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Creative Writing Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Strong creative writing skills and a passion for storytelling, the creative process, and solving puzzles. * Proven track record of concepting, writing, and producing ads that convert. * Fluent in AI ...

Strong creative writing skills and a passion for storytelling, the creative process, and solving puzzles. * Proven track record of concepting, writing, and producing ads that convert. * Fluent in AI ...

Manager, Creative

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$104K - $202K/yr

Bachelor's degree in Design, Marketing, Creative Writing, Advertising, Fine Arts, or related field and 1 year's experience in interactive design, editorial content management, or related field OR 3 ...

Bachelor's degree in English, Creative Writing, Journalism, Communications, or a related field - OR equivalent work experience. * 3+ years of copywriting experience, preferably in a digital agency or ...

A degree in Marketing, English, or Creative Writing * 3-5+ years' experience writing and / or copy editing at an advertising agency or in-house agency * Strong digital portfolio including web pages ...

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Creative Writing information

See California salary details

$39K

$61.4K

$90.3K

How much do creative writing jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for creative writing in California is $61,371.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $45,900.00 and $83,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Creative Writing vs Content Writer?

AspectCreative WritingContent Writer
Primary FocusStorytelling, artistic expression, literary worksInformative, promotional, SEO-driven content
Required SkillsCreativity, narrative skills, literary techniquesResearch, SEO, clarity, marketing knowledge
Work EnvironmentPublishing houses, freelance, educational settingsDigital marketing agencies, corporate websites
Common UsageNovels, poetry, scriptsBlogs, articles, product descriptions

Creative Writing and Content Writer roles overlap in writing skills but differ in purpose and style. Creative Writing emphasizes artistic storytelling, while Content Writing focuses on informative, marketing-oriented content. Both roles require strong writing abilities, but their applications and environments vary significantly.

What is creative writing?

Creative writing is a form of writing that goes beyond the bounds of professional, journalistic, academic, or technical forms of literature. Instead, it emphasizes narrative craft, character development, and the use of literary tropes or with various traditions of poetry and poetics. Creative writing includes genres such as fiction, poetry, memoir, and scripts for plays, films, or television. Its main goal is to entertain, provoke thought, or evoke emotions through originality and imagination.

How do creative writers typically collaborate with editors and other team members during the publication process?

Creative writers often work closely with editors, literary agents, and sometimes marketing teams throughout the publication process. After submitting their manuscripts, writers receive feedback and suggested revisions from editors to enhance clarity, tone, or narrative flow. Open communication and flexibility are important, as writers may go through several rounds of edits before final approval. Additionally, writers may participate in meetings or brainstorming sessions to align their work with publication goals or marketing strategies. This collaborative environment helps ensure the final product resonates with the intended audience.

What jobs can I do with a creative writing degree?

A creative writing degree can lead to careers such as novelist, copywriter, content writer, editor, technical writer, or communications specialist. These roles often require strong writing, editing skills, and familiarity with digital tools or publishing platforms. Many positions are available in publishing, advertising, media, and corporate communications.

What are writing jobs that pay well?

High-paying writing jobs include technical writers, copywriters, grant writers, and content strategists, often requiring specialized skills and experience. These roles typically offer higher salaries due to their complexity and demand for expertise, with opportunities in industries like technology, finance, and marketing.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Creative Writer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Creative Writer, you need strong writing skills, a solid grasp of grammar and storytelling techniques, often supported by a degree in English, creative writing, or a related field. Familiarity with word processing software, publishing platforms, and content management systems is typically important. Creativity, resilience to feedback, and effective time management are standout soft skills in this role. These abilities are crucial for producing compelling content, meeting deadlines, and adapting to the evolving needs of audiences or clients.
What are the most commonly searched types of Creative Writing jobs in California? The most popular types of Creative Writing jobs in California are:
What job categories do people searching Creative Writing jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Creative Writing jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Creative Writing jobs? Cities in California with the most Creative Writing job openings:
Infographic showing various Creative Writing job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 73% Full Time, 18% Part Time, 3% Temporary, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 76% In-person, 3% Hybrid, and 21% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $61,371 per year, or $29.5 per hour.
Assistant Professor of Creative Writing - Department of English #26-11

Assistant Professor of Creative Writing - Department of English #26-11

California State University

Northridge, CA • On-site

$84K/yr

Full-time

Posted 2 days ago


California State University rating

7.7

Company rating: 7.7 out of 10

Based on 44 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

216th of 537 rated colleges and universities


Job description

Assistant Professor of Creative Writing - Department of English #26-11
Job no: 553076
Work type: Instructional Faculty - Tenured/Tenure-Track
Location: Northridge
Categories: Unit 3 - CFA - California Faculty Association, Faculty - Letters/Humanities, Tenured/Tenure-Track, Full Time
Tenure-Track Faculty Position Announcement
Department: English
Faculty Hire Number: #26-11
Rank: Assistant Professor
Effective Date of Appointment: August 19, 2026 (Subject to Budgetary Approval)
Anticipated Salary Range: Up to $84,000 annually (Dependent upon qualifications)
CSUN's Commitment to You:
CSUN is committed to achieving excellence through teaching, scholarship, learning, and inclusion. Our values include a respect for all people, building partnerships with the community, and the encouragement of innovation, experimentation, and creativity. CSUN strives to cultivate a community in which a diverse population can learn and work in an atmosphere of civility and respect. CSUN is especially interested in candidates who make contributions to equity and inclusion in the pursuit of excellence for all members of the university community.
As a Hispanic-serving Institution (HSI), inclusiveness and diversity are integral to CSUN's commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and engagement. As of Fall 2025, CSUN enrolls 36,960 students, where 57.5% are Latinx, 18.4% are White, 8.5% are Asian-American, 5.5% are Black/African American, 0.1% are Native American, and 0.1% are Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander.
For more information about the University, visit: http://www.csun.edu
About the College:
For more information about the College of Humanities, see: https://www.csun.edu/humanities/college
About the Department:
For more information about the Department of English, see: https://www.csun.edu/humanities/english
Position:
The Department of English at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) is seeking a tenure-track faculty member in Creative Writing, with a specialization in narrative, at the rank of Assistant Professor.
The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to the ongoing development of a thriving Creative Writing Option at both undergraduate and graduate levels; teach upper division and graduate courses in fiction, creative nonfiction, and other emerging prose forms; regularly teach a multi-genre GE introduction to creative writing that covers poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and drama; and continue to develop as an active artist and scholar. Desirable secondary interests include: playwriting, poetry/poetic forms, experience or interest in managing an undergraduate literary magazine, new media and digital writing, video gaming narrative, graphic narrative/comics, mixed/multiple writing genres, and/or genre-based writing.
In addition to teaching, the position requires weekly office hours, attending faculty meetings, participation in assessment of student learning, and service to the department, college, and university. The successful candidate may be required to teach on weekdays, evenings, weekends, and/or online and will be held to the standards and requirements of the college and department in which he/she/they is/are housed for recommending tenure and promotion. Given CSUN's commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and engagement in a diverse environment, the successful candidate will help the Department achieve equitable academic outcomes for all students through teaching, student mentorship, scholarship, and service.
The standard teaching load for tenure-track/tenured faculty at CSUN is 12 units per semester or four classes per semester, although new tenure-track faculty typically teach a reduced teaching load of three classes per semester for their first two years.
Required Qualifications:
  • M.F.A. or Ph.D. in Creative Writing or related field, with a specialization in narrative from an accredited institution, awarded by the time of campus visits.
  • Evidence of effective in-person College or University-level teaching experience
  • Evidence of published creative work and potential for continuing development as a writer

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Ph.D. in Creative Writing or related field preferred from an accredited institution
  • Evidence of effective engagement OR potential to engage with a diverse student body
  • Experience using culturally responsive pedagogy that leads to equitable outcomes for all students
  • Experience creating a student-centered learning environment
  • Experience that includes working with students from diverse backgrounds
  • Experience adopting inclusive approaches to mentoring
  • Experience teaching creative writing courses

Application Deadline:
Screening of applications will begin on December 12, 2025, with priority given to applications received by that date, but the position will remain open until filled.
How to Apply:
Candidates should apply by completing the CSUN online application. To apply and for more detailed information on the application and hiring process, please visit this link: www.csun.edu/careers
Applicants must submit a letter of application and CV to the website in the section above. In later stages of the search process, applicants may be requested to provide additional materials, including writing samples and evidence of teaching effectiveness.
At the time of appointment, the successful candidate, if not a U.S. citizen, must have authorization from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to work in the United States. Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States.
Please note: California State University, Northridge (CSUN) is currently not sponsoring applicants for H-1B employment that are subject to the $100,000 fee established by the "Presidential Proclamation: Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers" issued on September 19, 2025. Applicants are responsible for determining the applicability of the fee.
General Information:
In compliance with the Annual Security Report & Fire Safety Report of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, California State University, Northridge has made crime-reporting statistics available online here. Print copies are available by request from the Department of Police Services, the Office for Faculty Affairs, and the Office of Equity and Diversity.
The person holding this position may be considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.
A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position with the CSU. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or the continued employment of current CSU employees who apply for the position.
In accordance with the California State University (CSU) Out-of-State Employment Policy, the CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California and prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU-related work outside of California.
CSUN is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination based on race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, marital status, veteran status, and disability. Our nondiscrimination policy is set forth in the Interim CSU Nondiscrimination Policy. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose by contacting the Department of English at 818-677-7207.
Advertised: Nov 14 2025 Pacific Standard Time
Applications close:
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About California State University

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California State University, Fresno is one of 23 campuses in the California State University System. The University's mission is to boldly educate and empower students for success through our values of Discovery, Diversity and Distinction. The current student population is more than 25,000, including a large percentage of students with diverse and culturally rich backgrounds. The University serves the San Joaquin Valley while maintaining deep involvement with the state, nation, and across the globe.

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