There are several different kinds of professional writers. Some writers create original material, such as novels, textbooks, film scripts, songs, etc. Other writers, called "technical writers", specialize in translating technical concepts and jargon into something easier to understand. Someone who creates an instruction manual for a bulldozer would be a technical writer. "Copy writers" specialize in marketing a product; they are responsible for the conceptual and technical details of whatever they've been assigned to publish. Editors oversee the writing process, and make necessary changes in the product where they see fit. In many of these fields, technology is becoming an increasingly important factor. Many employers require at least some knowledge of the Web and how to use a computer effectively. Of course, writing, research, and editing skills are critical in any writing job.

I'm very interested in freelance writing as a source of supplementary income. I keep a look out for small job postings on the Internet. A lot of start-up websites look for people to contribute to their site just to get it up off the ground. I'm interested to learn more about copy writing, because it seems like a creative position, but also one with a lot of responsibility. More than anything else, I'm interested to learn what skills are most important for someone who wants to be a writer.