What’s a Writing Instructor’s Job?

Print anything with Printful



Writing instructors teach grammar, sentence structure, and composition, and can specialize in creative, technical, or business writing. They help students develop writing skills and may work in elementary, high school, college, or special education settings. Instructors may also run workshops and be published writers themselves. A master’s or doctoral degree is typically required, and strong grammar skills and a love of words are important. Technical and legal writing instructors should be familiar with field-specific jargon and document requirements. Tutors can work with private students or in literacy programs and learning centers.

Writing instructors teach the basics of writing, including grammar skills, sentence structure, and composition. Types of writing taught include creative, technical, or business writing. They help students express ideas, point out problems, and design exercises to develop writing skills and concepts. A writing instructor may be a teacher in elementary, high school, or college, or work in special education with students with developmental disabilities or adults.

The Creative Writing Instructor focuses on non-journalistic writing. In courses designed for an overview, the instructor will discuss narrative flow, character development, and the use of metaphor and analogy. More intensive courses, focusing on writing, poetry or short stories, help students learn their respective forms and how to produce a completed work. The instructor can include a unit on how to market your work. Creative Instructors also run workshops and are often published writers themselves.

A technical writing instructor shows students how to prepare documents informing readers of a specific subject or instructing them in a process. Business training manuals, instructions for software or hardware, and scientific reports are examples of technical writing. Legal writing is specialized technical writing that requires instructors to teach analytical skills and persuasive language. A good technical writing instructor will be able to show students how to properly cite their sources.

The Business Writing Instructor teaches lessons on clear and appropriate business communications. People in business need to know how to write memos, requisitions, letters, reports, emails and proposals. The instructor can build a resume around job seeking documents such as resumes and cover letters. Marketing documents and copywriting are more specific skills and will likely be taught by an expert instructor.

There are writing instructor jobs at all levels of education, from elementary school to university. Independent instructors, such as tutors and writing coaches, can help struggling students create essays and papers, or help authors with a novel. Typically, a master’s or doctoral degree is required to teach in educational settings, either in a school or through a private company.

Strong grammar skills, editorial skills and a love of words and how they are put together are an asset to the position. A legal or scientific writing instructor should be familiar with the jargon of that field, as well as the requirements for documents such as legal briefs and research papers. Tutors can find private students or work in literacy programs or learning centers.




Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN


Skip to content