WEBVTT

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When a nineteenth century

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British author wrote

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“the pen is mightier than the sword,”

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he was referring to

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the tremendous power of words

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used skillfully by writers and authors.

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Writers use their language skills

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to produce content for an audience.

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They compose books, movie screenplays,

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magazine articles, and web content.

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Writers need creativity

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to come up with ideas,

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critical thinking skills

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to convey their concepts clearly,

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and persuasively, when needed,

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and adaptability to understand

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their audience’s perspectives.

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The work of different types of writers

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varies significantly:

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creative writers like novelists,

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songwriters, poets, and playwrights

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are generally self-employed,

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and may labor for months or years

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before getting published,

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while technical writers and copywriters

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often work 9-to-5 jobs

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with a clear career path.

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Copywriters work on ad campaigns,

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and technical writers prepare

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instruction manuals and how-to guides.

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Using specialized skills,

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often learned on the job,

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they simplify complex ideas for the public,

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or write highly-technical material

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for a specific professional audience.

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Writers and authors often work in offices,

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but may work from any location

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with Internet access.

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Most writers have a bachelor’s degree in

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communications, journalism, or English,

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and lots of writing practice.

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Aspiring writers who want to enter the field

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often gain experience from internships,

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blogging about their personal interests,

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writing for school publications,

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small businesses or non-profits,

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or local news organizations.