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- Version:
- NOC 2016 Version 1.3
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5121 – Authors and writers
Authors and writers plan, research and write books, scripts, storyboards, plays, essays, speeches, manuals, specifications and other non-journalistic articles for publication or presentation. They are employed by advertising agencies, governments, large corporations, private consulting firms, publishing firms, multimedia/new-media companies and other establishments, or they may be self-employed.
Profile
Example titles
- Advertising copywriter
- Copywriter
- Essayist
- Interactive media writer
- Literary writer
- Medical writer
- Novelist
- Playwright
- Poet
- Scientific writer
- Script writer
- Specifications writer
- Speech writer
- Technical writer
- Writer
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Novelists, playwrights, script writers, poets and other creative writers
- Conceive and write novels, plays, scripts, poetry and other material for publication or presentation
- May conduct research to establish factual content and to obtain other necessary information.
Technical writers
- Analyze material, such as specifications, notes and drawings and write manuals, user guides and other documents to explain clearly and concisely the installation, operation and maintenance of software and electronic, mechanical and other equipment.
Copywriters
- Study and determine selling features of products and services and write text for advertisements and commercials.
Authors and writers may specialize in a particular subject or type of writing.
Employment requirements
- Technical writers usually require a university degree in the area of specialization, such as computer science or engineering.
- Copywriters usually require a university degree or college diploma in French, English, marketing, advertising or another discipline.
- Creative writing programs are offered by universities and colleges.
- Talent and ability, as demonstrated by a portfolio of work, are important hiring criteria.
- Membership in a guild or union related to the occupation may be required.
Additional information
Exclusions
- Editors (5122)
- Journalists (5123)
- Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations (1123)
- Song writers (in 5132 Conductors, composers and arrangers)
- Translators, terminologists and interpreters (5125)
Breakdown summary
- Broad occupational category
- 5 – Occupations in art, culture, recreation and sport
- Skill level
- A – Occupations usually require university education.
- Major group
- 51 – Professional occupations in art and culture
- Minor group
- 512 – Writing, translating and related communications professionals
- Associated Career Handbook profiles
- 5121.1 – Authors and Other Creative Writers 5121.2 – Technical writers 5121.3 – Copywriters
- Version
- NOC 2016 Version 1.3