Beverly Said:

What do you do with a Master's in Creative Writing?

We Answered:

Creative writers are in high demand in all fields. A creative writer who works as a bank manager will have no problems drafting reports, letters and memos that are frequently a part of the job. Creative writers are useful in the human resources and communications departments of large companies. Creative writers also find work as independent contractors that they can do in the comfort of their own home (see "Love To Know Freelance Writing" in the Resources section below).

Employment in creative writing jobs requires more than just skill or talent. Successful employment requires self-motivation, an ability to meet deadlines and flexibility in assignments. While many freelancers are able to pick and choose the types of jobs they will do, not all creative writing positions are geared around one form of writing. Creative writers with the ability to adapt their writing talents to a variety of subjects, forms and materials will find more employment opportunities than those who limit their own options (see "Freelance Writing" in the Resources section below).

Creative writers come in three major types. The first type of creative writer seeks employment in a companion field such as education or publishing. They use their creative writing skills to teach or edit the materials of others. They may also work as agents and mentors in order to shepherd others with similar skills to greater success. The second type of creative writer is the writer who uses her skill as a natural part of her career, but does not focus on it as a career choice. This creative writer is a great corporate trainer, manager or even human resources director because her creative writing skills benefit her career choice. The final type of creative writer is the writer who makes his living off of his craft as a journalist, communications director, author or freelance writer.

Creative writers looking to hone their skills can find numerous opportunities online and off to increase their education, their skill base and their general knowledge. Colleges offer varying degrees in creative writing and educational writing (see "SMU Creative Writing" in Resources section below) that can help aspiring authors to find the creative writing jobs that they dream of. But most writers find their work the old fashioned way, on their own. They seek writing jobs through online job sites including CareerBuilder, Guru, ELance and more. They look for websites such as OnDemand Studios, Suite101 and LoveToKnow that hire writers to provide content. Other writers work in careers while tirelessly working on the great American novel in their spare time, hoping that they will be able to publish it someday.

The most difficult part of finding the right creative writing jobs is vetting the scams from the actual jobs. Searches for creative writing jobs can turn up everything from rewriting other people's work to creating search engine content. Competition for work from overseas outsourcing can create problems with pricing work far below its value. A writer must determine his own value. Check with other freelance writers through message boards and websites; if something seems too good to be true, chances are it is.

Carol Said:

Do you think someone can become a writer by attending a 1 year Master's degree in "Creative Writing"?

We Answered:

I have an MFA in Creative Writing, and, in my opinion, the answer is "No." If you are already writing fiction, the Master's program can help you refine your work and make professional contacts. But it won't teach you how to write or get you started.

There's a free online course for beginning fiction writers that you could check out at http://www.creative-writing-now.com/free…