Creative Writing Jobs Abroad

Why not work abroad in creative writing? In today’s globally connected world, writers have the luxury of being increasingly mobile with their craft. As English is catching on everywhere as a universal second language, native speaking writers are in increased demand across the globe as well. The demand for creative writers is out there, you must only decide where you wish to go and what type of work you wish to engage in.

Your writing can take you anywhere. As globalization spreads across the world, educated people from everywhere are expected to know English as a second language more and more. As such, creative writers in the English language will find more and more audiences for their work sprouting up around the world, and more opportunity for creative writing jobs abroad as well.

One particularly large market right now is China. As the country continues to integrate into the global stage and open its doors to foreign influence, international publications are sprouting up in many of its major cities. It is very easy for English speakers to find a creative writing job in China in a variety of different formats.

The same is true elsewhere in the world where English is of increasing importance to local populations. For example, Asia and Europe are two of the most accessible regions in the world, because of the many different regional languages which require people to communicate together in English. On the other hand, Central and South America may be more difficult places to find creative writing jobs abroad because most people in these regions communicate in Spanish.

Then of course there are creative writing jobs abroad in English speaking countries themselves. The U.S., Canada, the UK, and Australia are all big markets for creative writers. Not surprisingly the competition will be more fierce in these places, but the demand for content is greater as well.

Every creative writer knows that steady employment for their craft can be hard to come by. However, there is surprisingly a lot of opportunity internationally if you look in the right places.

The first obvious type of job abroad is travel writing. There are many different travel companies in a variety of niches that are in continuous need of content, making it possible to land a creative writing job that takes you all over the world. These jobs often come in the form of freelance writing positions. While the work is not as purely glamorous as it might seem (think a lot of research, reviews, hard exploration), it can be a fun and exciting vocation nonetheless.

Working for a local publication or in journalism is another opportunity for creative writers to gain employment abroad in the field. Most global cities have opportunity in this field, although keep in mind that English language jobs may be limited in many of these places too. Some major international publications also have international offices across the world, so these big companies would be great places to find creative writing jobs abroad too.

Another type of creative writing job abroad is working as a blogger or for the content team of a website. It is hard to gain leverage to the point where you can start making a profit as an individual blogger, but many startups and other web based companies located around the world are in continuous need of writers to create content.

As an unfortunate rule of the trade, writers do not make much money. Unless you meet large commercial success with your creative writing job abroad, then odds are that you will be earning a living and not much more. However, it is certainly possible to boost your income prospects if you take on a position which includes elements of editing, marketing, and advertising as well.

Also, the affordability of living as a writer might greatly increase if you find work in the developing world, for the simple reason that costs of living will be significantly cheaper. Especially if you are earning an international salary, setting up shop in regions of Central America or Southeast Asia for example will be much more affordable than Europe or North America.

• Develop as a Writer. Traveling the world or living abroad as an expat will greatly expand your perspective as a creative writer. You will be challenged to write from a sharply original viewpoint that stems from your newfound experiences.
• Gain International Work Experience. Whatever future job you may apply to, having worked abroad looks great to prospective employers. It shows that you are flexible, adaptable, and can thrive in a challenging new environment.
• Have an Adventure. Let’s be real, if you are traveling the world as a creative writer then you are bound to have some crazy experiences well worth the tale. Living abroad is the perfect way to improve your skills while gathering memories and impressions that dynamically change not only your writing, but who you are.