Author Job Description Examples That Attract Talent

To effectively hire an author, you must present a clear, enticing job description that speaks to their creative spirit and aligns with their professional aspirations. Crafting a tailored job description isn't just about listing responsibilities; it's about painting a picture of what life will be like working in your organization. This article provides a comprehensive template for recruiters to attract talented authors who can bring unique voices and enthralling narratives to your team.

What Is an Author?

An author is a professional who creates written works that may span books (fiction or non-fiction), articles, scripts, blog posts, and other long-form content. The role is broader than simply “writer” in many cases; an author often takes full ownership of an idea, develops a narrative or arguments, researches source material, drafts and revises, and sometimes works with publishers, editors, illustrators, or other stakeholders.

Where to Find an Author?

• Publishing & literary networks: Look for authors using traditional publishing houses, independent presses, literary agents, and writing organizations. These candidates often have a track record of published work, which is a strong signal of craft and professionalism.
• Freelance marketplaces / content-creator platforms: Many authors (especially of non-fiction, long-form, white papers, and eBooks) may work freelance. Platforms such as Upwork, ProBlogger job boards, and niche writing networks can surface talent.
• Industry-specific forums and associations: If you’re hiring an author who has deep domain expertise (e.g., healthcare, technology, or business thought leadership), you may recruit via industry associations, LinkedIn groups, conferences, or guest-writing networks in that niche.
• Internal promotion/content studios: Some companies have internal content or publishing teams; you might find an internal candidate (e.g., a senior content writer) who can move into an author role.
• Contracting via agencies: Some specialist agencies supply authors or ghostwriters for book-length or major content projects.

Author Job Description Template

We are seeking a creative, disciplined, and experienced author to join our team. In this role, you will develop original long-form content (e.g., books, white papers, major reports, and a series of articles) that aligns with our brand vision and engages our target audience. You should be comfortable working independently, managing your projects from ideation through publication, collaborating with editors/designers as needed, and meeting deadlines with high quality.

Author Responsibilities:

• Research, ideate, draft, and publish original written works (books, internal/external thought leadership, long-form reports, and a series of articles) aligned with the company’s strategic goals.
• Develop narrative structure, themes, characters (when relevant), or argument/thesis (for nonfiction) and convert into a compelling final product.
• Collaborate with editors, designers, illustrators, marketing, and other stakeholders to ensure content aligns with brand voice, style guidelines, and publication standards.
• Conduct in-depth research (including interviews, data gathering, and fact-checking) to ensure accuracy and credibility of written content.
• Revise and edit own drafts in response to feedback; manage multiple writing and revision cycles.
• Manage writing schedule, meet deadlines, and ensure timely delivery of manuscripts/drafts.
• Maintain awareness of publishing trends, digital content formats, audience preferences, and emerging topics.
• Mentor or provide editorial oversight to junior writers, set editorial standards for the team, and spearhead content initiatives. (For senior/lead role)
• (Optional) Participate in promotional or author-branding activities such as book signings, webinars, speaking engagements, or content launches.
• Ensure all content meets intellectual property, copyright, and ethical publishing standards.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in English, creative writing, journalism, communications, or a related field (or equivalent work experience).
• 3+ years for the author and 5+ years for the senior author of professional writing experience with a strong portfolio of long-form published work (books, reports, major articles).
• Exceptional command of language: grammar, style, punctuation, structure, and clarity.
• Demonstrated ability to research complex topics and synthesize them into accessible, engaging writing.
• Technical proficiency with writing tools (e.g., Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and content management systems), and for digital content roles, familiarity with SEO, analytics, and online publishing may be preferred.

Required Skills:

• Strong editing and revision skills; able to accept feedback and refine work accordingly.
• Excellent time-management and project-management skills: able to meet deadlines and handle multiple assignments.
• Creativity, narrative instinct (for fiction), or argument-development ability (for non-fiction).
• Comfortable collaborating with cross-functional teams (design, marketing, publishing).

Challenges in Hiring an Author

• Skill breadth: An author needs writing craft and sometimes subject-matter expertise, research ability, publishing workflow knowledge, and editing collaboration. Finding someone who fits all is tougher than a generic content writer.
• Track record/proof of success: Especially for book-length work or major publications, you’ll want someone who has completed projects: delivered manuscripts, met deadlines, worked with editors, and maybe had publishing success. Many applicants may have partial experience but not full “author” credentials.
• Freelance vs. full-time: Many authors work freelance or part-time. Hiring someone full-time as an author may mean you compete with self-publishing or freelance rates.
• Publishing industry changes: With self-publishing, digital content, and hybrid models, the role and reward model for authors is evolving; this can complicate hiring expectations and benchmarking.
• Finding the right niche: If your author needs to write in a specific niche (technical, rule-based, regulated content), finding someone who can both “write like an author” and know the niche is harder.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire?

Full-time employee cost (in-house)

• According to the BLS, the median salary for writers and authors in May 2024 was US $72,270 annually.
• One content-marketing review flagged that an in-house writer's compensation of US $60,000 might lead to a total cost of more than US $78,000 after benefits, PTO, equipment, and payroll taxes

Freelance / project/contract cost

• Per-word rates for 2025: beginner $0.05-$0.15; mid $0.15-$0.35; expert $0.35-$1.00+ per word.
• Hourly equivalent: $25-$50/hour (entry), $50-$100/hour (mid), and $100-$250+/hour (expert) for specialized work.
• For single content pieces, a blog post of 1,000 words might cost $50-$150 for a beginner, $150-$350 for an intermediate, and $350+ for an expert.
• For longer works (eBooks, books, major reports), project fees can range from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands. For example, one writer site indicated blog posts cost $200-$5,000 depending on complexity.

Conclusion

Hiring the right author is a strategic investment; your chosen author can become a thought leader, brand voice, or creative driver for major content assets. Using a clear author job description tailored to your organization’s needs helps attract the right candidates. Understand the market: the hiring pool may be smaller, rates can vary widely, and the role may demand higher levels of skill, domain expertise, and project management than a standard content writer. With a clear scope, a realistic budget, and strong sourcing, you’ll be better positioned to bring on an author who can deliver high-impact long-form work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What should I include in an “author job description”?

A: In the job description, you should outline the role overview, key responsibilities (research, drafting, revision, collaboration), qualifications & skills (writing craft, editing, project management), desired experience (published works, long-form content), and any industry/domain preferences. (See template above.)

Q: What’s the difference between an author and a writer in job descriptions?

A: While “writer” often refers to content creation (articles, blog posts, pages), an “author” typically refers to someone producing long-form works (books, major reports) or works with greater narrative/creative or research depth. Thus, your author's job description should reflect that higher scope.

Q: How do I evaluate candidates for an author role?

A: Review their portfolio (preferably long-form pieces such as books and white papers). Assess their writing style, clarity, storytelling or argument structure, research depth, ability to meet deadlines, and revision track record. Ask about their publishing process and collaboration with editors.

Q: Should I hire an author as full-time or freelance?

A: It depends on your needs: if you need a constant stream of long-form content and want it integrated as part of your brand, full-time makes sense. If your need is project-based (one book, a series of reports), then a freelance/contract arrangement may be more cost-efficient.

Q: What challenges should I anticipate when hiring an author?

A: You may find fewer candidates with the exact long-form experience you need. Rates may be higher. Freelancers may already have other commitments. Publishing workflows may take longer than expected. Revisions and edits may expand the scope.