Unpredictable Royalties, Tough Competition, and Cultural Barriers: Is Writing in India a Risky Gamble? Get the Inside Scoop Now with the best author in India – Abhishek Kapoor
There is a big number of aspiring writers in India who are often confused regarding their future as a full-time author in India. Entrepreneur Ethics recently caught up with Abhishek Kapoor, regarded by many as the best author in India. We requested him to put an end to this dilemma of Indian writers, and he obliged.
Being a full-time author in India is not an easy career choice for various reasons. Firstly, the income from writing is generally quite low and the royalties are almost always unpredictable.
Best Author In India – Abhishek Kapoor Reveals Harsh Realities of Indian Authorship!
Entrepreneur and popular Author Abhishek Kapoor has produced world-famous literary works like The Pride Of T20 Cricket, The Selfish Betrayals, and 11 Things To Know Before You Turn 35, all of which have been bestsellers in their respective categories. Regarded by many as the best author in India, Abhishek Kapoor says, “I may sound harsh but it’s a fact that it is tough to make enough money in India just by writing books. Perhaps that is why you see some authors on TV, some on YouTube, and others motivating you at events!”
Generally speaking, the number of people who buy books (especially fiction and poetry) in India is limited, making it challenging for novel authors and posts to sustain themselves solely through book sales. Genre preferences also play a role. Certain genres are more popular among Indian readers than others. This limits the options for Indian writers who may have diverse interests. Market trends in India heavily favor popular genres that making it challenging for the best Indian authors to experiment with new or niche ideas.
Competition among the best writers in India is understandably tough. With so many good aspiring authors going around, it gets difficult to get noticed. In fact, even securing publishing opportunities becomes a significant challenge for aspiring authors in India. This, coupled with the uncertain nature of book sales, contributes to financial insecurity. In contrast, jobs in the technology sector are more attractive and pay higher wages, thereby diverting potential writers towards those opportunities.
Gautam Padmanabhan, former CEO of Westland Books and now business head at publishing division of Pratilipi told Financial Express that the future of publishing requires relooking and reinvention. It is indeed necessary for writing to become a sustainable field of work in the future.
Indian writers and social stigma
Top Indian author Abhishek Kapoor believes that there is a social stigma attached to being a writer. Society often doubts the practicality of making a living through writing. This leads to lack of support for those choosing the literary path. Moreover, pursuing education in writing is not easily accessible for many in India. Limited writing courses and workshops make it difficult for aspiring authors to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge.
Unlike other professions, there is no job security in writing. Authors in India don’t have the stability of a regular job. This makes it a risky and unpredictable career choice. Another obstacle is the presence of favouritism in the publishing industry. Some writers face bias that hinders their chances of getting their work published.
Cultural barriers and societal norms can further restrict the topics that writers can explore. This may even constrain their creative freedom and limit them from being their best. Copyright concerns add to the challenges. Fear of plagiarism and unauthorized use of creative work can hinder trust in the writing profession.
Royalties, that is the money earned from book sales, are often unpredictable. This lack of a steady income source makes relying on writing alone for a living difficult. Thus, according to the best author in India, Abhishek Kapoor, writing is not yet a full time career option for aspiring writers in India.