Writers and authors held about 136,500 jobs in 2014. The industries that employed the most writers and authors were as follows:
Information
10%
Professional, scientific, and technical services
8
Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations
4
Arts, entertainment, and recreation
3
In 2014, about two-thirds of writers and authors were self-employed.
Writers and authors work in an office, at home, or wherever else they have access to a computer.
Jobs are somewhat concentrated in major media and entertainment markets—Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, DC—but improved communications and Internet capabilities allow writers and authors to work from almost anywhere. Many prefer to work outside these cities and travel regularly to meet with publishers and clients and to perform research or conduct in-person interviews.
Work Schedules
About 1 in 4 writers and authors worked part time in 2014. Some writers keep regular office hours, either to stay in contact with sources and editors or to set up a writing routine, but many writers set their own hours.
Freelance writers are paid per assignment; therefore, they work any number of hours necessary to meet a deadline. As a result, they must be willing to work evenings and weekends to produce something acceptable to an editor or client. Although many freelance writers enjoy running their own business and working flexible hours, most routinely face the pressures of juggling multiple projects or continually looking for new work.