Different Career Options for Writers

Are you someone who has a flair for writing and knows the power of words? Does writing provide you with a feeling of contentment and blissfulness? If yes, then you must have thought about taking forth your passion and making a career in writing. Being a writer is the dream job of most of the people having these set of virtues. However, many wrong notions have been associated with pursuing a career in writing. With technology advancing every day, there are various career options for writers available today.

Career as a writer is just limited to being romanticized as people working in solitude and not getting rewarded or paid well. Several fields of writing have set the job market ablaze with potential wordsmiths who get recognition and pay for their work.

Career Options for Writers in India

We provide you with some of the best career options and writing jobs for writers that are in high demand, especially in India. These details will help you decide which field of writing do you want to work in and how you can build your profile as a writer with them.

Career as a Technical Writer

If you have knowledge about technological specifications, software etc. then you can try your hand at technical writing. The combination of technical understanding and writing artistry makes you the perfect choice for this job. Technical writers have to develop user manuals, software guides and documents of complex technical description so that the customers can get an easy understanding of it. The demand for technical writers has been increasing at a fast rate and their pay scale is also good. Career as a technical writer has gained a lot of popularity in the past few years due to technological advancements and growth in the IT sector.

Eligibility to Become Technical Writer

Apart from good writing skills, proper knowledge about basic software along with some digital skills will make this job perfect for you. Being a gadget freak and understanding the functioning of some technical products will aid you.

Academic Qualification

A bachelor’s degree in technical writing or a certificate course can help you get the job of a technical writer. A B.Tech degree will also help you if you want to pursue this field.

Colleges Offering Technical Writing Courses

There are various colleges in India which offer short-term certificate and diploma courses in Technical Writing. These courses in technical writing will enhance your technical writing skills.

Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning

Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts (SSLA)

Stella Maris College

Also Read: Check out the Top 10 B.A. English (Hons.) Colleges in Delhi University

Career as a Content Writer

Many companies have their own websites for which they want writers. Content writers create posts and articles to be published on the official website of the company. They are in charge of updating it and ensuring that customers and readers find all the information they need. You can become a content writer for a company whose domain you are comfortable working in.

Eligibility to Become Content Writer

• In most cases, a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism or English Literature is required.
• Some of the popular courses that one can pursue in order to become a content writer are- B.A. (Hons.) English, BA English, Journalism, Mass Communication.
• However, candidates with a bachelor's degree in any stream with a flair for writing and are experienced in proofreading, editing can also apply.

Colleges Offering Content Writing Courses

There are various career paths through which one can become a content writer. However, the most suitable path is by pursuing a B.A.(Hons.) or any other related degree in English. Some of the popular colleges offering content related courses are as follows:

St. Stephen's College

Lady Shri Ram College for Women

Kirori Mal College

Career as a Scriptwriter

Do you sometimes get disappointed by the plot of a movie you watch and think that you could have written it better? If you are fond of weaving stories and can hold the attention of people then you might have the potential to write a Bollywood blockbuster. You can become a scriptwriter and create worlds of your own by the power of compelling words. This profession takes time to build and you will have to start at a small level before building your way up.

Eligibility to Become Scriptwriter

• Candidate with a graduate or a postgraduate in English Literature such as BA (Hons.) English, BA English, MA English, BFA, MFA are preferred.
• Additional certificate or diploma courses in scriptwriting can enhance your skills.

Colleges Offering Scriptwriting Courses

Some of the top mass communication and media colleges in India offer scriptwriting courses and they are as follows:

International School Of Media And Entertainment Studies (ISOMES)

The Delhi School of Communication (DSC)

Institute of Mass Communication Film and Television Studies (IMCFTS)

Career as a Columnist

If you have a strong experience of a couple of years in a particular field, you can start writing columns in newspapers about topics pertaining to your field. Columnists are not bound by journalism regulations and they are paid to give a comprehensive account of their opinion on a subject. If you have carved a niche in any sphere like sports, films, politics etc., then you can try becoming a columnist for a popular newspaper.

Eligibility to Become Columnist

• A bachelor’s or master's degree in English Literature, journalism or mass communication.
• Candidates with internship/ professional experience in the respective field are given preference.

Note*- There are no such professional courses to become a columnist. However, pursuing a course in creative writing/ literature can add value to your resume.

Career as a Social Media Manager

Some famous people or organizations hire people to maintain their social media and keep it updated. As a social media manager, you will have to handle all the social media platforms of that particular organisation. You will be required to post pictures, data, articles and captions depending on what is needed. It will be your responsibility to represent that organisation on a social media level. This is a fun job and if you are a follower and user of social media then you can easily perform this job.

Eligibility to Become Social Media Manager

• A degree in public relations, advertising, digital marketing, journalism or media.
• It is necessary to have basic social media knowledge and relevant experience.

Colleges offering Courses Social Media Courses

Many mass media and journalism colleges in the country offer short-term and certificate courses in digital marketing, SEO, SMO, Google AdWords, web design. Check out the colleges and institutes offering social media courses below:

• Digital Marketing Training Institute (DMTI)
• Pearl Academy
• Sri Aurobindo Centre for Arts & Communication (SACAC)

Career as an Editor

If you have worked as a writer and were a good one, it is established that you would be a good editor as well. As an editor, you will check the articles and posts written by others and make sure they are grammatically correct, free of errors and valid. Critically examining the work of someone and enhancing its quality will boost the value of content and improvise the writer’s style of writing too. Editors are required in every domain of writing.

Eligibility to Become an Editor

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in English Literature, Journalism or Communications.
• Sturdy and quality experience in the field of writing.

Note*- Most of the editors start their career as a content/ copywriter. There is no such course to get trained as an editor and it is through professional experience one becomes an editor.

Career as a Journalist/Magazine Writer

Journalism is an amazing option for writers as it provides several categories at just one place. You can work in the news department, editorial department, Sunday specials etc., based on your preference. Nowadays, a career in journalism is not limited to just print but has a digital platform as well. You can also try writing articles for magazines. If you are good at doing in-depth research and can write in brevity while being crisp and informative, you should definitely try your hand at journalism.

Eligibility to Become Journalist/ Magazine Writer

• A bachelor's degree in journalism and mass communication such as BJMC, MJMC
• Specialisation in another subject will also be helpful.

Colleges Offering Courses in Journalism

Check out the top colleges offering UG, PG, diploma and certificate courses in journalism below:

Indian Institute of Mass Communication

Lady Shri Ram College for Women

Christ College Bangalore

Delhi College of Arts and Commerce

Also Read: All AboutScope and Jobs in Advertising, PR and Corporate Communication

Career as an Advertising Specialist

Another popular job for writers is that of an advertising specialist. Companies want customers to know about their products and they hire writers to create advertisements regarding their products and schemes. Advertisements are required to grab the attention of people and tempt them into investing a particular thing. You can use your creative skills to come up with quirky and fascinating ideas to advertise.

Eligibility to Become an Advertising Specialist

• A bachelor's degree in advertising or related fields like journalism.
• Some places ask for a four-year graduation programme.

Colleges offering Advertising Courses

. Some of the best advertising colleges in India which one should consider for building a sucessful career in advertising are given below:

• Indian Institute of Mass Communication
• MICA
• St. Xavier's College

Career as a Travel Writer

This is one of those jobs that people dream for. The best thing about it is that you get to travel and write blogs on it. Travel writers provide in-depth information about the entire trip to their readers. From ways to travel, how to get to the destination to the popular food joints and things to bring back from that place, a travel writer has to include every detail in the write-up. However, it is not easy to land into this job and people with good experience in writing are preferred.

Eligibility to Become Travel Writer

A bachelor's degree in English Literature is a must. Creative writing certificates will add value.

Note*- There is no such course for travel writers. However, a short term course in creative writing can add value.

Also Read: Check out the Top 10 Mass Communication Colleges in India

Career as an Author

The ultimate fantasy of every writer is to author a book of their own and get it published. If you have enough experience and think that you are ready to become an author then you should go ahead and become one. All you need is good content and the ability to face criticism in a good way.

Eligibility to Become an Author

There is no specific criteria for being an author. Anyone can write a book. However, a slight preference may be given to people belonging to a literature background.

These are some of the best jobs that you can get as a writer. They are in demand and trending while also providing a decent salary. Some places prefer candidates who come from a background of English Literature or Journalism or have done some course in creative writing.

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