1 society of young publishers oxford conference 2007 career success in publishing choice or chance?...

1 Society of Young Publishers Oxford Conference 2007

Career Success in PublishingChoice or Chance?

Nicholas Jones

Giles Clark

Suzanne Collier


What is publishing?


Publishing is . . .

• packaging information, getting it from the author to the end-user at the right price for the market and the lowest possible cost to the producer

• a business, part of the media industry

• matching marketable ideas to good authors

• ‘Infinite attention to detail’ – Billy Collins


What is Success?


What is Success?

• happy?• rich?• famous?• powerful?

• what are you doing now?

• what do you want to do next?

• what skills do you need for that?

• are you missing any of these?


What Departments Do (1)

• Editorial: work on projects that make money

• Rights: work on projects that make money

• Sales: work on projects that make money


What Departments Do (2)

• Marketing:work on promoting projects cost-effectively so that they make money

• Production: work on manufacturing projects cost-effectively so that they make money

• Accounts: count up the money and stop everyone else in the company from spending it unless they really have to


Market Sectors: Summary

• entertainment– fiction– non-fiction

• education and information

• others (multi-media, special sales, etc.)


‘Entertainment’ Fiction

• mass-market

• literary

• children’s


‘Entertainment’ Non-fiction

• mass-market

• ‘niche’

• coffee-table

• children’s


Education and Information

• primary schools

• secondary schools

• tertiary (college and university)

• hobby and instructional

• legal

• business

• scientific / technical / medical (STM)


Multi-media / Electronic

• database

• research abstracts

• interactive educational

• audio on CD and download


Other Markets

• book clubs

• special sales (own brand, etc.)

• covermounts

Society of Young Publishers Oxford Conference 200714

Exciting times – what next?

• audiobooks

• e-books

• i-books (on iPods and iPhones)

• virtual books?

• the walls are being removed, but …

• will the floor go too?


Where do Books Come From?

• radio / television / newspapers

• research (societies, clubs)

• series

• agents

• slush pile

• links with organizations


Roles in the Publishing Process(Summary)

• editorial

• production

• marketing

• rights

• sales

• other


Editorial Work

Three stages in all publishing:

• list-building / acquisition

• desk-editing

• editorial management / copy-editing

and in educational and STM publishing:

• field editing


Production

• estimating (take into account Rights income)

• design: graphics; typography; art editing

• jacket design and printing

• print-buying: typesetting; scans; paper; printing; binding


Marketing

• promotion to the book trade

• promotion to the customer

using:

• direct mail

• advertising: media, outdoor and POS

• PR


Rights

• US and other English language; translations

• co-editions; paperback; book club

• television, film and radio

• serial (first and second)

• merchandising

• licensed editions (large print / own brand); electronic media; audio


Sales

• home – reps.– sales office (key accounts)

• export – overseas reps.– agents


Other Roles

• warehousing; distribution

• finance

• IT and systems

• authors’ agents

• picture research

• rights (outside publishing – scouts, etc.)


OK, so how do we get into all this?


Publishers need readers, so earn up to £500 per week NOW!!!!!

Work from home – minimal outlayPhone us today

Become a Proofreader

No - this is how NOT to!


Reputable Proofreading Courses

• Publishing Training Centre

• London School of Publishing

• Society of Editors and Proofreaders

• Recognised Universities who offer publishing training, for example Oxford Brookes, City University, etc.


Best skill to learn to be an Editorial Director?

• How to read a balance sheet and P&L

• Learn how to present at head offices


Viking Penguin

• 80 unsolicited manuscripts per WEEK

• Publish 85 books per YEAR

• Employ 7 Editors


Chatto & Windus

• 40 unsolicited manuscripts per WEEK

• Publish 45 books per YEAR

• Employ 5 Editors


You think you are in a session aboutPublishing Career Success …

• but you aren’t –

• you are in a session about • marketing

• and the product is• YOU!


Key Skills (1)

• computer skills: PC and Mac

• good telephone manner

• excellent spoken and written English

• reading skills, particularly speed reading

• commercial and business sense

• market awareness


Computer Skills

• General: Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, database

• Design: Quark XPress, InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator (CS3)

• Web: HTML, XML, Dreamweaver


What Publishers Look For

• enthusiasm

• willingness to learn

• people who don’t turn their nose up at a task because they feel it is ‘beneath them’

• willingness to accept responsibility

• people who will work for low pay


Key Skills (2)

• selling an idea

• convincing your colleagues

• selling into the trade

• even in production – how will the book ‘present’ in the shop


Need to Persuade and Sell

• no illusions – publishing is a business

• this underlies your approach to your job

• everything you do should ask ‘who is this aimed at?’

• … so let’s put this into practice


How to Present an Idea

• synopsis• author biog. / track record / marketability• market• comparable titles and USP • suggested format

– possible production demands/problems

• marketing strategy • PR strategy• serialisation and rights possibilities


Resources

• Bookcareers.com

• The Bookseller Magazine online at www.thebookseller.com

• Society of Young Publishers

• Directory of Publishing

• Inside Book Publishing by Giles Clark

http://www.thebookseller.com/




Where to Find Jobs

ADVERTISED

Bookseller

Guardian

Specialist Employment Agencies

NOT ADVERTISED

Speculative letters

Work experience

Society of Young Publishers

Bookcareers.com


Bookcareers.com

• CV Clearing House

• Careers Clinic

• Salary Survey

• Career Development


Contacts

• Nicholas Jones• [email protected]

• Giles Clark• [email protected]

• Suzanne Collier• [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]













1 society of young publishers oxford conference 2007 career success in publishing choice or chance?...

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