MEDIA, COMMUNICATION AND THE ARTS
Author (Fiction and Non-fiction)
Writes books, stories or essays for publishers or self-publishing platforms.
Any stream; strong reading and writing skills matter most Any time Self-employed
Facts checked 29/10/2026
Is this for me?
People in this work enjoy
- Spending long hours alone with ideas and words
- Working out how a story or argument should unfold
- Seeing a reader respond to something you wrote
It may not suit you if you dislike
- Income can be uncertain for years, and many authors keep another job
- Rejection is common, and feedback can sting
- You must find your own deadlines and motivation, and promote your own work
- Class 11–12 subjects
- No fixed subjects. Any stream works. Strong English, Hindi or your mother tongue helps, because you need to write clearly and read widely. Writing for a school magazine or debate helps you practise.
- First degree
- No degree is required. A BA or MA in English, Hindi or creative writing is optional. It can build reading, critique and writing skills.
- Entrance exams
- None. There is no entrance test to become an author.
- Licence or registration
- None needed to start working.
Open to every streamAny stream; strong reading and writing skills matter most.Check your subjects against every career
What the work is like
Planning a story or book, drafting and revising it, researching facts, sending work to publishers or agents, handling royalty contracts, and promoting the book at readings or on social media.
A day in the work
Many authors start the day with a cup of tea and a fixed block of writing time, often in the morning when the house is quiet. They may spend an hour drafting a chapter, then reread yesterday's pages and cut what does not work. The afternoon may go to emails with an editor, a research question, or a short piece for a newspaper. Some days end with a social media post about the book or a reading at a local library.
The path, step by step
- Step 1 · Class 7–12Read widely in English, Hindi and your mother tongue. Write something every week, such as stories, diary entries or essays. Keep a notebook. Share work with a teacher or friend and accept honest feedback.
- Step 2 · Class 12 or college (optional)A BA in English, Hindi or creative writing helps you learn how books are built and read critically. It is not a legal requirement. Many authors have no creative writing degree.
- Step 3 · Any timeFinish a complete manuscript. Revise it more than once. Ask a few readers, a librarian or a writing group in your town to read it and tell you what is weak.
- Step 4 · After the manuscript is readySubmit to publishers or literary agents, following each publisher's guidelines. Or publish it yourself on a self-publishing platform. Traditional publishers can take months to reply, and many send rejections first.
- Step 5 · Once the book is in your handsYou may register copyright with the Copyright Office. Registration is not mandatory, because copyright exists once you create the work. It gives you an official record if someone copies your work. (reported — check with the official body)
- Optional · Up to age 35Sahitya Akademi gives the Yuva Puraskar each year to young writers aged 35 or below on 1 January. The book must be original, in one of the Akademi's 24 languages, and usually published within the last five years.
Ways in
- Traditional publishingsend a manuscript to a publishing house or an agent. The publisher edits, designs, prints and sells the book. You earn an advance and royalties.
- Self-publishingpublish through an online platform. You control the cover, price and timing. You also pay for or manage editing, marketing and copyright yourself.
Time and money
| Stage | Time | Government college or body | Private college | Help available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 11–12 (optional BA route): your school's fees | 2 years | Your school's fees | — | — |
| Optional BA (Hons.) English/Hindi, Gurukul Kangri Vishwavidyalaya (govt route) | 3 years | ₹6,700 in year 1 (2026–27); ₹6,300 in year 2 (2027–28), per GKV fee PDF | — | No official stipend or scholarship figure found |
| Optional MA English, Brainware University (private route) | 2 years | — | ₹1,09,800 total (reported as per university programme page, 2026 intake) | No official stipend or scholarship figure found |
| Optional National Book Trust online book publishing course (not a government job training) | Check the notice | ₹8,850 including 18% GST (2025–26 batch, reported) | — | Paid course, not stipended; 2026 batch fee not confirmed |
| Manuscript, revisions and reader feedback; submission to publishers or self-publishing | Check the notice | Free to write; check the college's fee page for any course | Self-publishing costs depend on the platform; check its fee page | — |
| Copyright registration with the Copyright Office (optional) | Check the notice | Check the notice | Check the notice | — |
Total timeAbout 3–5 years after Class 12 if you take an optional degree; no entrance exam or licence is needed
Total costWriting needs no paid course; optional degree fees range from ₹6,300 per year at GKV to ₹1,09,800 total for a private MA.
Good to knowNo degree, exam or licence is required, and most authors earn little from writing alone, so many keep other work.
Fees from: National Book Trust: Book Publishing Course 2026 terms (PDF) · National Book Trust, India: Online Course in Book Publishing notice (2025 batch), course fee · Gurukul Kangri Vishwavidyalaya: Fee Structure 2026-27 (PDF) · Brainware University: MA English fees 2026 (programme page). Fees change every year — check the college's own fee page before you pay.
What people earn
Earnings vary very widely. Most new authors earn little at first. Established authors, bestsellers, and writers with a steady stream of work or other income can earn far more. Your city, language, genre and publisher all change what you make.
Myth and fact
Myth: You need a degree or a publisher's permission before you can call yourself an author, or before your work is protected.
Fact: Anyone who writes can call themselves an author. Copyright exists once you create an original work, though registration gives extra proof.
Try it now
- Class 7–9Borrow one book a fortnight from your school or local library. Write a half-page review of each one in your own words.
- Class 10–12Join your school magazine or wall-magazine team, or start one with friends. Send in one short story or essay this month and ask your English teacher to read it.
- College or afterRead the free NPTEL course outline on Understanding Creativity and Creative Writing. Then write one short piece a week for a month and review it against the outline.Open link ↗
Good to know
- Copyright exists from the moment you write your work. Registration only adds proof. Do not pay anyone who promises to 'make' your copyright.
- Most authors earn a little from writing alone. Many keep another job, teach, or write articles, copy or content as well.
- A publisher's contract matters a lot. Read the royalty, rights and termination clauses carefully, or ask someone you trust to read them.
- Sahitya Akademi's own pages set out eligibility. Some other sites describe how books can be entered differently, so check the Akademi's current call before you apply.