Career as an Author

Category:

Media / Business

Focus:

Authors write books, or provide the written content for story related books for the readers to get to know the characters and story lines. The story might be fictional, or even educational.

Daily Tasks:

• Discuss brief with clients
• Do intensive research on the subjects, in this case animals
• Develop a storyboard to help the writing idea
• Write the draft
• Edit and proofread until the final product
• Presentation to clients of work done
• Create and add new work to a portfolio
• Administration and filing

Where they work:

Environment –

Most authors work within an office setup, and type their stories or script on a laptop or PC. They can use their research time to visit places where the animals are kept. Most of the best authors also try to interact with the animals to help them in understanding the animals better.

Places of Employment –

Most authors work independently, or may freelance to work under contract. Some of them might already be employed within a different career (such as academic lecturers, or wildlife photographers), while writing a book.

Average Salary:

As most authors are self employed, their income is based on finalizing a book, or obtaining contracts. On average the income per year is around $65,000. This will differ from country to country, and on what kind of book was written.

Difficulties:

The most difficult part of being an author is to come up with ideas to write about. Long hours of research is required, and when writing for a client or on contract can mean short deadlines and limited budget.

​Future growth and Possibilities:

Employment of authors, whether by companies that do use writers, or self-employed and writing on contract, is estimated to grow yearly by 8%. The demand for authors to publish online will grow significantly.