position so the pay wasn't great, but I learned quickly and was promoted a few times in the past ten years.

You have to be able to write about things you have no interest in, but can still get very complex so you can't just space out and treat it like busy work. I still struggle with that some days. It takes a lot of mental effort and sometimes I wish I could be writing about something of interest to me. Unfortunately the market pays very well for certain kinds of writing and not others. The pros are, like another PP mentioned, great pay, flexibility in both hours and location. And it tends to suit introverts who do not love tons of meetings and "collaboration."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reminds me that Edward P. Jones edited a tax journal (I think) for years while he wrote fiction on the side, and didn't quit until he won the Pulitzer for The Known World.

I later held the same job he had. He was at Tax Analysts for a long time, a lot longer than I was.

I now freelance, and I also work as an editor at a company that assists international med grads seeking residency in the US (I help them with their personal statements). I'm trying to write a book. But have been trying to do that for a long time.

I would love to do something like that. Are there any opportunities? Do you have to be fluent in a foreign language?

No, I don't know any foreign languages. The clients are applying for residency here in the US; for many of them English is a second language and that contributes to their desire for help with the personal statement. There are multiple companies that support IMGs-- I got my job in response to a posting on Indeed. It is seasonal-ish. More editors are needed in the months leading up to the application deadline. I have as much work as I want year round because the clients love me and my work is good and I'm fast, but some of the editors are disappointed when the work dries up for them after the deadline. I've thought about starting my own business supporting students with college essays (I love supporting people on their life journey and helping them to tell their story -- it is such a joy), but I'm not sure I have the energy to deal with the parents, lol.

[Anonymous]

#1 job for ChatGPT. It was born for this

[Anonymous]

Senior editor at a nonprofit. Great colleagues but management is totally disorganized, always rolling out a grand new strategic plan when the initiatives from the last one are halfway done and haven’t been assessed in any coherent way. More and more talk that publications are old school/unnecessary and honestly I think I could get laid off at some point. More and more of our output is electronic now, short form, and few seem to care if it is well edited.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reminds me that Edward P. Jones edited a tax journal (I think) for years while he wrote fiction on the side, and didn't quit until he won the Pulitzer for The Known World.

I later held the same job he had. He was at Tax Analysts for a long time, a lot longer than I was.

I now freelance, and I also work as an editor at a company that assists international med grads seeking residency in the US (I help them with their personal statements). I'm trying to write a book. But have been trying to do that for a long time.

I would love to do something like that. Are there any opportunities? Do you have to be fluent in a foreign language?

No, I don't know any foreign languages. The clients are applying for residency here in the US; for many of them English is a second language and that contributes to their desire for help with the personal statement. There are multiple companies that support IMGs-- I got my job in response to a posting on Indeed. It is seasonal-ish. More editors are needed in the months leading up to the application deadline. I have as much work as I want year round because the clients love me and my work is good and I'm fast, but some of the editors are disappointed when the work dries up for them after the deadline. I've thought about starting my own business supporting students with college essays (I love supporting people on their life journey and helping them to tell their story -- it is such a joy), but I'm not sure I have the energy to deal with the parents, lol.

Very interested in this. I'll be retiring from the military with a good pension in about 5 years, but I will need/want some work to keep me busy and provide a little extra income. Can you list the company names that hire people for this kind of work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:#1 job for ChatGPT. It was born for this

I was wondering this.

Writers and editors, what is the projected (and current) impact of AI in your field?