This is a tricky question because there are so many famous writers and so few natal horoscopes available for them.
Why is that?
Writers are artists just like actors, musicians, dancers, painters and sculptors. Why can I find charts for these other artists and not writers?
Writers seem to be the stepchildren of the artistic world. While the other artists are off making loads of money, receiving the warmth of popularity and having wanton sex, writers sit at home over typewriters, computers and pads of paper ignored and lonely, dirty laundry piling up, bills unpaid.
Poor, poor writers.
The Third and Fifth Houses
February 7 was Dickens’ 200th birthday. I found a chart for him and also looked up one for Stephen King. I hit the jackpot. I found horoscopes for both and also found the traditional indicator of writing talent. (A true horoscope needs a time of birth and that is why they are difficult to come by).
Dickens had sun in Aquarius in the 5th house and moon in Sagittarius in the 3rd house.
King has sun in Virgo in the 3rd house and moon in Sagittarius in the 5th house.
Both men have Neptune in the 3rd house.
The third house rules communication, short-distance travels, siblings and neighbors. The 5th house is the house of creativity, self-expression, children and romance.
Writing ability is traditionally seen as stemming from 3rd house placements. Creative expression in general is seen as stemming from 5th house placements.
Planets in the Signs in the Houses
Planets in houses mean that the area of life indicated by the house is emphasized. We all communicate in some way but a planet in the 3rd means that communication is a “theme” in life. Planets in the 3rd at the least indicate some nosiness in the personality.
Planets in the 5th suggest that creative self-expression is a must in one’s life. Others might go through life just working and sleeping, but 5th house folks must shine in the spotlight.
A planet in a sign in a house is a sentence that goes like this:
What + How + Where
Dickens had sun (conscious self) in Aquarius (humanitarian focus) in the 5th house (creative expression). Dickens needed to consciously express his humanitarian focus through his creative expression.
King has sun (conscious self) in Virgo (discriminating mind) in the 3rd house (communications). Looking at King’s chart, I would have suspected a journalist or cookbook writer more than a horror writer.
Both Dickens and King have moon in Sagittarius which I call the “Charlie Sheen” moon and suggests a generous, fun but irresponsible and indulgent nature. Dickens had Neptune conjunct moon which is even more indulgent and out of control.
King had drug problems. I’m guessing Dickens did as well. Sagittarius is the “quest for the sublime” as one astrologer calls it. Drugs can make reality more interesting until crack in the psyche creates unbalance.
Both King and Dickens have Neptune in the 3rd house so both are daydreamers. Dickens’ placement was in Sagittarius so he must have longed for travel and adventure. King’s Neptune is in Libra so there is a romantic nature. I’m guessing King has some lovely poetry somewhere that is very different than his work produced with Virgo critical discrimination. King probably has some erotica out there too.
Different Types of Writers
There are different types of writers – journalists, novel writers, poets, political commentators, sports writers, etc. The planet(s) in the 3rd house can indicate the type of writing developed:
Sun – the Writer (capital W) who is known for writing
Mercury – the journalist
Venus – the poet
Mars – the political or sports writer
Jupiter – the philosopher
Saturn – the law or rule book writer
Uranus – the technical writer
Pluto – the erotic or taboo subject writer
Moon and Neptune in the 3rd
You’ve noticed that I left out two planets – moon and Neptune. These two planets in the 3rd seem to be the Writer as stereotype – the imaginative novel writer who sits in dirty clothes pumping out writing but too shy to appear in public.
King has Neptune in the 3rd, Dickens both moon and Neptune in the 3rd.
Why do these two planets drive one to writing?
The moon is the reactive principle. It’s where we go in reaction to life’s events. When trying to explain astrology, I always ask people what they do when they’ve had a bad day. Do you go out with friends? Watch a movie? Or do you hide under a blanket?
Moon in the 3rd retreats into communication. Your friend with the nose a book all the time probably has moon in the 3rd (especially in an earth or water sign).
Neptune is similar to the moon in some ways. While moon is reaction, Neptune is escape from the hum-drum world. Neptune seeks the divine.
Seeking the divine through communication may also send someone to the calligraphy pen to write some poetry. William Blake comes to mind as someone who would have Neptune in the 3rd.
Consulting Astrotheme, the chart for William Blake shows Neptune in the 1st with sun in the 5th. I don’t know if that time of birth is accurate or rectified (estimating time of birth based on observed personality and life events). If the chart is rectified, someone else agrees that Blake is under the influence of Neptune.
If you want to be a writer . . .
Writers appear to have planets in the 3rd house. The stereotypical novel writer has moon or Neptune in the 3rd.
Planets in the 3rd indicate writing ability and the 5th house is where we show it to others. There are lots and lots of writers out there who show their work to no one or just a few loved ones. Placements in the 5th house alone might not make one a writer.
If you want to start a writing career, transits to the 3rd house are a good time to do this.
Ohio Astrology 
What would you say about the ruler(s) of the 3rd and/or 5th houses and how aspects and placements of those planets can affect writing style or ability?
I would agree. I think the 3rd is how you perceive and 5th how you express. What do you having going on in those houses?
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I have both moon and neptune in 3rd house, and have always somehow been writing, and when i write it always feels rich, milky andflowing. I feel the “pressure” inside of me to move towards such a profession, but somehow i still havent gotten it together.. i have Mars in Pisces in 5th house, is this pro-active or counter-active for my 3rd house moon and neptune…?
Those are great placements for writing. Mars in Pisces would have trouble focusing, but your moon/Neptune are in Capricorn (from the info you gave) so that might be able to focus better. I’d also guess your writing has a serious nature. Neptune is currently transiting Pisces & your 5th so you are inspired but need grounding. Neptune/moon in Cap can’t fully trust right brain. It might be a left/right brain battle.
I have Mercury conjunct my Ascendant in Sagittarius in the 1st House and Mercury conjunct Uranus in Sagittarius in the 1st House.
I’m also Pisces Moon in the 3rd House, Moon conjunct Mars in Pisces in the 3rd House, and Venus in Aquarius in the 3rd House.
I’m currently pursuing my MFA in Creative Writing. I finally had my first piece of writing published (a poem) but I’m so self-critical (perhaps my Capricorn Sun) so I’ve never submitted any other writing besides that.
I appreciate any advice you can give me.
Where is your Saturn? I understand the Capricorn sun self-criticism but with Mercury and Uranus conjunct in Sag in the 1st and Mars conjunct moon, the drive to express your thoughts and feelings would override the Cap caution. The Sag and Pisces are square, of course, but create a lot of tension that would want to be released. Possibly you hold back then erupt with insightful but overwhelming perceptions? The Sag/Pisces combo is highly intuitive, poetic, philosophical. Sag/Pisces would be passionate about ideas or causes or groups of people. Pisces can feel and Sag likes to experience so they exploration of others’ realities would be strong.
Right now Saturn is transiting Sag and Neptune is transiting Pisces activating that square. Saturn promotes the discipline that Pisces doesn’t have (although Capricorn sun does). The energy is there to accomplish what you want with your writing. But keep in mind that Saturn doesn’t make it easy but Saturn isn’t trying to prevent success; Saturn makes you work for it. Neptune provides the inspiration, whether you want it or not. You’ll sleep better if you let it flow.
I can relate to your chart having many similar placements. My friend suggested blogging years ago and I can’t thank him enough for the advice. The short, quick blogs helped me find my voice, get over the need to have “perfect” writing and to accept all kinds of feedback. Some feedback is quite negative but I absorb it then move on. What’s interesting is that the more feedback you get the more diluted it is because one piece of writing can be too PC for one, highly offensive to another and probably boring to many who would never bother to write. Others may love it. Is one piece of writing (or one object) really all of these things? It’s a Sag/Pisces lesson of its own 🙂
Keep writing. Good luck.
I have Jupiter and south node (Ketu) in 3rd house in Scorpio, mercury, saturn and Sun in 2nd house in Libra then Moon, mars and venus in 12th house in leo. I have vivid imagination and fiction ideas but have not started writing. By profession I am journalist .Could I become a fiction writer?
Hello There, I have jupiter in 3rd house in scorpio, sun, saturn and mercury in 2nd house in Libra and finally Mars, Venus and Moon in 12th house in Leo sign. I get vivid imagination ideas of fiction but have not started any project. By profession I am a journalist. Can I become a fiction writer? Thanks in Advance.
Why not? Jupiter in Scorpio in the 3rd would be great detective novelist.
We stumbled over here different page and thought I might check things out.
I like what I see so now i am following you. Look forward to going over your web page yet
again.
Hi,
I love writing …it is like an addiction for me…an escape…I self published a kid’s fanatsy book ..that everyone liked but only 6 people bought….:(….I have done piles of technical writing which I hated…but that kept me sailing..
I have neptune conjunct moon and jupiter in Sagi in 5th house Sun in the 1st house pluto and uranus in the 3rd house mars in 2nd house in Virgo…saturn in the 11th in Gemini…should I try publishing and will I ever get others read the stories I tell..
I’m trying to piece together your chart. Is sun in Leo or Virgo? You left out Mercury & Venus. From what you described, I get the sense of serious & challenging writing. You would write about things others wouldn’t always want to talk about. But ultimately you want to inspire. With a lot of mutable signs, discipline can be a problem. Especially beverage you have too many ideas to sort out.
I have Pluto in Libra in the 3rd opposing Mercury, Jupiter, and Moon in Aries in the 9th, and sextile to Neptune in Sagittarius in the 5th house. I’ve always known that I would be a published writer however I didn’t realize that my life experiences would be the taboo subject that I’d have to write about.
That’s a very intense aspect – Pluto opposite moon in Aries. But it does seem to be the time to write about such things. Where is your Mars?
Somehow I always knew that I should be a writer but it’s just not happening 🙂 I am Gemini with Virgo rising, Mercury, Venus and Sun in the 9th house. Mercury and Venus are in Taurus. Neptune in Scorpio in the 3rd opposing Venus. Saturn in the 6th and full 12th house – Moon and Mars in Leo, Uranus and Pluto in Virgo.
I lack self-discipline because my Sun squares Uranus and Pluto.
My Mercury squares Saturn in the 6th and Moon and Mars in the 12th. What a mess 🙂 Ah yes. Sun sextile Jupiter in the 8th.
What do you make of it? Thank you.
Do you mean you’re not a paid writer? You’re probably still a writer. There are a lot of writing options today to fit your natural cycles. From the aspects you described, I get the sense you have to put a deep part of yourself out there which your Gemini sun may not like. Consider ways to do that with a pseudonym. Write your “mess.” That’s a Virgo judgment which can be part of your creativity. Just write.
You are just fantastic! Yes, I do write and been doing it ever since I’ve learnt first letters. Gemini likes to blabber but Virgo is so cruelly judgmental, nagging like – hmm. You think anybody cares for your blabbering? 🙂 And then my Leo Moon gets scared of getting his ego bruised, so I hide my writings. Thank you for your answer and support. 🙂
I do not have anything in 3rd House , only got pars fortunae there in taurus. I am scorpio piscis rising.
My venus Sagittarius (lord of the 3rd) in 10 House conjunct mid heaven by 2° being sextile by Saturn Aquarius from 12 house , and Mercury in 9 House also Sagittarius with sextile Júpiter libra in 7 House. You think that is good for writting?
Thanks
Yes, I think this is good for writing. Mercury in the 9th would be interested in topics of higher education, religion or other meaning. You can be a writer with any aspects; the aspects would describe what type of writer you are. Venus in Sagittarius in the 10th relates to a career that you enjoy and provides very interesting experiences.
Where is your Neptune?
Neptune is in conjunction with Moon and uranus in 11 House capricorn. I forgot to mention my mars aggressively standing in cancer 5 House. Thanks again for your answer , i think i will say “thanks” for a third time , i will give you that anyway. Greetings.
hello I just found this article of yours and I found it interesting and enlightening,I’m an aspiring published writer, and my moon,jupiter mars are in the 3rd house (aquarius) and 3 of these planets are in pisces, my AC is in virgo but no planet there; my 5th house (creation ) is in aries ,my moon in pisces is in conjunction with my jupiter and mars (both )in pisces but its squaring my saturn in Sagittarius, is there any indication of a type of writer I’m ?
thanks in advance for your reply
ps: I seem to get many ideas in many genre especially drama, fantasy, horror (scorpio in the 12th house,pluto in scorpio in the 11th house )
I’m not following your chart. If your AC is in Virgo, the 3rd house wouldn’t be Aquarius. But moon, Jupiter and Mars in Pisces is highly imaginative to the point of having trouble zooming into present time. You could write anything but I would expect poetry and fantasy most in line so others would understand you.
Oh sorry my MC is in virgo and my 4th house in pisces
My friend has Sun, Mercury, Venus, Uranus and Neptune in third house, Sagittarius aspected by Mars from eighth house. Saturn is in Capricorn and Jupiter in Cancer. Moon is in sixth house Pisces. Libra ascendant. If he takes up writing as a career, will he earn enough to run a family?
That puts Scorpio in the second, if I’m following. I think the writing might not support the family but investments will. So if money is earned from writing some must be invested or the Sag/Pisces will spend it. Suggest having a financial manager.
Hello, I really like storytelling and I always fill the most accomplished when I have finally finished a piece. I just wanted to know if I would be good at it or find success in pursuing being a writer. I have my Sun, Moon and Venus in Taurus 12th house. Mercury in Aries 12th house. Jupiter Virgo in 5th house, Neptune in Capricorn 9th house. I have no planets in 3rd house but its in Cancer. Saturn is in the 10th Aquarius.
I’m currently studying to be a screenwriter but I don’t know if its a right fit. Any advice would be much appreciated, thank you!
Although I wrote these “if you want to be” blogs, I’d say if you want to be a writer then yes. Your writing strengths are the Mercury in Aries courage to write about hidden sun in 12th in Taurus matters – sensuality, hidden money affairs, sentimental property, family, woodworking, etc. With Cancer in 4th lots of emotional perception & storytelling ability to go with.
Scorpio ascendant. Sun, Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, North node in third house of Capricorn. Jupiter in MC, Leo. Moon in Pisces, Mars in Taurus and Lilith in Sagittarius. The third house stellium in my brother’s horoscope scares me. Can writing be his profession? what career is indicated? He has not started earning yet.
He’s a serious person-you won’t change that. He’s probably more interested in advising than teaching or writing. Moon in 5th or 6th?
Moon in 5th house. What can be his career? Mother is worried very much.
He’s going through very intense transits right now from Saturn & Pluto. If he’s got all that Capricorn energy & isn’t ambitious, then he feels he failed at something or won’t work unless he’s at the top of the ladder. You’ll have to understand if someone has made him feel unimportant or a failure.
I have mercury in pisces in the second venus and my north node in my third house and venus and the North node are in taurus I’m 16 to and wanted to know if this two aspects show writing ability one last thing I’m a sun in pisces and my son is in the second house also. Lastly haha I have 6 aspect to my mercury
There’s definitely money to be earned through communication especially of the motivational or spiritual kind. Pisces isn’t good with money so there’s a sense you earn it but lots of others want to “share” which Pisces does willingly. You might also make a lot of money from counseling or music. I wouldn’t lament the empty 5th as this has more earning power. But earning and enjoying are two different things. Make sure to keep a hobby that is purely for enjoyment. The north node in the third emphasizes this – that you become self reliant through your Pisces talents.
Would a 16 year old that has mercury in pisces in the second house with his sun in pisces also, with the venus and North node in the 3rd house have creating writing ability. Also I have no planets in my 5 house
what writer am i, I have moon and Uranus in 3rd house Aquarius with Neptune in 2nd house Aquarius and south node in 3rd house also I have sun in Virgo 9th house conjuncting 10th house midheaven. mercury conjuncting Venus and northnode in Leo 9th house. In my 5th house I have Jupiter in Taurus trine sun in 9th house virgo and my ascendant is in Sagittarius with Pluto conjuncting ascendant from 12th house. kindly explain it to me.
You have lots and lots of thoughts. Writing would help clarify those thoughts. Very analytical writing, technical writing, futuristic writing. Scifi. That kind of thing.