Picture a book on a shelf at home or in the classroom – can you imagine the various processes and people involved in producing it?
From authors, editors, production, designers, legal, publicity, sales, audio, technology, and distribution teams – it takes many teams, job roles and skills to bring a book from concept to the printed and bound product you see before you.
Of course, publishing doesn’t just relate to printed materials – the sector is responsible for communicating ideas through a variety of channels including audio books, e-publications, apps, websites, digital materials and much more.
Delivered in collaboration with Quercus publishers, part of Hachette UK and famous for publishing titles including The King's Speech, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and SAS Great Escapes, this online industry insight introduced professionals from across the sector who shared a glimpse into what their jobs involve and how they got them.
The panellists included:
- Carrie Hutchison, Audio Editor
- Nicole Thomas, Commissioning Editor
- Charlotte Gill, Digital Marketing Manager
This discussion was chaired by Ana Sampson McLaughlin, Campaigns Director at Quercus.
We have listed several links to resources below to support your engagement with this event. A ‘Focus on publishing and literature’ lesson plan will be available soon.
Warm-up exercise
This short 10-minute exercise is designed to get your students thinking about the publishing and literature sector – this could be done as a class or in small groups.
Consider the following job roles within the publishing sector, what type of tasks do you think they’re responsible for?
- Production Assistant
- Editorial Assistant
- Designer
- Rights Assistant
Useful links and resources
- Video with Quercus Books about three different roles in publishing: https://discovercreative.careers/video-programme/performing-arts/quercus-books/
- Video with Cambridge University Press about the role of an apprentice editorial assistant: https://discovercreative.careers/video-programme/performing-arts/cambridge-university-press/
- Useful information about the different teams and job roles involved in publishing via the Publishers Association: https://www.publishers.org.uk/about-publishing/careers/
- Apprenticeships in publishing via the Publishers Association: https://www.publishers.org.uk/about-publishing/publishing-professional-apprenticeship/
- The publishing process at Penguin Random House – film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L623vxbbp_w
- How to get into publishing via Prospects: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/job-sectors/media-and-internet/how-to-get-into-publishing
- Find out about life as an apprentice at Cambridge University Press in our ‘where I work’ film: https://discovercreative.careers/video-programme/performing-arts/cambridge-university-press/
Founded in 2004, Quercus specialises in literary and commercial fiction, translated fiction and international nonfiction, in digital and print formats. Quercus has won many awards, including Small Publisher of the Year and Publisher of the Year in 2011. Bestselling authors include Stieg Larsson, Peter May, Ben Brooks, Sarah Knight and Elly Griffiths. Quercus is part of Hachette UK, which is a leading UK trade publishing group.