Your Guide To The Salt Lake City Writing Scene

A booming tech industry in Utah means tons of writing opportunities for writers with the right combination of skills and expertise. Successful businesses are springing up faster along the Wasatch Front than Thanos can snap people out of existence. These companies need writers to produce fresh, innovative content and that means good things for writers in the Salt Lake City area.

Making a Living as a Salt Lake City Writer

Writing jobs in the Salt Lake City area vary in compensation based on the type of skills needed for the job. Glassdoor notes that a Salt Lake City content writer can earn an average of $48,782 annually. Copywriters earn an average of $50,408 per year. Technical writers pull in $53,409 annually.

Producing high quality content is a persistent need for Salt Lake City area businesses. Building a visually appealing website with useful regular content sets a company apart and helps that company make a name in a crowded marketplace. As long as customers turn to the Internet to guide their purchasing decisions, content writers will not be lacking for work.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor, for example, projects a 3.4 percent job growth rate for copywriters who work in advertising, public relations and related services over the next five years.

Online job marketplaces such as Indeed or Glassdoor can be useful resource for finding full-time or part-time writing jobs within the Salt Lake City area. You can also used paid resources like LinkedIn Profinder to snag one-time or recurring freelance gigs.

There are plenty of opportunities available for any hard-working, talented writer looking to polish skills, build a network of clients, or take a new turn on their career path.

Educational Opportunities for Writers to Advance in Salt Lake City

If you’re looking to bolster your writing skills in one aspect or another, you will find plenty of academic resources within the Salt Lake City metro area.

The city is home to the University of Utah and Westminster College. The University of Utah is the state’s flagship research university while Westminster is one of the top liberal arts colleges in the West. Both schools offer four-year degrees in various writing disciplines. Salt Lake Community College also offers multiple campuses in the Salt Lake City metro area to help writers who want to take a class or two or get certification from a program, like the technical writing program, in order to open more doors in the writing world.

Educational opportunities are not limited to taking college classes and earning degrees. You can also network through meetup groups, conferences, and workshops to really supercharge your writing efforts.

Writing Meet Up Groups in Salt Lake City 

• Write the Docs, ongoing. This Salt Lake group is one of two dozen chapters around the world. This group is geared toward technical writers, programmers, and other professionals associated with software documentation. Group members have monthly meetings and conferences like SaltConf18.
• Salt Lake City Writers, Authors, Speakers Community Group, ongoing. This is a meetup group that describes itself as a community of authorpreneurs (authors, writers, speakers, and entrepreneurs) who want to build an online presence to sell book, products, and services effectively by building an organic audience. The group typically holds monthly meetings at the Mystery Escape Room in downtown Salt Lake City.

Salt Lake City Conferences for Writers to Consider in 2019

• Digital Summit Salt Lake City: This two-day conference runs on March 5 and 6 and features more than 45 sessions and workshops. Each one is geared to offer practical ideas and strategies for staying current in the digital economy. Speakers are drawn from leading companies across the nation.
• League of Utah Writers Spring Conference. A one-day event in April at Salt Lake Community College. It features a full day of workshops and presentations focused on improving your skills as a writer. Areas of focus include fiction, nonfiction, poetry and screenwriting.
• UCET Conference 2019: This two-day conference on March 5 and 6 at the Utah Valley Convention Center is sponsored by the Utah Coalition for Educational Technology. It offers breakout sessions on ways to utilize technology in teaching and learning. The theme for the March conference is “Tell Your Story.”

Workshops, Classes and More for Writers in Salt Lake City

Finding useful educational resources for writers in Salt Lake City is a simple task. These workshops and classes will set you up with the skills you need to attract companies looking for content writers.

• Community Writing Center, check website for updates. Salt Lake Community College offers a wide range of writing workshops. Workshops are created in response to community requests and some are offered for free through grants and partnership funding. 2019 workshops are focused on topics such as grant writing, resume writing, non-fiction, and fiction.
• The University of Utah Continuing Education department, check website for updates. Single classes are available to the community from the University of Utah. These classes focus on topics like grant writing, business writing, and creative non-fiction. They are offered throughout the year and last from a couple of weeks to a couple of months.

The Best Places for Writers to Write in Salt Lake City

You have tons of cool writing hot spots around the city to get your creative energies following. Check out some of these popular writing spots where you can rub shoulders with fellow writers.

• Salt Lake City Library (downtown)
• Sugar House Park
• Memory Grove Park
• University of Utah campus

Want to hit up a local cafe or coffee shop? You’re in luck. Coffee Garden on 9th and 9th, Publik Coffee Roasters in the Avenues, Watchtower Cafe near Smith’s Ballpark, and Nostalgia Cafe in central city are all wonderful spots to write and relax.

Community Groups for Writers in Salt Lake City

Beyond the resources listed above, you can connect with these formal writing groups that offer events and classes for local writers.

• Salt Lake City Writers: a Facebook group that meets for write-ins and discussions each month. The location of the events is typically held at a branch of the city or county library.
• League of Utah Writers: Various chapters of this Utah writing group meet in Salt Lake City and the surrounding metro area. It costs an annual membership fee to join, but members get access to workshops, conferences, and other annual events.

Local Companies Hiring Salt Lake City Writers

Skilled and experienced writers are in high demand in Salt Lake City. Business growth in Utah is robust and companies are scrambling to keep up with demand for fresh, unique content. Freelance writers and editors in Salt Lake City can find plenty of opportunities to strengthen their portfolio with local companies, digital marketing agencies, and online content platforms.

Digital Marketing Agencies

It’s true that digital marketing agencies are pivotal in keeping content flowing to readers. That’s why so many companies turn to them for help. Many agencies in Salt Lake City are always on the hunt for a few good content creators.

Digital Marketing Agencies

It’s true that digital marketing agencies are pivotal in keeping content flowing to readers. That’s why so many companies turn to them for help. Many agencies in Salt Lake City are always on the hunt for a few good content creators.

• Clearlink
• 97th Floor
• SEO.COM
• Fusion 360

Content Platforms

• WriterAccess: Many Salt Lake City writers find consistent work with us. We are a leading provider of writing services for 25,000+ customers powered by 15,000+ freelance writers, editors, content strategists and translators. We’re always looking to add to our roster of freelancer professionals with the skills and expertise to help businesses grow with organic content, so APPLY NOW!
• Skyword: This collaborative content marketing platform specializes in creating content for major brands nationwide.
• METRO: A newer content platform partnering with CNET. Metro offers opportunities to write, edit, and proofread content for major brands nationwide. Passing writing and editing tests is required before gaining access to the job boards.

Join Fellow Salt Lake Writers Now!

Salt Lake City has grown from its Mormon pioneer roots to become a culturally diverse city that’s home to a growing and thriving writing community. Many talented writers and poets in the West can trace their roots to this metropolis in the desert. It has blossomed as a rose in that sense. Use this guide to help yourself become a vital part of this community of writers!