This page gives basic information about publishing courses and training, how to get started in publishing, where to look for jobs, which books to read and where to look for help to get your work published.
Want to get into publishing?
First of all, find out a bit more about it. Check out the information available in the careers section of your local library or careers office, dip into one of the books recommended below and talk to people in the industry - us!
Come to one of our speaker meetings and take the opportunity to meet like-minded people and network in an informal atmosphere.
This is only a brief guide, but should lead you to all the sources of information, jobs, courses and training that you will need to start your career in publishing. It is a hugely rewarding industry to work in, but here's one word of warning: when you're starting out, be prepared to work long hours for low pay.
How to Get a Job in Publishing - read Lucy Mitchell's interview with Alison Baverstock prior to our 2008 LBF seminar
For an overview of the current careers market and an analysis of the training and education provision out there please click here:
http://www.skillset.org/publishing/our_work/article_6423_1.asp
Recommended reading:
One of Oxford's Speaker Meetings discussed discrimination in publishing, the sort of people who work there and whether it is difficult to reach a high position unless you fit the stereotype. Freelance writer and contributor to The Bookseller Danuta Kean argued the industry is too white middle-class. See her notes here (Members only). And of course, there is also DIPNET - Diversity in Publishing, a network funded by the Arts Council.
Diversity in Publishing - some thoughts on this issue from Plimbol Solano
Black, White and Shades of Brown - SYP Project 60 Co-ordinator Bhav Mehta writes about the lack of ethnic minority characters in children's books and comics in this blog on The Bookseller website
Where are all the men? - read Bridget Moans' entertaining account about the lack of men working in publishing
Broadly speaking, these are:
Particularly in the area of academic, educational, STM and journal publishing, CD or online delivery is a fast-growing area. There is also a wide range of business, magazine and Internet publishers.
Charity Publishing - In some notes made for a Speaker Meeting, Friends of the Earth’s Nicola Baird discusses what the charity publishes and what it’s like to be on such as tight budget. Click here to read her notes in pdf.
Does Size Really Matter? - Amelia Allsop reports back from the November 2005 speaker meeting which discussed the relative merits of working for big and small publishers
A degree is likely to be a prerequisite for most jobs, as is some level of computer literacy. Subject knowledge at degree level can be useful (e.g. for professional and specialist subject publishing), as well as teaching experience (e.g. for educational or ELT). The best ways to get into the industry are work experience or temping, although there are a number of well-established publishing courses at graduate and postgraduate level that are likely to enhance your prospects significantly. The following 'must-haves' are only suggestions - each job is different.
Click here to read a very helpful guide to working in publishing, written by former SYP Chair Jon Slack, which featured in The Writers Handbook 2010
Commissioning - Truths and Myths: Perhaps you want to become an editor. Perhaps you like the sound of it but aren’t really sure what’s involved. Experienced commissioning editors Sarah Caro (OUP) and Al Bertrand (Blackwell) uncovered the truths and myths of commissioning in one of our Speaker Meetings. Click here to read a summary of the meeting (Members only).
A Day in the Life of a... Commissioning Editor - read Melanie Wilson's interview with Cassie Birmingham, Commissioning Editor at Jessica Kingsley Publishers
On Becoming a Commissioning Editor - Gurdeep Mattu's experience
Getting On - the role of Commissioning Editor is explored in this edition of the SYP Insider blog from The Bookseller
A Day in the Life of a... Production Typesetter - read Claire Robertson's interview with Leah Gourley, Production Assistant at Prepress Projects
The Unsung Heroes - an account from the SYP blog in The Bookseller about life in Production
A Day in the Life of a... Publicity Officer - read Melanie Wilson's interview with Laura Bell, Publicity Officer for Jessica Kingsley Publishers
The Invisible Link - the role of Publicity Officer is explored in this edition of the SYP Insider blog from The Bookseller
A Day in the Life of a... Cover Designer - an interview with Terry Woodley from InPrint Online
A Day in the Life of a... Educational Publishing Executive - an interview with Fiona McGlade from InPrint Online
Below are links to UK postgraduate publishing degrees. If you look at all the courses, and are still unsure which one to go for, then we have an extract online from How to Get a Job in Publishing (A & C Black, 2008) to assist you in making an objective choice.
City University (London)
Kingston University (London)
London College of Communication
UCL (London)
Napier University (Edinburgh)
Oxford Brookes University
University of Plymouth
Robert Gordon University (Aberdeen)
Universtiy of Stirling
University of Central Lancashire
Press
The Guardian (Mon/Sat) l www.jobs.guardian.co.uk
The Bookseller (Fridays) | www.thebookseller.com
European Bookseller (monthly)
Agencies
All levels
Covent Garden Bureau
Tel: 020 7734 3374
Judy Fisher Associates
Tel: 020 7437 2277
Career Moves Publishing Recruitment
Tel: 020 7908 7900
Inspired Selection (Oxford)
Tel: 01865 260 270 | www.inspiredselection.co.uk
Inspired Selection (London)
Tel: 020 7440 1500 | www.inspiredselection.co.uk
KP Publishing Personnel
Tel: 0845 389 2289
Second jobs and up
Astron
Tel: 020 7734 4940 |
JFL Search & Selection
Tel: 020 7009 3500 | www.jflrecruit.com
Intelligent Resources
Tel: 020 7375 0085 | www.intelligentresources.com
Meridian Search and Selection
Tel: 020 7795 6633 | www.meridian-recruit.com
SYP Job Database
www.bookcareers.com - the CV Clearing House
www.prospects.ac.uk
www.totaljobs.com
www.careersatrandom.co.uk
www.penguin.co.uk/jobs
Job Search with Jobrapido
The Publishing Training Centre, the Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP), the Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers (ALPSP), Editorial Training, and Imago, among others, run short courses in all areas of publishing. A comprehensive guide to training courses appears in The Bookseller, usually in November.
Useful contacts
Publishers' addresses are listed in The Writer’s Handbook (which also gives information about book and magazine publishing, newspapers, poetry, radio, theatre, TV, video and film, as well as agents, prizes, writer’s circles, associations, festivals etc.) and The Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook. There are several well-established societies catering to particular groups within publishing, from children’s publishing to production.
Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Tel: 020 7227 3500 l www.phf.org.uk
Society for Editors and Proofreaders
Tel: 020 8785 5617 l www.sfep.org.uk
The Publishing Training Centre
Tel: 020 8874 2718 l www.train4publishing.co.uk
The Society of Authors
Tel: 020 7373 6642 l www.societyofauthors.net
Michael Heath joined us for a CV workshop, giving advice on your CV and the interview process. View his Top 10 CV Howlers here.
The SYP cannot give advice on how to get your work published, nor can we assess any work you send in. However, we recommend you consult the following publications. The Society of Authors may also be able to offer advice.
Recommended reading:
