We’ve all read a book or two. Few books have deeply moved us, while others have caused us to skip a few pages. Yet, we’ve all wondered “Why did the author choose this topic to write on?” Or we admire their ability to be so relatable to the reader.
The word ‘Creative Writer’ is an umbrella term for different types of writers including but not limited to, poets, bloggers, novelists, screenwriters, playwrights, etc. Each differs from the other based on its type of writing.
In this blog, we will explore how to become a creative writer/novelist. We will guide you through the educational qualifications required, the best colleges in India and abroad, and the pathway for preparation as a writer.
A simple definition of a writer would be, ‘ a person who communicates his/her ideas/thoughts creatively in a written form of work.’
A novelist is a creative writer who specializes in long-form fiction rather than shorter forms like poetry, essays, or short stories.
Also read: How to become an Editor
Being a novelist, like any other creative endeavour, comes with a unique set of hurdles. Understanding the progression and skillset required for the profession would yield better output.
A degree in Literature with a creative writing specialization would be great for becoming a novelist. However, some authors do not have a formal literary background. Aside from formal education, there are online courses on creative writing or fiction writing that might be useful when practising.
Different publishing houses offer writing projects. One would have to submit their portfolio of writings to be considered for the project. Post which, you will have to submit the work on a timely basis to the publishing firm.
Various recognized Institutions offer certificate courses on Creative writing, that can aid in building connections and acquiring writing insights. Here are a few places that offer certificate courses in creative writing:
There is no specific educational qualification required for becoming a novelist. However, if you choose to write a specific type of novel, say psychological thrillers, or science-fiction, a degree complementing the knowledge required for such writing can be a good option.
How to become a Creative Writer after 10th
One can choose any stream after completing Grade 10. It would be a good time to participate in writing workshops and develop a reading habit by reading fictional and non-fictional works of literature.
How to become a Creative Writer after 12th
You can apply for a diploma or any undergraduate course after the completion of Grade 12. A degree in Arts or a related field would help in the creative process as it gives the student exposure to a wide range of writings.
Procedure to become a creative writer in India
To apply for any diploma or undergraduate course, a minimum of 50% in Grade 10 + 2 is required from a recognized board and university.
Read more: How to become a Screenwriter
| Name of the course | Duration |
| Diploma in Creative Writing in English (DCE) by IGNOU | 1 year |
| Diploma in Creative Writing in English (DCWE) by Symbiosis | 1 year |
| Diploma in Effective Writing Skills by Alison | 1 year |
| Diploma in Creative Writing: Advanced Fiction and Writing for Performance by University of Cambridge | 1 year |
| Graduate Diploma in Creative Writing by UTS | 1 – 1.5 years |
Here are a few Undergraduate courses you can try if you want to become a novelist or writer:
| Name of the course | Duration |
| Bachelors of Arts in Literature with specialization in Creative Writing | 3 years |
| Bachelors in Mass Communication | 3 years |
| Bachelors in Fine Arts | 3 years |
| BA (Theatre Studies, English, Psychology) | 3 years |
| Bachelors of Arts in Linguistics | 3 years |
The following colleges offer the undergraduate programs mentioned above:
| Name of Institution | Location |
| Xavier’s College | Mumbai |
| Christ University | Delhi |
| Lady Shriram College | Delhi |
| Jawaharlal Nehru University | Delhi |
| Loyola College | Chennai |
| Centre for Research in Art of Film and Television | Delhi |
| Indian Institute of Mass Communication | New Delhi |
| Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media | Bangalore |
| Sophia College for Women | Mumbai |
| Jamia Millia Islamia | Delhi |
To become a Creative Writer abroad
In order to apply for an undergraduate program abroad, a candidate will need to have the following documents,
Following are a few courses one can apply for abroad.
| Name of the course | Duration |
| Bachelors in Creative Writing | 3 years |
| Bachelors in Art, Film, and Visual Studies | 4 years |
| Creative Writing and English Literature – BA (Hons) | 3 years |
| Creative Arts Practice and Creative Writing – BA (Hons) | 3 years |
| Creative Writing and History – BA (Hons) | 3 years |
The following colleges offer the undergraduate programs mentioned above:
| Name of the Institution | Location |
| University of Greenwich | UK |
| Teesside University | UK |
| Bath Spa University | UK |
| Liverpool Hope University | UK |
| University of Rhode Island | USA |
| The University of Waikato | New Zealand |
| University of Tennessee | USA |
| University of Victoria | Canada |
| Colorado State University | USA |
One can work as an intern in publishing houses or work on projects. Another way of practising the skill is to work on Grants
A writing grant can help you finish those long projects on your hands until you can write professionally full-time, functioning as a buffer when actual revenue is sparse.
In your portfolio, you can add your internship experiences, and share your publications or writing blog. Make sure to add your certificate courses and additional writing projects.
Join a writers club or attend workshops to build professional connections. This would also help in working with collaborative projects.
Apart from Grants, one can even publish their works on platforms like WordPress, and Wattpad and receive feedback from a larger audience. You can also try Ghostwriting, wherein you create content that is attributed to another person.
Ghostwriting can generate some revenue, but not necessarily the recognition as a writer.
Here’s a list of online tools that can help in the writing process:
The skills that a novelist should have are:
For Writing
For Personal
It’s difficult to estimate how much a novelist earns because so much depends on the likelihood of the novel becoming a best seller or the number of copies sold.
In India, a book is considered to be a best seller if it reaches 20,000 copies sales. Upon the sale of the novel, an author earns a royalty from the sales which is generally 1-10%.
If you are a new author, you might get only 5%- 7.5% of your MRP as royalty. If you’re an established writer, you will be paid a 10% royalty. There are very few writers who get a two-digit royalty rate in India.
As per Bookriot, a traditionally published author makes 5-20% royalties on print books, 10-25% on audiobooks, and 25% on ebooks.
Amazon pays 70% on ebooks priced between 2.99 to 9.99, and 35% on ebooks priced higher than that.
Here are the top companies and publishing houses that hire writers in India:
Here are the top companies and publishing houses that hire writers abroad:
As a Novelist one might face various challenges that they need to overcome through short and long-term solutions. Identifying your niche, developing a reading strategy, and incorporating feedback will take you a long way. It might not be one of the immediate successful careers, but it is one of the most creative and autonomous ones.
Being a writer in India is not any less than starting your own business. Learn the problem-solving skill and strategic thinking required for it from the Clever Harvey Junior MBA course on Entrepreneurship.
It is difficult to estimate how much a novelist or writer earns. It depends on the sales of the book and the royalty percentage. Please refer to the “How much does a novelist earn?” section for more information.
There is no starting point for starting a career as a writer. However, an excellent command of language is a must aspect for qualifying as a writer.
A graduation degree would be a helpful start as a qualification to becoming a writer.
You can publish your work on online platforms or submit your work to publishing houses like Penguin, Routledge, Black Swan, etc.
Khalsa College, Amritsar, Nirmal Haloi College, Barpeta, and Calcutta University are a few colleges that offer courses on writing.
Hemingway Editor, Grammarly, Quillbot, WebFx, etc. are a few of the editing tools one can use.
Embarking on a journey as a content writer requires passion, persistence, and continuous learning. With the increasing digitalization of businesses, the demand for skilled content writers is on the rise. Dive in, keep writing, and you’ll carve your niche in no time!
Delve deep into the mysteries of the oceans and uncover the secrets of its inhabitants. If the world beneath the waves intrigues you, a career as a marine biologist awaits. Discover the path to explore and study marine organisms and their fascinating world.
Dive into the world of event planning with our comprehensive guide. From understanding the role to building skills and networking, discover how to start your journey in creating memorable events.
© Callido Learning Private Limited All rights reserved 2021
