Get on the Write Track: Online Programs for Professional Writers

The growth of online publications has increased the number of positions for writers--and the benefits of online degree programs in professional writing.

On an average day, you encounter thousands of written messages: TV commercials, newspaper articles, menus, billboards, brochures, Web sites--even the directions on your shampoo bottle.

As the Internet expands our communication abilities and our need for quick access to information, the demand also grows for trained professional writers to produce content in a variety of mediums.

A Threshold Skill

The National Commission on Writing reports that approximately two-thirds of salaried employees in large American companies--in fields ranging from manufacturing to medicine--have some type of writing responsibility. Thanks to widespread use of e-mail and other electronic communication, more writing must be done than ever before.

Much of this writing will be outsourced to professional writers--particularly those with the kind of technological familiarity that an online education provides. This is why professional writing jobs are projected to grow throughout the next several years. An online education earned through one of the many available online programs in English for professional writers can help you secure such a position.

The Benefits of Distance Learning for Writers

While completing your professional training through a distance learning program can help you gain essential Web experience, an online education can be an advantage in other ways as well:

Online programs train students to produce clear, effective writing.
Distance learning allows students to spend as much time on certain subjects as necessary, at times that are convenient (so you can continue to work a full-time job while completing your online education).
Online B.A. programs for professional writers go beyond the standard English curriculum of grammar and literature. Specialized training for professionals targets writing for publication, professional documents (e.g. grants, proposals, etc.), editing, and technical writing.

So look into distance learning B.A. programs in English for professional writers today, and begin an enviable career as a paid, professional writer.

About the author

Jessica Santina is a freelance writer with a background in media and promotions. She also teaches first-year writing courses at the University of Nevada, Reno.