writers and editors - what do you do for work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

I am an editor in the corporate world and use generative AI every day for projects I work on. At this point it's a tool that helps but isn't conceptualizing the project or choosing the direction or pruning the garbage-y fluff that genAI appends to its output. It also, at this point, though this could change in the future, requires huge, time-consuming amounts of human validation so we can be sure no hallucinations or misconstruals find their way into our finished projects.

If my job were only churning out repetitive blog content about a given topic for clicks, GenAI could do that better and faster than a human.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

100%. You described this world very well.

[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.

This is OP - and do you like your freelance gig with the med grads? How's the pay?

[Anonymous]

Look at non profits and NGO- grant writer, fundraising, etc. relief web has roles from all over.

Higher education- again fundraising/ development/ communications. Sometimes they have roles just for writing.

Diversify applications explain since you are starting in a new career I don’t know what your previous title was but maybe look at Specialist, Coordinator, and Manager or possibly Assistant Director. In Higher ed usually Director and above roles are when people have previously worked in higher ed and then move up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look at non profits and NGO- grant writer, fundraising, etc. relief web has roles from all over.

Higher education- again fundraising/ development/ communications. Sometimes they have roles just for writing.

Diversify applications explain since you are starting in a new career I don’t know what your previous title was but maybe look at Specialist, Coordinator, and Manager or possibly Assistant Director. In Higher ed usually Director and above roles are when people have previously worked in higher ed and then move up.

This is OP - and not sure if this post was directed at me, but I am a director now at a mid-size nonprofit. This is my second director level position; last one was a small nonprofit. I'm too old to be a specialist or coordinator, unless I am moving into a whole new field. I just don't know what that field would be at this point.

I've never done grant writing but it seems like it'd be a good skill to develop. Like if I learned how to do that, I could probably pick up a bunch of freelance clients to write grants for, right - if I had to go hang a shingle again?

I appreciate all the ideas and thoughts in this thread. Def not looking forward to starting a job search, but I always like hearing what other people with my basic skill set and experience are doing - it's inspiring and thought provoking.

[Anonymous]

Senior editor at a cultural institution. I love my job.

OP, it’s best to not only have writing and editing skills but management skills. Nonprofits don’t just want someone who can write (because the execs all think they can write) but someone who can plan and manage projects, participate in strategic planning and so on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Senior editor at a cultural institution. I love my job.

OP, it’s best to not only have writing and editing skills but management skills. Nonprofits don’t just want someone who can write (because the execs all think they can write) but someone who can plan and manage projects, participate in strategic planning and so on.

This is OP - and I do all that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Wow. Same, same and same, except that my title is now editor-in-chief. I would not recommend this line of work, though I mostly love it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

You need to do your own research on this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

100%. You described this world very well.

Agreed. I worked as Editor of a recognizable magazine and the shift from well-written and highly researched longer articles to very short online content that doesn’t need to be well-written has been pretty dramatic.

[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.

This is OP - and do you like your freelance gig with the med grads? How's the pay?

I love it, but I love getting to know people and talking about who they are and what they dream of. The pay varies, depending on your qualifications—I have both an MFA in creative writing and a JD, and I figured out that I was offered more than my peers who did not. I started at $50 an hour, and eventually got more.

[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.

This is OP - and do you like your freelance gig with the med grads? How's the pay?

I love it, but I love getting to know people and talking about who they are and what they dream of. The pay varies, depending on your qualifications—I have both an MFA in creative writing and a JD, and I figured out that I was offered more than my peers who did not. I started at $50 an hour, and eventually got more.

Thanks for the response!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at non profits and NGO- grant writer, fundraising, etc. relief web has roles from all over.

Higher education- again fundraising/ development/ communications. Sometimes they have roles just for writing.

Diversify applications explain since you are starting in a new career I don’t know what your previous title was but maybe look at Specialist, Coordinator, and Manager or possibly Assistant Director. In Higher ed usually Director and above roles are when people have previously worked in higher ed and then move up.

This is OP - and not sure if this post was directed at me, but I am a director now at a mid-size nonprofit. This is my second director level position; last one was a small nonprofit. I'm too old to be a specialist or coordinator, unless I am moving into a whole new field. I just don't know what that field would be at this point.

I've never done grant writing but it seems like it'd be a good skill to develop. Like if I learned how to do that, I could probably pick up a bunch of freelance clients to write grants for, right - if I had to go hang a shingle again?

I appreciate all the ideas and thoughts in this thread. Def not looking forward to starting a job search, but I always like hearing what other people with my basic skill set and experience are doing - it's inspiring and thought provoking.

Development comms are an obvious place to go—if that’s different enough. You could grant write but there’s very little money in it. Freelance grant writing will make you peanuts.

What about branding/marketing agencies for university/nonprofit clients?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at non profits and NGO- grant writer, fundraising, etc. relief web has roles from all over.

Higher education- again fundraising/ development/ communications. Sometimes they have roles just for writing.

Diversify applications explain since you are starting in a new career I don’t know what your previous title was but maybe look at Specialist, Coordinator, and Manager or possibly Assistant Director. In Higher ed usually Director and above roles are when people have previously worked in higher ed and then move up.

This is OP - and not sure if this post was directed at me, but I am a director now at a mid-size nonprofit. This is my second director level position; last one was a small nonprofit. I'm too old to be a specialist or coordinator, unless I am moving into a whole new field. I just don't know what that field would be at this point.

I've never done grant writing but it seems like it'd be a good skill to develop. Like if I learned how to do that, I could probably pick up a bunch of freelance clients to write grants for, right - if I had to go hang a shingle again?

I appreciate all the ideas and thoughts in this thread. Def not looking forward to starting a job search, but I always like hearing what other people with my basic skill set and experience are doing - it's inspiring and thought provoking.

Development comms are an obvious place to go—if that’s different enough. You could grant write but there’s very little money in it. Freelance grant writing will make you peanuts.

What about branding/marketing agencies for university/nonprofit clients?

OP- didn’t know what level you were at so good to know Director. You should be able to spin to a variety of things!

I would look at Director or Associate Director roles for Development/ Advancement at universities. Could also look at alumni relations and spin the writing. Communications/ Marketing roles again at universities/ museums/ private sector.

Look for same at other non profits. Non profits might not be as stable if there is a recession just an FYI. Could also look at Comms roles at think tanks. Google think tanks DC and go to their career pages. For non profits check out the relief web job page. Brookings Institute had some comms roles up recently.

Since you’re a Director I would apply for Director, Associate/ Assistant Director, & Manager, roles.

When I pivoted careers I had been a Director then a Regional Director. When I changed careers I took a role as an Assistant Director. It was a little demoralizing at first but I worked my way up and am doing great and love my new career (and am now equivalent to a VP). I made sure that I wasn’t stuck on “I must only be a Director or higher” since I was switching careers.

Grant writing isn’t that hard once you get the hang of it and yes there are lots of short term roles (many on relief web) you can do as well. Usually if you do this with one organization full time you need permissions to do it freelance on the side.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at non profits and NGO- grant writer, fundraising, etc. relief web has roles from all over.

Higher education- again fundraising/ development/ communications. Sometimes they have roles just for writing.

Diversify applications explain since you are starting in a new career I don’t know what your previous title was but maybe look at Specialist, Coordinator, and Manager or possibly Assistant Director. In Higher ed usually Director and above roles are when people have previously worked in higher ed and then move up.

This is OP - and not sure if this post was directed at me, but I am a director now at a mid-size nonprofit. This is my second director level position; last one was a small nonprofit. I'm too old to be a specialist or coordinator, unless I am moving into a whole new field. I just don't know what that field would be at this point.

I've never done grant writing but it seems like it'd be a good skill to develop. Like if I learned how to do that, I could probably pick up a bunch of freelance clients to write grants for, right - if I had to go hang a shingle again?

I appreciate all the ideas and thoughts in this thread. Def not looking forward to starting a job search, but I always like hearing what other people with my basic skill set and experience are doing - it's inspiring and thought provoking.

Development comms are an obvious place to go—if that’s different enough. You could grant write but there’s very little money in it. Freelance grant writing will make you peanuts.

What about branding/marketing agencies for university/nonprofit clients?

OP- didn’t know what level you were at so good to know Director. You should be able to spin to a variety of things!

I would look at Director or Associate Director roles for Development/ Advancement at universities. Could also look at alumni relations and spin the writing. Communications/ Marketing roles again at universities/ museums/ private sector.

Look for same at other non profits. Non profits might not be as stable if there is a recession just an FYI. Could also look at Comms roles at think tanks. Google think tanks DC and go to their career pages. For non profits check out the relief web job page. Brookings Institute had some comms roles up recently.

Since you’re a Director I would apply for Director, Associate/ Assistant Director, & Manager, roles.

When I pivoted careers I had been a Director then a Regional Director. When I changed careers I took a role as an Assistant Director. It was a little demoralizing at first but I worked my way up and am doing great and love my new career (and am now equivalent to a VP). I made sure that I wasn’t stuck on “I must only be a Director or higher” since I was switching careers.

Grant writing isn’t that hard once you get the hang of it and yes there are lots of short term roles (many on relief web) you can do as well. Usually if you do this with one organization full time you need permissions to do it freelance on the side.

This is OP and I really do appreciate these thoughts. Some great ideas! I was a comms director and am now a director of development communications, so these are great ideas for what to be looking at. I like the idea of the university route, very much.