Writing and Editing

The coronavirus pandemic, which started in late 2019, has affected most industries to varying degrees, including the writing and editing industry. Writers and editors who normally worked remotely may have experienced little change in work environment, however, full-time employees who worked in offices had to transition to telework. Business shutdowns and social distancing requirements meant that many meetings, pitches, classes, and all other in-person activities were conducted online. The economic slowdown caused by the pandemic also reduced publishing companies' budgets, which in turn led to budget cuts and staff layoffs. For example, the U.S. book publishing industry was projected to have a decline of 2.3 percent from 2015 through 2020 because of the pandemic. The market research group IBISWorld reported that the "forced closures of nonessential businesses [were] expected to put some smaller operators out of business for good."