I remain hopeful about the future for writers in the 21st-century marketplace. While it is true that circulation for magazines, newspapers, and other traditionally printed publications are on the decline, new opportunities for writers in the electronic arena are growing. Web-based written, streaming, and downloadable content is needed for an array of electronic media, 
and these prospects are not just limited to the internet. Writers will be needed to produce mobile and/or wireless applications, video games, and marketing copy for increasingly e-savvy consumers. In addition, it is very likely that as future computerized and digitized technologies evolve, developers will need writers to produce technical and creative content for these new and innovative avenues of media distribution. However, edgey, sophisticated multimedia delivery paradigms will also force a demand for writers with multiple skills. Writers will need to have not only a concise, engaging command of language, but also an understanding of various technical design tools as well.
The Bureau of Labor Statistic (BLS.gov) seems to confirm that a shift in writers' and editors' roles is taking place in the current job market. As is the case with most industries in the current "Great Recession," news, entertainment, and technology firms have increasingly demanded a higher rate of employee productivity in the workplace. This means many employees take on more responsibility with less compensation than in years past. According to the New Hour's 2004 report on America's future job market, higher productivity expectations may also increase the number of jobs employers try to migrate to computerization. Unless a job requires genuine "face time" with other humans, the need for certain positions may become expendable. Luckily, most writers possess critical and analytical talents for communicating complex information that simply cannot be programmed into a computer-generated commodity. However, the fields of publishing and writing have always been rather competitive, and the BLS projects that competition will be particularly stiff in the coming years as "organizations move their publication focus from a print to an online presence and as the publishing industry continues to contract." The U.S. Labor Department suggests that "writers and editors who have adapted to the new media and are comfortable writing for and working with a variety of electronic and digital tools will have an advantage in finding new work."
The consumption of the e-book format is also on the rise, and the market more has become more user-friendly and affordable for writers who wish to self-publish their work. However, being published does not necessarily provide the assurance that a sole living can be made as a writer. The BLS reports that the average income for writers is between $36,000 and $60,000 a year, depending on the industry and organization for which the writer works. Yet, as an old journalism professor of mine used to tell all of his students, "you'll probably never get rich writing, but if you write well, you've got a better shot of at least keeping a roof over your head."
[artwork: "Tech Thoughts" blog at http://billmullins.wordpress.com]
and these prospects are not just limited to the internet. Writers will be needed to produce mobile and/or wireless applications, video games, and marketing copy for increasingly e-savvy consumers. In addition, it is very likely that as future computerized and digitized technologies evolve, developers will need writers to produce technical and creative content for these new and innovative avenues of media distribution. However, edgey, sophisticated multimedia delivery paradigms will also force a demand for writers with multiple skills. Writers will need to have not only a concise, engaging command of language, but also an understanding of various technical design tools as well.The Bureau of Labor Statistic (BLS.gov) seems to confirm that a shift in writers' and editors' roles is taking place in the current job market. As is the case with most industries in the current "Great Recession," news, entertainment, and technology firms have increasingly demanded a higher rate of employee productivity in the workplace. This means many employees take on more responsibility with less compensation than in years past. According to the New Hour's 2004 report on America's future job market, higher productivity expectations may also increase the number of jobs employers try to migrate to computerization. Unless a job requires genuine "face time" with other humans, the need for certain positions may become expendable. Luckily, most writers possess critical and analytical talents for communicating complex information that simply cannot be programmed into a computer-generated commodity. However, the fields of publishing and writing have always been rather competitive, and the BLS projects that competition will be particularly stiff in the coming years as "organizations move their publication focus from a print to an online presence and as the publishing industry continues to contract." The U.S. Labor Department suggests that "writers and editors who have adapted to the new media and are comfortable writing for and working with a variety of electronic and digital tools will have an advantage in finding new work."
The consumption of the e-book format is also on the rise, and the market more has become more user-friendly and affordable for writers who wish to self-publish their work. However, being published does not necessarily provide the assurance that a sole living can be made as a writer. The BLS reports that the average income for writers is between $36,000 and $60,000 a year, depending on the industry and organization for which the writer works. Yet, as an old journalism professor of mine used to tell all of his students, "you'll probably never get rich writing, but if you write well, you've got a better shot of at least keeping a roof over your head."
[artwork: "Tech Thoughts" blog at http://billmullins.wordpress.com]
Christi,
ReplyDeleteFear of intense competition has always discouraged me from seriously pursuing writing. As a child, my parents told me that writing wouldn't pay the bills -- that it wouldn't even keep a roof over my head. I think that a lot has changed even since the 1980s/90s world I grew up in, and writers are much more in demand now, particularly technical and web writers. I hope that the BLS's prediction about an increase in the need for writers in the next decade is accurate. Honestly, even $36,000 or less a year for doing something that I am crazily passionate about doesn't sound too bad. At this point, I'd rather be a barely subsisting writer than an unemployed teacher who hasn't even had the opportunity to get her feet wet thanks to the lovely economic situation in Georgia...
LAE
Here's to the BLS's optimism for writers! I agree that as we adapt to the ever-changing new media, all sorts of new opportunities will arise. As a freelancer for over two decades, I have had to adjust to the marketplace by simply learning new tools and skills. And I'm still a "starving artist." But, as you said, LeeAnn, barely subsisting with a passion makes for a better life than well-trained unemployment.
ReplyDeleteI believe this lovely economic situation will turn around. How long it will take, no one knows. But we are all in this together. Everyone has suffered from the stock market, the housing market, certainly the job market. I believe communications should be a huge priority to every business, especially during these tough times. While many companies may not have a budget for in-house communications, they can farm out work for those of us who can help. And the more we hone our writing, design, and technology skills, the more we can offer.
So writing for a living may not pay all the bills, but it can pay for some of them. And for the others, we may have to be creative and proactive and find income elsewhere. ...Multiple streams of income, that's what I say.
Yes, multiple streams of income is a sure way to stay relevant in today's economic times. That goes for whether you are living in Georgia or any other state. Although I did hear that the unemployment rate is next to 0% in North Dakota, thanks to a boom from new reserves of petroleum oil that have been discovered there in recent years. So, if you'd like to move to N. Dakota, you might find employment right away! lol!
ReplyDelete