According to people in this career, the main tasks are...
| Task | Importance |
|---|---|
| Write fiction or nonfiction prose, such as short stories, novels, biographies, articles, descriptive or critical analyses, and essays. | 95% |
| Develop factors such as themes, plots, characterizations, psychological analyses, historical environments, action, and dialogue to create material. | 94% |
| Prepare works in appropriate format for publication, and send them to publishers or producers. | 91% |
| Revise written material to meet personal standards and to satisfy needs of clients, publishers, directors, or producers. | 88% |
| Confer with clients, editors, publishers, or producers to discuss changes or revisions to written material. | 86% |
| Choose subject matter and suitable form to express personal feelings and experiences or ideas, or to narrate stories or events. | 86% |
| Conduct research to obtain factual information and authentic detail, using sources such as newspaper accounts, diaries, and interviews. | 85% |
| Plan project arrangements or outlines, and organize material accordingly. | 78% |
| Follow appropriate procedures to get copyrights for completed work. | 76% |
| Write narrative, dramatic, lyric, or other types of poetry for publication. | 70% |
| Attend book launches and publicity events, or conduct public readings. | 60% |
| Write words to fit musical compositions, including lyrics for operas, musical plays, and choral works. | 60% |
| Adapt text to accommodate musical requirements of composers and singers. | 60% |
| Collaborate with other writers on specific projects. | 60% |
| Write humorous material for publication, or for performances such as comedy routines, gags, and comedy shows. | 47% |
| Teach writing classes. | 40% |
