Our careers evening is the perfect opportunity for finalists and recent graduates to learn more about the job market in publishing. This meeting aims to give you a clearer career idea, an appreciation of how employers recruit and how they select. Our speakers will also be answering questions about resume-writing and interview techniques. Whether your degree is in science, law, languages or publishing, come and find out how to maximize your transferable skills to land a first publishing job! Mimi (our Events Co-ordinator) and the porter will direct you from the front of Christ Church.
Why not come along and talk to other people interested in publishing? (That’s our excuse for a drink anyway!).
Help us celebrate Oxford’s rich literary history in the very place that inspired many of the city’s greatest authors – the pub!
Oxford’s dreaming spires are steeped in literary tradition. A bewildering array of authors from Wilde to Waugh, Shelley to Self, and Lewis to Larkin, have stumbled between the city’s latenight haunts in search of inspiration. The SYP intends to spend an evening following in their meandering footsteps and upholding the fine traditions established by these giants of British literature, and it also happens to be St. Patrick’s Day so there’s no excuse!
Join us on Friday 17 March for an evening of carousing, complete with a QUIZ and PRIZES! All members and non-members welcome.
7pm for 7.30pm, starting at Far from the Madding Crowd, 10- 12 Friars Entry.
Members of the London Committee will be meeting at 6.15pm at Victoria Coach Station to get the Oxford Tube. Follow the signs for the Oxford Tube and a lot of noise if you'd like to join us!
Friends welcome. Meet at 7 for 7.30 at Far From the Maddening Crowd or join in part-way through: 8.15-9 Eagle and Child; 9-9.45 Lamb and Flag; 9.45-11 The Turf. At 10.30ish there will be a prize giving – if you’ve answered our mini-quiz during the pub crawl you could win some books from Random House, Ebury and Orion publishers.
Venue Various Time 7:00pm Estimated end time 11:00pm
When you pick up a publication in the bookstand, ever wonder how it gets produced? It takes time to get a manuscript ready for printing and many steps are involved. Carmel Tildesley from Imago will speak to us about ‘The Journey of a Publication’. This meeting aims to give job-seekers a glimpse of what career opportunities there are in production, as well as for writers to have an idea of how long it takes to get published. Whether author, editor, or marketeer (or someone aspirant thereto) this meeting will offer you insight into what makes books happen!
The evening will offer advice and discussions from professional recruitment consultants: two from JFL Recruitment and one from the Publishing Training Centre. This will be a good opportunity for job-seekers in their second jobs or beyond to learn about the technicalities of applying for more senior appointments. Those who are students or just starting out in publishing would get to know more about career paths and where they could end up.
Ariadne van de Ven (freelance publicity officer) and Kathryn Pilgrem (freelance editor) will speak about the technicalities of being a freelancer, what it involves and how to start up on your own.
Enjoy a blissful summer’s afternoon* messing about on the river. Demonstrate your punting prowess, or just get punted, as we take to the water using Oxford’s traditional mode of transport. Refreshments provided.
Let your boat of life be light, packed with only what you need – simple pleasures, one or two friends, worth the name, a dog, and a pipe or two, enough to eat and enough to wear, and a little more than enough to drink; for thirst is a dangerous thing. Jerome K Jerome, 3 Men in a Boat * Hopefully
Venue Cherwell Boat House Time 4:30pm Meet at the Rose and Crown, North Parade at 4.30, or at the Cherwell Boat House at 5.45pm Estimated end time 9:00pm
Big and small, publishers of books and journals - who are they and what do they do? Donald Smith and Sue Trafford from Inspired Selection will present an overview of the players in the industry, and the pros and cons of working for different types of company. Consultants from Inspired Selection will also be present to answer any questions about Publishing.
At first glance, commissioning looks like a glamorous job - the editor gets to decide which manuscript gets the cut, to contact writers and manage the publication process. What are the truths and myths about commissioning? Experienced commissioning editors Sarah Caro (OUP) and Al Bertrand (Blackwell) will be decoding the job in this meeting.
REWRITING BRITISH HISTORY: THE OXFORD DICTIONARY OF NATIONAL BIOGRAPHY
Speaker Meeting
Dr Lawrence Goldman, tutorial fellow in modern history at St Peter's College, Oxford, combines his teaching, research and university roles with an editorship at the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (ODNB). In this meeting, Dr Goldman will speak about his dual roles as an academic and an editor. He will also discuss the history and purposes of ODNB and demonstrate its use in real-time."
What is Journal Publishing? How is it different from book publishing? Richard Steele, Editorial Director at Taylor and Francis Journals (Informa Academic and Scientific Division) explains. Louise Hall, Research Analyst at Elsevier, will also talk about the research activities that go behind Journal Publishing. An event not to be missed!
Venue Dorfman Room, St Peter's College Time 6:30pm Estimated end time 8:30pm
In the changing world of publishing, how has Book Marketing evolved? With the increased competition and pressure from the e-media, what are the challenges faced by publishers and how is marketing responding to them? Joanna Baker, Marketing Executive at Blackwell will address these topics in this meeting.
Venue Dorfman Room, St Peter's College Time 6:30pm Estimated end time 8:30pm
Following the success of last year's event, the SYP are pleased to present the answer to past gatherings with the 2007 St Patrick's Day Pub Quiz Crawl!
This is a great opportunity for Oxford and London members to meet up in the inspired surroundings of Oxford and discover an insight into the work being carried out from both towns of the publishing industry. Members and non-members are invited to join us on Friday the 16th to engage in this most important role of the business: the socialising.
For London folk who wish to take part we will be meeting at Victoria Bus Station (just a short walk from the train station) to catch the Oxford Tube at 6:30pm. Traffic will always be unpredictable but we aim to be in Oxford to meet SYP members for 8/8:30. The line up of venues through the evening is flexible but it will more or less run along the following lines:
The Old School, Glouceter Green 7:30-8:30ish
The Grapes, George Street 8:30-9:00ish
The White Horse, Broad Street 9:00-9:30ish
The Turf, Bath Place 9:30-10:00ish
All Bar One, High Street 10:00-10:30ish
We will be in contact with the Oxford SYP contingent and will join them wherever they happen to be once we arrive in Oxford. For those heading back to London the Oxford Tube runs all through the night, so no need to stress about returning home for a certain time.
Tickets for the return journey are £9 or £7 for students. If you'd like to join us please contact Jon Slack (jslack@thesyp.org.uk) in London or Joanna Godfrey (oxfordsocialsec@thesyp.org.uk) in Oxford for further information on the night and contact details.
Venue Various Time 7:30pm Estimated end time 11:00pm
So you’ve made your first steps with your first or second job in publishing but don’t know what your next move should be. Or maybe you’re just curious to know how people clamber up the career ladder once they’ve got onto the bottom rungs. March’s speaker meeting will address the ways to make it an easy climb in the right direction in all areas of publishing expertise. Our speakers for the evening will be Judy Irving and Sue Trafford from the publishing recruitment consultancy, Inspired Selection.
OXFORD SPEAKER MEETING: PUBLISHING IN THE DIGITAL AGE
Speaker Meeting
In an online world where everyone can be a publisher (MySpace, FaceBook, Blogger, Flickr etc) where does the publisher fit in? Are there opportunities? Are there threats?
May's speaker is Chris Jennings from Oxford Brookes University who specialises in interactive and digital publishing.
Most of us only ever come in to contact with a literary agent in the context of a particular book or author. But what is it like to be a literary agent? How do you find and keep an author? How do you convince a publisher to take a book? And how hard is all the Financial negotiation?
Felicity Bryan, founder of the Felicity Bryan Agency (who represents Karen Armstrong, Michael Buerke and Iain Pears amongst others) will be speaking about all these aspects of her job and more.
SPECIAL PRICE: Tickets for non-members will only cost £2 if you come with 2 or more friends!
OF RIVERS AND STREAMS: THE FAST-MOVING WORLD OF INDEPENDENT PUBLISHING
Speaker Meeting
In his talk, managing director and founder of Hart Publishing, an independent, privately owned law publisher in Oxford, Richard Hart, will attempt to answer the inevitable question for all independents - "how to do you compete with much larger publishers". In attempting to answer that question he hopes to give some insight into the armoury that a small publisher has at its disposal, the strategies they develop to compete, and whether there is still a future for small independents. He will also ask whether that in a sense they don't compete at all, at least not in a direct, intentional sense, but consistently plough their own furrow. By not constantly labelling what an independent publisher does as 'competing' they often achieve their most interesting successes.
Non-members pay £2 if they bring 2 or more friends
NEW VENUE: This talk will be hosted by Hart Publishing at their offices at 16C Worcester Place, Oxford, OX1 2JW. Please use http://maps.google.co.uk/ and enter the post code to find the venue on a map or contact oxfordevents@thesyp.org.uk for more information.
Venue Hart Publishing Time 6:30pm Estimated end time 8:30pm
Fancy messing about on the river and joining us for the increasingly popular annual event, the SYP Oxford Punting Party?? Demonstrate your punting prowess, or just get punted, as we take to the water using Oxford’s traditional mode of transport. Pimms and strawberries provided, followed by a possible pub trip. This event is always great fun and, as with our Annual Hyde Park picnic, excellent at bringing Oxford and London members together under the sun. Meet at 12:30pm outside the King's Arms in central Oxford (corner of Broad Street and Holywell St - get in contact if you need directions!).
Details for meeting:
12:30pm outside The King's Arms on the corner of Holywell Street and Broad Street (see location map for specifics)
If you are coming from London we will be catching the Oxford Tube from Victoria from 10am and heading up from there. Please see our information page for further details.
For Oxford contact Jo Godfrey on 07745452265
For London contact Jon Slack on 07747732995
Venue The Kings Arms Time 12:30pm Estimated end time 4:00pm
SEPTEMBER SPEAKER MEETING - COMMISSIONING CHILDREN'S BOOKS
Speaker Meeting
We all have our favourite books that we remember and treasure from our childhood but how do they get from the author to the bookshop to our shelves? Liz Cross, Head of Children’s fiction at Oxford University Press will be speaking about how she finds the right writers for her audience and how the OUP children’s list makes an impact in the large and vibrant children’s book market.
Why are writers poor? Statistically, most writers earn under
£10,000 a year, but the reality for most is earning less than £5000. Who is to blame? Linda Proud worked in publishing for many years before starting a publishing company with her husband in 2003. While working for a living, she has written eight books, both fiction and non-fiction. Despite a couple of
bestsellers, she's never earned enough by writing to feed her cat. With her experience in the industry, she thinks she knows who to blame for having to keep the day job. And it's not the publisher.
Please see the conference website for more information. Registration is now closed as all places have been filled.
The SYP Careers conference involves lectures and training on various aspects and skills relevant to publishing. It is one of the key events of the year for the SYP and with around 150 members attending is by far the biggest. Alternating between London and Oxford, this year's event is being held on 10th November at Oxford Brookes University.
OXFORD SPEAKER MEETING - WORDS AND DOLLAR SIGNS: PUBLISHING IN THE BIG BAD WORLD OF FINANCE
Speaker Meeting
Are you torn between an interest in publishing and a desire for the energy and drive of working in the city? Or have you ever wondered who exactly makes sure that important financial data can be read and understood by the people who make the decisions? Our December speaker, Mark Leech, will share his experiences of working as an editor for Standard & Poors and Fitch Ratings, two of the top credit rating and financial analysis agencies in the world, how he found himself working in this sector and what makes it different from 'normal' publishing.
You are also invited to join us for a Christmas drink in the Jericho Tavern (Walton Street) after the speaker meeting.
Oxford AGM will take place on the 23rd January at 6.30pm in the Gallery Room at OUP. There will be refreshments and nibbles from 6.30pm and please feel free to join us in the Jericho Tavern afterwards. This is your opportunity to make a difference to the Oxford branch of the SYP - we can't wait to see you there!
OXFORD SPEAKER MEETING: THE HISTORY OF PUBLISHING WITH CLAIRE SQUIRES
Speaker Meeting
Publishing is a rapidly evolving business, but also one deeply rooted in history and tradition. How different is publishing in the 2000s to the 1900s? What were the Victorian equivalents of Richard and Judy, Harry Potter, and Google Print? And what might a knowledge of publishing's history bring to a contemporary publisher's practice?
In this talk, Claire Squires, Senior Lecturer in Publishing at the Oxford International Centre for Publishing Studies, at Oxford Brookes University, and author of Marketing Literature: The Making of Contemporary Writing in Britain, will bring back to life some characters and incidents from publishing's past.
Come along to what promises to be a really enlightening evening - we look forward to seeing you there!
OXFORD SPEAKER MEETING: STAY AHEAD OF THE GAME - HOW TO BUILD A PUBLISHING CAREER WITH SUZANNE COLLIER
Speaker Meeting
What is it that makes a great career? Are you already thinking about your next move? Maybe you have a five-year plan – who knows what jobs will be around then? In an industry that is ever developing, how do you stay one-step ahead?
Suzanne Collier from www.bookcareers.com will be talking to us about starting a career in publishing. For over 24 years, she has been actively working in book publishing, and has at one time or another worked in almost every department in the business – from production, editorial and publicity to accounts, contracts to rights. So come along and hear the expert on career management in publishing share her experience, and give you some great tips to enable you to manage your career success.
Then come and join us for drinks in the Jericho Tavern afterwards, hope to see you there.
THE INFAMOUS OXFORD PUB CRAWL: LITERARY CHARACTERS!
Social Event
A great opportunity for Oxford and London members to socialise:
Harry Potter? Lyra? Alice? Frankenstein? Who do you see yourself as?
On Friday 28th March, the Kings Arms in Oxford will be filled with an invasion of characters from the world of fiction, and you have to be there! Come dressed as your favourite literary character to take part in an Oxford literary walking tour with a difference! We'll be taking a tour of Oxford's finest bars and pubs, so whether you want to get to know the city better, or you know it well enough already and are just up for a giggle, don't miss the silliest SYP event of the season!
There'll be a prize for the most imaginative costume, so get those creative thinking caps on and both the Oxford and London committees will be there to lead you on a brilliant night out. Make sure you're there too!
ON THE NIGHT: Call Amy Jackson or Alan Crompton on 07799 755977 to find out where we are!
Further information for London members: For London folk who wish to take part we will be meeting outside the main entrance of Victoria Coach Station at 6.15pm (just a short walk from the train station), as there is an Oxford Tube bus stop just across the road - you can buy your ticket directly from the driver. Traffic will always be unpredictable but we aim to be in Oxford to meet SYP members for 8pm. Click here for a map from Oxford Coach Station to The Kings Arms.
We will be in contact with the Oxford SYP contingent and will join them wherever they happen to be once we arrive in Oxford. For those heading back to London the Oxford Tube runs all through the night, so no need to stress about returning home for a certain time.
Tickets for the Oxford Tube return journey are £15 or £12 for students. If you'd like to join us from London please contact Angela Solomon on 07900 365576. You can also ring SYP London Chair Jon Slack if you need directions on the day itself: 07747732995.
Venue The Kings Arms Time 8:00pm Estimated end time 12:00am
A member of the editorial team for the Oxford English Dictionary reveal the secrets behind working on the world's most famous dictionary!
Andrew Watson has been Assistant Editor at the Oxford English Dictionary for the last two years. Previous to this he was a freelance translator and teacher of English language. He also worked for two years in the early 1990s as manager of a small publishing house in Greece.
He will be speaking about the experience of working as an editor at the OED today, how technology has brought about dramatic changes in the work of a lexicographer over the last ten years or so, and giving an insight into the ongoing work of producing the first completely new edition of the Oxford English Dictionary for 80 years. The talk will include a short video presentation showing different aspects of a modern lexicographer's job.
Don't miss what promises to be a fascinating session! Then, we'd love for you to come along afterwards for a drink at the Jericho Tavern to chat more to Andrew and get to know us on the committee!
Want to get to know Oxford? Want to get to know your fellow SYP members at the same time? Then come along to our fantastic treasure hunt and camera challenge event. Following on from our very silly literary characters pub crawl last month, come and join us in a hunt around Oxford against time, solving clues and completing photo challenges to be the first team to reach the grand prize*! (to be confirmed)
Meet at the Kings Arms with teams of 2 or more. RSVP by emailing us at the address below with your team members if you'd like to join us. Feel free to come along individually too as there'll always be a team to join on the day!
Check back later for further details or email us in the meantime...
Venue The Kings Arms Time 7:00pm Estimated end time 10:30pm
OXFORD SPEAKER MEETING: INTERNET PUBLISHING - THE RISE OF GRADUATE ENTREPRENEURS
Speaker Meeting
In a whirl of entrepreneurial foresight, Cambridge graduates Oliver Brooks and Anna Lewis present their ground-breaking new online publishing company, CompletelyNovel, which aims to do for books what youtube and MySpace have done for film and music. Combining publishing services, literary agency support and shared reading for free, the new service looks set to change the way authors and publishers think about book publishing. Come along and join their exciting debate on how fresh insights from a new generation of graduates could introduce a new challenge to the state of publishing as we know it.
Founder Oliver Brooks has always been up for a challenge and when he heard from a writing friend of the state of the publishing industry he set about doing something about it to make it better. Oliver studied Engineering at Cambridge University and started CompletelyNovel shortly after leaving university. The initial development was funded out of his student loan!
Marketing and Customer Relations Manager, Anna Lewis, is an avid book reader who can often be found curled up on the CompletelyNovel sofa with a good book in any spare minutes she has. Anna studied Law at Cambridge but decided to set about working to make CompletelyNovel the greatest thing to happen to books ever.
Don't miss out on hearing their fascinating new ideas! 6:30pm for drinks and nibbles, for talk at 7pm.
The Society of Young Publishers invites you to join us for…
Licence to Thrill
“Do you expect me to talk?”
“No Mr Bond, I expect you to dine!”
To mark the release of the new James Bond novel Devil May Care written by Sebastian Faulks, the SYP will be dusting off our tuxedos for an evening of fine dining, glamorous girls and Vesper Martinis to celebrate all things James Bond.
On Friday 30th May, join us at Browns Restaurant, 5-11 Woodstock Rd, Oxford, from 7.00pm. Gents – Suited and booted. Ladies – Dress to impress. We are planning on eating from the Varsity set menu in the restaurant, which will cost £21.00 per head.
OXFORD PUNTING PARTY: PIRATES OF THE RIVER CHERWELL!
Social Event
Avast Ye! The Society of Young Publishers invites you to join us for…
Pirates of the River Cherwell
"You will always remember this as the day you almost caught Captain Jack Sparrow!"
...and as the best day you've ever spent punting with pirates!
Yarrr, calling all ye pyrates and buccaneers, on Saturday 14th June, come stretch your sea legs and set sail for the high seas of the Cherwell with ye olde SYP, me hearties. Eat, drink, punt and be merry! Any landlubbers will walk ye plank!
When? Saturday 14th June. Meet 1pm.
Where? Meet at the Lamb & Flag pub on St Giles, from there we will take a short bus journey up Banbury Rd before walking on to Cherwell Boathouse.
How? Pirate costume is strongly encouraged (but is not compulsory).
What? We will spend a few hours punting as well as relaxing on the river bank with a picnic, before heading back into Oxford later for ale (Yo-ho-ho) and a bottle rum.
OXFORD SPEAKER MEETING: DAVID FICKLING - THE RETURN OF THE COMIC BOOK
Speaker Meeting
In a fascinating talk for the SYP, David Fickling, publisher of the eponymous and highly successful imprint at Random House, will be presenting his ground-breaking new comic book project, the DFC. Along with exciting new interactive and online features, the new comic will feature top authors and illustrators such as Philip Pullman, John Aggs, Dave Shelton, Neil Cameron and Garen Ewing. Don't miss your chance to have a first hand introduction to the exciting new venture that's taken the publishing world by storm.
David Fickling is a children’s book editor and publisher. He started his career with Oxford University Press in 1977, moving on to Transworld and then to Scholastic UK. In 1999, David formed his own imprint in Oxford, David Fickling Books. The imprint is now based with Random House and publishes about a dozen titles per year in the US, Australia and New Zealand as well as the UK. Recent titles include Philip Pullman’s Once Upon a Time in the North, Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, John Boyne’s The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and Linda Newbery’s 2007 Costa Award-winning Set in Stone. In 2004, David received the British Book Award for Editor of the Year. He lives with his wife and three older children in Oxford, England.
Be sure not to miss out on one of the highlights of the 2008 SYP calendar! Drinks and nibbles 6:30pm for talk at 7pm.
OXFORD SPEAKER MEETING: WHAT CAN PUBLISHING DO FOR YOU? WITH ORNA O'BRIEN
Speaker Meeting
Professional Training Opportunities within the Publishing Industry with Orna O’Brien
So you’ve got your first job in publishing or perhaps you are a well on your way to your next promotion, wherever you are in your publishing career have you ever thought about your training needs? To achieve our career goals and to meet our ambitions we need to think about how we can better ourselves. Do you have a training plan? Are there areas of your job that your would like to develop or improve upon? Perhaps you are looking at a different job in publishing, but you lack the specialist skills?
To hopefully answer some of these questions, Orna O’Brien from the Publishing Training Centre will be talking to us about the many professional training opportunities that exist within the publishing industry. Orna is Head of Courses at The Publishing Training Centre in London. PTC is the foremost training organisation for publishers in the UK, offering over 70 different public courses ranging from proof reading to XML training.
If you want the latest training in the publishing world, join us for an unmissable talk, followed by drinks in the Jericho Tavern afterwards. Hope to see you there!
OXFORD SPEAKER MEETING: ACADEMIC AND THE E-READER - OXFORD'S DIGITAL AGE?
Speaker Meeting
The end of the printed textbook? Professors with digital-only monographs? Want to know exactly what the arrival of the e-reader has in store for your own work? Join us at Oxford Brookes for an exciting look at how the current trend sweeping the publishing world will actually affect Oxford publishing. With a strong academic and educational publishing focus, the impact focused on in the press can often fall short of relevance for the majority of Oxford publishers. With help from Michael Popham, an expert from the Oxford Digital Library, we're going to find out exactly what we can do with these new gadgets, how they're going to affect our publishing world, and exactly how the big-timers Google are getting involved!
Don't miss the chance for some first-hand info on where your work is heading and the exciting new opportunities ahead...
OXFORD SYP IMMENSE PUB GOLF TOUR 2008 - WELCOME TO BROOKES!
Social Event
As a very warm welcome to the new Brookes publishing MA students, we invite you all to the SYP Immense Pub Golf Tour 2008 on Friday 19th September. Get golfed-up, and come for a pub golf crawl from Gypsy Lane into town. Get to know your coursemates a bit better, get to know nice people already working in publishing in Oxford and find out what the SYP has to offer. But most importantly, just have a wicked night out!
Who? YOU! in teams of 2-4
How? Dressed in golfing attire for a night on the fairway that is Oxford's pubs.
What? Moving from pub to pub until we get to town - rules to be explained on the night. Some great prizes for the lowest score!
When? Friday 19th September - meet at 7pm at Oxford Brookes Gypsy Lane entrance.
Contact? Get in touch with us at oxfordevents@thesyp.org.uk if you have any questions.
Please RSVP by Thursday 18th September if you're up for it - we are!
Tired of never finding any graduate schemes for publishing? Well, on Wednesday 22nd October, the SYP will be presenting the cream of the publishing internship crop for you to choose from. You'll get the opportunity to ask questions to successful candidates from some of the most prestigious internship schemes and find out how to make your applications stand out from the crowd! Get the insider low-down that you won't read about in any job advert, as well as finding out all the deadlines and application details you need to know. So make sure you don't miss out on our one-stop-shop for publishing graduate schemes!
When? Wednesday 22nd October. Drinks and nibbles from 6.30pm. Talk starts at 7.00pm
Where? Buckley Building Room BG10, Oxford Brookes University, Gypsy Lane Campus.
What? Featuring interns from **Pearson, OUP, Wiley, MacMillan and Random House** talking about their experiences on the internship programmes, as well as insight and guidance from Inspired Selection recruitment, and also an SYP presentation looking at all the remaining publishing graduate schemes and internships coming up in the next few months.
Before the meeting, we will also be holding elections for our new Brookes liaison officer to be on the committee this year!
Email oxfordchair@thesyp.org.uk if you're interested, and come along at the start of the meeting with a few words prepared on why you'd like the role. All very friendly and informal so don't worry!
Venue Oxford Brookes - Buckley Building (BG10/11) Time 6:30pm Estimated end time 8:15pm
On Thursday 23rd October, for one night only the SYP will be getting its skates on and taking to the Ice, as we head down to Oxford Ice rink to spin, spiral and slide our way to glory (or embarrassment!) Thrills, spills, fun and laughter are guaranteed. So we hope to see you all there.
When? Thursday 23rd October, 7.45pm
Where? Oxford Ice Rink, Oxpens Road, Oxford, OX1 1RX. 10 mins walk from Oxford Railway Station.
How? Bring gloves and thick socks for an ice-disco extravaganza! (Spandex jumpsuits are not necessary!)
On Tuesday 27th January the SYP Oxford AGM will be taking place at Oxford University Press (Gallery Room), where we will be electing the new 2009 Oxford committee. So if you are keen to advance your career in publishing, to make new friends and get new contacts in the industry, come along and get involved. Don’t believe me? Just ask Suzanne Collier from bookcareers.com:
“One of the best ways to get ahead in publishing is to join the committee of the Society of Young Publishers”
Suzanne Collier, bookcareers.com, (Chair of the SYP 1989,1994,1995,1996,1998)
The following positions are available on the 2009 committee, for more information about specific roles, please click here.
SYP Oxford Chair
Conference Coordinator
Membership Secretary
Events Secretary/Speaker Meeting Coordinator
Social Secretary
Treasurer/Finance Secretary
Publicity/Marketing Secretary
Website Coordinator
InPrint Liaison
Secretary
If you do decide to stand for a position on the committee, please can you email your name and contact details by Monday 26th January to alan.crompton@thesyp.org.uk. Candidates should prepare a two minute speech to present at the meeting, talking about your experience, as well as your hopes and ambitions for the SYP. All positions will then be elected by secret ballot at the end of the AGM.
Date: Tuesday 27th January 2009 Time: 18:30 - 20:00 Place: Oxford University Press, Gallery Room Contact: alan.crompton@thesyp.org.uk for more information. Price for members: £FREE Price for non-members: £FREE
So come on what are you waiting for, come along and get involved. You won't regret it. If you have any further questions about any of the positions available, please email me at alan.crompton@thesyp.org.uk.
OXFORD SPEAKER MEETING - 'MONEY MATTERS': HOW TO SURVIVE IN PUBLISHING
Speaker Meeting
How can publishers cut costs, balance their books and survive intact? What lessons can be learned from the past?
Bruce Robertson, Managing Director of The Diagram Group and creator of The Diagram Prize, lends fifty years worth of experience to address the impact of the current economic climate on the publishing industry.
Publishing may be considered a ‘creative’ field, but sound business acumen is crucial to success in all sectors and all departments.
Insider knowledge of some of the UK’s largest publishing companies will illustrate the difficulties met and solutions found in the attempt to thrive in a competitive market, as well as revealing important tips to anyone considering a career in publishing.
What? – The Great Publishing House Pub Crawl Where? – Meet at the Honey Pot - Hollybush Row, OX1 1JH When? – 19:00 (that’s 7pm) on Friday 27 February How? – On foot, by bike, on the train, or hitch-hiking; we don’t really care. Why? – To meet the new SYP committee, have a good time, and wake up with a hangover the following morning.
SYP presents an original and completely informal tour of Oxford the only way publishers know how – via a selection of some of the city’s best drinking establishments! All within a stone’s throw of some of the best known (or best hidden) publishing houses in the country, these are the public houses literally fuelling the literary culture of Britain! With over sixty publishing houses in Oxford, we can’t guarantee that we’ll see each one, but we can certainly give it our best shot…
There is no dress code, no entry fee, and no rules. So come on down for a relaxed night out before we really set the tone for the rest of the year.
Venue The Honey Pot Time 7:00pm Estimated end time 12:59am
In celebration of the newest, hitherto unpublished, work by J. R. R. Tolkien, the SYP will be socialising in the style befitting an Oxford don. Friday 20th March will see us drink in Tolkien’s establishment of choice, The Eagle and Child, followed by a saunter into Jericho to Branca where we will dine in black tie with a three course dinner and drinks.
Please register if you're coming so we can help Branca, by clicking here.
This world first publication of The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún, a previously unknown work by J.R.R. Tolkien, tells the epic story of the Norse hero, Sigurd, the dragon-slayer, the revenge of his wife, Gudrun, and the Fall of the Nibelungs.
If you feel up to the challenge of this truly epic, one-part, adventure then meet us in the hallowed caverns of The Eagle and Child at 7:30pm on Friday 20th March to drink and be merry before we honour our 9:30pm reservation at Branca.
Venue: Meet at The Eagle and Child, St Giles, Oxford
Date: Friday 20th March
Time: From 7:30pm
Estimated end time: 12.30am
Price: Members FREE, Non-members FREE
(Cost of the meal is not included.)
Contact number: 07590507817
Venue Eagle and Child Time 7:30pm Estimated end time 12:00pm
OXFORD SPEAKER MEETING – FREELANCING IN THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY: THE BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES
Speaker Meeting
Why work for a company when you can manage your own time, control your own work, accept and reject projects as you please and seek out the work that interests you most?
Three freelancers will share their experiences of freelancing in the publishing industry and explore the benefits and challenges of going it alone.
We’ll hear from a Freelance Publisher, a Freelance Designer, and a Freelance Copy-editor/Ghost-writer/Proof-reader. Representing a wide range of publishing sectors, the speakers will tackle question such as:
Can you balance freelancing with another job?
Is it hard to get freelance work? Is it competitive?
Do you need a certain degree of experience?
How important are the contacts you make in different companies?
Does it pay well?
Whether you’re considering a career in publishing or have already got your foot in the door, freelancing might be something you want to consider at some point in your career, so come along to hear what it’s all about.
April is the cruellest month, breeding lilacs out of the dead land, mixing memory and desire, stirring dull roots with spring rain. - T S Eliot
This month the SYP has decided to honour T S Eliot’s disdain and drink to his sorrows on a Wychwood Brewery visit. Taking in the sights, sounds, and tastes of one of Oxfordshire’s best known brewers we will have the opportunity to laze around in the attached public house and raise a glass to the impending dawn of summer.
The outing will take place on Sunday 26 April with the first brewery tour booked for a 2:00pm start. There will be a second brewery tour happening at 2.30pm. We will therefore meet at the Said Business School at 12:00pm and hop aboard the appropriate bus to Witney, Oxfordshire.
Places on this trip are limited so you will need to book early or face disappointment. Price of the tour is £6.50; this includes the brewery tour, beer sampling and also a complimentary souvenir Wychwood Brewery glass.
OXFORD SPEAKER MEETING – GRAPHIC NOVELS AND THE RISE OF MANGA PUBLISHING IN THE UK
Speaker Meeting
We all remember our school days, some say the happiest days of our lives, apart from perhaps when we had to read Shakespeare, how dull, how boring (at least that was before we were old enough to fully appreciate his genius)!! Back then Shakespeare wasn’t exciting, it wasn’t engaging; that is until now…
Featuring talks from Emma Hayley, Director of Self Made Hero and UK Young Publishing Entrepreneur of the Year for 2008, and Lizzie Spratt , Commissioning Editor of Graphic Novels for Walker Books, this month's SYP speaker meeting promises to be an eye-opening account of one of the most exciting developments in trade and educational publishing.
Manga Shakespeare is just one of the innovations that have contributed to a huge increase in the popularity of Manga and Graphic novels in recent years. Emma Hayley launched Self Made Hero in 2007, with the aim of “providing a new and contemporary twist for a sophisticated and visually literate audience”. She will discuss the process of fusing classic Shakespeare with manga visuals – cutting-edge adaptations that will intrigue and grip readers.
Whilst Self Made Hero caters for adults and teenagers, Walker Books decided to launch a Graphic Novel list for children. The Commissioning Editor, Lizzie Spratt, will talk about the reasons behind this decision and the particular challenges of creating graphic novels for a younger audience.
So come along and hear all about one of the most exciting publishing developments of the 21st century. Dare to miss it!
“The printing industry is trading through the worst conditions it has seen for almost 20 years”, Victoria Gallagher, The Bookseller, 31/03/09
Around 90% of printers in the UK are operating below capacity; many have had to cut prices and jobs; a tenth of all printing companies are making a loss. This depressing state of affairs was highlighted in a survey by the British Printing Industries Federation in March. But is it all doom and gloom for printers in the UK?
Come along to hear from representatives of printing companies large and small as they explore the challenges faced by their industry. With many publishing companies turning to the Far East for cheaper printing costs, what are the benefits offered by British printers, and do they outweigh the disparity in price? What is the relationship between publishers and printers, and should publishers be persuaded to do more to support the British printing industry?
This month the SYP will be taking things easy in preparation for the OXFORD CAMERA CHALLENGE (details to follow soon). So we thought that we would try and pick our brains at one of the best pub quizzes in town – the Gardener’s Arms.
It is relatively challenging but also lively and entertaining; a combination that isn’t easy to achieve. So if you want to join us to see if we are really as clever as we all think we are then head on down to the Gardener’s Arms in Jericho for a nice relaxed Sunday evening to end the weekend.
Venue Gardener's Arms, Jericho Time 8:30pm Estimated end time 10:30pm
Please find details on our Facebook page and register through the SYP website to give us an idea of how many glamorous prizes we are going to need.
Get your Fujifilm’s at the ready guys because this month we are hosting a treasure hunt to remember. You will be sent around Oxford in search of evidence to answer some fiendishly cryptic clues and pick up a tipple or two along the way.
If running around Oxford taking photos of unusual people and places sounds like your cup of tea then get a group of three–five friends together and see if you can win one of our glamorous star prizes.
Here it is again in brief: Meet at the King's Arms. Three to five people people, one camera, twenty challenges, a few pubs, and lots of fun.
Venue The Kings Arms Time 7:00pm Estimated end time 11:00pm
OXFORD SPEAKER MEETING: LIBRARIES – THRIVING OR SURVIVING?
Speaker Meeting
When was the last time you visited your public library?
As the Bodleian flourishes with publishing projects and electronic developments, do local libraries need our support more than ever before?
Speakers:
Shirley Toase: Manager of Oxford Central Library
Robert McNamee: Head of Publishing and Communications, Bodleian Library
Samuel Fanous: the Electronic Enlightenment Project, Bodleian Library
Shirley Burnham: Save Old Town Library campaign, Swindon
Once a fundamental part of the supply chain of books, journals and magazines from publisher to consumer, local libraries have found themselves under threat from more than one direction. We’ll hear from a dedicated campaigner whose fight to save the Old Town library in Swindon continues. We’ll discuss why it is that libraries hold an important place in the heart of local communities, and how they can adapt to better serve a public with multiple sources of information. Come and share your views.
University libraries are a feature of the Oxford skyline and attract tourists as well as readers. The Head of Publishing and Communications at the Bodleian Library will speak about the publishing projects that keep the Bodleian in the public eye. We’ll also hear about the Electronic Enlightenment project at the Bodleian: the digital initiative making publications accessible and searchable outside the library building via an online subscription.
Yarrr, calling all ye pyrates and buccaneers, on Saturday 25th July, come stretch your sea legs and set sail for the high seas of the River Cherwell with ye olde SYP, me hearties.
The fleet will be setting sail from the choppy waters of Cherwell Boat House at 1.00pm. Remember to bring food and drink (rum or grog) to share with your shipmates.
Ye Captain requests that all sea dogs scrub up in pyrate garb, he expects to see parrots, patches and peg-legs a plenty.
So c’mon matey, what are ye waiting for, sign up and get ready to eat, drink, punt and be merry!
OXFORD SPEAKER MEETING: DON'T FORGET THE AUTHORS ... !
Speaker Meeting
With deadlines and schedules rolling through on a daily basis, it is sometimes easy to neglect the people whose contribution we depend upon: authors! Without authors, publishers would be out of a job, but do we always give them the credit they deserve? So let’s hear about publishing from their perspective – what’s it like to be an aspiring author trying to get published? When that break arrives, what kind of relationship is established between author and publisher?
Confirmed so far:
Andrew Blackman: chosen from hundreds of entries, Andrew was the first winner of the Luke Bitmead Writer’s Bursary, winning a publishing contract with Legend Press. He has a Bachelor’s degree in modern history from Oxford University and a Master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University. He recently moved back to the UK after spending six years in New York, where he worked as a staff reporter for the Wall Street Journal.
His novel, On the Holloway Road, was published by Legend Press in February 2009.
Refreshments will be available.
Venue: Oxford University Press, Walton Street, Oxford
OXFORD SPEAKER MEETING: THE STORY MUSEUM - PUBLISHING BOOKS THAT LAST
Speaker Meeting
A successful children’s book can survive generations of change and development – what is that magic formula? Amongst the rows of books in every children’s department, which titles will still be entertaining our grandchildren?
The Story Museum (www.storymuseum.org.uk) is a new project based in Oxford. The aim is to establish a museum celebrating children’s literature and storytelling by creating spaces for reading, listening, and learning through books. Patrons include Philip Pullman, Michael Morpurgo and Jacqueline Wilson and the project has already taken its message to schools and community venues through lively storytelling performances, exhibitions and activities.
This speaker meeting will look at three stages of the life cycle of a children’s book: publishing, selling and the legacy it leaves. Representatives from each area will talk about the importance and impact of a good children’s book, and what goes into its creation.
Work experience, graduate scheme, internship… Interested yet? City firms bombard universities with details of their entry programmes, so this month we’ll bring the publishing companies to you.
Come along on Thursday 29th October to hear about the placements offered in all sectors of publishing. Find out how to apply and what to include in your application. Learn about the value that publishing companies place on work experience and discover how to make a good impression once you’re there.
Speakers will include representatives from companies offering work experience placements and graduate schemes, employees whose work experience started their careers, and recruitment specialists who know what it takes to get a foot in the door.
It’s fair to say that the Oxford SYP committee has demonstrated a bit of a liking for pubs this year. Two pub crawls, two pub quizzes, and a brewery visit have made us somewhat knowledgeable on the subject of drinking in Oxford. As a result, we’d like to share some of our knowledge with you as we take a tour of some of the older pubs in Oxford. We’ll be meeting at 7:30 on Friday 30 October in the back garden of the Turf Tavern (directions)
From hideaway favourites such as the Turf, to lesser known locations like the Bear, we would like to raise a toast to Oxford’s heritage. C’mon, you know you want to.
Quick Summary:
What? – Historic Pub Tour
When? – 7:30pm, Friday 30 October
Where? – Turf Tavern garden
See you there.
Venue Turf Tavern Time 7:30pm Estimated end time 11:59pm
SYP CONFERENCE 2009 MAKING AN IMPRESSION: THE IMPACT OF PUBLISHING UPON SOCIETY
Conference
Saturday 14th November 10.00am-5.00pm
The theme of this year’s conference is Making an ImPRESSion: The Impact of Publishing upon Society, which will focus on the ways in which the publishing industry engages with, influences and shapes both local and global society. The conference is taking place at Oxford Brookes University on Saturday, 14th November 2009. To find out more details, visit our conference mini-site at www.thesyp.org.uk/conference. Regisitration is now closed. If you have any questions, feel free to email the Oxford SYP Chair Alan Crompton at oxfordchair@thesyp.org.uk.
This month the SYP and OPuS (Oxford Publishing Society) will be joining forces and gazing into the future to consider the fate of academic and STM journals. How will new digital technologies and online communication affect how we publish and use journals, and how will the wider academic publishing community react to the changes? Will researchers still communicate and be evaluated by journal publication?
With journal publishing forming such a large part of the Oxford publishing scene, this is a talk not to be missed.
Speaker: Michael Mabe, CEO of the international association of scientific, technical, medical and scholarly publishers (STM, www.stm-assoc.org).
This event is sponsored by Cadmus Communications, a Cenveo Company (www.cenveo.com).
All good things must come to an end and the Oxford SYP socials are no exception *sob*. So to round off a vintage year for the SYP, the Oxford committee would like to invite you out for a night of fun, laughter and cocktails on Friday 27th November.
Meet the committee in Raoul's Bar on Walton Street from 7pm for our last knees up together before we all go into hibernation for winter. After a drink or two in Raouls we'll be heading down Little Clarendon St to the Duke of Cambridge and Angels, before heading into town later on.
This will be you last chance to socialise with the current SYP committee before we begin the elections for a new committee next year. So if you are interested in getting involved with the SYP next year, come along to find out more.
No need to RSVP, just turn up and get involved. It would be great to round off the year in style, and also to get us in the mood for the festive season. We hope to see lots of you there.
Venue Raoul's Bar Time 7:00pm Estimated end time 12:00am
On Thursday 11th February the SYP Oxford committee will be holding its first Winter Wine Mixer. This event is a great opportunity to talk to the new SYP committee and get involved. If you are keen to advance your career in publishing, to make new friends and get new contacts in the industry; why not come along, pickup a FREE glass of wine and join us.
Don't believe me? Just ask Suzanne Collier from bookcareers.com:
"One of the best ways to get ahead in publishing is to join the committee of the Society of Young Publishers"
Over the course of the evening you will be able to network with fellow young publishers and SYP members to talk about some of the latest publishing trends and to hear about some of the great events that the SYP have planned for the year ahead. Also expect a few speeches as we introduce the new committee and say goodbye to the old committee.
So come and join in the fun this Thursday evening from 6.30pm in Room BG01, Buckley Building, Oxford Brookes University, to meet the new committee and network with fellow young publishers over a FREE glass of wine.
Date: Thursday 11th February 2010 Time: 18:30 - 20:00 Place: Oxford Brookes University, Buckley Building, Room BG01 Contact: alan.crompton@thesyp.org.uk for more information.
They will come together to explain how their own personal careers have been shaped by the industry, and what they see as the development of publishing towards a truly global, inter-connected system.
The evening will have a particular emphasis on the growing industry in India - from the late 19th century to today's issues of outsourcing.
Please join us on March 16th for what promises to be an engaging discussion which will benefit all who work in the industry - new and established.
Select your fate with a roll of the dice: Where should we go? What shall we drink?
If you haven't lived life by the dice, then you haven't lived at all!
Join us for an extra salubrious affair around Oxford's many watering holes, Friday, March 19th...who knows where we might end up? Only the dice and the hand that rolls them will decide! We'll start our travels between 19:30 and 20:00 in The Kings Arms Pub, after that it's all a mystery!
Price: FREE for all (except the cost of your drinks, of course!)
Venue The Kings Arms Time 7:30pm Estimated end time 1:00am
The Society of Young Publishers arranges speaker meetings, workshops and social events which are often free to members and reasonably priced for non-members.
Use the calendar on the left to see what’s on. Unless specified you can just turn up at the event, but feel free to use the given email address for any queries.
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