Resume

Fiction Writer Resume Example & Writing Guide

Use this Fiction Writer resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.

Fiction writers are storytellers who use imagination and creativity to create worlds that feel real. They’re able to conjure up compelling characters and situations that readers can’t help but get caught up in. And they have a knack for weaving in details that make the setting and time period feel authentic.

If you’re interested in writing fiction professionally but aren’t sure where to start, here are some tips and an example resume for reference when writing yours.

Michael Garcia
Los Angeles, CA | (123) 456-7891 | [email protected]
Summary

Talented fiction writer with a passion for crafting emotionally charged and thought-provoking stories. With over 10 years of writing experience, has published short stories and essays in a variety of literary journals and magazines.

Education
San Francisco State University Jun '10
M.F.A. in Creative Writing
San Francisco State University Jun '06
B.A. in English
Experience
Company A, Fiction Writer Jan '17 – Current
  • Developed and executed a comprehensive editorial strategy for the publication, including pitching new ideas to editors at Condé Nast Portfolio magazine.
  • Conducted extensive research on assigned topics, conducted interviews with experts in their fields, and wrote articles ranging from 1,000-3,000 words that were published online and in print.
  • Managed multiple projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines under tight timelines; managed writers’ schedules and provided feedback as needed.
  • Collaborated closely with designers to ensure content is visually engaging and developed social media strategies for each article/story to increase readership across platforms (Facebook, Twitter).
  • Created compelling visuals for stories through photography or illustration when appropriate; worked directly with photographers to secure rights for images used in articles.
Company B, Fiction Writer Jan '12 – Dec '16
  • Collaborated with team of 5 writers to create and pitch new story ideas for online magazine
  • Created detailed outlines, character bios, and plot points before writing short stories or novels
  • Conducted research on location-based topics (e.g., historical events, geography) as needed by storyline
  • Regularly revised work based on editor feedback; rewrote entire manuscripts when necessary
  • Met deadlines while maintaining consistent quality in published works (~50/year)
Company C, Proofreader Jan '09 – Dec '11
  • Read and corrected manuscripts for errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
  • Checked for factual errors and verified references and citations.
  • Ensured that the text adhered to the style guide and met the publication’s standards.
Skills

Industry Knowledge: Creative Writing, Story Development, Story Structure, Storyboarding, Novel Writing, Screenplay Writing, Editing
Technical Skills: Microsoft Office Suite
Soft Skills: Communication, Creativity, Time Management, Research, Organization

How to Write a Fiction Writer Resume

Here’s how to write a fiction writer resume of your own.

Write Compelling Bullet Points

Bullet points are the most effective way to showcase your experience and qualifications. But rather than simply listing your responsibilities, you can use them to tell a story about your work. For example, rather than saying you “wrote articles for website,” you could say you “wrote 10 articles per week for website, resulting in a 50% increase in traffic over six-month period.”

The second bullet point is much more interesting and provides a clear sense of the impact of the writer’s work. It also provides a specific number to demonstrate the level of productivity.

Identify and Include Relevant Keywords

When you submit your resume for a fiction writer role, it’s likely that it will be scanned by an applicant tracking system (ATS) for certain keywords. This program will look for certain terms related to the job, like “plot development” or “character development,” in order to determine whether your skills are a match for the position. If your resume doesn’t include enough of the right terms, your application might not make it past the initial screening process.

That’s why it’s important to use this list of commonly used fiction writer keywords as a starting point when building your resume. You can add them into the relevant sections, like work experience and skills, to increase your chances of getting noticed.

  • Fiction Writing
  • Creative Writing
  • Blogging
  • Copywriting
  • Writing
  • Copy Editing
  • Journalism
  • Blogger
  • Editing
  • Writing Fiction
  • Proofreading
  • Social Media
  • Content Writing
  • Publishing
  • Storytelling
  • Web Content Writing
  • Novel Writing
  • Screenwriting
  • Digital Marketing
  • Non-fiction
  • Social Media Marketing
  • Public Relations
  • Advertising
  • Magazines
  • Corporate Communications
  • Press Releases
  • Online Journalism
  • Strategic Communications
  • Story Development
  • Entertainment Industry

Showcase Your Technical Skills

As a fiction writer, you need to be proficient in the use of language, both spoken and written. You should be able to use a variety of literary devices to create interesting and compelling characters, plots, and settings. Additionally, you need to be familiar with the different genres of fiction and be able to write in a variety of styles.

While you don’t need to list every single technical skill on your resume, it’s important to highlight your proficiency in the use of language, as well as your ability to write in different styles. This will show potential employers that you have the skillset necessary to be a successful fiction writer.

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