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How to Become an Author: 8 Steps to Bestselling Success

POSTED ON Feb 7, 2024

Written by Angelica Hartgers

Wondering how to become an author? Well, that answer will depend on the type of author you want to be.

Maybe you’ve always been a writer at heart, and are ready to share your story with the world and earn the title of “author.”

Or maybe you’re passionate about a certain topic and are ready to help others by sharing your expertise.

Regardless of your reason – the issue still stands: you want to know how to become an author of a book and a bestselling one at that. So what is an author anyway? And how does becoming an author work?

To learn how to become an author, the short answer is: You write a book.

Sounds simple, right?  

But writing is rarely simple. So, let’s go for the more complex dilemma: How to become an author of a book that actually gets read .

You want to author a book that’s phenomenal, polished, and packed with content that readers will truly connect with.  So how do you do that?

In this guide, we’ll focus on how to become an author of a book that sells . But before we dive into the steps on how to become an author, it's important you understand exactly what an author is.

This guide to how to become an author will cover:

What does it mean to become an author.

When you learn how to become an author, it means that you ideated, created, and produced a written work, most commonly a book, novel, short story , poem, or other literary work of prose.

Traditionally, an author meant someone who had written a book, and this connotation still stands today, but it has expanded with societal changes. The term author can actually pertain to journalists, essayists, and those in the digital space such as bloggers or article writers.

Writer vs author

What's the difference between a writer and author , you ask? Great question.

While writer and author are often used interchangeably, there is definitely a difference between the two. An author is a writer, but a writer isn't always an author.

How hard is it to become an author?

While the path of learning how to become an author is easier with today's technology and the rise of self-publishing, learning how to become an author takes determination, hard work, and usually a specific set of skills (which we'll cover more on later).

For some, opportunity comes easier than it does for others. Some people become an author and find quick success, whereas others struggle for years to complete their book and publish it.

For most people, creating a consistent writing routine and actually getting the words written is the hardest part – in which case a book writing coach could be just the person you need in your corner, keeping you motivated and accountable.

It also depends on the book publishing method, which we'll explain more on in the publishing section of this article. For example, traditional publishing deals are hard to come by, and it is a lengthy process. On the other hand, self-publishing makes becoming an author more accessible.

How to become an author in 8 simple steps

Now that you have a deeper understanding of what being an author entails, it's time to dive into the exact process of how to become an author.

When learning how to become an author, here are the eight steps you should take:

1. Invest in education

Learning how to become an author doesn't have any formal educational requirements. But at minimum, a high school degree is recommended. Becoming an author mainly requires that you have a strong set of skills, like the ability to read and write well.

When learning how to become an author, having a degree isn't required, but it can help.

There is a wide range of educational levels for authors, from those with a basic high school education to those who have completed doctorate programs. Pursuing a higher formal education degree can certainly help you learn how to become an author, but it's not a requirement.

Whether you get a degree or not, you must be an exceptional writer and avid reader to improve your chances of becoming an author of a book that actually gets read .

Our society values higher education . When you’re exploring new careers, the first question is usually: What kind of education is needed for this job?

So, it isn’t any wonder that people researching how to become an author immediately ask what type of education or credentials are needed to write a book.

A caveat to this: If you’re looking to publish a book on a specific topic , you must be an expert in that field or industry. A college degree helps build your credibility significantly, even though it is not completely necessary.

Common degrees to consider for aspiring book writers

• English . Anyone with a college degree in English has spent the majority of their college career taking classes on writing development and reading literature for deep analysis. Those with an English degree usually have a strong command of writing, and study the works of famous authors.
• Literature . Similar to a degree in English, a degree in Literature follows the same course syllabus in the sense that it is heavily focused on reading, analyzing, and writing about literary works.
• Creative writing . Writers with a degree in Creative Writing have undergone extensive academic courses surrounding creative writing fundamentals and storytelling. Creative Writing students are expected to write rigorously to improve their craft.
• History . Because history goes hand-in-hand with many literary subjects, those with a degree in History will have a well-rounded skillset to apply as an author.
• Journalism . Writers with a journalism background are likely educated on news-style writing, features, interview processes, and more. Those with a journalism degree often have experience as newspaper columnists or feature writers, which can translate well into an author career.
• Psychology . Those who study psychology have an in-depth understanding of human behavior and interaction, which makes for great writing, especially in fiction.
• Communications . People with a communications degree often have experience in news-writing, marketing, public relations, and more, which are all fields that rely heavily on great writing skills.
• Theater/cinema . Those with a theater background make great authors and writers due to their creativity, understanding of character dynamics, and screenwriting skills.
• Liberal arts . Any degree in liberal arts is likely to be focused on heavy research and writing – no matter the field. Therefore, a liberal arts degree can set you up well for learning how to become an author.
• A degree in any subject you want to write about! If you have a particular industry or niche that you want to focus on in your writing, pursue a degree in that! For example, if I could re-do college all over again, I would pursue a minor degree in Women's Studies, because I love to write about those topics.

Alternatives to college degrees

There are also non-degree online education options for aspiring authors to consider. These are a great choice if you want to learn how to write a book or publish a book on your own. Programs like these are focused on achieving a specific goal, and can be completed at a quicker pace. (Example: Himalayan Writing Retreat )

If you get a traditional college degree, you likely will NOT learn how to write and publish a book. So, if you know for sure that you want to learn how to become an author, you'll save time and money by investing in a course or program that's specific to publishing.

For example, there are many online education programs specifically for aspiring authors, including self-publishing courses.

Be sure to thoroughly do your research to make sure the program is a good fit for your needs.

Online education options

• Self-Publishing courses . Start here if you want to join an education program that provides a complete roadmap to becoming a bestselling author.
• Coursera . Consider a program where you can select specific topics to learn about.
• Udemy . You can find cost-effective micro-courses based on specific topics around writing and publishing.
• MasterClass . There are limited courses for aspiring authors on this platform, but if you're particularly interested in learning how to improve your writing from bestselling, world-renowned authors like Margaret Atwood, check this out.
• CreativeLive . Another option for creative courses specific to certain topics around developing certain creative skills.

2. Learn the skills to become a successful author

While there aren’t any formal education requirements to learn how to become an author of a book, there are certainly some important skills that many successful writers have in common.

Consider these skills like prerequisites – you should aim to improve these skills if you truly want to learn how to become a writer.

In a society of high competition, possessing many of these skills will set you apart and increase your chances of gaining a solid readership.

The top skills needed to learn how to become an author are:

Exceptional writing development skills

Being an excellent writer who can communicate effectively through words is the premise of learning how to become an author successfully. We’ll cover more on the fundamentals of writing that you should master in the next section, but you can check out these writing websites to learn how to be a better writer.

Creative storytelling that engages

It’s an art in itself! Whether you’re writing nonfiction or fiction, no matter what genre your book falls in, you need to be able to craft an engaging story that pulls readers in.

The ability to research well

Ask any successful author, and they will tell you that a major factor in successfully writing a book is to conduct thorough research . You need to know your content in and out – whether you’re writing historical fiction, a children's picture book , or a self-help book.

Since you’re reading this article and researching how to become an author, there’s a good chance you’re already research-savvy!

The tendency to naturally observe people and places

In order to create life-size characters, make your story come alive, and describe people and events vividly, you need to possess the power of observation. If you’re not one to naturally sit back and watch from the sidelines, try improving your observation skills .

Vulnerability and grit

Authors put everything they possess into their writing. It takes vulnerability to put your words out there, and resilience to keep at it when the going gets tough. To learn how to become an author, you’ll need to overcome some serious mental blocks, and be courageous even when you’re overworked or fearing judgment.

3. Master the fundamentals of book writing

Having an excellent command of writing skills builds a solid foundation on which to begin your author journey.

Many people can write, but not many people can write well. And if you can’t write well, that’s okay!

The good news is that there are a number of ways to improve your writing.

Writing isn’t necessarily a talent, it’s a craft. It can be cultivated. It can be strengthened. And with a growth mindset, you can improve your writing skills by mastering the fundamentals.

Some basic examples of the fundamentals of writing are being able to express ideas clearly and in an organized fashion, using powerful word choice , developing a clear point of view , and using proper grammar and punctuation .

However, there are a lot more fundamental writing techniques to learn and implement in your own writing.

• Learn the writing fundamentals. First, learn all there is to know! You can learn basic writing fundamentals by taking writing development courses, and reading books on writing.
• Study the fundamentals. Be an avid, deep reader. Don’t just read to understand the story. Read to analyze how the author told that story. Study the author’s style, specifically in the genres you want to write in. By doing this, you’ll start to identify characteristics of remarkable writing.
• Practice, practice, practice. Put what you’ve learned into practice. Remember all the literary elements you learned about in school. Start actually using those in your writing. Try mirroring an author’s style that you admire. Write often and make it part of your everyday life. Write in a journal , complete writing prompts, write letters to friends, or write short stories.
• Explore different genres. Part of finding your author's voice and developing yourself as a writer means experimenting with other genres that you may not have written on before. Use creative writing prompts to help you practice your writing fundamentals.
• Show, don't tell in writing . This is the number one rule to writing , and it's important for you to master it. Practice showing and not telling in your own writing, and understand when to use it.

While you shouldn’t cut corners on your writing development, it’s important to not get stuck in this phase.

At the end of the day, you can read and take all the courses in the world, but the most growth and development you will experience is when you’re actually writing.

4. Create a positive author mindset

Many writers experience feelings of insecurity. Ernest Hemingway supposedly said, “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”

If writers are figuratively transforming the essence of their being into words on paper for others to read, then it’s no wonder the best writers suffer from their own insecurities and fear of judgment !

Feeling inadequate is expected, and totally normal. But the ability to pursue your goal to learn how to become an author (despite your fear) is what will set you apart from all the other aspiring book writers out there.

Steps to build a positive author mindset:

• Overcome imposter syndrome and self-doubt as a writer . Give yourself permission to be an author. Don’t shy away from calling yourself a writer – start owning it.
• Accept that you’re a work in progress. Don’t strive for perfection in writing. Maintain a growth mindset , and understand that there is always room for improvement. You are constantly learning, and improving, and there isn’t anything wrong with that. If you wait for perfection, it’ll never get done.
• Set a writing habit. Making writing part of your daily lifestyle is super important. If you tend to wait for inspiration as a writer, you’ll be left high and dry more often than not. We’ll cover more on how to set a writing habit in the next section.
• Focus, focus, focus. We’ve all been there. You sit down at the table to write, and find that an hour has passed and you’ve only churned out a few sentences. Find a focus technique that works for you and stick to it.
• Think courageously. Try not to get too bogged down in the negative “what-ifs.” What if no one likes my book? What if my writing sucks? What if this book is an entire flop? It’s okay to fear failure, but learn to shake it off and be courageous instead. For every negative thought you have, try to think of two positive thoughts!
• Define your own success. Success means something different for every author. Some writers want to share their words with the world, while others simply want to build an author's salary to support their writing. Whatever your reason is, get clarity around your definition of success.

5. Write Your first book to learn how to become an author

To truly learn how to become an author, you have to write a book first.

The world is full of great writers with stories to share. The trouble for many is – they never get around to actually finishing a book.

It also depends on what type of book you want to write. If you want to write a nonfiction book , the process is different than learning how to write a novel . The same is true if you're learning how to write a memoir .

This is where it can really get tough. But with grit, determination, and a clear game plan, you can do it. We’re cheering for you!

Here are the steps to write a book and learn how to become an author:  

Get clear on your foundation

Because writing a book can be an uphill battle, you want to make sure your foundation is rock solid. This means getting clear on why you want to become the author of this book. Once you’re super clear on your foundation, you’ll be able to write your book with intention.

Foundational questions you’ll want to ask yourself are:

• When do you want to have this book done by?
• How will you position the book?
• Who are you writing this book for (your target reader)?
• What is your book's topic or genre?
• To grow your income
• To build a reputation/authority
• To fuel a passion project
• To share a story or knowledge

Brainstorm with a mind map

Letting your ideas flow freely with a mind map is an effective way to get those creative juices flowing. With so many ideas to explore for your book’s topic, mind map exercises will help you “brain dump” all your thoughts.

Follow these steps to create a mind map for your book:

• Set a timer for 10-15 minutes to start.
• Always be writing – don’t worry about grammar or spelling, just write out your thoughts without reservations!
• Start with a central idea, topic, or concept.
• Add connecting branches of key ideas that relate to that central idea.
• Jot down any words that tie ideas together.
• Use colored highlighters or sticky notes to organize similar concepts or ideas.

Create an outline

Using your mind map, start creating a basic outline for your book. Don’t get hung up on the details. Think of it in terms of a beginning, a middle, and an end. A simple outline will help you get the ball rolling as you start writing your first draft. As you dive deeper into the writing, your outline can get more detailed, and be revised as needed.

Set a writing schedule

Commit to your writing goals each and every day if you want to learn how to become an author. Set a specific plan for yourself, and set small milestones or goals, whether it’s by word count or time spent writing .

You can have all the ideas in the world, but if you aren’t setting time aside each day to actually write, then the chances of your book being completed will be low.

Tips for setting a writing schedule:

• Set up a distraction-free writing space
• Plan for short brain breaks to avoid burnout
• Set a daily word count goal
• Do NOT edit as you write
• Have a buddy keep you accountable
• Use book writing software to help you meet your daily goals
• Set a deadline to complete your book by

Write your rough draft

Sounds simple, but it’s definitely easier said than done. You can do it! The only way to write a book is to actually sit down and do it. You become a book writer by writing a completed book. Use your outline for guidance, and remember – don’t edit while you write !

Self-edit your book

Once your rough draft is completed, it’s important that you focus on self-editing your book. Although your book will go through a professional editing phase during the publishing process, if you self-edit thoroughly, your editor will be able to focus on other edits that you weren’t able to catch.

Tips for self-editing your book:

• Do a verbal read – through to find areas of improvement in your sentence structure and storyline.
• Work chapter by chapter to increase productivity and focus.
• Don’t get stuck in the editing phase.
• Remember that any points of uncertainty will be cleared up in the professional editing phase.

6. Publish your book

Through blood, sweat, and tears, you’ve committed to writing your book, and have officially become a writer.

Now, it’s time to take the next step and learn how to become an author. And that means publishing your book!

Here’s how to become an author of a published book:

Decide how to publish

Modern book writers are faced with a major decision on how to publish a book . There are two ways to publish: traditionally publish or self-publish .

You’ll have to weigh the pros and cons of each, including the cost to publish , and determine which route is more advantageous for you.

If you traditionally publish your book , this means that an actual publishing company will publish your book for you. However, landing a book contract with a traditional publisher is extremely competitive, and the chances are slim for most authors.

So what is self-publishing , you ask? If you self-publish your book , this means that you will be in charge of the publishing process yourself. There are many benefits in going this route, but you'll need to make sure you are self-publishing the right way to ensure book quality and success .

Steps to traditionally publish a book

• Pitch your book draft to literary agents.
• If your manuscript is accepted by an agent, your book will be pitched to publishers.
• If a publisher accepts your work, you will be offered a book contract.
• The publisher will have your book edited, formatted, and designed.
• You earn royalties based on the number of books that are sold.

Steps to self-publish a book

• Find a book editor for each type of editing needed
• Hire a formatter (if needed) for your book.
• Hire a professional book cover designer to create an engaging book cover.
• Choose which self-publishing platforms to sell your book on.
• Upload the book to the self-publishing platform.

If you still need help deciding how to publish, compare your earning potential with our Book Royalties Calculator .

1. My book will be published by a...

2. my book will be an:, 3. my royalty rate will be:.

*Please note that this royalty rate is based on the market averages for paperback books. Actual royalty rates for traditional and indie publishing can vary by author depending on several factors.

4. My book's retail price:

5. the # of books sold:, your results, your profit per book sold, for books sold, you earn:, for 1,000 books sold, you earn:, for 10,000 books sold, you earn:, royalties comparisons for 10,000 books sold, want to receive personalized tips on how to sell more books right in your inbox, 7. market your book to become a bestselling author.

Whether you traditionally publish or self-publish, you need to launch and market your book to learn how to become an author successfully.

This step is crucial because if you don’t market your book, how are you going to reach potential readers?

You dedicated time, effort, and – at times – your sanity, to get your book out. Now it’s time to let the world know about it.

You’ll need a strategic book launch and marketing plan in place, which should include a number of techniques to gain readership and sell your book.

Book marketing strategies to consider

• Build a launch team before your official book release
• Social media marketing , such as on Pinterest and Instagram
• Effective book pricing that appeals to prospective readers
• Build an author website to create your own author platform
• Use book advertising on various book promo sites like BookBub
• Get book reviews to increase visibility, reach, and credibility

To dive deep into your book marketing , plan ahead, set a budget, do research, and reach out to your network!

8. Write another book!

Your first book is a learning experience, and once your first book is published, you'll realize how many ideas you have for more books.

And that is where the real success comes in. In today's digital author landscape, it's important to keep writing books in order to build a career as an author.

Don't make the mistake of thinking that one book will find instant success. While that does happen for some writers, it is the exception and NOT the rule.

So keep going! Write your next book. The more books you write, the smoother your process will become.

Are you ready to become an author?

Great books make the world go ‘round, which is why we’re all about helping writers learn how to become authors.

As you research how to become an author, one thing becomes clear: it’s a process that takes time, dedication, and some serious effort.

But nothing worth having comes easy.

Books are life-changing, not just for the book writer, but for the book readers all across the world that will learn from your story.

Becoming an author can be one of the most rewarding, and fulfilling accomplishments of your life. You deserve to celebrate it!

Ready To Learn How to Become An Author? This FREE eBook Will Walk You Step-By-Step Through The ENTIRE PROCESS

Faqs about how to become an author.

Here are answers to commonly asked questions about what an author is and how to become an author:

What is a writer?

A writer is someone who writes or expresses ideas or concepts through the written word. There are many people who write for a variety of reasons – whether it's part of their occupation, or for creative expression.

Types of writers that aren't necessarily authors:

• Technical writers
• Ghostwriters
• Copywriters
• Content writers
• Songwriters

Can anyone be a writer?

It depends on the type of writer, but yes, technically anyone can be a writer as long as they know how to write. However, specialized writers, such as technical writers and copywriters often require advanced experience and/or degrees in order to be qualified for a writing position. Of course, learning how to become an author is a different story, entirely.

What is an author?

Authors are people who write books, novels, short stories, poems, literary prose, and even screenplays.

What is an author, exactly? An author is someone who has written and published a complete literary work. The publishing is key. If you haven't published your work, then you are a writer but not an author.

How do authors get paid?

Authors can be paid in a variety of ways, but most commonly authors are paid through book advancements and royalty fees.

How much do authors get paid?

The average author salary has a very wide range, and an author's income depends on a number of criteria, such as the number of books published, the publishing method, the book genre and topic, and the success of the book.

As of writing, the current average author salary is between $35,000 to $135,000.

How do i get started as an author?

Really, you just need to start writing! Finish a manuscript, edit it, hire a book cover designer and a marketing team, and learn how to self-publish a book . It may seem like an overwhelming process at first, but there are self-publishing companies that can help you with every step along the way.

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How to Become An Author: A Step-by-Step Guide

Discover how to become an author in our step-by-step guide.

I wanted to become an author since I was five, but I didn’t take writing books seriously until my thirties. I spent far more time talking about writing than writing. It was only after learning how to write every day that I finally wrote and published my first book.

Since then, I’ve written several books and interviewed dozens of authors about their process, including New York Times best-selling authors. I’ve self-published multiple books and co-wrote a USA Today best-seller.

I discovered many people say they have a book inside of them, but few commit time, energy and resources and turn their idea for a great book into a published work. 

That’s a shame because it’s easier than ever to become an author today. The tools are more affordable and readily available than ever. Aspiring authors don’t need permission from an agent or publisher either. Furthermore, becoming an author enables many writers to earn a good living from what they love, but it starts with writing that first book. 

In this article, I explain how you can become an author faster based on my experiences and talking to other authors who find success.

1. Read Widely

2. learn the art of storytelling, 3. write a little every day, 4. write short stories and blog post, 5. take a creative writing class, 6. pick a genre, 7. research your book, 8. select your book writing tools, 9. set a deadline, 10. outline your book, 11. write a rough draft, 12. track your wordcount, 13. finish your drafts, 14. learn how to self-edit, 15. hire a professional editor, 16. face your fears, 17. try self-publishing, 18. hire a book cover designer, 19. avoid letting perfectionism halt your writing career, 20. sell your book, the final word on how to become an author, how much does an author get paid, what qualifications do you need to become an author, does an author make good money, what is the best time to publish a book.

As a writer, your free time is often best spent reading rather than streaming the latest hit show on social media. Successful authors spend hours each week reading books inside and outside their comfort zone. 

These authors study what works in these books to understand their preferred genre or niche conventions. They also develop their skills by questioning what doesn’t work inside of best-selling books. Many authors describe writing out sections of books they love by hand so they can understand how the author wrote. 

This type of analytical rigour helps creatives develop a writing voice. Stephen King said about the importance of reading for authors: 

“If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time — or the tools — to write. Simple as that.”

Reading books about the craft can also acquire the skills you need for the genre in question. For inspiration, check out our list of the best writing books .

Fiction authors understand how important it’s to hook readers’ attention from the first few pages. They spend hours learning how to show rather than tell and create memorable characters who jump to life off the page. They create characters who want something and change fundamentally as the story progresses.

Successful non-fiction authors do more than impart information and research to readers. Consider Malcolm Gladwell. He’s as famous for research as he is for telling captivating stories that entertain and inspired. 

Storytelling is more important than any writing skill, including grammar and line editing. You can learn this skill by taking writing courses or by reading some of the best books about stories. I particularly enjoyed the storytelling seminar by Robert McKee and his books on the same topic.

For help with stories, read our storytelling guide .

If you’re worried your book writing skills aren’t good enough, work through your reps. The more sentences you write, the stronger your command of language will become. The more clichés you terminate, the better you’ll become at editing.

Rather than trying to write your book for hours at the weekend, work on it a little every day. Any aspiring author can find fifteen or thirty minutes to work on their first drafts and book outlines before or after work. 

Remove time-sinks like reading the news, consuming social media or streaming the latest show on Netflix. These small writing sessions quickly accumulate. If you need help, a good set of writing prompts can trigger a productive writing session.

The more chapters you write, the better you’ll be at articulating stories and ideas. And the more books you finish, the more you’ll know how to write a book. And the next book. And the next.

Every aspiring author should write either short stories or blog posts before tackling a fiction or non-fiction book. A book averaging 50,000 words can take months to write and edit, but you can write a short story in a few days or over a week, as they are only several thousand words long. 

These smaller writing projects offer aspiring authors a chance to explore different types of writing, genres and niches. They also help cultivate a writing habit of starting and finishing creative projects. 

You can publish the short story on Wattpad, submit it to a writing contest, or potentially expand it into a novel or a book. Even if you never publish it, consider it a type of writing practice that improves your storytelling skills.

Non-fiction authors should write several blog posts or articles about the topic of choice and publish them on social media platforms like Medium. They can explore their thinking and get feedback from readers and editors before spending months writing a book.

Learn how to get paid writing short stories.

Wanting to become an author can feel like a strange writing goal if you’re not spending much time in the company of other creatives. You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on an MFA or a degree in creative writing to connect with other creatives, either. 

Spending a few weeks or months in the company of aspiring authors may inspire you to work harder on your craft. They can also hold you to account and offer feedback on your early drafts and book ideas. What’s more, you could form connections with future professional authors.

I took creative writing classes at the Irish Writer’s Centre in Dublin a few years ago. Several students went on to become published authors with traditional book deals.

A good author understands what readers expect from them. For example, James Patterson doesn’t attempt to write literary prose because his audience is more concerned with page-turning thrillers. Similarly, Malcolm Gladwell doesn’t write self-help because he understands his audience prefers story-telling combined with research. Popular fiction genres include:

• Thrillers 
• Science-fiction
• Speculative fiction
• Modern literature
• Action and adventure
• Children’s books

Popular non-fiction genres include:

• Memoirs and autobiographies
• Business 
• Pop psychology

Identify the best-selling books and authors in your preferred and ask yourself what they’re doing that readers love. Figure out an ideal target audience for the genre in question. How old are they, what sex and what other books do they like? 

What do they expect from a book in this genre? After all, thriller readers don’t care much for the latest magic or tech found in fantasy and science-fiction books! Including or excluding certain conventions will dictate the quality of book reviews later on.

For help, read our guide to book genres .

Book research is a vital part of the creative process. Fiction authors can travel to locations or settings they want to include in their books and take pictures and videos. Or they can use Google maps and a good travel book if they are short on time and budget. 

Non-fiction authors can interview subject matter experts about their topic of choice. Consider using a service like Descript or Rev for transcriptions to save time with interviews. These book interviews demonstrate credibility and also improve the quality of the book. They can also serve as material for blog posts and articles promoting the book in question. 

However, avoid letting research become a form of procrastination whereby you endlessly hunt for better ideas and information. At some point, an author has to turn their notes into words.

A good writing app can help you plan, outline, write and edit a book quickly and easily. Scrivener is perfect for long-form writing, as you can drag and drop sections of a book. I also like using Grammarly for book editing, although it’s not a replacement for a proofreader. Vellum is a good choice for laying out a book, but it’s Mac only. 

Read our guide to the best grammar checkers .

You can quickly write a book using a standard word processor like Microsoft Word or Google Docs. Remember, hitting a daily word count and publication date is more important than any tool. So pick one that suits your writing style and budget and stick with it until done.

Professional authors hold themselves to account with deadlines. They pick an ideal publication date and work backwards. James Patterson, for example, publishes several books a year and relies on contracts with his publishers and his audience’s expectations. 

If it’s your first book, break it down into smaller milestones you can tick off one by one. You could pick a target date for finishing your book’s first act and a date for sending a draft to an editor. 

While setting these deadlines, block book time in your calendar for writing the book each day. Ideally, you’ll work on it simultaneously so that writing becomes a daily habit and not a chore. Allow room for error when setting deadlines, too—plan for holidays, work and life events.

Some writers are plotters. They like outlining and planning extensively in advance, as this process saves them time. Other authors like writing from the seat of their pants, whereby they turn up and see where the muse and their characters lead them. 

If you’re the former type of author, outline a book using index cards. They’re cheap and don’t have a learning curve or need Wi-Fi! I drafted an entire book previously using about 50 index cards. Each represented a chapter for the book and contained the key points I’d write about. The best mind-mapping software can help authors who are more visually-inclined

I use outlining as I can arrange the key ideas for a book chapter using bullet points. I can move them around and fix the structure of a chapter without worrying about line edits during an early draft. Outlining also works well for authors who dictate early drafts. 

Read our guide to the best outlining software .

The job of a first draft is to exist. Don’t worry about grammar errors, typos and other mistakes. Instead, focus on getting the words out of your head and onto the blank page as quickly as possible. Ernest Hemingway famously said:

 “The first draft of anything is shit.” 

Focus on writing the book’s first draft as quickly as possible, so you’ve something to work with and shape into a book during the revision process. 

Consider dictating the first draft using software like Dragon. It’s possible to dictate thousands of words per hour without stopping to fix typos and other mistakes. An author could dictate their book while out for a walk, tapping into the benefits of exercise and creativity. Prolific authors like PD Woodhouse famously outlined their stories using a voice recorder and gave their notes to a secretary to typos up. 

For help, learn how to practice dictation.

Writing a book is one part creative and another part hard work. Oliver Stone once said, “Writing is butt in the chair.”

Becoming an author is easier if you hold yourself to account by tracking your daily output. For most writers, this type of quantification involves keeping track of a daily word count. 

Do this in a spreadsheet or notebook. That way, you can realistically evaluate your daily output and if you will hit those deadlines. Review your production once a week and assess if you’re turning up often enough in front of the blank page.

During the editing process, consider changing what you track to time spent working on the book rather than a daily word count. The editing process involves condensing, clarifying and revising rather than hitting an arbitrary word-count goal daily.

It’s easy to start a book draft, but it’s much harder to finish writing it. However, authors must learn the value of persistence. After completing a book draft, you’ll have something to show to beta readers and an editor. 

By finishing, you can become the kind of author who thinks of an idea, fleshes their idea out, edits, rewrites, polishes and rewrites some more, then presses publish. That takes guts.

The editing process often isn’t as gruelling as writing that painful first draft, either. Feedback is invaluable. It’s your chance to learn how to become a better writer. Neil Gaiman said about the importance of finishing book drafts:

“Whatever it takes to finish things, finish. You will learn more from a glorious failure than you ever will from something you never finished.”

For help, check out our list of first draft examples .

After finishing a book draft, let it sit for several days or even weeks. It’s best to separate writing and editing as they engage different brain parts.

When you’re less attached to your book draft, read through the draft in one or two sittings marking it up with annotations. Identify what structural changes the piece needs first and rewrite accordingly. 

Condense, clarify and revise. Ensure each chapter draws on the five senses and has compelling hooks or stories so that it hooks readers. 

While revising the first time, don’t worry about typos and grammar mistakes. You can fix these during later drafts once the book’s structure is set. Later, look for sections with readability issues and consider if you’ve overused words and clichés.

Check out our list of manuscript editing software .

A good book editor helps with revising, restructuring and proofreading your book. Best to involve them earlier in the book writing process than you think. They will save you time on rewrites and provide valuable advice for your writing career. You can send them book chapters or acts as you finish them rather than at the end. 

Plus, many good book editors have a waiting list and may not be able to review a draft for weeks or even months and not when you finish it. You can find a book editor using a service like Reedsy.

Typically, an author should budget for a developmental editor who works on the book’s structure. They’ll also need a line editor or copy editor who will fix sentence structure and grammar issues. Finally, they’ll need a proofreader to spot typos and other mistakes. That said, it’s possible to commission one editor who can complete all these services as part of a single package. 

Expect to pay one to three thousand dollars depending on the length of your book, genre, and the work required.

Most authors have many unpublished works on their computers and know more about disappointment than success. Stephen Pressfield , the author of many best-sellers, including the War of Art , tried to become an author for years. He said:

“We must do our work for its own sake, not for fortune or attention or applause.”

Writing is personal and not something you can fake or dial in. If you want to finish writing your book, you’ll fail at some point. For help, learn more about conquering common writing fears .

Some aspiring authors worry about what will happen after they publish a book. How will friends and family react? One new writer emailed me to say she worried about what would happen if she became famous. She wrote:

“I want to tell stories, and I want people to read them and get joy and satisfaction from them; I just don’t want to become a subject under a microscope!

Worrying about how those around you will react to your book is natural. It’s normal to wonder what will happen if you become known for being a writer.

Well, it’s impossible to please everyone, so if some people aren’t comfortable with your success, that’s their problem. If you succeed, you’ll discover a new side to yourself and your craft, which will only enrich your life.

After all, you will regret not having the courage to see your ideas and your book through later. So hold through to your values, and finish writing that book. 

Years ago, a young writer had to learn how to write a book, find an agent, and land a book deal. Traditional publishing is tough to break into when starting out with no name recognition.

Nowadays, you can write and self-publish a book on Amazon, Kobo and Act for several hundred dollars. Technically, you can do it for free, but I’d recommend budgeting for working with an editor, proofreader, and cover designer.

Self-publishing a book will teach you how the process works and help you discover the types of titles you want to write in the future. It may even land you a traditional book publishing deal, as happened with Hugh Howie, author of Wool and E.L. James, author of Fifty Shades of Grey .

If you’re exploring self-publishing, consider what formats you’ll create. For example, many non-fiction authors earn more money from audiobooks than Kindle books. Similarly, fiction authors can earn more from print copies. 

For inspiration, read our profile of famous authors who self-published .

A good book cover is a primary driver for book sales. Best not to skimp on it. Hire a professional book cover designer who can create a compelling cover relevant to your genre. 

As many readers buy books online, your cover must look good in small sizes and on the Amazon store. Don’t attempt to create a cover yourself unless you have professional design skills. Your time is better spent editing and writing than tinkering in Photoshop or other design software.

If your budget is tight, you could buy a pre-made cover for one or two hundred dollars and swap it out later when you’ve more money. 

Learn more about working with a book cover designer .

Many aspiring authors hold off on writing and publishing a book until they have enough time, money and skills. That’s a mistake. Every author learns by doing.

In my mid-twenties, I spent years struggling to become a novelist. I wrote dozens of short stories and abandoned them. I researched articles I wanted to write for newspapers and never wrote them.

There wasn’t any moment when I learned how to finish my work. Instead, I got a job as a journalist writing for a newspaper. There, I had to finish my articles by a deadline because the editor would fire me if I didn’t.

I know this because he called me into his office after I missed a deadline and said so. So I overcame perfectionism. I stopped polishing my articles until they were perfect, and I finished them. On more than one occasion, my editor returned articles to me, saying I’d left out an introductory paragraph or my introduction needed reworking. After listening to his criticism, I wanted to quit.

On other occasions, the sub-editors of the paper reworked my articles. This process felt like a brutal dressing-down, but at least I was getting paid to write.

For help, learn how to beat procrastination in writing .

As an author, your job doesn’t end after submitting a manuscript to a publishing house or uploading the final files to Amazon. Whether you have a traditional book deal, you still need to sell copies via book marketing.

Many publishing houses write off the cost of book deals because they don’t believe a book will sell. Others don’t do a great job of selling a book on behalf of their clients. To avoid this problem, learn the basics of author marketing.

• Set up an author website
• Build an email list of engaged readers
• Run book promotions regularly
• Send advanced copies of your book to an early readers group for feedback and reviews
• Study how Amazon ads work and use them

 For help, read our guide to selling self-published books .

Most people spend more time telling their friends they have a great idea for a book. But, they don’t spend much time turning their vision into reality.

No matter what tips on becoming an author you learn, please understand it takes tremendous hard work and mental discipline to write a book.

While releasing the best possible version of your work is smart, you’ll need some self-knowledge to finish it. There will always be a gap between what you want your creative project to be about and what comes out on the blank page.

The best way to narrow that gap and improve the quality of your book is to put in your reps: write more often, finish your work and publish it. You, too, can become an author.

FAQs on How to Become An Author

The average author sells 250-500 copies of their book in the first year. According to the Guardian, they usually won’t earn more than $1000 or earn back their advance due to how book royalties are structured. That said, book sales hit an all-time high in 2021, suggesting people are reading more than ever.

However, successful fiction authors don’t rely on one book to pay the bills. They build a back catalogue of work that sells over time. Many non-fiction authors rely on their books to sell related services like public speaking, consulting or a course.

You don’t need any qualifications to become an author. It’s much like an entrepreneurial career choice; the onus is on the writer to develop their skills, work on a book, and publish and sell it. However, it’s helpful to have a strong command of the English language. Therefore, many authors study English, journalism or a related discipline at the university. 

Newer and mid-tier authors can earn several thousand dollars a year from their books, granted not quit your job money. However, authors can make good money if they have a back catalogue of books, sell related products or services or have built a name for themselves and their work. James Patterson is an example of a top-tier author who is earning upwards of $100 million as part of his last book contract.

Books sell the most copies before the holiday season. As such, it’s usually best to publish before December or Black Friday as book lovers are already in a shopping mood. The summer months are also a popular time for sales and people like buying books they can read on holidays.

Bryan Collins is the owner of Become a Writer Today. He's an author from Ireland who helps writers build authority and earn a living from their creative work. He's also a former Forbes columnist and his work has appeared in publications like Lifehacker and Fast Company.

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How do you become a writer? The short answer is: anyone who writes is a writer. However, becoming a writer who’s serious about their professional career requires lots of work, and if you’re wondering how to become a professional writer, you’re ready to start the journey towards a productive and successful literary career.

You don’t need a degree to be a writer, nor do you need to be a certain age. Becoming a writer simply requires an admiration for—and a longing to create with—language. So, don’t worry about becoming a writer later in life or lacking a formal education. (That’s what Writers.com is here for!)

No one can teach you how to admire the written word, but the instructors at Writers.com are experts at turning longing into language. That’s why this article covers everything you need on how to become a writer. From the personal to the professional, let’s dive into everything writers need to build a successful literary career .

Everyone Can Become a Writer

Even today, there’s a persistent myth that writers are elite, born-with-it Ivory Tower folks who possess some ineffable gift of the Muses. Yes, some great writers were born with greatness, but anyone who calls themselves a writer does so because they labor with the written word.

Becoming a writer simply requires an ardent exploration of language.

In others words, you don’t need an MFA from the University of Iowa to call yourself a writer. Becoming a writer simply requires an ardent exploration of language. If we had to boil a writer down to three requirements, it wouldn’t involve age or degree. The 3 traits for becoming a writer are:

• Passion for the written word,
• Desire to expand the boundaries and possibilities of language, and
• Willingness to grow and learn continuously.

Many writers who have these traits stop themselves from writing, because they’re wondering how to become a writer without a degree. Now, writers certainly benefit from a university education or a family legacy in literature, but countless writers have acquired respect and success without a degree or name recognition.

Ernest Hemingway never went to college, but he still won a Pulitzer and Nobel Prize; neither did Maya Angelou attend university, yet she’s celebrated as the “black woman’s poet laureate” and later accepted a professorship with Wake Forest University. Degrees are just paper; it’s words that matter.

It’s Never Too Late to Become a Writer

Becoming a writer has no age restriction; the act of writing is rated G for the General Public, and those 3 aforementioned traits are found in writers from ages 2 to 99+.

Many writers discover their writing talents in their later years. Why, exactly? Neurology reveals there are two types of intelligence : fluid intelligence and crystallized intelligence. “Fluid” refers to creative and adaptive thinking, including activities like writing and problem solving. “Crystallized” refers to the solidified body of knowledge people draw from—all the words, definitions, and experiences that build a foundation for the world.

Generally, younger adults have more fluid intelligence, whereas life experience builds one’s crystallized intelligence over time. The two intelligences tend to converge in a person’s 40s, since this is an age where the faculties for fluid intelligence haven’t declined, and crystallized intelligence abounds. Not-so-coincidentally, many writers see their careers flourish in their 40s and 50s!

Many celebrated writers didn’t put pen to paper until middle age or later.

In fact, many celebrated writers didn’t put pen to paper until middle age or later. Laura Ingalls Wilder didn’t start writing until her 40s, and her Little House series didn’t start printing until she was 65. Likewise, Most of Wallace Stevens’ work was published after he turned 50; despite being a poet, he worked at an insurance company, and most of his coworkers were shocked when he won a Pulitzer at 75. Nobody knew that he wrote!

Finally, many university students return for a writing degree after establishing a career elsewhere. BFA and MFA programs around the world educate students in their 30s and beyond; in 2017, the average age of a low-residency MFA student in the U.S. was 35.4, according to LitHub and AWP .

Whether you’re 19 or 90, you’re never too old to write. The best time to write is yesterday; the second-best time is today.

Where to Begin your Writing Journey

Rather than an If-Then structure, the writing profession follows a Became-Because structure.

How do you become a writer? Where do you begin? The writing profession is unlike most professions, which follow an If-Then structure. If you get a bachelor’s degree, Then you can work as a nurse, computer scientist, or accountant; If you join a worker’s guild or apprenticeship program, Then you can find work in a number of trade jobs.

The writing profession follows a Became-Because structure. Zora Neale Hurston became a writer because she obtained degrees from Howard University and Barnard College, encouraging her to dissect the African American experience through a literary and anthropological lens.

Conversely, Haruki Murakami became a writer because of a baseball game .

The qualifications for becoming a writer are unique to the individual, and every writer is formed by personal interests and experiences. As a result, no one can tell you where to begin your writing journey; however, if you’re wondering how to become a writer, you’ve already started your journey by thinking about it.

If you’re wondering how to become a writer, you’ve already started your journey by thinking about it.

How to Become a Professional Writer: What “Professional” Means

One distinction to help you think about your writing journey is the difference between amateur and professional writers. If you’re not sure what you want to become, start with the following question: what does “professional” mean?

There are, generally, two classes of writers: amateurs and professionals. Before describing the professional writer, let’s be clear: “amateur” is not derogatory, and professional writers are not “better” than amateurs. Amateur comes from the Latin amator , “lover.” An amateur writer loves the written word just as much, sometimes even more, than the professional; amateurs simply have less pressure, deadlines, and financial dependence on writing. It’s a pastime, not a career.

If you want writing to be a significant portion of your income, then you aspire to being a professional writer.

If you want writing to be a significant portion of your income, then you aspire to being a professional writer. Professional writers have to approach their writing as a business, building a literary audience and keeping a regular writing schedule. Professional writers need to understand the ins and outs of the publishing industry—which they often learn through obtaining a university degree—and it also helps to have formal training in the publishing world and experience operating literary magazines.

How do you start to work toward becoming a professional writer? Below are resources to get you started.

Some Resources for Becoming a Professional Writer

At some point, the professional writer needs to know the ins and outs of writing as a business. This list covers the essentials of how to become a professional writer.

How to make money as a writer

• Explore freelance writing opportunities (updated weekdays at F.W.G.)
• 6 writers explain how they make money (NY Mag)
• Self-publishing versus traditional publishing (Self-Publishing School)
• Writing to market (Funds For Writers)

Taxes as a self-employed creative

• Taxes on freelance writing and royalties (TurboTax)
• Tax tips and unique situations (The Balance Careers)

Resources on publishing

• Poetry journals
• Fiction journals
• Creative nonfiction journals
• How to get published in a literary journal (Reader’s Digest)
• Book: What Editors Do by Peter Ginna ($25 at UChicago Press)

Becoming a writer online

• Basic guide to each social media platform (Kindlepreneur)
• Building an author’s website (The Write Practice)
• Free website template for authors (Copyfolio)
• Running a mailing list (Your Writer Platform)

Things to know before taking writing classes

• Poetry courses
• Fiction courses
• Creative nonfiction courses
• Why take a writing course?

Additional resources for learning how to become a writer

• Setting SMART goals
• Reading like a writer
• The golden rule: show, don’t tell
• Overcoming writer’s block

Becoming a Writer: Developing a Writing Habit

How do professional writers spend their workdays? Perhaps the trickiest part about becoming a writer is establishing a writing habit. For example, Haruki Murakami runs a 10K every morning to support his writing, and Charles Dickens wrote (and slept) facing north to improve his creativity.

Perhaps the trickiest part about becoming a writer is establishing a writing habit.

What works for one person rarely works for another, so experiment with writing habits—and when you find one that works, stick with it.

Generally, you can parse the writing business into 3 separate components:

• The writing life—putting pen to paper at regular intervals.
• Scheduled time for “the business of writing”—literary submissions, applying for grants, etc.
• An active media presence—blogging, tweeting, emailing, etc.

You’ll want to schedule time for each of these elements in your daily writing habit. Of course, this is easier said than done. Budding writers often overestimate their ability to work: they think they can spend 3 hours writing, 2 hours replying to emails, and 2 hours submitting work to journals. Then they spend the afternoon watching reruns of BBC quiz shows. (Yes! I did do this recently.)

That’s why forging a consistent writing habit is essential—for amateur writers as well as professionals. Writing at the same place at the same time encourages your brain to write every day. And, if you can’t keep yourself focused on writing, try experimenting with different writing rituals. If a 10K helps Murakami write, something equally unique could help you, too.

Take Your Next Step with Writers.com!

The classes we’ve curated in our upcoming schedule will take your writing life to the next level. Whether learning a new writing style or mastering the business of writing, becoming a writer feels a whole lot simpler with Writers.com.

Sean Glatch

11 comments.

Brilliant review Misty

I hope, I can be a better writer with your support.

Yeah. Same thing as with all other fields. Practice, practice, and once again, practice! It’s like a sport, you should always find new ways to practice.

This really helped me out. Thank you so much!

I’m 14 and i hope to become a writer someday. Thank you so much for the info.

Thank you for the information About to start my writing journey and thus really helped.

I’m a senior that would like to turn my love of writing into a profession. The information you have presented here has inspired me to continue moving towards that goal.

I live in a rural area of Uganda with very little education but always aspired to write a book on families. I am much encouraged. started it but got stuck ..

I love writing and thank you for information you have given meand am obliged to say thank.

i am very eager to become a writer be that script know how or fiction. i am a sponge for knowledge so i learn as i work. i treat everyday as a school day. i want to learn every single part of the writing career-be that if the editor drinks tea or coffee and how they like there papers folded. i soak information as i do a task. i love to build the bullet points for a story because everything needs a beginning. if you are baking a cake the eggs and flour are needed before you think about putting anything in the oven. to prepare a cake you need a tray to put it in-before you build a story you need a starting and then ingredients to put in along the way. i really love to build a story from different snippets of things. i have a thirst for many different aspects of life having spent a majority of time in hospitals and then being taken advantage of my my family because of my brain injury. so i know more than most in a lot of different subjects and matters in life, i have lost more than most in life but i am here telling my version of it to the big bright world. 0874762400 is my contact number

Discovering the path to becoming a writer is both exhilarating and daunting. It requires a blend of passion, persistence, and honing one’s craft. From mastering the art of storytelling to navigating the intricacies of the publishing world, the journey demands dedication and resilience. Embrace every word written, every rejection faced, for they are stepping stones on the road to literary success.

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Blog • Understanding Publishing

Posted on Mar 25, 2019

How to Become an Author: The Ultimate Guide

There’s a very short answer to the question of how to become an author . Simply publish a book. With advances in self-publishing, you could technically write and publish a book this afternoon and call yourself an author. So instead, we’re going to ask a better question: how do you become a self-sustaining author?

In this post, we’ll share with you the approaches that countless writers have taken to become a full-time author. Regardless of the type of book you want to write, you’ll find an approach here that will help you set the wheels of your publishing career in motion.

Part 1: Doing the groundwork

If a healthy publishing career is like a garden, then your first step towards success involves preparing the lot. And in both gardening and your writing life, there’s a lot you can do to make sure your soil is fertile and ready for the season.

Figure out why you want to be an author

Becoming an author is a massive undertaking and unless you know why you’re doing it, you could be setting yourself up to fail as soon as the going gets tough (and trust us, it will). Some of the most common reasons for becoming a published author are:

• Creative fulfillment;
• To reach readers with your work;
• To make money (from royalties, etc.) ;
• To become famous and critically acclaimed;
• To support your existing business.

Writing is art so, naturally, a lot of you will balk at the idea of getting into publishing as a way to acquire money and acclaim — but a reason as legitimate as any. And, having your eye on such a lofty prize can help you stay focused. On the other hand, “creative fulfillment” isn’t necessarily as strong a reason to become a published author: you can achieve the same result just by writing for yourself (and not having to deal with editors, critics, and sales figures).

If you’re writing non-fiction, that final point — “to support your existing business” — will be exceedingly important. Most successful non-fiction authors do go into publishing to build their personal profile or boost their authority in a certain topic. For example, you’ll find that it’s easier to drum up opportunities as a real estate agent in South Florida if you also happen to be the bestselling author of the book, Miami Living: An Insider’s Guide to Buying Property in South Beach .

Determine the sort of book you want to write

This may sound obvious but before you can really start sowing the seeds of your writing career, you need to figure out what sort of books you want to write. Part of this will be informed by:

• Your answer to the last step (why do you want to write a book);
• The type of book that you yourself like to read; and
• The topics and perspectives that you are uniquely qualified to write.

You might be a huge fan of epic fantasy and have your heart set on writing something in the genre — but what about your personal experience can you use to distinguish your epic fantasy novel? Similarly, if you’re writing non-fiction, think about the specific topics that you are an authority on — and what you have to share that people will want to know more about.

And once you’ve figured out which corner of the publishing world you’re going to assail, you should also take a moment to consider your market...

Pinpoint your readership

When we say “market,” we don’t mean anything loftier than the people who will want to read your book . While you can get really specific and create proto-personae and try to get under the skin of your potential reader, your first step doesn’t have to be too complicated.

For fiction, what are comparable books in the genre? If you know you’re writing a book that you hope fans of Raymond Chandler and James Ellroy will enjoy, then that’s a great start!

In non-fiction, ask yourself whose problem am I fixing?  If you’re writing a cool book about shaving techniques, your market might be urban hipsters or potentially parents who are looking to buy something for their adolescent children.

To learn more about homing in on your target reader, check out this post .

At this point, you could potentially jump straight into writing a book. But what if you don’t feel ready yet? Well, for those who aren’t in any hurry, you could always do with laying more groundwork!

Develop your craft and build your readership

There is no art form where creators are expected to produce a near-perfect work first time around. Yet that is the pressure that many first time authors put on themselves when they decide to write a book. You don’t have to take an MFA or write a dozen unpublished novels just to get you ‘ready’ to produce your debut book — there are plenty of ways to develop your writing skills while also growing a readership (which will come in mighty handy a little later).

If you’re an aspiring novelist , short stories are a fantastic foot in the door. While writing novels is a different discipline, working on short stories is a great way to make your storytelling more efficient and uncover your specific author voice . There’s no shortage of literary magazines — both online and print — that are always on the lookout for new talent: having your stories accepted can provide you with much-needed reader feedback, confidence, and perhaps even fans! And who knows, an agent might even read one of your stories and get in touch. Here are a few resources for budding short story writers:

• How to Write a Short Story (guide)
• Creative Writing Prompts (resource)
• Short Story Submissions (guide)
• Poetry Submissions (guide)
• Literary Magazines That are Open to Submissions (directory)

For non-fiction writers, a blog is a pretty great way to develop your voice and find out if what you’re writing about has any appeal. Many best selling authors in the past decade started off as bloggers and columnists — and some of them have even hit the big time off the back of their periodical work. Just look at Tim Ferriss ( The 4-Hour Work Week ), Tucker Max ( I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell ), Lindy West ( Shrill ), and Julie Powell ( Julie and Julia ). To learn a bit more, check out this post on how to turn a blog into a book .

Even if you’re planning to write a novel, a blog can often be a great idea. When it comes time to finally publish your book, you’ll already have your first readers.

Part 2: Writing your first book

Writing a great book: so simple in concept, yet so hard in practice. There are plenty of resources and guides on Reedsy that can help you with various aspects of the book-writing process. For starters, you can sign up for our free novel-writing course.

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How to Write a Novel

Author and ghostwriter Tom Bromley will guide you from page 1 to the finish line.

No matter what kind of book you're writing, read on for more tips for writing both fiction and non-fiction.

Plan your book

Some writers prefer to fly by the seat of their pants. But for the best chance of actually completing your book, we’d urge all first-time authors to plan their book. But what might this entail?

Novelists can plan their book by creating character profiles, dabbling in worldbuilding, and outlining their plot. Remember: just because it’s in your plan, doesn’t mean that it’s set in stone — these documents are just there to provide you with a sense of direction. To learn more about planning your novel, check out the following resources:

• How to Outline a Novel (with template)
• How to Plot a Novel Using the 3-Act Story Structure (free course)
• Worldbuilding: the Master Guide (with template)

You'll also want to check out our guide to character profiles , which contains the free template below — one of our most popular resources for authors!

FREE RESOURCE

Reedsy’s Character Profile Template

A story is only as strong as its characters. Fill this out to develop yours.

If you’re writing a non-fiction title, a plan is even more important. Almost every serious non-fiction author creates a book proposal before they start drafting — regardless of how they plan to publish it. The book proposal is the document authors will submit to publishers: it’s a document that not only outlines the content of the book but also analyses its market potential. To ensure that they stand the best chance of grabbing an editor’s attention, many authors work with professional ghostwriters to develop the proposal, even if they intend to write the final book themselves.

For a complete guide to creating a proposal, check out the resources below:

• The Complete Guide to Writing a Book Proposal (with template)
• Ghostwriting a Book Proposal (Reedsy service page)

Write like a pro

After so much ado, we finally arrive at the part that involves actually writing your book . There are plenty of resources available that will help you understand the craft of writing a novel, or a non-fiction book — so we won’t focus on that just now. Instead, we’ll look at what it means to write like a professional author.

The first thing to consider is that the vast majority of published authors don’t write full-time. In general, they don’t make enough from royalties to keep the lights on. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t treat it as their profession — which means ensuring that they always find the time to get their writing done.

Some authors don’t write more than an hour or two a day, five days a week. If you’ve got a full-time job and a family, it’s up to you to carve time out during the day. Some writers wake up at 5 in the morning and squeeze a few hours out before the school run; others stay up late. However you achieve it, make sure that you write regularly and develop it into an unbreakable habit. Failing that, you’ll find it hard to finish your first book, let alone kickstart your career.

For help with developing this writing habit check out our webinar on the subject, or sign up for our free 10-day course below.

How to Build a Solid Writing Routine

In 10 days, learn to change your habits to support your writing.

Edit with fresh eyes

To continue our gardening metaphor from earlier on, you’re now at the stage where all the seeds have been planted in your garden. While you might be tempted to just wait for summer and hope that your hyacinths turn out perfectly, there’s still a lot of work to be done. Branches need to be pruned, patches need to be weeded: in other words, it’s time to edit.

Before you start submitting your manuscript to publishers and agents (or before you hire an editor), you should do as much editing as you can by yourself. Once you’ve spent time tidying your manuscript, consider sharing it with some trusted readers for feedback. Don’t let the first person who reads your book be someone you’re pitching to — seek out beta readers instead! For more tips on this part of the process, take a look at these:

• What to Expect From Beta Readers (and Where to Find Them)  (article)
• What are Sensitivity Readers (and Should Authors Use Them?) (article)
• How to Self-Edit Like a Pro (free course)
• 6 Things Almost All Writers Get Wrong When Self-Editing (article)
• 8 Types of Editing (guide to professional editing)

Part 3: Getting published

Let’s say that you’ve now whipped your script into the best possible shape you can muster. Only one hurdle stands between you and your goal of becoming an author: publication. At this point, you have three options ahead of you — the most appropriate option will likely depend on the kind of book you’ve written.

Get an agent

If you’ve written a novel in a fairly commercial genre, then your most common route to traditional publishing is through a literary agent. Large and medium-sized publishers don’t tend to accept “unagented” submissions so it’s perhaps worth investigating a few agencies. To learn more about agents (and how to secure one), take a look through these:

• What Do Literary Agents Do (and Do You Need One)? (blog post)
• How to Find a Literary Agent (blog post)
• How to Write a Query Letter in 7 Steps (with checklist)

Submit direct to publishers

Some types of traditional publishing won’t require an agent. Some small, boutique presses will accept direct submission; as will publishers of niche categories like educational, reference, academic, or poetry. For tips on submitting directly to publishers, take a look at the following:

• How to Submit a Book Proposal in 3 Steps (guide)
• How to Perfect Your Submission: Tips From a Publisher (article)

Self-publish

Then there’s the self-publishing option, which more new authors are taking advantage of than ever before. The perks can be incredible: greater creative freedom, a guarantee of publishing, and a larger cut of royalties. That said, there are also many challenges that come with independent publishing, so make sure you’re up to the task before you commit to self-publishing:

• How to Publish a Book: Self-Publishing for Beginners (guide)
• The Cost of Self-Publishing a Book (guide)

Through one of these options, you will be able to get your book published. And once that book is available on Amazon, Kobo, or on the shelves of a brick ‘n’ mortar store, it’s mission accomplished : you have now become an author! Congratulations!

But… don’t stop just yet.

Part 4: Keep going

Remember how we said at the start that your goal shouldn’t be to become any ol’ author: it’s to become a self-sustaining one. With that in mind, there are a few things you should always be doing to build upon any success that your first book brings you.

Grow your profile and market yourself

One of the biggest misconceptions is that if you have a publishing company behind you, they’ll take care of your marketing. The truth is that the vast majority of their advertising spend goes into their top five or six authors. Any marketing budget that is assigned to you (as a new author) will largely go into ‘trade marketing,’ which is working with booksellers to feature your book more prominently in stores.

With that in mind, authors need to play an active role in their own marketing and publicity. This might mean hiring their own publicist (at the costlier end) or organizing book tours and signing events. If you can’t afford that, then at least make sure that your online platform is working: Twitter, Instagram, and blogs are pretty much free!

Have multiple ideas on the go

You should always be thinking about what’s next. Professional authors are constantly generating ideas that could become a book — and working on more than one at a time. Who knows when someone from the industry will show interest: if you get yourself in a situation where someone wants to work with you, you need to have a few ideas in the bank.

Think about writing a series

This is true of traditional publishing, and even more so for indie authors. If your first book has sold thousands of copies and readers love it, the simplest way to capitalize on its success is to continue the series . If you’ve written a fantasy novel, could the main character (or one of the charming side characters) come back for another installment ? If people really love your non-fiction title about kitchen refurbishment, could you write a companion piece about bathrooms?

With each book you add to a series, you can theoretically grow your revenue exponentially. Every new reader you attract doesn’t just buy one of your books: they buy three or five or fifteen of them.

Extra reading: “ How I became a self-publishing millionaire ” (interview)

Create secondary revenue streams

Movie theatres famously make a loss on their ticket sales… but they make it all up at the concession stand. If you’ve got a captive audience who love your book, what else can you do with them? Non-fiction authors regularly tell their readers if you’ve enjoyed my book on meditation, why not buy my online course on Yoga or join me on my (paid) annual retreat to an ashram in Bakersfield?

This can be a bit trickier for novelists, but you can always have an online store where you sell totes and t-shirts related to your book. There’s no shame in it: if you want the time to write full-time, you need to find a way to pay the bills.

With all this hard work, some talent, and a pinch of good luck, the garden of your career as an author should come to bloom. But that’s just the start. You need to consistently put in the work to continue thriving and gaining new readers. If you’re ready for that, then roll up your sleeves and get to work!

If you've recently become an author and would like to share your thoughts and experiences, why not drop a message in the comments below.

Continue reading

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• Writers and Authors: Jobs, Career, Salary and Education Information

Writers and Authors

Career, salary and education information.

What They Do : Writers and authors develop written content for various types of media.

Work Environment : Writers and authors may work anywhere they have access to a computer. Many writers and authors are self-employed.

How to Become One : A college degree in English, communications, or journalism is generally required for a full-time position as a writer or author. Experience gained through internships or any writing that improves skill, such as blogging, is beneficial.

Salary : The median annual wage for writers and authors is $69,510.

Job Outlook : Employment of writers and authors is projected to grow 4 percent over the next ten years, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

Related Careers : Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of writers and authors with similar occupations.

Following is everything you need to know about a career as a writers or author with lots of details. As a first step, take a look at some of the following jobs, which are real jobs with real employers. You will be able to see the very real job career requirements for employers who are actively hiring. The link will open in a new tab so that you can come back to this page to continue reading about the career:

Top 3 Writer and Author Jobs

Write / author technical reports to management depicting the quality levels, quality problems and cost of quality. * Optimize manufacturability, assembly, testability, cost and quality of components ...

Vasion is looking for a Technical Writer that exemplifies our core values and wants to be part of ... Perform topic-based authoring and single-source publishing using the firm's content management ...

Client is an on-demand, autonomous ride-hailing company hire a Technical Writer to author and maintain BaseOps technical documentation to support technicians/engineers with managing our autonomous ...

See all Writer and Author jobs

What Writers and Authors Do [ About this section ] [ To Top ]

Writers and authors develop written content for various types of media, including advertisements; books; magazines; movie, play, and television scripts; and blogs.

Duties of Writers and Authors

Writers and authors typically do the following:

• Choose subject matter that interests readers
• Write fiction or nonfiction through scripts, novels, biographies, and more
• Conduct research to obtain factual information and authentic detail
• Write advertising copy for newspapers, magazines, broadcasts, and the Internet
• Present drafts to editors and clients for feedback
• Work with editors and clients to shape the material so it can be published

Writers must establish their credibility with editors and readers through clean prose, strong research, and the use of appropriate sources and citations. Writers and authors select the material they want to use and then convey the information to readers. With help from editors, they may revise or rewrite sections, searching for the clearest language and the most appropriate phrasing.

Some writers and authors are self-employed or freelance writers and authors. They sell their written content to book and magazine publishers; news organizations; advertising agencies; and movie, theater, and television producers. They may be hired to complete specific short-term or recurring assignments, such as writing a newspaper column, contributing to a series of articles in a magazine, or producing an organization's newsletter.

An increasing number of writers are producing material that is published only on the Internet, such as for digital news organizations or blogs.

The following are examples of types of writers and authors:

Copywriters prepare advertisements to promote the sale of a good or service. They often work with a client to produce written content, such as advertising themes, jingles, and slogans.

Content writers write about any topic of interest, unlike writers who usually specialize in a given field.

Biographers write a thorough account of a person's life. They gather information from interviews and research about the person to accurately portray important events in that person's life.

Bloggers write posts to a blog that may pertain to any topic or a specific field, such as fashion, news, or sports.

Novelists write books of fiction, creating characters and plots that may be imaginary or based on real events.

Playwrights write scripts for theatrical productions. They come up with a concept, write lines for actors to say, produce stage direction for actors to follow, and suggest ideas for theatrical set design.

Screenwriters create scripts for movies and television. They may produce original stories, characters, and dialogue, or turn a book into a movie or television script.

Speechwriters write speeches for business leaders, politicians, and others who must speak in front of an audience. A speech is heard, not read, which means speechwriters must think about audience reaction and rhetorical effect.

Work Environment for Writers and Authors [ About this section ] [ To Top ]

Writers and authors hold about 142,800 jobs. The largest employers of writers and authors are as follows:

Writers and authors may work anywhere they have access to a computer.

Jobs are somewhat concentrated in major media and entertainment markets—California, New York, Texas, and Washington, DC—but improved communications and Internet capabilities allow writers and authors to work from almost anywhere. Some writers and authors prefer to work and travel to meet with publishers and clients and to do research or conduct interviews in person.

Writer and Author Work Schedules

Some writers and authors work part time. Most keep regular office hours, either to stay in contact with sources and editors or to set up a writing routine, but many set their own hours. Others may need to work evenings and weekends to produce something acceptable for an editor or client. Self-employed or freelance writers and authors may face the pressures of juggling multiple projects or continually looking for new work.

How to Become a Writer or Author [ About this section ] [ To Top ]

Get the education you need: Find schools for Writers and Authors near you!

A college degree in English, journalism, or communications is generally required for a salaried position as a writer or author. Experience can be gained through internships, but any form of writing that improves skill, such as blogging, is beneficial.

Education for Writers and Authors

A bachelor's degree is typically needed for a full-time job as a writer. Because writing skills are essential in this occupation, many employers prefer candidates with a degree in English, journalism, or communications.

Other Work Experience for Writers and Authors

Writers can obtain job experience by working for high school and college newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations, advertising and publishing companies, or nonprofit organizations. College theater programs offer playwrights an opportunity to have their work performed. Many magazines and newspapers also have internships for students. Interns may write stories, conduct research and interviews, and gain general publishing experience.

Employers also increasingly prefer new applicants to have the ability to code and program webpages or manipulate data to create a visual story using tables, charts, infographics, and maps. Online publications require knowledge of computer software and editing tools that are used to combine text with graphics, audio, video, and animation.

In addition, anyone with Internet access can start a blog and gain writing experience. Some of this writing may lead to paid assignments regardless of education, because the quality of writing, the unique perspective, and the size of the potential audience are the greatest determinants of success for a piece of writing.

Writers or authors can come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences as long as they demonstrate strong writing skills.

Writer and Author Training

Writers and authors typically need to gain writing experience through on-the-job training. They may practice writing and work with more experienced writers and editors before their work is ready for publication.

Writers who want to write about a particular topic may need formal training or experience related to that topic.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations for Writers and Authors

Some associations offer certifications for writers and authors. Certification can demonstrate competence and professionalism, making candidates more attractive to employers. For example, the American Grant Writers' Association (AGWA) offers the Certified Grant Writer® credential.

Certification can also increase opportunities for advancement.

Advancement for Writers and Authors

Beginning writers and authors can get a start and put their name on work immediately by writing for small businesses, local newspapers, advertising agencies, and nonprofit organizations. However, opportunities for advancement within these organizations may be limited because they usually do not have enough regular work.

Writers and authors can advance their careers further by building a reputation, taking on more complex writing assignments, and getting published in more prestigious markets and publications. Having published work that has been well received and maintaining a track record of meeting deadlines are important for advancement.

Many editors begin work as writers. Those who are particularly skilled at identifying stories, correcting writing style, and interacting with writers may be interested in editing jobs.

Important Qualities for Writers and Authors

Adaptability. Writers and authors need to be able to adapt to newer software platforms and programs, including various content management systems (CMS).

Creativity. Writers and authors must be able to develop new and interesting plots, characters, or ideas so they can come up with new stories.

Critical-thinking skills. Writers and authors must have dual expertise in thinking through or understanding new concepts, and conveying it through writing.

Determination. Writers and authors sometimes work on projects that take years to complete. They must demonstrate perseverance and personal drive to meet deadlines.

Persuasion. Writers, especially those in advertising, must be able to persuade others to feel a certain way about a good or service.

Social perceptiveness. Writers and authors must understand how readers react to certain ideas in order to connect with their audience.

Writing skills. Writers and authors must be able to write clearly and effectively in order to convey feeling and emotion and communicate with readers.

Writer and Author Salaries [ About this section ] [ More salary/earnings info ] [ To Top ]

The median annual wage for writers and authors is $69,510. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $38,500, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $133,580.

The median annual wages for writers and authors in the top industries in which they work are as follows:

Job Outlook for Writers and Authors [ About this section ] [ To Top ]

Employment of writers and authors is projected to grow 4 percent over the next ten years, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

About 15,200 openings for writers and authors are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment of Writers and Authors

As traditional print publications lose ground to other media forms, writers and authors are shifting their focus to online media, which should result in some employment growth for these workers.

Careers Related to Writers and Authors [ About this section ] [ To Top ]

Announcers and djs.

Announcers present news and sports or may interview guests on media such as radio and television. Disc jockeys (DJs) act as masters of ceremonies (emcees) or play recorded music at weddings, parties, or clubs.

Editors plan, review, and revise content for publication.

News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists

News analysts, reporters, and journalists keep the public updated about current events and noteworthy information. They report international, national, and local news for newspapers, magazines, websites, television, and radio.

Public Relations and Fundraising Managers

Public relations managers plan and direct the creation of material that will maintain or enhance the public image of their employer or client. Fundraising managers coordinate campaigns that bring in donations for their organization.

Public Relations Specialists

Public relations specialists create and maintain a favorable public image for the organization they represent. They craft media releases and develop social media programs to shape public perception of their organization and to increase awareness of its work and goals.

Technical Writers

Technical writers, also called technical communicators, prepare instruction manuals, how-to guides, journal articles, and other supporting documents to communicate complex and technical information more easily. They also develop, gather, and disseminate technical information through an organization's communications channels.

More Writer and Author Information [ About this section ] [ To Top ]

For more information about writers and authors, visit

American Grant Writers’ Association, Inc.

American Society of Journalists and Authors

Association of Writers & Writing Programs

National Association of Science Writers

Society of Professional Journalists

Writers Guild of America East

A portion of the information on this page is used by permission of the U.S. Department of Labor.

Explore more careers: View all Careers or the Top 30 Career Profiles

Search for jobs:.

What education do writers have?

Bachelor's degree, degree level, what level of education do writers have.

Writers often have similar levels of education. 72% of writers have a bachelor's degree, with the second most common being a certificate or associate degree at 26%.

Level of education that writers have

Writers in the Storm

A blog about writing.

Author Education: A Crucial Investment

by Penny Sansevieri

Author education is a topic that often gets overlooked in the creative process, but it's a vital aspect that can significantly impact an author's success in the industry. Today, we're diving into why educating yourself as an author is crucial and how it can save you both time and money in the long run.

Why Author Education Matters

When you’re knee-deep in the creative process, adding a layer of education to all the work you’re already doing can feel like a lot, I get it. But there’s a reason that I’m so passionate about author education. Let’s dig in!

Avoiding Costly Mistakes

Without a basic understanding of the publishing industry, authors may find themselves making costly mistakes, such as choosing the wrong publishing options or overspending on production costs. Educating yourself on publishing basics can help you make informed decisions that align with your goals and budget. Now I’m not asking that you become a publishing expert overnight – that’s not the goal here, but you want to know what’s working and what isn’t, and you want to know what the norms are related to publishing options.

Protecting Yourself from Exploitation

Unscrupulous individuals and companies often prey on authors who lack knowledge about the industry. By educating yourself, you can better identify red flags and protect yourself from scams or unfair practices. This includes:

• Understanding contracts.
• Asking the right questions.
• Seeking professional guidance when needed.

You really want to be aware of marketing tactics that just aren’t reasonable. And I’m not talking about something someone in your writer’s group did that maybe didn’t work as well for you. This is really about marketing scams, because there are a lot of them. And what I always tell authors is if it seems too good to be true, it very likely is.

Maximizing Sales and Platform Building Opportunities

Preparing for your book's release involves more than just writing the manuscript. Educating yourself on pre-order strategies, early marketing tactics, and platform building opportunities can give your book a competitive edge in the market. Part of why this is important is because things change a lot – and again not asking you to become an expert in any of this, but it’s worth knowing what works and what doesn’t. I also love it when authors focus on their platform, and it doesn’t have to be extensive but it’s absolutely worth the investment of your time.

Avoiding Flashy Marketing Ploys

In an industry filled with flashy promises and marketing gimmicks, author education acts as a safeguard against falling for misleading offers. I mentioned this earlier in this post: if it seems too good to be true it likely is. And by understanding standard marketing strategies and timing, you can make informed decisions about where to invest their resources for maximum impact. If someone is guaranteeing you book sales, or promising you an interview on The Today Show , be wary. No one can promise either.

Empowering Yourself as an Author

Education isn’t just about learning but also about empowering yourself to take control of your publishing journey. Whether it's attending writer’s conferences, reading industry blogs, or seeking coaching from professionals, investing in your education equips you with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate the complex landscape of publishing.

And speaking of writer’s conferences – this is something I really love, partly because it’s a chance to dig into some great information, explore new ideas, and connect with other/similar authors.

Now that I’ve shared my thoughts on author education, let me give you some places to either join or follow. All of these folks are rock stars!

Great Resources for Author Education

• Jane Friedman : Known for her insightful blog and industry expertise, Jane Friedman offers valuable resources on writing, book marketing, and the publishing industry. She also has a paid newsletter: The Hot Sheet, which I love and highly recommend!
• Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi): ALLi provides a wealth of educational resources, including classes, blogs, and industry insights tailored to independent authors.
• Publishers Lunch and Publishers Weekly : These industry-specific publications offer news, trends, and insights into the publishing world, helping authors stay informed about the latest developments.
• Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA): IBPA serves as a valuable resource for authors and small publishers, offering educational events, resources, and advocacy support.
• Book Marketing Tips and Author Success Podcast : A bit of a brag here, but I have a podcast which I hope you’ll give a listen to as well. Hosted by myself and Amy Cornell, one of my awesome team members, it’s a weekly show packed with some great information and insights (if I do say so myself!)

Final Thoughts

And of course, it goes without saying that following the posts on Writers in the Storm is super helpful, but so are the comments. When was the last time you did a deep dive into some of the post feedback? I find in particular, on this site, the comments are always smart and thoughtful – you might pick up a nugget or two!

Author education is not just a luxury; it's a necessity for anyone serious about succeeding in the publishing industry. By investing time and effort into educating yourself, you can avoid common pitfalls, protect your interests, and maximize your book's potential for success. So, whether you're just starting your writing journey or navigating the complexities of book marketing, remember that knowledge is power—and in the world of publishing, it can make all the difference.

* * * * * *

About Penny

Penny C. Sansevieri, Founder and CEO of Author Marketing Experts, Inc., is a bestselling author and internationally recognized book marketing and media relations expert. She is an Adjunct Professor teaching Self-Publishing for NYU. She was named one of the top influencers of 2019 by New York Metropolitan Magazine.

Her company is one of the leaders in the publishing industry and has developed some of the most innovative Amazon visibility campaigns as well offering national media pitching, online book marketing, author events, and other strategies designed to build the author/book visibility.

She is the author of 18 books, including How to Sell Your Books by the Truckload on Amazon, Revise and Re-Release Your Book, 5-Minute Book Marketing for Authors, and From Book to Bestseller. She also hosts the top ranking podcast Book Marketing Tips and Author Success.

AME has had dozens of books on top bestseller lists, including those of the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal.

To learn more about Penny’s books or her promotional services, visit  www.amarketingexpert.com . 

Top Image by  Gerd Altmann  from  Pixabay

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12 comments on “Author Education: A Crucial Investment”

All true, Penny. The BEST education I ever have received (and still receive), is Margie Lawson (Lawson Writers Academy.) I think I would still be struggling to be a published author if I hadn't met her.

Your topic is right on! Marketing is essential and the rules and opportunitys are constantly changing. It only makes sense that we empower ourselves in the arena. Your points are solid and well-made, especially platform buiding. And the resources you outlined are powerful. I discovered the magic of Jane Friedman years ago when I was contemplating blogging. She is a superstar of insightfulness. I look forward checking out the other resources you recommended as well. I believe in lifelong learning, and I plane to do it ... lifelong! [smile]

Jennifer thank you so much! Yes, she's really wonderful! And check out her Hot Sheet which is great!

Penny, this is SUCH important advice. Authors need to know what's reasonable to avoid being taken in by outlandish promises and outright scams. Thank you for this post!

Sarah you are so welcome and I agree - the scams are SUCH a problem right now. It's ridiculous and makes me really mad.

Great advice, Penny. If more authors sought out education there would be fewer people falling for the ever-present scams.

I discovered Jane Friedman a long time ago. I agree. She is wonderful, and her blogs full of sound advice.

The best thing any writer, especially new writers, can do is learn about the writing business before they receive that first contract or consider publishing their book themselves. Everyone wants a piece of your work, some legitimately, others not so much. Read the fine print! Ask questions, and research every one you consider hiring or working with.

Another expert to follow is Kim Komando. Her daily newsletter is gold. She's a techie guru and knowing how to keep your computers safe is just as important as keeping the writing safe.

IBPA is a wonderful way to get information and discounts! Friedman's book, The Business of Being a Writer, is one I'd be using in a classroom if I were still teaching.

Great article. Great advice, Penny!

Diana thanks so much! I'll check her out, too - lots of great people out there sharing advice!

Penny this is a fantastic post. I'm so glad you mentioned IBPA. I've learned a ton from them. As someone who teaches writers, I've learned that there is always more that *I* need to learn!

I love IBPA and I'm super stoked to be speaking at their conference this year, too! YAH! 🙂

That's awesome!! I always learn from your talks. 🙂

Great reminders!

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How To Become A Book Publisher: A Beginner’s Guide

• August 18, 2023
• 12 min read

Table of Contents:

How to become a book publisher, 1- establish a strong foundation:, 2- find your niche in publishing:, 3- develop editing skills:, 4- adopt digital changes:, 5- create a publishing industry network:, 5- continue to be flexible:, 6- focus on self-publishing:.

• 7- Get a bachelor's degree:

8- Learn Publishing Process:

What does a book publisher do, 1- promotion and marketing:, 2- design and manufacturing:, 3- proofreading and editing:, 4- sales and dissemination:, 5- rights and contracts in negotiation:, 6- managing money:, 7- follow the lastest trends:, 8- to get manuscripts:, how many jobs are available in publishing industry, 1- assistant editor:, 2- publicists:, 3- proofreader:, 4- marketing manager:, 5- copywriter:, 6- full-time publisher:, 7- literary managers:, 8- sales agent:, is publishing a good career path, how much do book publishers make, how much does it cost to hire a book publisher, how to get a job in book publishing industry, conclusion:.

A little luck is all that stands between published authors and those who dream of becoming one. But how does one enter the top book publishers industry? It’s futile to do nothing except wait for your big break in the literary industry. You need to steer your publishing journey and start laying the foundation now.

Books allow us to put ourselves in the minds of their characters and experience life from their perspective. They are both an attempt to make sense of the world and its many complexities.  

How to become a book publisher? You may be thinking about a career as a publisher if you believe strongly in the transformative potential of literature. To what end does a publisher work, and what steps must one take to join this industry?

If you want a career in publishing, you should establish a firm footing in the fields of literature and publishing. At the same time, keep up with the latest developments in the field by reading widely and actively within the literary community. Enroll in writing or publishing classes, attend seminars, and join a book club to learn more about the industry and network with other professionals in the field.

The publishing industry is vast, including everything from novels and nonfiction to periodicals and websites. Find out what you’re passionate about and what you’re excited to share with the world. Similarly, do you prefer books that provide insight into serious issues or whisk you away to beautiful worlds? Pursuing your interests outside of publishing will inform your path there.

Training your editing sense is crucial if you want a career in publishing. Hone your capacity to examine manuscripts critically, provide writers with insightful input, and help them develop their works into polished masterpieces. Therefore, learn formatting ebooks , proper grammar, style manuals, and business norms to keep your writing professional and polished.

Publishers in the modern digital era must embrace change to survive. Learn the ins and outs of Internet marketing and the many digital publishing platforms, e-books, and best audiobooks 2023 . Therefore, participate actively in the online community using social media to connect with readers and expand your audience. Use digital resources to grow your readership and maintain relevance in the dynamic publishing market.

Publishing is no different from any other field in the importance of networking. Meet writers, publishers, and editors in person at book fairs, conferences, and other literary events. To print an ebook making connections in the publishing industry may lead to interesting new avenues, such as discovering up-and-coming writers or partnerships with well-established publishing firms.

There will always be obstacles and ups and downs in the publishing sector. Maintaining flexibility and grit is crucial for coping with these dynamics. Always be willing to learn and adapt to new information and ways of doing things in the workplace. However, to succeed as a publisher, you’ll need to be able to shift gears and adjust to unique circumstances quickly.

Self-publishing is an option for aspiring authors who want to get their work into the world. Self-publishing gives writers the freedom to distribute their books.   Learning to self-publish may increase your knowledge base and the number of books you can write. Therefore, starting your publishing house is also an excellent first step.

7- Get a bachelor’s degree:

Freelancing publishing is an option for those without a bachelor’s degree, although most publishing houses prefer to recruit those with at least that level of education. This degree, which may be earned at a university , typically takes four years. Also, you may start publishing by majoring in various disciplines, while some schools offer publishing-specific degrees.

• Creative writing for commercial purposes
• Online content
• Media, Journalism, and International Relations in English and French

To become a book publisher, learning as much as possible about the publication process is crucial. Moreover, learned about acquiring a manuscript through editing, designing, producing, promoting, and distributing it. Similarly, to find out what it’s like to work as an eBook editor , a designer, a marketing, a salesperson, and more on a publishing team. Studying these factors may give a complete picture of the publishing industry.

The tasks a publisher handles may depend on the material they work with and the publishing house they work for. During a typical day, a writer may have to do the following:

• Look over possible things to post.
• Talk with the authors and bosses.
• Talk about publishing words.
• Take care of writers and managers
• Work with pros in design
• Set up a schedule for work
• Create funds for groups
• Look over marketing activities for books

To increase awareness and sales, publishers create promotional plans. They work with the marketing department to make advertisements, arrange book releases, and arrange for author appearances. Publishers also make sure they c opyright an ebook and collaborate with Boston bookstores , libraries, and internet sellers to increase the books’ exposure and sales.

A publication’s publisher is responsible for its layout and production. It entails collaborating with book cover designers to produce engaging book jackets, picking out suitable typefaces and designs, and checking that the final result is up to snuff.

Publishers collaborate closely with writers and editors to guarantee high quality and consistency. Therefore, they supervise the editing process, advising the writers and working with the editors to improve the document.

Booksellers, e-tailers, and other outlets sell materials distributed by publishers. To guarantee their publications, the publishing jobs near me are widely available, and to increase book sales , they cooperate with distributors and sales reps.

Publishers deal with legal problems, such as negotiating contracts with writers, artists, and other parties involved in the publishing process. They handle eBook copyright concerns and ensure that the works may be published and distributed.

The publisher manages the financial elements of the publication. Planning costs, determining prices, and tracking revenue are all part of this process. Also, Profitability and long-term viability are ensured by their analysis of market trends and strategic decision-making.

Publishers keep up with the latest developments in the publishing sector, such as new technologies and consumer preferences. They modify their approaches to publishing appropriately, using new mediums, formats, and effects.

The publishing industry is always on the lookout for new and exciting manuscripts. However, to choose whether or not to buy the rights to publish a work, they read submissions, consider their financial potential, and make final choices.

There are many different positions available at publishing companies that cater to a wide range of interests and skill sets. Doing background studies on possible job titles will help you determine whether they fit your career aspirations and demands. However, the following are some examples of potential career paths in this sector that you may use as a starting point for your research:

An editing assistant’s job is to assist senior editors from prepress to final production. However, they work in tandem with other members of the publishing company, such as those in the art, editing, display, and sales departments. 

Their roles range from organizing production, contacting authors, arranging rights and permissions requests, and reviewing and editing texts. The duties of an editorial assistant may also include those of an administrative assistant, such as filing, answering phones, coordinating schedules, and keeping track of expenses.

Publicists promote their clients by securing media attention and disseminating information about their products or causes. How to become a book publisher? Publicists help get the word out about writers and their works in the publishing industry.

They may work with the  eBook marketing service  department to generate customer publicity campaigns. Similarly, they may be responsible for liaising with publishing houses and news organizations, producing press releases, and disseminating promotional materials. Book signings, interviews, and book tours are just some public events that publicists assist authors in organizing and training them for.

A copy editor must proofread it to ensure the published material is error-free. Therefore, copy editors often collaborate with book editors to evaluate authors’ manuscripts in the publishing business. 

They might work for publishing houses on an “as-needed” basis, full- or part-time. Their duties may include revising sections of material to make it more concise or correcting factual inaccuracies in the original content. It is common practice for copy editors to check text for conformity to established style or editorial rules.

A marketing manager leads and monitors a company’s marketing policies and projects. Marketing managers at publishing companies work to get the word out about and sell books. 

Managers often work with editors, publicists, sales staff, and authors. They may advise writers on smartly using social media and other platforms to sell their textbooks on Amazon . Their jobs include making plans for and carrying out marketing efforts, handling funds, and developing new ways to sell products. When planning campaigns, these managers usually help make sell sheets, social media posts, and email blasts.

A copywriter writes information, usually to convince viewers to do something. Copywriters may work in the marketing area of a publishing company to help market and sell books. Depending on their job, they may write and edit poetry book covers , website writing, author bios, press releases, and social media posts. Other tasks include helping to plan and create marketing strategies, researching content creation, and finding pictures.

A publisher is in charge of running a publishing business daily. They set the editing and business goals for the company. They often set standards for the material they publish or the markets they want to reach. Additionally, a book publisher usually works with people in the company’s offices to buy manuscripts, buy rights, sell books, market books, or run events. Some of their jobs are to develop editing policies, set budgets, negotiate author contracts, and hire a book marketer to oversee promotional activities and boost book sales.

Literary managers work in the publishing business and promote writers and their written works. They act as middlemen between writers and publishers. They look out for their client’s best interests and help them figure out how to get their books published. 

A sales agent’s job is to sell things and services for a company. People who work at self publishing companies often try to sell eBooks on amazon , wholesalers, and other groups, like schools and libraries. They could also work with bookstores to get people to buy their books. A sales agent’s job is to talk to current and new clients, negotiate prices or deals, attend sales conferences, and set and meet sales goals. For this job, you may have to travel to meet with clients or attend events in your field.

Publishing can be enjoyable and satisfying for people interested in books, writing, and sharing information. The big companies try to make a 10% return on sales, but most can only do that in good years. Most people who work on their own sometimes lose money.

Many things can affect how much money a bookseller makes. Most companies charge based on how much the book sells in stores. So, if the book sells for $20 and the royalty rate is 5%, you will get $1 for each book sold. People often call these payments “list royalties” or “retail royalties.”

Different states have different costs for starting a publishing business. In general, the cost of publishing an ebook the lowest fees are $50, and the most expensive ones are $800. Most of the time, you have to pay fees every year. Therefore, if you want to use an authorized agency, you should know those services will cost you more. You can handle the financial parts of becoming a publisher well if you plan carefully, look at costs, and find ways to save money.

Getting a job in the publishing business can be challenging, but if you take the proper steps and plan, you can improve your chances. Get the appropriate education and skills, learn about the publishing business, make connections, get experience, and build a strong portfolio.

Become a book publisher , you must have a unique mix of love, determination, and business sense. It’s a job that requires a great love of books, a good eye for talent, and the ability to understand how the business world is constantly changing. By keeping up to date, building a solid network, and being open to new ideas, you can make your way in writing and give people worldwide access to unique views, stories, and opinions. 

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Author/Writer Education Requirements

The educational requirements for an author/writer are.

What education do you need to become an author/writer?

What degree do you need to be an author/writer.

The most common degree for author/writers is bachelor's degree, with 59% of author/writers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 17% and master's degree degree at 12%.

• Bachelor's , 59%
• Master's , 17%
• Associate , 12%
• High School Diploma , 5%
• Other Degrees , 7%

What should I major in to become an author/writer?

The best college majors for an author/writer include English, communication, journalism, and history. According to experts, "English and journalism are great majors for aspiring writers" (John Smith, Professor of Literature, University of Writing).

• English , 15%
• Business , 14%
• Communication , 11%
• Psychology , 8%
• Other Majors , 52%

Most common colleges for author/writers

Author/writers often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, Temple University, and University of Central Florida. Here are the most common colleges for author/writers in the US based on their resumes.

Best majors for author/writers

Best colleges for author/writers.

Advanced education for author/writers leads to higher salaries and better job opportunities. Zippia identified the best colleges for author/writers based on admissions rate, retention rate, graduate earnings, working vs. non-working student ratio, cost of attendance, and median debt. Top schools include Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Northwestern University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and University of California, Berkeley.

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-State Tuition

2. Harvard University

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

4. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

5. University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA • Private

6. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

7. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA • Private

8. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

9. Emory University

Atlanta, GA • Private

10. University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX • Private

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2. Bestseller Book Marketing: Amazon Kindle KDP Self-Publishing

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3. Become a Freelance Content Writer - Get Paid to Write Online

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4. Reverse Engineer Riveting Fiction & Write Best Selling Books

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7. Conquering Writer's Block (Writing Mastery)

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8. Write A Book - Share Your Story

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9. COMPLETE Creative Writing - All Genres - THE FULL COURSE!

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10. How To Become a Bestselling Author on Amazon Kindle

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11. How to Write a Nonfiction Book That Actually Sells

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12. Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy

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13. The Foundations of Fiction (Writing Mastery)

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14. Publish Your Novel: Self-Publishing & Marketing Masterclass

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20. Kindle Launch Plan: Publish and Market an Amazon Bestseller

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Top 10 most affordable universities for author/writers

The most affordable schools for author/writers are Baruch College of the City University of New York, university of florida, and brooklyn college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for author/writers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for author/writers.

1. Baruch College of the City University of New York

Cost of Attendance

2. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

3. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

4. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

5. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

6. USF St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg, FL • Private

7. California State University - Los Angeles

8. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

9. Lehman College of the City University of New York

Bronx, NY • Private

10. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for author/writers

The hardest universities for author/writers to get into are Northwestern University, Harvard University, and Northeastern University.

Some great schools for author/writers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for author/writers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Admissions Rate

SAT Average

3. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

4. Boston University

5. University of Tulsa

Tulsa, OK • Private

6. Southern Methodist University

Dallas, TX • Private

7. Columbia University in the City of New York

8. massachusetts institute of technology.

9. New York University

10. emory university, top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for author/writers.

The easiest schools for author/writers to get into are University of the Incarnate Word, notre dame de namur university, and rochester university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an author/writer without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for author/writers.

1. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

2. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

3. Rochester University

Rochester Hills, MI • Private

4. Grand View University

Des Moines, IA • Private

5. Centenary University

Hackettstown, NJ • Private

6. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

7. Nyack College

8. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

9. Curry College

Milton, MA • Private

10. San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA • Private

Average author/writer salary by education level

According to our data, author/writers with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $68,722 annually. Author/writers with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $64,827.

Author/Writer Education FAQs

What is the best college for author/writers, search for author/writer jobs.

Updated April 5, 2024

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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School's out

A critical take on education and schooling

The 50 great books on education

Professor of Education, University of Derby

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I have often argued that I would not let any teacher into a school unless – as a minimum – they had read, carefully and well, the three great books on education: Plato’s Republic, Rousseau’s Émile and Dewey’s Democracy and Education. There would be no instrumental purpose in this, but the struggle to understand these books and the thinking involved in understanding them would change teachers and ultimately teaching.

These are the three great books because each is sociologically whole. They each present a description and arguments for an education for a particular and better society. You do not have to agree with these authors. Plato’s tripartite education for a just society ruled over by philosopher kings; Rousseau’s education through nature to establish the social contract and Dewey’s relevant, problem-solving democratic education for a democratic society can all be criticised. That is not the point. The point is to understand these great works. They constitute the intellectual background to any informed discussion of education.

What of more modern works? I used to recommend the “blistering indictment” of the flight from traditional liberal education that is Melanie Phillips’s All Must Have Prizes, to be read alongside Tom Bentley’s Learning Beyond the Classroom: Education for a Changing World, which is a defence of a wider view of learning for the “learning age”. These two books defined the debate in the 1990s between traditional education by authoritative teachers and its rejection in favour of a new learning in partnership with students.

Much time and money is spent on teacher training and continuing professional development and much of it is wasted. A cheaper and better way of giving student teachers and in-service teachers an understanding of education would be to get them to read the 50 great works on education.

The books I have identified, with the help of members of the Institute of Ideas’ Education Forum, teachers and colleagues at several universities, constitute an attempt at an education “canon”.

What are “out” of my list are textbooks and guides to classroom practice. What are also “out” are novels and plays. But there are some great literary works that should be read by every teacher: Charles Dicken’s Hard Times – for Gradgrind’s now much-needed celebration of facts; D. H. Lawrence’s The Rainbow – for Ursula Brangwen’s struggle against her early child-centred idealism in the reality of St Philips School; and Alan Bennett’s The History Boys – for Hector’s role as the subversive teacher committed to knowledge.

I hope I have produced a list of books, displayed here in alphabetical order, that are held to be important by today’s teachers. I make no apology for including the book I wrote with Kathryn Ecclestone, The Dangerous Rise of Therapeutic Education because it is an influential critical work that has produced considerable controversy. If you disagree with this, or any other of my choices, please add your alternative “canonical” books on education.

Michael W. Apple – Official Knowledge: Democratic Education in a Conservative Age (1993)

Hannah Arendt – Between Past and Future (1961), for the essay “The Crisis in Education” (1958)

Matthew Arnold – Culture and Anarchy (1867-9)

Robin Barrow – Giving Teaching Back to the Teachers (1984)

Tom Bentley – Learning Beyond The Classroom: Education for a Changing World (1998)

Allan Bloom – The Closing of the American Mind: How Higher Education Has Failed Democracy and Impoverished the Souls of Today’s Students (1987)

Pierre Bourdieu and Jean-Claude Passeron – Reproduction in Education, Society and Culture (1977)

Samuel Bowles and Herbert Gintis – Schooling in Capitalist America: Educational Reform and the Contradictions of Economic Life (1976)

Jerome Bruner – The Process of Education (1960)

John Dewey – Democracy and Education (1916)

Margaret Donaldson – Children’s Minds (1978)

JWB Douglas – The Home and the School (1964)

Kathryn Ecclestone and Dennis Hayes – The Dangerous Rise of Therapeutic Education (2008)

Harold Entwistle – Antonio Gramsci: Conservative Schooling for Radical Politics (1979).

Paulo Freire – Pedagogy of the Oppressed (1968/1970)

Frank Furedi – Wasted: Why Education Isn’t Educating (2009)

Helene Guldberg – Reclaiming Childhood (2009)

ED Hirsch Jnr. – The Schools We Need And Why We Don’t Have Them (1999)

Paul H Hirst – Knowledge and the Curriculum (1974) For the essay which appears as Chapter 3 ‘Liberal Education and the Nature of Knowledge’ (1965)

John Holt – How Children Fail (1964)

Eric Hoyle – The Role of the Teacher (1969)

James Davison Hunter – The Death of Character: Moral Education in an Age without Good or Evil (2000)

Ivan Illich – Deschooling Society (1971)

Nell Keddie (Ed.) – Tinker, Taylor: The Myth of Cultural Deprivation (1973)

John Locke – Some Thoughts Concerning Education (1692)

John Stuart Mill – Autobiography (1873)

Sybil Marshall – An Experiment in Education (1963)

Alexander Sutherland Neil – Summerhill: A Radical Approach to Child Rearing (1960)

John Henry Newman – The Idea of a University (1873)

Michael Oakeshott – The Voice of Liberal Learning (1989) In particular for the essay “Education: The Engagement and Its Frustration” (1972)

Anthony O’ Hear – Education, Society and Human Nature: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Education (1981)

Richard Stanley Peters – Ethics and Education (1966)

Melanie Phillips – All Must Have Prizes (1996)

Plato – The Republic (366BC?)

Plato – Protagoras (390BC?) and Meno (387BC?)

Neil Postman – The End of Education: Redefining the Value of School (1995)

Neil Postman and Charles Weingartner – Teaching as a Subversive Activity (1969)

Herbert Read – Education Through Art (1943)

Carl Rogers – Freedom to Learn: A View of What Education Might Become (1969)

Jean-Jacques Rousseau – Émile or “on education” (1762)

Bertrand Russell – On Education (1926)

Israel Scheffler – The Language of Education (1960)

Brian Simon – Does Education Matter? (1985) Particularly for the paper “Why No Pedagogy in England?” (1981)

JW Tibble (Ed.) – The Study of Education (1966)

Lev Vygotsky – Thought and Language (1934/1962)

Alfred North Whitehead – The Aims of Education and other essays (1929)

Paul E. Willis – Learning to Labour: How Working Class Kids Get Working Class Jobs (1977)

Alison Wolf – Does Education Matter? Myths about Education and Economic Growth (2002)

Michael FD Young (Ed) – Knowledge and Control: New Directions for the Sociology of Education (1971)

Michael FD Young – Bringing Knowledge Back In: From Social Constructivism to Social Realism in the Sociology of Education (2007)

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Home / Book Editing / How to Become a Book Editor in 2024: A Complete Guide

How to Become a Book Editor in 2024: A Complete Guide

I believe that behind every fantastic author is a great editor . There’s a reason you often see thanks or dedications to editors in the front matter . Editing a book is hard work. It may not take as long as it took to write it, but book editors work very hard to help novels reach their potential. To become a book editor, you need a bachelor’s degree, a firm grasp of the written word, and the willingness to seek relevant job opportunities. Let’s get into the nitty-gritty details about what it takes to become a successful book editor.

Interested in learning more about being a book editor and how to edit? Check out this page with a comprehensive guide and a TON more resources!

• Duties & responsibilities of a book editor
• How much a book editor makes
• What makes a great editor
• The 4 types of editors
• The qualifications needed to become a book editor
• How to get started as a traditional editor
• How to develop your online presence
• How to network as an editor and build the connections you'll need to succeed

Table of contents

• What is a Book Editor?

Duties & Responsibilities of a Book Editor

• Typical Book Editor Salary
• Education and Qualifications for Book Editor
• Self-Control
• Communication Skills
• Writing Skills
• 1. Developmental Editors
• 2. Line Editors
• 3. Copy Editors
• 4. Proofreaders
• Step 1: Get a Bachelor’s Degree
• Step 2: Refine Your Writing Skills
• Step 3: Learn the Newest Publishing and Editing Software
• Step 4: Seek Out Internships
• Step 5: Sign Up For Seminars
• Step 6: Build Up Your Resume
• Step 1: Establish an Online Presence
• Step 2: Network and Build Relationships
• Step 3: Strengthen Your Editing Skills
• Step 4: Set Reasonable Rates and Clear Service Offerings
• Step 5: Use Binding Contracts
• Develop Your Online Presence as an Editor
• Online Networking
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A book editor is someone who edits the words, punctuation, overall story, and/or formatting in a manuscript. They need to be good at fact-checking and paying attention to details. Freelance editors take on work they can find online, via networking, or through relationships with book publishing houses. Traditional editors hold a formal role in a traditional publishing house and even have a say in which books get published . Depending on the type of book editor, he or she might work alongside the author from the very beginning, making big picture suggestions to improve the book. Or they may be the final set of eyes to look at a book before it is published. It’s no wonder that many bestsellers list their editors on the dedication page or the Thank You page. A good editor takes a good concept and helps the author turn it into a good book . A book editor costs different amounts for every project. Below, you can see how much each type of editor may cost for a novel-length manuscript.

• Developmental editors cost $1,000 and $8,000, depending on manuscript length and the individual editor’s experience level.
• Line editors cost between $600 and $2,000.
• Copy editors cost between $300 and $1,200.
• Proofreaders cost between $200 and $1,000.

How do I start a career in book editing? To start a book editing career, you need to determine which type of editor you want to be (developmental editor, line editor, copy editor, or proofreader). Then, you need to hone your writing skills and editing abilities. Finally, look for internships, freelance work, and other ways to boost your portfolio.

The typical book editor’s responsibilities generally require that they:

• Acquire manuscripts to edit
• Keep up with deadlines
• Tweak content so that it is error-free and easy to read for the intended audience
• Verify facts used in the book
• Work alongside the author to develop the story, prose, dialogue, writing style, voice, etc.
• Check final formatting looks clean and professional (if you’re a proofreader)
• Sustain good working relationships with authors, editorial assistants, marketing personnel , graphic designers, etc.
• Maintain an editor website and online presence (especially if you’re a freelancer)
• Sign up for seminars to keep up to date with the latest trends and linguistic standards

How much does a book editor make? A book editor can make a living wage of $30,000-$60,000, even when starting out. The 2019 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the median salary of newspaper, periodical, and book editors as $57,030/year. (2019 statistics were the newest available in March 2021.) It also includes these statistics for the more general career field Editor (which includes editors and associate editors for online purposes, not just books):

• Top 10% annual salary: $122,280
• Bottom 10% annual salary: $32,620

It’s worth noting that many editing jobs are based in New York City, the publishing hub of the Western Hemisphere. Since the cost of living is pretty high there, I’d bet if you got an editor job anywhere else in the US, it would pay less than the median salary, especially if you’re just starting out.

What qualifications do you need to be a book editor? To become a book editor, you typically need a bachelor’s degree in a related field of study (English, Journalism, etc.) and a firm grasp of the English language. Prior experience in publishing, relevant internships, and a robust portfolio also boost your qualifications. You can become an editor even if you have no experience, by:

• Getting a relevant bachelor’s degree
• Honing your writing skills
• Landing an internship or entry-level position
• Establishing industry relationships
• Building your resume

What Makes a Great Book Editor?

What makes a great book editor are years of experience in the writing and publishing worlds, willingness to set aside their ego, and good communication skills (honesty, directness, etc.). Just because you did well in your high school English class doesn't mean you'd make a good editor. There are a lot of good writers out there who would make horrible editors. (The same can be said for editors who want to write.) Writing and editing are distinct disciplines. Both can be learned through practice and determination. Here are a few common traits of good editors to help you decide if this is work you want to pursue.

A good editor is committed to making an author’s book better, not twisting the voice into the editor’s own words. This requires a unique mixture of self-control and empathy. It takes a great deal of self-control to read another person’s work and critique it without interjecting yourself into it. Good editors have the singular ability to correct or modify writing while protecting the author's voice. It's much more complex than it seems, trust me. There are plenty of horror stories about bad editors: people who completely strip an author’s work of its distinct style and insert their own as a replacement. These are not actual editors but instead frustrated writers who take their lack of success out on somebody else.

A good editor works hard to understand each author's individual goals and offers comprehensive suggestions in the context of these goals.

Editors aren't in it for an ego boost. A good editor is humble while giving feedback but also when reading responses from the author. It's difficult to give feedback with humility — but the best editors find a way to do it. In my opinion, the secret is recognizing that editing and writing are two completely different jobs. The writer's job is to get their ideas onto paper as best they can. The editor's job is to help the author communicate those ideas more clearly. The creation of engaging prose is a team effort, not a competition.

Good editors aren't afraid to give honest feedback, but they do so respectfully. This takes good communication skills, such as candor, honesty, tact, respect, compromise, and maturity. An editor should help a book reach its full potential. For this reason, editors need to be able to give honest, direct feedback. That said, some authors (especially new authors) aren't thrilled about honest, direct feedback. Editors need to be prepared for that. A good editor knows how to compromise, when to back down to avoid conflict, how to respect the author without hurting his/her feelings, and when to tactfully push for a necessary change. Writers and editors might butt heads during the editing process because a book is a product of passionate love and so much hard work. But a little friction can be healthy in creative work. A good editor should be able to communicate to avoid as much friction as possible and when to ultimately back down. If you’re going to be an editor, make sure every suggestion is contextualized within the big picture: making this the best book it can be.

Editors should be masters of the written language. A good editor doesn’t have to be a great book writer, but they do have to be a great writer in other ways. Editors are obsessed with grammar and syntax. You need to be a sucker for spelling and punctuation and have hawk eyes for passive voice and repetitive word usage. Your emails and social media posts should look immaculate. These crucial members of a writer’s team are the last line of defense between the author and the reader. Attention to detail is a must. If mistakes slip past the editor, they're exposed to the world, undermining an entire book’s credibility and success. Fingers crossed there aren’t any typos in this article!

The 4 Types of Book Editors

If you're thinking about becoming an editor, it is critical to know which type of editor you’re trying to be. You may want to focus on just one field of editing. Or you may choose to offer services at multiple stages of the editing process. The 4 most common types of editors are:

• Developmental editors
• Line editors
• Copy editors
• Proofreaders

I’ve listed them in the chronological order that an author would hire them. Let’s talk about what each different type of editor actually does.

Developmental editors look for plot holes, dropped characters, logical inconsistencies, and ways to improve an author’s overall manuscript. They identify structural deficiencies, weak arguments, and unsupported claims in nonfiction books as well. Developmental editors are the most expensive type of editor. Depending on the book’s length, these editors can make many thousands of dollars on a single manuscript. According to some sources, true developmental editing begins before an author starts to write a manuscript. The editor works alongside the author during the entire writing process, pointing out potential improvements every step of the way. In truth, most fiction authors just hire a developmental editor after the manuscript is complete.

Often, developmental editors perform some of the work of line editors. Combined, this is called “substantive editing.”

Contrary to the name, line editors do not look at your book line-by-line. Instead, they take a more overall approach to editing your book. This is the least common type of editor because line editing is so similar to copy editing, just more big picture. If an author is looking for big picture editing, he/she will probably just hire a development editor. Note: In the UK, line editors are synonymous with proofreaders. In the US, they are an incremental step between developmental editors and copy editors.

Copy editors focus on a manuscript’s style and tone. They correct errors in spelling, grammar, syntax, dialogue formatting , and punctuation use. They ensure the book is clear and consistent and that it smoothly transitions from sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph, chapter to chapter. A copy editor is probably who most people envision when they think of book editors.

Proofreaders are the last step of the editing process. They make sure a book has proper grammar, no misspellings, and correct sentence structure. Many of these editors also proofread finalized formatting. They let an author or publisher know if a book is ready to go to printing and publishing. Proofreaders often cost the least of any editor. However, the time they spend on each manuscript is less than any other editor, so it’s definitely fair. Ideally, authors would use proofreading software such as Grammarly or ProWritingAid to catch more typical grammatical and spelling errors before hiring a human proofreader. An author’s job is to do their best to hand their editors as complete and high-quality a book as possible. That said, software should not replace a human being for book proofreading.

How to Get Started as a Traditional Book Editor

Freelance editing might sound like the easier option. However, getting an internship at a traditional publishing house is not difficult for college students and burgeoning editors. The relationships you build during that internship can easily lead to a traditional book editor position — it’s all about who you know. Alternatively, look up book editor jobs in your area. Even if you’re not going to apply right away, it’s helpful to learn what various publishing companies expect in terms of portfolios, years of experience, references, etc. And remember, there are more editing positions available than just book editing. Would you be happier editing short-form content or website copy? Agencies and small businesses are constantly on the lookout for web copy editors for these positions. Below, we’ll talk about basic guidelines for getting started as a staff editor at a publishing house. We'll discuss freelance editing further down. Here are 6 steps you can take on your journey to becoming a book editor:

• Get a bachelor’s degree
• Refine your writing skills
• Learn the newest publishing and editing software
• Seek out internships
• Sign up for seminars
• Build up your resume

Step 1 : Get a Bachelor’s Degree

Most editors have a bachelor’s degree in a related field of study. Most English or Communications degrees will do just fine, including journalism, publishing, and creative writing. A master’s degree should give you a further edge over the steep competition. A Business or Marketing degree may also qualify you to become an editor, but you'll need to practice and display good writing. This education provides potential editors with the fundamental skills needed to be professional editors. It proves to future employers or freelance clients that you know what you’re talking about and able to follow through with long and challenging commitments. A degree is basically necessary, but it’s not a golden ticket to getting a job. Becoming an editor is a competitive industry, even if you’re freelancing and don’t need to apply for a job at a prestigious publisher.

Step 2 : Refine Your Writing Skills

Every editor needs to constantly refine their writing skills, especially when starting out. You need to be able to write to be a good editor. That doesn't mean you should have a fantasy author's imagination, but you should be able to write creatively and correctly. This will affect your ability to correct copy when needed. One way to refine your writing skills is to start a blog. Many editors also write books themselves, a surefire way to practice good writing.

Format Beautiful Professional Books

Easy to use, and and full of amazing features, you can quickly turn your book into a professional book.

Step 3 : Learn the Newest Publishing and Editing Software

Any editor should know how to use the newest publishing and editing software. This way, you can choose the best option for you and your clients. Learning the most popular software can be daunting, but these are the tools of your trade. It’s a valuable investment into your career path. Many online courses can help guide you through the basics. Udemy has a great selection of courses on publishing and editing tools to get you started.

Step 4 : Seek Out Internships

Serious about becoming a book editor? Seek out internships at publishing houses. You'll get an up-close and personal look into the life of an editor. It's one of the best ways to learn the tricks of the trade and form valuable relationships. The experience and relationships you earn from internships may lead to a full-time staff editing position.

Step 5 : Sign Up For Seminars

An editor should sign up for seminars or lectures on book editing from time to time. These are ordinarily one-day workshops that help refresh an editor’s knowledge and skill on top of teaching them the newest publishing industry standards.

Step 6 : Build Up Your Resume

Get out into the real world and find experience. Hopefully, you landed an internship, which looks great on a resume. Now keep building up that all-important resume. Hone your skills with small jobs. If you didn’t find a full-time position right out of college, then you may benefit from starting with a little bit of freelance work. Upwork and Fiverr are great places to find editing work. However, expect the rates to be horrendously low. Many people on these sites will take the editor with the cheapest rate, even though the final product will make it obvious how much they spent on editing. But offering your services at a lower rate for a (very short) time can help build up your resume. Important Note : Offering a lower rate than your worth can be an effective temporary strategy to hone your skills and build your resume. However, I am not advocating for underselling yourself. Don’t compromise your value just to find work. An editor’s skills are worth a lot. Your skills are worth a lot.

How to Get Started as a Freelance Book Editor

If you want to get started as a freelance editor for full-length books, you should:

• Establish an online presence
• Sharpen your knack for networking
• Strengthen your linguistic skills to prove you’re a good editor
• Set reasonable rates for your work
• Use binding contracts with your clients

These skills are on top of the majority of steps required to become a traditional book editor. Many professional book editors start from traditional publishing houses and migrate towards freelance work. Pro tip: Freelance editors often work with writers who are self-publishing. Unfortunately, self-publishers seldom understand the true value of a professional editor. Don’t reduce your rates below what you’re worth just to work with ungrateful writers. Let them hire the unqualified editor offering a $100 flat rate, and they’ll get what they paid for. You could instead start out as a freelance editor without any traditional publisher experience. But you better be able to edit before you take on work. The best way to start your freelance editing career? Get to work.

Step 1 : Establish an Online Presence

Put yourself out there on social media, LinkedIn, Fiverr, and Upwork. You may also search job sites like Indeed.com for freelance work. Drum up interest and pour all your effort into these editing jobs, even if they’re smaller-scale. That's okay. You need to build your portfolio and credentials by finding as many legit jobs as possible.

Step 2 : Network and Build Relationships

Whereas traditional editors often begin networking as college students and interns, a freelance editor without an existing network must build relationships independently. And it’s a crucial step to establishing a freelance editing business. You can join an editing association — such as ACES ( The Society for Editing ) or EFA ( Editorial Freelancers Association ) — and certify your expertise. Relationships with these types of groups show your potential clients that you are serious about your work. I discuss more ideas a little later below (that aren’t just for freelancers), such as using social media to network professionally.

Step 3 : Strengthen Your Editing Skills

“Freelance” does not mean “poor quality.” As a freelance editor, you’ll need to be on top of your grammar, spelling, and linguistics. Invest in courses through Udemy , Masterclass , or even on YouTube . A bachelor’s degree in English or a related field helps build your credibility, but it is not necessary for freelance work. If you don’t have a degree related to editing, you better make darn sure your grasp of the written word is faultless.

Step 4 : Set Reasonable Rates and Clear Service Offerings

Finding clients is a big part of getting started in freelance editing, but it's not the only concern. You also want to decide what services you'll provide and your rate for each of those services. Check out our list of book editors to better understand what services established editors are offering and what their pricing is. Important Note : I said it for getting started as a traditional editor, and I’ll say it here. Offering a lower rate can be an effective temporary strategy to hone your skills and build your resume. But I do not advocate for underselling yourself. A freelance editor’s skills are worth a lot. Your skills are worth a lot.

Step 5 : Use Binding Contracts

As with any freelance work, I encourage you to put everything in black and white — legally binding contracts. You and your clients need to understand one another, which is the best way to establish trust and accountability. Have your contracts drafted and reviewed by legal professionals like the team over at LegalZoom .

In today's Digital Era, the Internet is the most essential tool you have as a burgeoning editor. Whether you're freelancing or trying to land a traditional editor position, you need to develop your online presence as an editor to get ahead. Establish your own editor website, which will be the primary advertisement of your editing services. On this website, clearly list what services you offer, your rates, and a call to action to “Get A Quote.” Include a professional headshot and your credentials, such as any degrees you hold or certifications you earned. Websites are relatively cheap and easy to set up. Make sure it looks clean and professional, or potential clients will scoff and look elsewhere. Using your editor website, demonstrate your expertise. Provide sample work from your portfolio. You could even write blog posts about topics related to book editing, such as:

• Writing how-to's
• Editing tips
• Publishing tricks
• Software reviews
• Company comparisons
• Personal stories from the editing world

Your editor website won’t be a major hit overnight. But now, when you meet people at a conference or networking event, you can send them to your professional-looking website for more info.

Another way to develop your online presence is through social media. Consistent content and the right hashtags can help you get discovered by the authors you want to work with.

This includes Instagram , Twitter, LinkedIn (especially for editors seeking formal editing jobs), Facebook , and even Reddit — depending on your preferred clientele.

How to Network as an Editor

Networking is a huge part of succeeding as a book editor, especially when you're starting out. There are several methods to networking effectively, both online and face-to-face. Let these tips help you rise above the noise and start getting the attention you deserve.

When it comes to online networking as an editor, social media is your best friend. Join groups or follow accounts dedicated to writers, authors, and book editing. You may be able to offer your services when the opportunity arises. (Mind you, some groups are very against personal advertisement. Be sure to check each group’s rules and guidelines.) Platforms such as LinkedIn and Facebook are great places to start creating your editing network. Also, you can get active on publishing or editing forums such as those found on Reddit . You need an editor website. This is critical to online networking, as well as face-to-face networking. A clean, clear, professional editor website tells people you mean business. A good website gives potential clients a taste of your work and entices them with a call to action. You could even publish blog posts on your website to drum up interest and name recognition with paid or organic search traffic.

Although we live in a digital world, don't overlook the importance of networking in person. Face-to-face networking still works, and it works great. When a potential client or employer networks with you in real life, there is a connection you can’t make over the Internet. Attend conventions, book fairs, and conferences . This opens up a whole new world of job opportunities. You will meet writers, publishers, and other editors. And many conferences are free or very inexpensive. In-person events are also an excellent opportunity to show off some sweet new business cards. For more info on creating a killer business card, check out this article . You need to have an editor website. I know. I sound like a broken record. But being able to give potential employers and clients whom you meet a business card that directs them to a professional-looking website is invaluable.

What kind of book editor do you want to be?

There are 4 types of editors, not to mention freelancing versus traditional editing jobs. No matter what kind of book editor you want to be, this article should help you reach your goals. Becoming a book editor is no simple task. But it gets easier as you start to build your resume and impress clients who refer you to their friends and colleagues. It’s about getting good, then networking, then completing every job on time and with excellence.

If you're up to the task, a freelance book editing career can make for an enriching life. Usually, this type of work comes with a much greater degree of flexibility than other jobs. The pay can be surprisingly good as you grow your clientele.

Interested in diving deeper into becoming an editor? There's a well-reviewed, one-hour course on Udemy called “How to Become a Freelance Editor: Make Money Copy Editing.” It's typically $79.99, but Udemy is known for regularly running sales. If you're looking for a next step, I encourage you to check out Udemy . Check out this helpful book editing course, especially if you’re just getting started: Book Editing Blueprint .

Final Thought: Much love and respect to all the hardworking editors out there. The right books at the right time can change the world, and editors are in the business of making books better. That's important work, and I'm grateful for the people with the skill and dedication to do it.

Dave Chesson

When I’m not sipping tea with princesses or lightsaber dueling with little Jedi, I’m a book marketing nut. Having consulted multiple publishing companies and NYT best-selling authors, I created Kindlepreneur to help authors sell more books. I’ve even been called “The Kindlepreneur” by Amazon publicly, and I’m here to help you with your author journey.

• Duties & Responsibilities of a Book Editor

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9 thoughts on “ How to Become a Book Editor in 2024: A Complete Guide ”

Thank your for the information! 🙂

Glad to have helped.

Okay, in the interest of full disclosure, I am frequently referred to as the grammar nazi by friends and family (always in the most loving way possible, of course, and generally at the same time that they are asking me to review something they’ve written). I actually have a visceral response to incorrect grammar and typos. Just thinking of the cultural debacle that is the misuse of “me, myself, and I” is enough to make me shudder. I enjoy a spirited discussion of the use of the oxford comma, and when I realized that my copy of Strunk & White had disappeared during a recent move, I was compelled to immediately replace it, just because I enjoy re-reading it occasionally.

It is this strong committment to proper grammar (I prefer to avoid the use of the word “obsession” whenever possible) combined with my heavy reading habit that led me to your article. While I enjoy reading ebooks on my kindle, I needed to employ a sort of desensitization process in order to allow me to do so, as typos and grammatical errors seem to be widespread across the format. However, after encountering error after error in a recent ebook by a popular, prolific, and well-reviewed author, I could not stop thinking “oh my god, do none of these authors have a grammar obsessed sister to do a final proofread?” and “how could a professional, paid proofreader miss all of these? I could do a much better job.” Through the miracle of Google, a minute later, I was reading your article and considering a career as an editor.

I wanted to comment to thank you for your detailed and informative description of the types of editors and the possible paths to pursue a career in this field. It gave me a lot to think about. However, I must also admit that my comment was at least partially motivated by your mention of grammar obsession (okay, yes, it applies to me) and a concern regarding possible typos in the same section and my discovery of a typo later in the article. Usually, I have no way to bring a typo to the author’s attention when I find it, but this time, the comment button was right there, and I couldn’t resist. It’s in the first paragraph of the “Do You Have What It Takes…” section. It reads “it does get easier as you starting building your resume” instead of “as you start building.” My apologies, but I just couldn’t help myself.

I truly appreciate all the amazing info you discussed in this post. I got a few ideas on how to take my dream of becoming a book editor to the next level with practical action. Looking forward to checking out the info/links you provided.

Awesome and you’ve got this!

Loved your content. To be a good editor is a tough task however your article just made it look so easy. It is the perfect guide for me. Please keep writing more blogs like these.

Thank you and I will.

Your self-publishing experience will help me a lot in self- publishing my book. After reading your journey have given me more clarity on how can I get my script edited more easily and efficiently. Now have idea of all the challenges and obstacles that i will encounter while editing and will take all the necessary precautions needed. I also got a clear understanding of what type of editing I need for my book and also the type of editor that suits my need the best. I now realize the true meaning of editing as it is the most important aspect of self-publishing.

Awesome and glad to have helped!

Comments are closed.

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15 Famous Writers on the Perils of a Formal Education

And why libraries > classrooms.

Students all over the country are beginning to head back to school, and some, I imagine, aren’t too happy about it. If that’s you, you’re in good company: lots of famous writers hated school, too. Writers are usually assumed to be highly-educated types, and many are, of course. But they’re not always educated in the way you might think—some of the English language’s most famous authors were less-than-great in the classroom, but had the creative skills (and perhaps some out-of-the-box ways of thinking) to make up for it. So, to ease the pain—or temper the joy, if you’re one of those—of starting school, I tracked down what a few great writers had to say on their own experiences with formal education (or lack thereof), and in some cases, on the dangers of relying too much on the classroom to figure out how to live in the world. The overwhelming message I get from the below is this: school is all very well and good, but it’s not going to teach you what you really need to know, because actually, only you can figure out what that is. Probably, though, you’ll get there faster if you spend some time in the library. Take it from Ray Bradbury, to start with:

“Libraries raised me. I don’t believe in colleges and universities. I believe in libraries because most students don’t have any money. When I graduated from high school, it was during the Depression and we had no money. I couldn’t go to college, so I went to the library three days a week for 10 years.”  – Ray Bradbuy , to The New York Times .

“You can’t learn to write in college. It’s a very bad place for writers because the teachers always think they know more than you do—and they don’t. They have prejudices. They may like Henry James, but what if you don’t want to write like Henry James? They may like John Irving, for instance, who’s the bore of all time. A lot of the people whose work they’ve taught in the schools for the last thirty years, I can’t understand why people read them and why they are taught. The library, on the other hand, has no biases. The information is all there for you to interpret. You don’t have someone telling you what to think. You discover it for yourself.”  – Ray Bradbury , in an interview with Sam Weller

“I received the fundamentals of my education in school, but that was not enough. My real education, the superstructure, the details, the true architecture, I got out of the public library. For an impoverished child whose family could not afford to buy books, the library was the open door to wonder and achievement, and I can never be sufficiently grateful that I had the wit to charge through that door and make the most of it.

Now, when I read constantly about the way in which library funds are being cut and cut, I can only think that the door is closing and that American society has found one more way to destroy itself.”  – Isaac Asimov in I, Asimov

“[My mother] said that I must always be intolerant of ignorance but understanding of illiteracy. That some people, unable to go to school, were more educated and even more intelligent than college professors. She encouraged me to listen carefully to what country people called mother wit. That in those homely sayings was couched the collective wisdom of generations.”  – Maya Angelou in  I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

“You must never let schooling interfere with education.”  –often attributed to Mark Twain , but actually written first by Grant Allen .

“But how many pretentious little kids have we been able to develop through progressive education! We can turn out a hell of a lot of these. I once taught at Bard College, where the students were highly articulate, some of them highly imaginative and creative. But many were utterly unprepared by their education to live in this world without extensive aid. What I’m trying to say is that it is not that we are all estranged from our backgrounds and given skills that don’t apply to the real world, but that something basically wrong is happening to our educational system. We are missing the target, and all of our children are suffering as a result. To be ill-clothed, ill-housed and ill-fed is not the only way to suffer deprivation.

I don’t know what intelligence is. But this I do know, both from life and from literature: whenever you reduce human life to two plus two equals four, the human element within the human animal says, “I don’t give a damn.” You can work on that basis, but the kids cannot. If you can show me how I can cling to that which is real to me, while teaching me a way into the larger society, then I will not only drop my defenses and my hostility, but I will sing your praises and help you to make the desert bear fruit.”  – Ralph Ellison , in a 1963 lecture , the entirety of which is really worth a read

“Education is an admirable thing. But it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught.”  – Oscar Wilde , in A Few Maxims for the Instruction of the Over-Educated , first published anonymously in 1894

“I’ve often thought there ought to be a manual to hand to little kids, telling them what kind of planet they’re on, why they don’t fall off it, how much time they’ve probably got here, how to avoid poison ivy, and so on. I tried to write one once. It was called Welcome to Earth . But I got stuck on explaining why we don’t fall off the planet. Gravity is just a word. It doesn’t explain anything. If I could get past gravity, I’d tell them how we reproduce, how long we’ve been here, apparently, and a little bit about evolution. And one thing I would really like to tell them about is cultural relativity. I didn’t learn until I was in college about all the other cultures, and I should have learned that in the first grade. A first grader should understand that his or her culture isn’t a rational invention; that there are thousands of other cultures and they all work pretty well; that all cultures function on faith rather than truth; that there are lots of alternatives to our own society. I didn’t find that our for sure until I was in the graduate school of the University of Chicago. It was terribly exciting.”  – Kurt Vonnegut , in a 1963 interview with Playboy

“Thank goodness, my education was neglected; I was never sent to school . . . it would have rubbed off some of the originality (if I had not died of shyness or been killed with over pressure).”  – Beatrix Potter , in a 1929 letter to a friend

“I despised school—or schools, for I was always changing from one to another—and year after year failed the simplest subjects out of loathing and boredom. I played hooky at least twice a week and was always running away from home. Once I ran away with a friend who lived across the street—a girl much older than myself who in later life achieved a certain fame. Because she murdered a half-dozen people and was electrocuted at Sing Sing. Someone wrote a book about her. They called her the Lonely Hearts Killer. But there, I’m wandering again. Well, finally, I guess I was around twelve, the principal at the school I was attending paid a call on my family, and told them that in his opinion, and in the opinion of the faculty, I was “subnormal.” He thought it would be sensible, the humane action, to send me to some special school equipped to handle backward brats. Whatever they may have privately felt, my family as a whole took official umbrage, and in an effort to prove I wasn’t subnormal, pronto packed me off to a psychiatric study clinic at a university in the East where I had my I.Q. inspected. I enjoyed it thoroughly and —guess what?—came home a genius, so proclaimed by science. I don’t know who was the more appalled: my former teachers, who refused to believe it, or my family, who didn’t want to believe it— they’d just hoped to be told I was a nice normal boy. Ha ha!”  – Truman Capote , in a 1957 interview with The Paris Review

“We are students of words: we are shut up in schools, and colleges, and recitation -rooms, for ten or fifteen years, and come out at last with a bag of wind, a memory of words, and do not know a thing.”  – Ralph Waldo Emerson , in New England Reformers , 1844

“I wasn’t smart enough [for college]. By that I mean I lacked a particular kind of organizational discipline or intelligence. I had the reading under my belt. I had the analytical chops. I was a magpie for picking up facts and dates. But to do well at college—there’s no way around it—you have to be able to organize your time, which I could not do to save myself. I’d get started on one thing, and twenty minutes later I’d be off on another, in the midst of which I’d pick up some book on calculus or archaeology or Galois theory and read the odd hundred pages about that. I was intellectually all over the place. I was writing music, directing plays, acting in them, singing in folk groups, choreographing dances, and if I had a paper due next week, there was at most a one-out-of-five chance I would finish it—some of which, yes, was the bad side of Dalton, because they’d been fairly accepting of that sort of thing and had often been willing to cut me some slack. But I didn’t have the discipline. Still, not once did I ever think, Hey, I’m superior to all of this! I never thought, I know more than these people. When I flunked out, I flunked out miserably, spectacularly, and I was mortified. I thought, The truth is out, I’m an idiot. Now everyone knows.

It took me a while to realize that if a teacher had taken me aside and said, “Come on, Chip, sit down, let’s talk, this is how you have to do this,” probably I would have learned how to negotiate it. But nobody did.”  – Samuel R. Delany , in a 2011 interview with The Paris Review

“Schools and schoolmasters, as we have them today, are not popular as places of education and teachers, but rather prisons and turnkeys in which children are kept to prevent then disturbing and chaperoning their parents.”  – George Bernard Shaw

“Let none say that I am scoffing at uneducated people; it is not their uneducation but their education that I scoff at. Let none mistake this for a sneer at the half-educated; what I dislike is the educated half. But I dislike it, not because I dislike education, but because, given the modern philosophy or absence of philosophy, education is turned against itself, destroying that very sense of variety and proportion which it is the object of education to give. No man who worships education has got the best out of education; no man who sacrifices everything to education is even educated. . . . What is wrong is a neglect of principle; and the principle is that, without a gentle contempt for education, no gentleman’s education is complete.”  – G.K. Chesterson in The Illustrated London News , 1930

“What does education often do? It makes a straight-cut ditch of a free, meandering brook.”  – Henry David Thoreau ,  Journal , 1850

“I never really expected to find myself giving advice to people graduating from an establishment of higher education. I never graduated from any such establishment. I never even started at one. I escaped from school as soon as I could, when the prospect of four more years of enforced learning before I’d become the writer I wanted to be was stifling.

I got out into the world, I wrote, and I became a better writer the more I wrote, and I wrote some more, and nobody ever seemed to mind that I was making it up as I went along, they just read what I wrote and they paid for it, or they didn’t, and often they commissioned me to write something else for them.

Which has left me with a healthy respect and fondness for higher education that those of my friends and family, who attended Universities, were cured of long ago.”  – Neil Gaiman , in his commencement address to the University of the Arts class of 2012

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Educated: A Memoir Hardcover – February 20, 2018

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• Print length 352 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Random House
• Publication date February 20, 2018
• Dimensions 6.47 x 1.14 x 9.52 inches
• ISBN-10 0099511029
• ISBN-13 978-0399590504
• Lexile measure 870L
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• ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0399590501
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Random House; First Edition (February 20, 2018)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0099511029
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0399590504
• Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 870L
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.47 x 1.14 x 9.52 inches
• #11 in Religious Leader Biographies
• #42 in Women's Biographies
• #158 in Memoirs (Books)

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About the author

Tara westover.

Tara Westover is an American author living in the UK. Born in Idaho to a father opposed to public education, she never attended school. She spent her days working in her father's junkyard or stewing herbs for her mother, a self-taught herbalist and midwife. She was seventeen the first time she set foot in a classroom, and after that first taste, she pursued learning for a decade. She graduated magna cum laude from Brigham Young University in 2008 and was subsequently awarded a Gates Cambridge Scholarship. She earned an MPhil from Trinity College, Cambridge in 2009, and in 2010 was a visiting fellow at Harvard University. She returned to Cambridge, where she was awarded a PhD in history in 2014.

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Comic Book Writers

Requirements.

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Education and Training Requirements

High school.

While in high school, build a broad educational foundation by taking courses in English, literature, foreign languages, history, general science, social studies, and computer science. Take art classes also, as these will help you understand the artistic skills and visual sense needed to create a comic book.

Postsecondary Training

Although obtaining a college degree is not required to become a comic book writer, it may give you an advantage if you apply for a writing or editorial position in the small and competitive comic book field. In addition, many comic book writers cannot make a living in comic books alone and thus hold full-time positions in other writing and non-writing fields. Having a college degree will benefit you in this respect, as well. Many comic book writers have a broad liberal arts background or majors in English, art, literature, history, philosophy, or social sciences. A number of schools offer courses in journalism, and some offer courses or majors in book publishing, publication management, and newspaper and magazine writing, which could be useful in preparing for work in this field

Most comic book publishers look for writers with proven writing experience. If you have served on high school or college newspapers, yearbooks, or literary magazines, or if you have worked for small community newspapers or radio stations, even in an unpaid position, you will be an attractive candidate. Many book publishers, magazines, newspapers, and radio and television stations have summer internship programs that provide valuable training in this regard. Interns do many simple tasks, such as running errands and answering phones, but some may be asked to perform research, conduct interviews, or even write minor pieces.

Certification, Licensing, and Special Requirements

Certification or licensing.

There are no certification or licensing requirements for comic book writers.

Experience, Skills, and Personality Traits

Any experience volunteering as a writer will be useful for those who aspire to enter the field. Contact community organizations, religious groups, or local businesses, and other organizations that require the skills of writers. Many comic book publishers have summer internship programs that provide valuable training in this regard.

To be a comic book writer, you should be creative and able to express ideas clearly, have a broad general knowledge and a good sense of visual and literary storytelling, be skilled in research techniques, and be computer literate. Other assets include curiosity, persistence, initiative, resourcefulness, an accurate memory, and, of course, a good knowledge of the different styles of comic books. As with most jobs that involve publishing, the ability to concentrate, work under pressure, and meet deadlines is essential for a comic book writer.

National project promoting safe screen time helps eight-year-old publish first book

Eight-year-old Liesel Winkler loves a good story.

The Perth-based student is already reading the 600-page, sixth Harry Potter novel and will "randomly write her own books" in her spare time, including a recently penned comedy about a farmer and a pig.

The passion has even helped her achieve one of her big life goals — becoming a published author.

"I brought [the book] to school to show everyone," Liesel said.

"And I also showed the librarian, and she was really amazed."

The Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child ran a national competition for children between the ages of five and 12 to submit a concept for a story based on the theme of screen time and balance.

Liesel's mum Lisa, who is a teacher, thought it was an excellent topic for young students to think about.

"Because they are what we call 'digital natives', you can't really remove technology from them," she said.

"They need to learn how to use it and they need to learn how to balance it."

Liesel drew on her friendship with her neighbour, her love of the Matildas soccer team and the teleportation she'd seen in video games to write one of the four winning stories.

She then worked with Esperance-based digital technologies educator and fellow author Kim Maslin via Zoom to bring The Day Lucy and Leo are Tele-Sported to life.

The book was illustrated by Phoebe Zeng.

Liesel's picture book and the three others were officially launched on March 21.

Screen time in focus

Screen time is a hot-button issue with parents and educators the world over.

Researchers recently found devices were preventing toddlers from having language-building interactions and that  excessive screen use could lead to social and emotional issues in children .

Ms Maslin, who is doing her PhD on children's creativity and online learning, said she understood parents' concerns.

But she said "screen time" was a broad term that covered everything from a video call with a family member to excessive, unsupervised use.

Ms Maslin believed screen time could be beneficial when managed in the right way.

"There is growing evidence that safe, moderate use of screen time, that encourages creativity and communication, is really beneficial for children," she said.

Ms Maslin said the book project was a good example because screen time allowed the children to demonstrate their creativity despite being in different parts of the country.

"I was so pleasantly surprised that there was, I would say, no barrier to our creativity because of the screen," she said.

'A pretty exciting day'

Ms Winkler said she had seen Ms Maslin help develop that creativity throughout the process.

"Like in Liesel's story, the characters are teleported," Ms Winkler said.

"So Kim asked 'What does it feel like?' 'What does it look like?'

"So it got Liesel thinking really hard about the details of her story.

"It was really great — the conversation, and the end product."

Ms Winkler said it was thrilling to be the mother of a published author.

"Especially when the books arrived, it was a pretty exciting day," she said.

When Liesel is not reading or writing books, she might be doing rhythmic gymnastics or watching her favourite player, Ellie Carpenter, defend for the Matildas.

But when she grows up, she wants to be an author or an actor.

The books can now be downloaded for free from the Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child website .

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'they have amazing potential': why this educator believes digital learning can help young children.

Problems with eye contact, attention and emotional regulation linked to high screen time, researcher says

Toddlers losing up to 1,100 words a day due to screen time and risking language delay, according to study

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Currently a Professor of Educational Leadership at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana. Dr. Whitaker has previously taught at the middle and high school levels in Missouri, and he served as a middle school and high school principal for eight years following his teaching experiences. In addition, Dr. Whitaker has also served as a middle school coordinator in Jefferson City, Missouri.

Dr. Whitaker's work has been published in the areas of teacher leadership, instructional improvement, change, leadership effectiveness, technology and middle level practices. He has written several books, including “Dealing with Difficult Teachers,” “Motivating & Inspiring Teachers,” “Dealing with Difficult Parents,” “Feeling Great!,” “Teaching Matters” and “What Great Principals Do Differently.” His most recent publications, “What Great Teachers Do Differently” and “Great Quotes for Great Educators,” have also been ranked as bestsellers.

The Education Department invites Dr. Whitaker thanks to a grant designed to encourage and assist future teachers in preparing for success in today’s diverse classrooms. Dr. Whitaker remains popular amid the education faculty as his work guides many of the department’s methods and graduate coursework.

“Dr. Whitaker’s publications and guides are instrumental to our successful preparation of teachers, and this opportunity to have him address our education community is a one-time opportunity,” explains Dr. Veronica Ent, chair of the Education Department. “Dr. Whitaker’s experience in leadership both in and out of the classroom offers much to help teachers and principals be more effective and successful.”

The event is open to the public and free of charge. Act 48 is available for attendance to this event. Please reach out to Dr. Kathleen Beining with any questions and to register for the event. Space is limited.

-Madison Kozera, English major, of Abingdon, MD

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DeSantis signs education reform bill that includes limiting ‘book challenges’ in Florida

Ryan Mackey , Digital Journalist

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held a press conference in Jacksonville Tuesday morning.

DeSantis signed House Bill 1285 , which in part, limits challenges on books to one per month for anyone without students in a Florida school.

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“We are beefing up our turnaround in-school status,” DeSantis said. “The kids are going to be educated but not indoctrinated.”

“Many books with pornographic or sexually explicit material have been removed from public and private schools and parents will have the right to prevent their children from reading if they see fit,” he added.

The bill also implements a turnaround plan for struggling charter schools throughout the state of Florida.

The sponsors of the charter school will be responsible for monitoring the schools’ finances and ensuring that schools participate in a state accountability system.

“The school must take corrective action if they are graded at a D or F consecutively,” said DeSantis. “The bill requires prompt action for turnaround schools. We do believe in Florida that everybody can succeed but it’s our responsibility to bring success.”

The bill also requires the State Board of Education to create certificates for teachers who choose to work in schools that use a classical education model.

The bill will also allow 11-12th grade students to test out if they want to serve in the military and extend the state’s Purple Star School Distinction Program designation for military-friendliness, to school districts.

DeSantis was accompanied by Florida Department of Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr., Speaker of the Florida House Paul Renner and Ray Rodrigues, Chancellor of the State University System of Florida.

“With the signing of House Bill 1285, Governor DeSantis has further solidified Florida’s higher education system as number one in the nation,” said Rodrigues. “HB 1285 establishes additional accountability measures and creates opportunities for universities to enhance research and innovation to meet the workforce and economic demands of our state.”

According to a news release from the governor’s office, HB 1285 also:

• Requires that school districts and charter schools provide 11th and 12th grade students with the opportunity to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) Test and the ability to consult with a military recruiter.
• Ensures postsecondary institutions allow students to work their way through school.
• Protects from conflicts of interest between a postsecondary institution and its trustees.
• Empowers aspiring teachers to obtain a classical teaching certificate developed by the State Board of Education.
• Enables classical schools to prioritize enrollment for families moving from one classical school to another.

Watch the press conference here:

Copyright 2024 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.

About the Author

Ryan mackey.

Ryan Mackey is a Digital Journalist at WPLG. He was born in Long Island, New York, and has lived in Sunrise, Florida since 1994.

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Imlay City Educators Featured in Newest proudMIeducator Video

April 17, 2024

LANSING – The latest Michigan educators to be featured in the #proudMieducator video series are a married couple who teach theater and dance to students in Lapeer County.

The #proudMIeducator video features Don and Rebekah Brewer of Imlay City Community Schools .

Mr. and Ms. Brewer are instructors for the Imlay City High School Theatre and Dance Program, which has earned an MDE Career & Technical Education accreditation. Imlay City High School Theatre and Dance Program is recognized as an approved college and career training ground in the visual and performing arts.

“It is important for us to continue highlighting the voices of educators,” said State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice. “The #proudMIeducator campaign is one way we honor the hard work of passionate educators, such as the Brewers. We hope that others will consider a career in education after hearing their story.”

Increasing the number of certified teachers, especially in areas of shortage, is one of the eight goals of Michigan’s strategic education plan. 

Since 2016, the #proudMIeducator series has featured educators and supporters of Michigan educators who share their passion for education. The full playlist can be found on the MDE YouTube page.

If you know a proud Michigan educator who should be considered for a future video feature, please email [email protected] .

Media Contact:

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[email protected]

517-241-4395

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