scope for professional writers
When it comes to choosing a career, earning prospects and gaining popularity becomes a major factor in deciding a particular field rather than doing a self assessment that involves an essential process of looking at your skills, values, interests and personality and then analysing where your strengths and weakness lie. Such preferences given to over-hyped factors lead to a rise in the popularity of certain fields and declination of others. Becoming a writer or author is one such area that has been in the constant grip of such declination.
Aiming to become an author or a writer is generally thought of as a low paid and struggling job because you do not go to a great office or you do not work on latest software. You don’t even enjoy the privilege of words like ‘sir, madam, conference, meeting, client etc’. If one believes that happiness is not a goal but the by-product of inner satisfaction or life well lived then one can understand why people want to become an author or a writer. It is not that an author or writer cannot earn well by pursuing his interest for writing. There are a variety of jobs or earning opportunities available in the present market, all one need to have is a bit of knowledge or awareness about their presence.
Professional writing is a new and upcoming career in India that is creating niche opportunities for fresh graduates who have a flair for writing and subject expertise in a particular area. The expansion of the Information Technology and communications industry along with proliferation of Internet has led to the rising surge in jobs for full-time, part-time and freelance professional writers. The opportunities have increased manifold with the existing and upcoming TV/Radio channels and launch of e-versions of established magazines / newspapers. In the field of media, there is a need for Editors, Reporters, Correspondents, Sub Editors, Proof Readers, Radio Jockey, Anchors etc. One can serve the mediums of Radio / TV / Cinema as a Script Writer / Dialogue Writer / lyricist. This field necessitates a natural and artistic mastery of creative writing. There are lot of opportunities in the film industry as India produces 1,000 films annually (about double of Hollywood’s output), one can work as script writer, dialogue writer etc.
A major advantage of working as a freelance writer is that it gives you the freedom of being your own boss. Another popular area is to write an account of someone else’s life i.e. being a Biographer. A lot of successful people like politicians or businessman hire professionals to write their biographies.
For youngsters with a natural writing talent, it is time to take notice of the changing global scenario in the field of professional writing. If there is a passion for writing, this career becomes interesting, enriching and well-paying too.
International clients are especially able to offer more lucrative remunerations to Indian writers. Therefore, it is a career worth considering for any young Indian professional or a fresher with a natural flair of writing.
The writer is Alexshendra Venus Bakshi, author of Arambh Ki Gyarah Kahaniyan and a Supreme Court advocate.