Career As A Writer

What's It About

Writing is all about expression. To be able to creatively put forth the inner feelings and thoughts is what is important. A good writer is one who can carry his readers along with him wherever he goes. There are different genres. There's the literary novel. Mass market fiction - chick lit, lad lit, campus novels that have picked up in a big way in India. Short story as a form has also resurrected itself in Indian publishing. Pulp fiction is something one could try out. Some of the greatest action thrillers, detective fiction, murder mysteries and fantasy novels still wait to be written in India

Clock Work

5 am: Get up; do yoga

7 am: Read newspapers, books, letters

10 am: Editing/writing work at office begins

4 pm: Meetings with fellow authors/writers

6 pm: Write notes

8 pm: Reaches home; reads magazines

At times reads/writes through the night

The Pay Off

A writer can be employed in various creative roles in production houses (serial scripts, film scripts), ad agencies, publishing houses, media organisations, etc.

As a beginner one can earn around Rs 20,000 a month

Between Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh as one gains experience (it's the mid-level)

For a well-established author who has a finger on the pulse of his readers, the sky is the limit

Skills

• Deep insight
• A creative mind
• Power to reason
• Knowledge of grammar
• Power to express in words
• Ability to master the art of depicting real life in a simulated world
• Self discipline to stay true to your craft

How Do I Get There?

Minimum eligibility: 10 + 2, to pursue a course in creative writing.

The minimum duration of the programme is one year, stretchable to a maximum of four years (IGNOU offers such courses)

Desirable qualifications include: A bachelor's degree from a reputable college/ university in any stream.

"Humanities is usually the most popular choice amongst writers, as it helps one delve deeper into literature, philosophy, history, society, etc. but science and commerce backgrounds too come in good stead for writers who choose to write on these subjects," says Milee Ashwarya of Random House. You may, as well, take online help to hone your skills

Institutes & URLs

• Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Maidan Garhi, New Delhi; www.ignou.ac.in
• Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, KG Marg, New Delhi www.bvbdelhi.org/
• Centre for Research in Art of Film and Television (CRAFT, for short-term course on script writing), New Delhi

• The British Council located in all the major metro cities India; www.britishcouncil.org/india-education-courses-creativewriting.htm

• Xavier's Institute of Communication, Mumbai Central Institute of Indian Languages, Karnataka
• Online courses: www.clearwriters.com,

www.universalclass.com/1/crn/33789.htm

Iowa, Idaho, Columbia and New York University are some of the well-known centres for writing

Pros & Cons

• Great creative fulfilment
• Ability and channels to communicate with your readers
• A liberating career; freedom to write on anything
• Freedom to create imaginary people, reconstruct history, retell crises, wars, tragedies etc
• Cheering up people, readers
• Lot of struggle required
• Will not be able to write on everything
• You will not be able to write all the time; Hence you would need something to fall back on
• Readers and critics may not like you
• Less pay at the initial stage of your career

You may also like to read: Writing As A Profession: Driven To Words and It's Opportune Time For Budding Authors: The Reading Habit Has Grown Worldwide!

 

Author: Pranab Ghosh (HT Horizons)

Date: 5th February, 2011

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