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Who is a Author?
The pen is mightier than the sword ~ Anonymous
In career as author, individuals produce well-crafted pieces of work for people to read, learn and enjoy. Writers and authors job description includes working closely with words and using the basics of the language to stimulate the reader’s imagination, teach and capture his or her interest. There are many types of writing as well as in education, arts, business, professionals, and journalism. With so many different types of books and published literature available in the world, there are so many different types of writers writing them. Individuals in author career path require creativity with thought and imagination to put the words in a way that describes an opinion or a scenario. Students can pursue a Bachelor of Arts in English to become an author. If you want to build a career as an author, then you must be able to weave your words in such a way that readers dwell and imagine the story in their minds. Here, we will discuss the details about careers for writers, such as how to become an author, what education is needed to become an author, writer career salary, what how to start as an author career.

Author in a Nutshell
Individuals in author career path are someone who chooses a field to write in and can go about it according to his or her wish. It is considered one of the most careers for writers. Being an author and writing something which breaks all possible records is entirely in the hands of an individual. It is one of those careers where one gets to ‘be his or her own boss’. Not only an author could also be a freelancer or could do the job as a hobby or passion. Careers for writers are not just limited to writing novels or poems but also includes several other career options like screenwriter, copywriter, playwright, so on and so forth.
Quick Facts for Author
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Industry
Entertainment, Media
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Average Salary in India
₹52666.67
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Suitable for
Male, Female, Others
A candidate who wishes to become an author can do so irrespective of his or her gender. The field of writing is not gender biased and all genders get an equal opportunity to pursue it. A career as an author is a desk job where an individual is not required to put in any kind of physical labour. Therefore, one can pursue a career in writing no matter which gender he or she belongs to. An individual's gender does not affect him or her to opt for a job as a writer.
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Any special needs
Yes
An individual with a strong language, good writing skills as well as has a creative mind can be an Author. It does not matter if he or she is physically fit or not. A career as author is more of a desk job where he or she does not have to put in physical effort. One might have to go out for research or for finding inspiration in order to write but that is not a problem for anybody with special needs. Anyone can opt for a job as a writer.
Table of Contents for Author
What is the role of Author?
Here, we have described what authors do. The writers and authors job description is to choose an area of writing. One could either write fiction and use his or her creativity or could be a non-fiction writer. Once that is done, a famous author chooses a subject to write on which is followed by research in order to add important facts as well as credibility to the written piece. Using appropriate sources and citations helps to gain credibility in the career as an author from the readers and the editors. After getting feedback from a famous author the author has to re-work the draft depending on the suggestions.
Choosing the subject
The first thing that an author should do is to choose a subject of interest as well as making a choice of the book to be fiction or non-fiction. Something which he or she can write about either due to the kind of knowledge one has or because of experience, or maybe could gather information through. Choosing an appropriate subject is the first and the most crucial part for a career as author in order to write about it.
Types of a Author
There is a various career in writing in India. One can choose to opt for a career novelist, non-fiction writer, journalist or screenwriter. We have provided below the major career options with the writers and authors job descriptions.
Novelist: A novelist is a person who writes long stories. Depending on the genre, a fairy tale can have between 80,000 and 200,000 words, so this type of author should be able to plan and execute his or her work. This requires dedication and patience along with the ability to think creatively enough to captivate the reader into reading something that
Non-Fiction Writer: A non-fiction writer is a person who writes in a special field. This could include technical writers and academic writers. A non-fiction writer is able to take large amounts of information and break it down so that the important text can be read. A non-fiction writer writes about a specific area delivering the content to a specific target audience. This type of writing requires realistic observation and research.
Article writer: An article writer is someone who writes a short piece, for example, a food article, product review article or a travel essay. One will write various magazines, using precise and point, language to make the article informative and enjoyable to read. Having specialised knowledge is excellent, as essays are often needed in medical, technical or commercial journals.
Online Author: An online author is a person who is accustomed to visiting and writing articles or short stories on websites and blogs. The internet is a great way to provide an amateur writer with a store for showcasing creative work, enabling him or her to learn and improve their writing skill level as one rises to the top of his or her career as an author.
What is the workplace/work environment of Author like?
The workspace for a job as a writer is very subjective in nature. Individuals who opt for a career as an author write their draft sitting on a desk. But for example, if the famous author is a travel-based author then one will have to travel the places in order to write about it, or if someone is a journalist then one will have to go to different places in order to find leads for writing a story. The writers and authors job description is to write but there is a lot of background work that has to be done in order to write about a certain topic or subject and this can require an individual to even go out and do research. To put their ideas into words, they need a typewriter, computer system, smartphone or tabloid. Writing has been digitalised over the years. If you want to build a career in writing in India, you must know a pen and paper can do wonders but the further process requires it to be digitalised for publications.
Does Author require travelling?
Not Likely
The job of an author can or cannot involve travelling depending on the type of writing he or she does. For example, if an individual is a fictional novelist then he or she will not have to travel in order to write about something fictional. Individuals in author career path can write about it sitting at home. But, on the other hand, if someone is writing a non-fiction book based on travel then one will have to go and explore the places that he or she wants to write about.
Employment Shifts
Full Time, Part Time, Work From Home
The shift timing in career as author can fall under a certain category if he or she is working for a company. It can be a 9-to-5 job. But if someone is a journalist or a novelist, the working hours are not fixed. It depends more on deadlines as well as the situations taking place around the globe (in case of a journalist). There are no specified shifts in such cases.
Employment Nature
Contractual, Permanent
The employment can be both permanent as well as contractual in nature for a career as author. Some companies may form a contract which can be ranging between two to three years in length. It varies from company to company. Whereas it is a field where an individual can work for himself or herself or as a freelancer and in that case the work can be contractual in nature.
Work Place
Home Office, Office
An author can work in an office, go out for research in the field or even travel around to gather information for his or her write-up. It is very subjective in nature. Individuals in author career path work as a travel journalist, his or her work would not be fixed, it would be all about travelling. But, on the other hand, a novelist who works for himself can work in his or her house and has the choice of going out for research as and when required.
Presence in Geographical Area
Rural, Semi-urban, Urban
Individuals who opt for a career as an author can work in any type of geographical location, especially if he or she works for his own. But if one works in a big company then it is most likely that he or she would have to work in an urban location.
Time Pressure
Likely
The job of an author is to write content for his or her audience. For freelancers or journalists, there are several deadlines that one has to work on almost on a daily basis. Individuals in technical author career path get to choose when they want to work and for how long.
Overtime Details
Individuals in author career path might have to work for extra hours in cases of emergencies (in the case of journalists) but for a novelist, it is entirely up to him, how he wants to divide his work.
Weekly Hours of Work
Min 40 Hours
Individuals in technical author career path have to work for 40 hours a week if he or she is working for an organisation or company. But, if one is working for himself then he or she can choose his own working hours depending on what suits him the most.
How to become a Author?
Steps to become a Author
What are the skills and qualities required to become a/an Author?
There are several writer skills. We have mentioned below major writer skills that provide you support in building a career in writing in India. You may also opt for writing courses nearby you to develop writing skills. There is enormous scope in the booming online writing markets. Here we will discuss how to become an author.
Writing skills: Individuals who opt for a career as an author must be able to write well in order to convey feelings and emotions and communicate with readers. It is one of the most important skills required by an author to be able to do well in his or her career. It is not a skill one can adopt overnight. It takes time for an individual to be able to learn the skill of writing. In order to be a good writer, one must read a lot of literature specifically in the language he or she wants to write.
Flexibility: Several authors and writers need to be able to adapt to new platforms and software programs, including the various Content Management Systems (CMS). Since technology keeps advancing with every day passing by, one needs to be up-to-date with it in order to deliver the task that is assigned to him or her without facing many problems while doing so.
Creativity: In order to captivate one’s reader it is important that the author should be able to develop new sites, characters, or new, interesting ideas, or situations in his or her write-up so that one could create something new. There is already so much written, in order to stand out an author must be creative.
Critical thinking: Individuals in author career path must be proficient in thinking and understanding new concepts, and convey them in written form. There are several topics that an author may have to write about which may or may not be the individual’s area of comfort. Therefore, one must think critically about how to still go about writing on a subject like that.
Determination: Individuals in technical author career path sometimes may have to work on projects that take years to complete. For example, a freelance writer who is paid for each assignment must show perseverance or in the case of a novelist who has to write thousands of pages in order to complete his or her book has to come up with a proper plan along with the determination to carry out the work.
Social understanding: Individuals in author career path must understand how readers react to certain genres of writing in order to connect with the audience. At the end of the day, a writer writes for the people who make society. Therefore, understanding them and finding ways to connect with the reader through one’s writing is an important skill that an author must possess in order to do well in life.
Also, read - Career as a content writer
Which certifications and internships can be helpful in becoming Author?
We have mentioned below certifications that individuals may opt for who want to establish a career as an author.
Certified Content Writer | Digital Tools for Writing, Authoring and reviewing manuscripts |
Academic Writing | How to Write a Novel: Writing the Draft |
Internship Availability
Several internship opportunities are available in this career in writing in India. Different companies and organisations, with appropriate abilities and competencies, employ interns who can write for them in order to become an Author in future. There are plenty of internships available for someone who wishes to opt for a career in writing in India. Internships are of both paid and unpaid types. The norms and requirements differ for each and every organisation or industry. Interns day to day job includes writing articles, e-books, podcasts, sales copy, researching the topic for which they are required to write. One can explore internship opportunities through online hiring portals. The individuals get hands-on experience through internships. Higher-education colleges and private airlines, therefore, provide internship opportunities.
Career Path Progression for Author
There are various progressive roles in the career in writing in India. You can progress in your career as an author and opt for a career novelist. A writer can progress from content writer to copywriter and sub-editor. Writers with journalistic skills and business sense can become business writers. There are careers for writers. One can start his or her own blog and develop an audience interested in reading and consuming his or her content. There are numerous opportunities with various job titles in the career in writing in India.
Business writer: Several newspaper companies and magazines hire individuals who have expert knowledge in the beat of business. Individuals who can write in this beat are considered business writers. This job requires the person to do proper research as well as put in enough effort to provide the reader with his or her needs.
Novelist: A novelist is an author or a writer of novels. Several novelists write in either fiction or non-fiction and sometimes even both. A novelist can be a professional novelist, thus making a living writing novels and other fiction, while others aspire to support themselves in this way or write as part of pursuing a hobby.
Copywriter: The job of a copywriter is to write content for several advertising agencies and brands in order to create brand awareness. A copywriter has to write the content in a way that can capture people’s minds and can amplify the brand’s awareness. The job of a copywriter can be very hectic at times as one may have to work on multiple projects simultaneously.
Columnist: A columnist is an individual who writes for publications in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary or personal opinions of the author. These columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs. They take the form of a short essay by a specific writer who offers a personal point of view.
Author Jobs and Salaries
Novelist
Contractual
- Average Salary 48000
- Junior Level Salary 45000
- Senior Level Salary 80000
Job Description
A novelist is a person who writes long stories. Depending on the genre, a fairy tale can have between 80,000 and 200,000 words, so this type of author should be able to plan and execute his or her work. This requires dedication and patience along with the ability to think creatively enough to captivate the reader into reading something that long.
Salary Description
A novelist’s earnings majorly depend on who is his or her publisher as well as how is the book doing in the market. An author who writes a best-seller can earn crores of money.
Business writer
Contractual
- Average Salary 55000
- Junior Level Salary 35000
- Senior Level Salary 60000
Job Description
A business writer is a person who usually writes for newspapers as well as magazines. Business magazines and newspapers need writers with good business knowledge, excellent language skills and equals, if not better, than that of a reader.
Salary Description
A business writer’s salary might vary based on the individuals skills, and experience. After gaining enough experience a business writer can earn more than the amount of Rs. 60,000 every month.
Columnist
Contractual/Permanent
- Average Salary 55000
- Junior Level Salary 49000
- Senior Level Salary 63000
Job Description
A columnist writes for newspapers, magazines and news books. Some journalists are adapted; their articles appear in hundreds of newspapers, and a new article is published each week.
Salary Description
An individual who becomes a columnist is generally a person with a lot of experience and expertise in the area. Therefore, one is paid well by the organisation he or she works for.
What is the job outlook for Author?
If you possess the creativity of words and have art to narrate stories giving it an interesting twist and turns then building careers for writers are the right choice for you. There are various opportunities for writers and authors. Careers for writers can be seen as an emerging field that is growing day by day. After the Internet became a major means of delivering this information, almost every company or organisation has become involved in hiring authors who could write for them. It has become a major and very important step in advertising and marketing. With the growth and competition, being an author is possible for someone who has great perseverance to work and make a big profit. One can also make huge profits in the online writing markets with the application of SEO.
Frequently Asked Questions for Author
Que. How long does it take to become an author?
Ans.For an individual who wants to become an author after taking up a degree and some experience, it can take around four years for him or her to become an author.
Que. Who is the richest author in India?
Ans.Malayali author Benyamin was declared as the richest author of India for the year 2019.
Que. What are the highest paying jobs in the field of writing?
Ans.The top three jobs that pay the highest in the industry are technical writer, Editor, and Magazine writer.
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Questions related to Author
Hello sir,sir i am in class11 and preparing for IIT JEE. I am solving pyq of complted chap. from arihant past 43 years book of.pcm .in this book there are 3 section and it is mentioned d that sec:1 can be solved before mains and sec:2 after mains,sec:optional, so sir should i solve section2 or not
Dear aspirant,
Solving previous year questions is a very good preparation practice as it will definitely help you get familiarity with the type of questions asked in the exam. If you are preparing for mains now and are short of time, please don't bother solving the section 2 questions right now. Make yourself comfortable with the concepts and do JEE mains questions. But, if you are preparing for advanced and have like a l year before the exam do both the sections as and when you finish each topic. It all depends on what your goals are, so look at how much time you have and plan accordingly.
Dear Sir, Happy morning,i am kumar and i am working in Ford motor as senior diagnostic technical author, i have completed B.E Automobile engineering and i want to study MBA distance education of Anna university, please suggest me which subject is best General management or operation management. than
Hey Young candidate!! Firstly here is an analysis of the overview of the courses,
The General Management MBA course focuses on introducing contemporary business modules and providing guidance to think through advanced business strategies with a global perspective. Candidates who will be pursuing a general management degree will be capable to supervise, plan and direct the team.
MBA in Operations Management aids in the development of an organisational skill set in individuals, which is essential in the world of business. The professional degree involves training in areas such as planning, production, manufacturing, marketing, and maintenance etc.
Hope this gives you a clue to choose the stream that you actually wish to pursue,
All the best!!!
who is the author of the story the bet
The author writer of the story ' The bet' was Anton checkov. He is known as the Russian dramatist, author and physician. The story was written in the Russian Empire and the publication date of the story was 1 January 1889. The story was first written in Russian language and then translated it into English language.
what did the author find out about the theory that honesty is the best policy
Hey!
The question you have asked is pertaining to a specific reading which demands that you answer the question asked according to that particular reference only according to whoever the author of the reading or article is. You have not written the reference of your question, that is, the reading name and the author and other pertinent details which are required to answer your query. You may write your complete query in the comment section so that an answer could be provided.
when collage ask as to bring text books in FE engineering ? and which author books are best for FE engineering?
Hi Aspirant,
Here are the common books and their for 1st year btech :-
Applied chemistry :
Chemistry from First Principles by Jan C. A. Boeyens
Applied Mathematics :
Methods of Applied Mathematics written by Francis Hildebrand
Applied physics :
An Introduction to Spacetime Physics by Steve Adams.
It will be easy if you clearly mention your branch, because there are some fundamental subjects related to your branch in first year. Connect with your seniors or faculty members then can help you.You will be provided with syllabus book or sheet, in that you can see your syllabus and the preffered books for that subject, you can get them from library.
Hope this helps!
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