Skills
Writer Skills & Tools
The technical skills, people skills and tools employers look for in writers, and how to build and show them.
What skills do writers need?
Writers need technical skills such as writing, research, and storytelling, plus people skills like discipline and creativity. They also use tools such as Word processors and Google Docs.
Technical (hard) skills
- Writing
- Research
- Storytelling
- Editing
- SEO
- Pitching
People (soft) skills
- Discipline
- Creativity
- Persistence
- Curiosity
Tools, equipment and technology
- Word processors
- Google Docs
- Scrivener
- Final Draft
- Grammar tools
- Research databases
Skills in action: common tasks
These step-by-step guides show how writers put their skills to work:
- How to pitch a story to an editor
- How to write a query letter for a novel
- How to build a daily writing habit
How to show these skills on a resume
- Lead your skills section with the technical skills from the job posting, for example, “Writing” and “Research.”
- Prove soft skills with results: instead of listing “discipline,” describe a situation where you used it.
- List credentials such as MFA in creative writing near the top, with the issuing organization and date.
- Use the employer’s vocabulary. Our writer glossary covers the terms hiring managers expect.
How to build these skills
Formal training, supervised practice and certification are the most direct routes. Our Writer training introduces each of these skills with plain-language lessons, procedures and a final knowledge check: a strong foundation before hands-on training or your first day.