Writer job description template

4 steps to creating a writer job description that fits your needs 

Before you post your writer job description, it’s essential to be precise in determining what type of writer you need. Be thorough, clear, and concise when constructing your job description. Include keywords associated with the task in your title. Include a list of duties they’ll be performing, skills and traits they should have, and physical and digital tools required. Below are some factors to consider when crafting a professional writer job description. 

1. Determine what type of writer you need

The types of writers and written work are as vast as the types of information in our world. Some engage in article writing and others in creative writing. Some prefer to become copywriters or technical writers or write for social media. Many independent contractors engage in informational forms of writing for general or topical publications. These articles may appear for consumption by the general public, niche publications, or a large business’s in-house magazine. Other writers excel in writing business copy, from press releases to white papers, to blogs. Businesses may use lifestyle articles that portray people using their products. A special interest group might need a writer to draft informational copy for outreach brochures.

Decide whether you need a writer with a topical area of expertise. Do you need someone to write in a particular style, whether compelling, conversational, authoritative or a combination? Are they writing a general interest article, a brochure, a blog entry, or a white paper? What specific tools will they need to use? Will they be submitting a Microsoft Word document, or do they need to know how to use an online content management system such as WordPress or Drupal?

Contracting a writer who already knows how to write in the style you need will provide better content more efficiently. 

2. Independent contractor vs. agency vs. employee

Writers can be contracted as an independent professional or through an agency or hired in-house. An independent contractor might specialize in one area and could be hired to fill a single talent gap within your team or produce a specific kind of article. An agency will have a variety of writers that can help with various aspects of business writing. Worker classification can be tricky, so check out our compliance services resources page for more information. 

3. Experience

The more experienced a writer is, the more complex the writing projects they’ll be able to perform for your business. An entry-level professional writer might help with straightforward assignments, such as writing a basic informational article or blog. A professional writer with extensive work experience can help with advanced projects such as detailed long-form articles, eBooks, white papers, or press releases. The scope of your assignment or project will determine the type of experience required for the job.

4. Industry 

Although many writers are generalists and can write effectively across multiple subjects or industries, the nature of your content may require a writer that has expertise in the subject matter. Writing for an audience in a complex topical or business niche may require someone who’s well-versed in the field and its terminology. Writing a lifestyle article for a business website or publication is much different than composing a trade piece on the latest trends for the tech industry or the legal community. If you’re having trouble finding an exact match, look at a writer’s past work to determine whether they have written extensively on certain subjects or broken down complex topics in an easily readable fashion. It might be more likely that they can adapt to new topics.

Next Steps

Take our writer job description sample and tailor it to your specific needs to create an effective job post. Then check out Upwork’s top independent professionals, including many who specialize in different craft categories. Each profile outlines an independent professional’s qualifications and experience, project success rates, and feedback from previous clients, so you can get a feel for whether the writer matches your job description.

Upwork is not affiliated with and does not sponsor or endorse any of the tools or services discussed in this section. These tools and services are provided only as potential options, and each reader and company should take the time needed to adequately analyze and determine the tools or services that would best fit their specific needs and situation.