How to become an author or editor in Australia
Authors, and Book and Script Editors write, edit and evaluate literary works for publication and scripts for film, television, radio and stage productions.
The all-jobs median is $1,852 a week. Jobs in the authors, and book and script editors group are projected to grow 18.2% between May 2025 and May 2035, faster than the 13.3% projected for all jobs. Projections are indicative, not forecasts, and JSA says they don't yet reflect generative AI.
What the job involves
- Creating and developing ideas and themes for written works, such as novels, plays, musicals, screen productions, educational texts, information texts and multimedia products
- Researching subject matter through original and secondary materials, interviews and other media
- Planning, organising and writing material
- Reviewing and evaluating manuscripts of novels, biographies, short stories, poems, educational texts and other books, and ensuring coherence of style and development of theme, plot and characterisation
- Advising publishers about potential of works for publication and conditions of publication contract
- Negotiating publication details such as royalties, publication dates and numbers of copies to be printed
How to get there
What it usually takes. A bachelor degree or higher. This is the skill level Jobs and Skills Australia gives the authors, and book and script editors group, and some roles differ.
What people in the job have. Highest qualification held: 76% a degree or higher, 7% a diploma, 3% a Certificate III or IV.
Many jobs also need registration, a licence or a specific accredited course. Check the professional body or regulator before you choose.
Courses that can lead here
Estimate your ATAR and this page shows the gap to each course. Your marks stay on your device.
Victoria18 matches
VTAC lowest selection ranks, December 2025 offer round.
Arts (Creative and Professional Writing major) · La Trobe, Melbourne72.30 Creative Arts (Writing major) · Deakin, Melbourne Burwood68.25 Arts (English - Creative Writing major) · Deakin, Melbourne Burwood66.45Diplomas and other ways in
Showing 12 of 18 matches. Search every course.
NSW and ACT7 matches
UAC lowest selection ranks, December Round 2, 2025-26 admissions.
Bachelor of Communication in Creative Writing · UTS75.25 Bachelor of Creative Arts (Creative Writing) · Wollongong65.05 Undergraduate Certificate in Creative Writing · Charles Sturt59.90Diplomas and other ways in
Queensland3 matches
QTAC course pages, ATAR/Selection Rank profile for semester 1, 2026.
Bachelor of Creative Arts (Creative Writing) · QUT, Kelvin Grove72.00Diplomas and other ways in
Western Australia5 matches
TISC Course Search: lowest ATAR offered for 2026 entry and guaranteed offer ATARs.
Bachelor of Arts in English and Creative Writing · Murdoch, Perth70.00 guaranteed Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing · Curtin, Perth66.10 Bachelor of Arts in Professional Writing and Publishing · Curtin, Perth66.10 Bachelor of Creative Writing · ECU, City66.00 Bachelor of Creative and Professional Writing (Creative Humanities Portfolio Entry Pathway) · ECU, City66.00Matched on course names, 33 across four admissions centres. A lowest selection rank includes adjustment points and moves every year. Check prerequisites and whether the course is accredited for this job.
Graduate outcomes, national
Undergraduates surveyed about four to six months after finishing, in 2025, across all providers. Full-time work is among those available for it. All graduates: 75.4% and $77,000. These are national figures for the study area, not for this course or uni, and a first-year salary says little about later pay. Source: QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey 2025.
Does it fit your interests?
Strongest interest areas for this kind of work: Artistic, Enterprising, Conventional.
From O*NET ratings for "Writers and Authors", the closest US occupation in JSA's correspondence (a acceptable match). US ratings are a guide to Australian jobs, not a measurement of them.
Careers with similar interests
Journalist$1,722 Film or tv director$1,975 Media producer$2,179 Actor$1,692 Public relations professional$2,046Done this job, or studied for it?
Tell Year 12s the one thing you wish you'd known. First name only, and we read every story before it goes up.
Share your storyJob data: © Commonwealth of Australia, Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profiles, February 2026 and Employment Projections, May 2025 to May 2035 (Victoria University), CC BY 4.0. Jobs and Skills Australia, ANZSCO 2013 Version 1.2 to O*NET-SOC 2019 Taxonomy correspondence.
Graduate outcomes: QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey 2025, National Report Tables (Social Research Centre, for the Australian Government).
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Curve ATAR has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.