Novelist Courses
Novelists are writers who create fictional works, developing story ideas, writing manuscripts, and pursuing publication through various means.
AI Exposure
High
AI exposure data adapted from Felten, Raj & Seamans (2021). Shortage data sourced from Jobs and Skills Australia (2024).
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How do I become a Novelist
Get qualified to work as a Novelist with a course recognised across Australia. Speak to a training provider to learn more.
Estimated fee
From $27,942
Study mode
Blended, On Campus, Online
The Bachelor of Arts (Creative Writing) allows students to express thoughts and feelings through writing, exploring avant-garde, cross-genre, and experimental forms. Students critically engage with contemporary theoretical and philosophical schools of thought, gaining knowledge in areas like fiction, poetry, non-fiction, theatre, and screen. This course nurtures lateral thinking and imagination, skills valuable in sectors like corporate communications, publishing, editing, and marketing. It prepares stude...
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Estimated fee
From $27,942
Study mode
Blended, On Campus, Online
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Common questions
How much do Novelists earn?
There are no clear salary figures for novelists in Australia at this time. Many novelists have day-jobs and supplement their income by freelance writing, blogging, creating informational products, conducting writing workshops and online courses.
What are the job opportunities for Novelists?
There are approximately 3,300 dedicated book authors working in Australia right now. Some of these are novelists.
How do I become a Novelist?
While you don’t need a specialist qualification to become a novelist, the Certificate IV in Professional Writing and Editing and the Diploma of Professional Writing and Editing are excellent introductions to the publishing industry in Australia. These qualifications will help you develop professional-level writing and editing skills.
All aspiring novelists should consider the Bachelor of Arts (English Literature) or Bachelor of Creative Writing plus supporting qualifications in your specialist genre. So if you wanted to write psychological thrillers, a Bachelor of Psychology would help, or historical fiction (Bachelor of History), crime fiction (Bachelor of Justice Studies/Criminology) and others related courses.
Source: Australian Government Labour Market Insights 2023
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Learn from industry experts, gaining practical skills to thrive in the fast-paced world of entertainment. Pathways for domestic and international students.
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Unleash your passion for storytelling and uncover the power of the written word in journalism and writing.
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More information
Novelists are professional writers who specialise in fictional works of literature. They develop story ideas for novels, then write up the manuscript and take steps to have the book published. Some novelists get established by self-publishing, while others find an agent to pitch their work to reputable publishing houses.
As a novelist you could be up writing an outline for your next trilogy of novels, creating a character analysis for your lead protagonist, editing a completed manuscript, attending a writer’s retreat, reading a classic work of fiction in your favourite genre, tweeting your upcoming book release, or reviewing some cover art with a graphic designer. Most of the time though, you’ll be locked away trying to write as many words as you can before the alarm chimes.
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