What the work involves, what it pays, and grounded tasks, skills, tools, and experience you can choose from.
Also called poet, poem writer, poets lyricists and creative writers and author.
$76,910
Median pay a year
47,940
People do this work
6
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Real figures for this work, and lines you can use in your own resume. Where they come from is at the foot of this page.
An example
A Poet, Lyricist and Creative Writer resume, filled in
Common skills that can help you remember what you used on the job.
Writing material for artistic or entertainment
Editing written materials
Obtaining copyrights and permissions
Determining presentation content
Conducting research
Discussing production progress
Promoting organizations
Every line comes from the same public record as the rest of this page. The greyed parts are the ones only you can answer.
Poet, Lyricist and Creative Writer
Summary
Creative writer producing original fiction and nonfiction, including short stories, novels, and articles, while developing themes, characters, and dialogue for publication or performance
Experience
Poet, Lyricist and Creative Writer
Where you worked
Month Year to Month Year
Wrote fiction and nonfiction prose, including short stories, novels, and articles
Developed themes, plots, characterizations, and dialogue to create engaging material
Revised written material to meet personal standards and satisfy client needs
Conducted research to obtain factual information using sources such as interviews and diaries
Prepared works in appropriate format for publication and submitted to publishers
Conferred with clients and editors to discuss changes or revisions to written material
Skills
Checking & Planning
Editing written materials, Determining presentation content
Core Skills
Obtaining copyrights and permissions, Conducting research, Writing material for artistic or entertainment
Working With People
Discussing production progress, Promoting organizations
Open to
On site, Remote
Education
Bachelor's Degree Your college, Year
Yours will not say this. You choose what matches your experience, and every line remains yours to confirm or change.
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Wrote fiction and nonfiction proseDeveloped themes, plots, and characterizationsRevised material to meet client standardsChose subject matter to express ideasPrepared works for publication submissionConducted research for factual information
becomes
On your resume
Wrote diverse fiction and nonfiction prose, crafting compelling narratives and engaging characters
Revised written material to meet client standards, ensuring clarity and impact in all submissions
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Add what themes or ideas you explored in your writing
The line
Wrote diverse fiction and nonfiction prose that explored themes of love and loss, crafting compelling narratives and engaging characters
Add what themes or ideas you explored in your writing
Pick one that fits
Explored themes of love and lossDrew on personal experiences for authenticityHighlighted social issues through storytelling
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In your wordsAdd it
Adding it to the line…
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Mention what improved in the writing after your revisions
The line
Revised written material to meet client standards, ensuring clarity and impact in all submissions
Mention what improved in the writing after your revisions
Pick one that fits
Made the narratives more engagingEnhanced the emotional depth of charactersImproved overall readability and flow
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In your wordsAdd it
Adding it to the line…
Added to your resume
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The work itself
What a Poet, Lyricist and Creative Writer does
The public record of what this job is, in one paragraph.
Create original written works, such as scripts, essays, prose, poetry or song lyrics, for publication or performance.
What it pays
How much does a Poet, Lyricist and Creative Writer make?
Annual pay across the United States. The middle figure is the median: half earn less than that, and half earn more.
25th percentile
$58,230
Median
$76,910
75th percentile
$101,950
About 47,940 people do this work in the United States.
What it pays in each state
State
25th percentile
Median
75th percentile
AL
$51,840
$66,950
$93,550
AR
$39,150
$47,970
$62,790
AZ
$47,340
$55,990
$74,570
CA
$75,530
$86,480
$127,870
CO
$51,710
$76,830
$95,420
CT
$73,610
$98,460
$129,260
DC
$100,320
$129,300
$158,020
FL
$47,410
$68,080
$93,100
GA
$58,700
$74,710
$99,260
IA
$50,280
$61,010
$69,220
ID
$48,770
$56,360
$69,120
IL
$43,440
$68,220
$97,280
IN
$59,080
$75,820
$90,590
KS
$43,740
$65,840
$72,700
KY
$40,760
$48,780
$64,550
LA
$55,860
$89,520
$105,970
MA
$67,770
$85,260
$108,030
MD
$77,020
$104,330
$140,670
MN
$61,970
$72,810
$86,390
MO
$48,130
$58,140
$77,570
MS
$41,600
$54,180
$63,770
NC
$47,940
$63,660
$83,360
ND
$47,480
$50,860
$65,590
NE
$55,290
$65,470
$77,260
NH
$50,750
$71,830
$98,550
NJ
$60,610
$81,590
$103,120
NV
$48,130
$63,910
$74,940
OH
$55,680
$65,930
$81,060
OK
$43,640
$58,770
$76,950
OR
$52,620
$80,540
$104,010
PA
$54,030
$77,410
$102,480
PR
$37,010
$43,440
$47,590
RI
$56,180
$70,190
$84,170
SC
$41,610
$51,920
$76,330
SD
$54,080
$56,700
$59,710
TN
$47,120
$58,870
$78,900
TX
$53,950
$69,990
$96,260
UT
$53,800
$64,530
$86,240
VA
$64,730
$85,000
$104,000
VT
$79,920
$94,430
$107,590
WA
$65,330
$85,700
$109,000
WI
$51,710
$64,370
$77,220
WV
$47,530
$64,410
$72,340
WY
$41,560
$49,650
$57,600
Other names
Other names for this job
poet, poem writer, poets lyricists and creative writers, author, blog content writer, blog writer, blogger, children's author, comic book writer, comic writer, community blogger, content writer.
More names for this work
continuity writer, creative writer, crossword puzzle maker, documentary storyteller, dramatist, editorial writer, fiction prose writer, fiction writer, film writer, freelance writer, gag writer, game author, ghostwriter, greeting card maker, greeting card writer, humorist, librettist, literary writer, lyricist, magazine writer, movie writer, music critic, nonfiction prose writer, nonfiction writer, novelist, play writer, playwright, program writer, publications writer, radio script writer, scenario writer, screen writer, screenplay writer, script writer, short story writer, songwriter, speech writer, sports writer, story writer, television script writer, television writer, travel writer, tv script writer, tv writer, verse writer, video game script writer, video games storywriter, writer.
What you can already claim
Starting a Poet, Lyricist and Creative Writer resume with no experience
Below are the tasks a Poet, Lyricist and Creative Writer job is made of. Choose the ones you have really done. There is no wrong answer here, and you can change any of it later.
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Poet, Lyricist and Creative Writer
Already yours: Writing advertising or promotional material, Writing material for artistic or entertainment, Editing written materials
4 of the 12 tasks this job is made of
Median pay
$76,910 a year
What you have not done yet. Conducting market research, Obtaining copyrights and permissions, Developing promotional strategies
Great news! Your skills can open up even more doors.
The tasks for Poet, Lyricist and Creative Writer also qualify you for the jobs below. Creating a resume for one of these could help you land even more interviews.
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Technical Writer
Already yours: Editing written materials, Monitoring current trends
2 of the 12 tasks this job is made of
Median pay
$90,390 a year
What you have not done yet. Reviewing technical drawing details, Researching new technologies, Compiling technical information
This page is about the occupation Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers. What this job involves and what it is made of come from O*NET 30.3, the US Department of Labor's occupation database, refreshed July 2026; Rung writes those records into the plain sentences you see. Pay comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS release for 2025. How Rung handles accuracy is on the accuracy page, and the full data credits are on the credits page.