Sometimes it is so easy to get caught up in these questions, we don’t ask ourselves the most important question of all: Is this something I would enjoy?
There are so many career options out there, and if you are picking your future career simply because it’s close, that doesn’t really make sense. Many people I know wouldn’t object to getting a doctor’s salary—would you? But not only are many people unsuited for the calling of a doctor, they have no desire to do the work. “Sick people? Blood? You cut them open with what!?!” There are just not many people that have the ultimate desire of being around ill people all the time. (Thank heavens for those that do choose the healing career, however.)
I’m not trying to bash on doctors—I’m just trying to get a point across. Before you plan your life and start counting the anticipated cash, you should probably consider if the career you’ve planned suits you.
Writing careers are definitely one of those fields that many might aspire to become a part of—with dreams of effortless work and plenty of money—but not everyone has the gift of writing. In fact, many people hate it with a passion. But if you aren’t one of those people, keep reading—because your perfect career may be just ahead.
The job of a developmental writer is a vague one, and the actual list of everything you will do as one depends on where you decide to become employed. But there is, of course, a basic outline of what you’re career would entail.
While there are Creative writing and Freelance writing jobs, the profession of Developmental Writing is a more secure, and steady job. A development writer is most generally hired by a University, and it is, of course, a writing job. So, a solid grasp of the English language and its many strange functions is needed. You will most likely need a bachelors’ degree, but not every employer will require that specific degree—although at least some degree will be needed. Your chances for employment will increase if you have had professional experience in either technical, or business writing. Experience in communications, media relations or so forth wouldn’t hurt your chances, either. If you do not have a bachelors’ degree but you do have years of experience, an employer would be much more likely to hire you than if you were attempting to get the job with a lower degree and no past experience.
Since you will by writing via the keyboard and computer for the majority of your job, efficient skills with the computer will go a long way in recommending you. Along those same lines, familiarity with computer writing programs and business software will help immensely. You will also be doing plenty of research in this position, so the ability to research thoroughly but quickly will help you out a lot.
You will—for the most part—be the writer, editor, and proofreader of your work, so a critical eye and good taste will be required to succeed in developmental writing. If hired at a University, you will be writing for the benefit of students, staff, and committees. You will need to be able to write on a professional level, and also have the skills necessary to adopt different voices of writing, depending on your audience.
You will need good communication skills, and be able to retain good relations with your colleagues. You will assuredly be assaulted by deadlines and demands, and you will be expected to remain cheerful, and keep your writing on a high level. You will be facing pressure in this job, but every good writer already knows that pressure is to be expected in this field.
Universities sometimes leave all the website writing up to the developmental writers on their payroll. So you will be doing many different varieties of writing. Be prepared to work on multiple projects, and have a plethora of deadlines.
A developmental writer will be expected to perform both alone and collectively with a group of other writers. You will need people skills in this writing job, but also be able to stand alone. (Or rather, work alone. And you will probably be sitting while you work. But that is beside the point.)
The career of a developmental writer is an exciting one, and is intricately woven into the world of business and technology.
