AÂ creative writing degree is a good course to choose if you fancy yourself as a bit of a wordsmith. But what other jobs can you do with your degree once you've graduated?
Updated: 22 Oct 2026
Thinking of studying for a degree in creative writing?But worried that you might not have many job opportunities after you graduate?
Before you ditch your dreams and switch to something you think will have better career prospects, check out the 10 jobs below that you could do after you've graduated.
OK, so this may be the dream for many of you. A handful of graduates will indeed publish that best-selling novel or screenplay that’s turned into a Hollywood smash.
For some graduates with a creative writing degree, their writing may end up being something that’s pursued on the side. There’s certainly no shame in that – especially as there are plenty of roles out there that call for the skills that you’ve developed over the past three years.  Â
NEXT: Read our guide to becoming a writer
On the other hand, there’s a huge range of commercial opportunities open to those with a creative writing degree.
From writing advertising copy, both print and online, to creating web pages for businesses of all shapes and sizes, it can be a broad and very rewarding job.
Those that are really successful though work hard to improve their knowledge of both their subject – specialising in a field can sometimes open as many doors as it closes – and the various related parts of the industry, such as production, marketing or web development. Â
Want some inspiration for your future career and advice on how to achieve your goals? Take our Career Matcher assessment to find your perfect career.
Journalism is usually split in to news and magazine publishing, but there’s a lot of crossover as you might expect. While this can be exciting and fast-paced work, wages can be low and competition high. You'll probably need to do a postgraduate course, too.
There are plenty of reputable ones available, but those with National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) accreditation are almost always preferred. Even though it can be a challenge, many in the industry wouldn’t dream of doing anything else.
NEXT: Read our guide to becoming a journalist
The online world is continuing to expand, with many smaller businesses now employing dedicated web content editors as part of their teams. As with many of these jobs, an interest in the subject you’ll be writing about will help massively, as will a willingness to dive into reader statistics and understand the role of content in search engine algorithms.
Also, the person writing this article is a web content editor. It's pretty fun.
This is a fast-growing market, and an understanding of the written word can be extremely useful. While a large part of the job is looking at content and working out how it can be improved for both search engines and readers, as well as writing to publicise clients and projects, there’s a lot of technical knowledge that’s needed too.
An interest in web design, programming and marketing will help, but most entry-level positions will let you learn as you go.
Those with an eagle eye may enjoy the world of proofing, where copy is screened for errors before publication. Perfectionism is a pretty useful attribute here, as is a taste for spotting factual inaccuracies.
Another related area is content marketing. Publishing great content – whether articles, videos or infographics – is an increasingly popular way for brands to boost their audience. All of these forms need great copy, so good writers can be in real demand.
NEXT: Read our guide to becoming a marketing manager
Knowing what to write to engage an audience is a useful skill in many ways, but it’s especially important for those working with social media.
It’s not always the most technically precise field – language and grammar can sometimes undergo some pretty drastic shifts when faced by tight character limits – but for those that can communicate well, it’s ideal.
Be prepared though to dive deep into statistics and metrics, as the job is as much about proving what you say is effective as it is the content itself.Â
Email marketing might seem like an old form of communication, but it’s still an enormous industry. An interest in design will help here too, as will a willingness to learn HTML and CSS, which are pretty handy skills for any writer working online.
PR is a great field for outgoing, confident people who are excellent writers and communicators.
There’s huge scope here, with copy needed for press releases, publicity material and client promotions. If you like the buzz of working in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment, this could be the role for you, and the perks – such as attending events and receiving free products from clients – can be pretty good too.
Fancy a career in any one of these fields? Here's the top five universities you can study creative writing at according to the Complete University Guide's subject league table:
**Article written with help from Sam Wright, founder of Blink, a Norwich-based agency specialising in search and quality content.
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