Writer
What does a writer do?
Armed with a pen and paper (or keyboard and Word document), writers create worlds, give life to characters, document history, provide leaders with the words they need to inspire crowds… the list goes on. The types of writing and writing careers you can choose from can take many forms. You might choose to become a novelist, content writer, academic writer, grant writer, freelance writer or speech writer – or you could write non-fiction stories, plays, poems, or scripts for video games. On the other hand, you might be more interested in a journalism career and writing hard-hitting articles about current affairs.
Is a career as a writer right for me?
Successful writers are typically curious, creative, detail-oriented, and open to feedback, as writing often involves multiple drafts and revisions. A career as a writer could be a great fit if you enjoy working with ideas, communicating clearly, and continually improving your craft. Careers in writing can lead down many different career paths, but across them all you will need a good knowledge of language, grammar, punctuation and often strong research skills. Writing jobs are often glamorised but in reality they require a lot of hard work and dedication.
Other skills and attributes beneficial for this role include:
Clear written and verbal communication skills, supported by strong interpersonal skills.
Creative expression, storytelling and original thinking.
Effective time-management and prioritisation skills.
The ability to take initiative, demonstrate personal drive, and maintain a professional attitude.
How to become a writer
To become a writer in Australia, you can start by developing strong writing skills through practice, reading widely, and studying subjects such as English, creative writing, journalism, communications, or marketing. While formal qualifications are not always required, a degree or professional writing course can help build skills and industry connections. Gaining experience through blogs, student publications, freelance projects, or internships can help you build a portfolio, which is often essential when applying for writing roles.
Every career journey is different and there are several path to reaching your goals. A typical path becoming a writer includes:
- Complete a bachelor’s degree in writing, creative arts, communication, journalism or a related discipline.
- Develop strong writing, editing, research and communication skills across different styles and formats.
- Build a portfolio of writing that demonstrates your skills, interests and experience.
- Gain practical experience through internships, freelance projects, publications or volunteering.
- Continue developing your professional experience and specialise in areas such as creative, technical, digital, corporate or content writing.
How long does it take to become a writer?
The time it takes to become a writer varies depending on your educational path and experience. A bachelor’s degree in arts at UniSQ typically takes three years of full-time study, or the part-time equivalent, or those seeking a shorter route, writing courses or diplomas can be completed in one to two years and provide specialised skills in areas such as copywriting, technical writing, or creative storytelling.
Start your journey with UniSQ
Responsibilities and work settings
Researching new topics and developing ideas.
Collaborating with senior editors to make decisions about publication content, following editorial policies and guidelines.
Reviewing copy for grammar, style, coherence, and accuracy, ensuring content aligns with legal and ethical standards.
Collecting and analysing information from interviews, investigations, and observations to report on newsworthy events.
Writing news reports, commentaries, articles, and feature stories for print, online, and broadcast media.
Consulting with clients and management to determine written content approaches and studying products to establish key selling points.
Media, publishing and broadcasting organisations
Digital business and marketing agencies
Arts and creative organisations
Government agencies, departments and councils
Non-profit, charity and community organisations
Writer FAQs
For more detailed salary information, please refer to the relevant salary data on this page.
Related careers
Stay in touch
UniSQ is collecting the personal information on this form for support for students and prospective students and for marketing purposes. By submitting this form, you consent to the terms of UniSQ's marketing privacy statement. Further information concerning privacy is available.
Welcome aboard! We've got your details.
Something doesn't look right. Try that one again.