Synonyms: Copywriter, Screenwriter, Scriptwriter, Video Scriptwriter, YouTube Writer

Table of Contents

• Quick Facts
• Day in the Life
• Common Characteristics
• How to Become a YouTube Scriptwriter
• Specialties and Similar Career Paths
• Advice from Grant

Quick Facts

What YouTube scriptwriters do:

YouTube scriptwriters conceptualize, write, and refine engaging scripts for YouTube videos, tailoring narratives and dialogues to the target audience, and collaborating with creators and producers to align with the content’s vision and objectives. 

Median income:

Annual income of $73,690, or $35.43 per hour.

Lifestyle:

A writer’s working hours can vary widely depending on whether they work in-house, freelance, or with an agency. In-house and agency writers typically follow regular 9 to 5 schedules, while freelancers enjoy more flexibility but may face challenges managing multiple projects and finding new opportunities.

Education requirements:

Open to any background, including those without degrees.

Job outlook:

The future for writers is good, with the occupation projected to grow 4% from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

This is perfect for you if:

• You have an artistic and enterprising personality
• You enjoy writing, creative content creation, marketing, negotiation, and client collaboration
• You are self-motivated and love to learn constantly

If that sounds like you, definitely watch our interview with Grant Bolton, PhD to learn more about being a YouTube scriptwriter here!

Day in the Life

Schedule:

Schedules vary based on whether you are an in-house writer, with a fixed 9 to 5 schedule, or a freelancer with flexible work hours. Each path offers different challenges and opportunities in managing workload and meeting deadlines.

Setting:

Remote or hybrid flexibility is likely, which helps balance professional duties with personal life.

Tasks:

Spend their days writing scripts for video narration and voiceovers, developing promotional strategies, collaborating with clients to understand their needs, presenting work for approval, and monitoring current trends.

Topics:

Sales and marketing strategies, media production techniques, and basic knowledge of computers and electronics. 

Skills:

Strong writing, reading, speaking, listening, time management, adaptable to new software, creative in developing content, determined to meet deadlines, persuasive in engaging viewers, critical thinkers to communicate ideas effectively, and socially perceptive to understand audience reactions.

Tools:

Laptops equipped with a word processor such as MS Word or free alternatives like Google Docs to fulfill their scripting tasks effectively, along with a strong internet connection.

Common Characteristics

Natural Talents (strengths):

Written and oral expression, comprehension, idea fluency, creativity, originality, and both deductive and inductive reasoning. These talents enable effective communication and innovative content creation for engaging audiences.

Interests:

YouTube scriptwriters’ interests often align with artistic pursuits like creative writing, media production, and storytelling.

Personality:

Artistic and enterprising personality, focusing on creativity, originality, and artistic communication. They excel in leadership and management, while also being proactive and innovative in finding effective new ways to succeed.

Values:

Achievement, attention to detail, and independence. They find satisfaction in producing impactful content. They also prioritize supportive working conditions, which fosters creativity and productivity in their work.

*Terms used to describe interests and personality are based on the Holland Framework.

How to Become a YouTube Scriptwriter

Education requirements:

Becoming a YouTube scriptwriter typically requires a bachelor’s degree in English, communications, or journalism, yet the field welcomes individuals from various educational backgrounds, including those without degrees. Transitioning to a writing career is entirely possible regardless of one’s initial academic path, exemplified by professionals from fields like entomology, law, business, and accounting who have found success in scriptwriting.

Preferred majors:

A bachelor’s degree in English, communication, or journalism, is highly recommended to hone skills in writing.

Specialties and Similar Career Paths

• Biographers 
• Bloggers 
• Content writers 
• Copywriters
• Freelance Writer
• Novelists 
• Playwrights 
• Speechwriters

Advice from Grant

Job hunt tips to set yourself apart:

To stand out in the job market as a YouTube scriptwriter, Grant recommends starting writing immediately and maintaining a daily writing habit. Moreover, he suggests gaining experience by offering free services to businesses to build a portfolio, which can then be used to attract paying clients and secure steady work.

Fastest way to get your foot in the door:

To land a job quickly in YouTube scriptwriting, Grant recommends capitalizing on the global demand for audio and video marketing scripts by choosing a niche and actively pitching your services. The digital economy offers abundant opportunities to connect with clients worldwide, facilitating rapid career advancement and increased earning potential in this field.

Recommended resources:

If you’re ready to go out there and start your career as a YouTube scriptwriter, Grant recommends the American Writers and Artists Institute. They offer a copywriting program to help aspiring writers get started and understand the basics of copywriting, content writing, and persuasive writing in general.

What Grant would tell his younger self if he was just getting started:

“Grab opportunities as they come. Once you have a good opportunity, focus on that for a while and don’t grasp so many different things. Take something, and run with it for a while, and see where it takes you. If it doesn’t work out, find another opportunity and run with that one. Just commit.”

Listen to the full interview with Grant:

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Data on job profiles is based on the information supplied by the Occupational Outlook Handbook from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, My Next Move from the National Center for ONET Development, and the ONET Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment, and Training Administration. Accessed 13 June 2024.

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