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Creative Writer & Scriptwriter

Creative

Create original written works, such as scripts, essays, prose, poetry or song lyrics, for publication or performance.

Creative Arts & Media

What you'd do all day

The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.

  1. 1Write fiction or nonfiction prose, such as short stories, novels, biographies, articles, descriptive or critical analyses, and essays.
  2. 2Develop factors such as themes, plots, characterizations, psychological analyses, historical environments, action, and dialogue to create material.
  3. 3Revise written material to meet personal standards and to satisfy needs of clients, publishers, directors, or producers.
  4. 4Choose subject matter and suitable form to express personal feelings and experiences or ideas, or to narrate stories or events.
  5. 5Prepare works in appropriate format for publication, and send them to publishers or producers.
  6. 6Write narrative, dramatic, lyric, or other types of poetry for publication.
  7. 7Conduct research to obtain factual information and authentic detail, using sources such as newspaper accounts, diaries, and interviews.
  8. 8Write words to fit musical compositions, including lyrics for operas, musical plays, and choral works.
  9. 9Adapt text to accommodate musical requirements of composers and singers.
  10. 10Confer with clients, editors, publishers, or producers to discuss changes or revisions to written material.
  11. 11Plan project arrangements or outlines, and organize material accordingly.
  12. 12Follow appropriate procedures to get copyrights for completed work.
  13. 13Write humorous material for publication, or for performances such as comedy routines, gags, and comedy shows.
  14. 14Attend book launches and publicity events, or conduct public readings.
  15. 15Teach writing classes.
  16. 16Collaborate with other writers on specific projects.

Also known as

What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.

  • Poet
  • Author
  • Writer
  • Blogger
  • Humorist
  • Lyricist
  • Novelist
  • Dramatist
  • TV Writer
  • Gag Writer

How far is this from you?

Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.

  1. 1

    Entry straight after SPM

  2. 2

    SPM + sijil / short TVET course

  3. 3

    Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)

  4. Typical entry

    Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)

  5. 5

    Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route

Typical educationBachelor's degree

Subjects that matter here

The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.

EnglishDraws directly on English Language — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Bahasa MelayuDraws directly on Communications and Media — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Computer Science / ICTDraws directly on Computers and Electronics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Electrical & Electronic Eng. StudiesDraws directly on Computers and Electronics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
BusinessDraws directly on Administrative — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).

What you'd need to know

The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.

  • English Language94%

    English

  • Communications and Media81%

    EnglishBahasa Melayu

  • Computers and Electronics67%

    Computer Science / ICTElectrical & Electronic Eng. Studies

  • Administrative65%

    Business

  • Sales and Marketing65%

    BusinessEconomics

  • Fine Arts62%

    Visual Art (PSV)

Tools you'd use

Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.

Where to learn these, free

Scholarships & funding

What the work feels like

Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.

  • Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
  • Contact with other peopleConstant contact
  • Dealing with customers or the publicVery high
  • Leading or coordinating othersHigh
  • Handling conflict situationsRarely
  • Indoors, air-conditionedAlmost never
  • Outdoors, in all weatherAlmost never
  • Noisy environmentOften

AI and demand for this job

A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.

67%

Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)

This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.

1.59%

Of Malaysian Claude conversations, about this kind of work

Measures how much people use Claude for this work, not how many Malaysians do this job — and more AI use can mean people relying on it, not that it's replacing them.

Pay in Malaysia

We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.

Where to check:

  • JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
  • DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
  • SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post
See pay for a related career: Broadcast Journalist / Media Producer

Check what you may qualify for

Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.

Check my eligibility Not sure yet? Take the quiz

How to get here

Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.

Asasi / Foundation

One-year runway into a specific university: public via UPU or private direct entry.

12 months

Diploma

Skill-first qualification. Work after, or enter degree Year 2. Polytechnics keep it affordable.

2.5–3 years

Related careers

If this interests you, these are worth a look too.

About this information

This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.

O*NET occupation: Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers

Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org