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The magazine for the Society of Young Publishers

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Contents Editorial

MeettheCommittee2008Darren Fuller

PublishingintheWorldoFinance:

anEditorsPerspectiveJason Mitchell

TheNationalYearoReadingAshwin Khurana

FreelanceGlanceCharlie Wilson

InDeenceoPublishing:BalancingtheBooks

Alec Dubber

TheEssentialGuidetoWorkExperience

Nora Mahony

ExcitingDevelopmentNorthotheBorder Amy Mitchell

ADayintheLieoEmmaHayleyToni Din

OPuSInternationalEvening2008Katharina Baier

AskRos:CareersClinicRos Kindersley

Oxord/LondonBookClubForumEmily Macleodand

Serena Alam

DatesorYourDiaries

ChairsColumn

34789

?131415

16

1819

20212223

24

2726

InPrint TeamEditor: Daniela Nava

Deputy Editor: Toni DinDesigner/Production Manager: Rebecca FoxSub-Editors: Ailah Ahmed, Sarah Jones, Serena AlamOxford InPrint Coordinator: Faith McDonaldPicture Credits:TO BE FILLED IN

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HelloeverybodyandwelcometoanewissueoInPrint.Asyou

canseewehavegonethroughalittleacelit,asourdesigner

thought it was time or a change. Ihope you like it and I

recommendyoucheckouttheMeettheCommitteearticleon

page4onwardstoseewhoisonboardthisyear.

ToriHuntisnolongeratthehelmothemagazine,having

movedtotheroleoViceChair.MynameisDanielaNava

andImtheluckynewInPrinteditor-Idverymuchliketo

thankToriandtheamazingteamopeoplewhohavewritten,

prooreadandgenerallyhelpedoutwithmyrstissue.

I youre takingyourrst steps intopublishing, then read

page...ortipsonwhattodoand(mostimportantly!)what

nottododuringyourworkexperiencedays.Ontheother

hand,iyouvebeenintheindustryorawhileandareeeling

a little jaded, I suggest youperuseAlecDubbers articleonpage...toremindyourselwhyyouchosethisworldintherst

place-itsaguaranteedpick-me-up!

OurOxord correspondent explores an oten overlooked

sectoropublishing:theworldonance,whileyoucanread

aboutwhatthemembersoOPuShavebeenuptoortheir

recentInternationalEvening.

As usual, we have contributions rom reelancer Charlie

Wilson and recruitment consultant Ros Kindersley o JFL,whohave stayedwith usduring thisperiod o change and

willhelpyounavigatetheripplingwatersotheindustry.I

hopeyouenjoythisissueandIlookorwardtoreceivingyour

comments,sogetwritingtoinprint@thesyp.org.uk.

Daniela Nava is full-time freelance editor, proofreader and translator.

For more information visitwww.thenakededitor.co.uk.

Editorial

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Chair

Jon Slackjslack@thesyp.org.uk

JontakesuphisroleasincomingChairromhispreviouspositionasSYPSocialSecretary.HecurrentlyworksatTaschenUK,mainlyinpublicityandsales.Hehasbeenworkinginpublishingalittleovertwoyears.

DuringhistimeasChairJonhopestoconsolidatetheSYPsreputationas

agreatsourceandnetworktobecomebetteratpublishing,ornewcomers

andalsothosewellintotheircareers.

Joncomments:IthinktheSYPdoesagreatjoboshowing,asithasdoneornearly60yearsasavolunteerorganisation,thatbeingaparto

whatshappeninginpublishingisatthecentreoeverythingwedo.Allthe

eventsandallthesocialisingwegetinvolvedinprove,tomeatleast,that

publishingwillalwaysbechallengingbutintheendalsothemostreward-

ing.ThatswhatbeingintheSYPmeanstome,especiallythisyearasChair

helpingtomakeitmoreexciting,moreresourceul,loadsoun,and

somethingthatmakesusallwanttobebetteratwhatwedo!

Vice ChairTori Hunt victoriahunt82@hotmail.com

T

orihasbeenworkinginpublishingsince2005andiscurrentlyJournal-

ist/SpecialProjectsEditoratPublishingNews.Shemovestohernew

roleasViceChairromherpositionasInPrintmagazineeditor.

DuringhertimeasViceChair,Toriaimstohelpsupervisewhatshe

hopeswillbethemostexcitingSYPprogrammeever,includingputtingin

placeaplantocelebratetheSYPs60thbirthdaynextyear.Shehopestobe

Meet the

Committee 2008Darren Fuller interviews the 2008 Committee members whoshare their hopes and dreams for the year ahead

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page

agoodsupportortheChair(thatsguratively,notliterally!).Givenher

pastexperiencewithInPrint,shewillcontinuetoprovidesupervision;she

willalsobeinvolvedwiththeSYPeventsprogrammeincludingtheAnnual

ConerenceinNovember.

SecretaryMia Kilroymiakilroy@googlemail.com

MiahaspreviouslyworkedasSYPSecretaryandSpeakerMeetingCo-

ordinator.Sheiscurrentlyareelanceprooreaderortradepublishersandworksin-houseorabusinesspublisher.ThisyearmarksMiaslaston

theCommittee.

Havingworkedinthemusicbusinessshendsthecivilityandlacko

sexisminpublishingtobewonderul.Sheis,however,notimpressedbythe

wagesinpublishingNotthatmusicisanybetteronthatcount!

Social SecretaryAngie Solomanangie.soloman@headline.co.uk

AngiewaspreviouslyPressandMarketingOcerortheSYP.SheiscurrentlyworkingorHeadlinebooksasaMarketingExecutive. Angieconsidersherselaverybubbly,un-lovingpersonandthequeen

othrowingpartiesshepromisesthesocialeventsthisyearwilldenitelyhaveatouchoherownpersonaltwist.Angieisalsotryingtothinko

brandneweventsAnyoneancysomepublishingspeeddating?

Treasurer

Sumaiyah Moollasumaiyah.moola@orionbooks.co.uk

SumaiyahstartedherroleasSYPTreasurerin2007andcontinuesorhersecondterm.SheiscurrentlyAssistantEditoratOrionPaperbacks.Shelovesthepace,excitementandbuzzocontributingtobooksthatgoonto

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becommerciallysuccessul.

ThisyearSumaiyahhopestocarryonbeingmoneysavvyandtomake

rational,logicaldecisionswhenitcomestospendinginthehopeohavinga

nicelittlenesteggtocarryorwardinto2009.

Membership SecretaryClaire Morrisonclaire_morrison3@hotmail.com

C

laireisSeniorMarketingExecutiveorCCV,theliterarydivisiono

RandomHouse.ThisishersecondyearasMembershipSecretary,

whichhasprovedtobearolesheloves. Lookingorwardtoorthcomingeventsthisyear,Claireisparticularly

excitedabouttheSYPLondonBookFairevent.Sheisalsoabigano

SYPsocialevents,whichsheeelsareagreatwaytomakegood

contactsandriends.

Press/Marketing OfficersJenny Rowley & Jo OlsenJrowley2@randomhouse.co.uk/joannaruth84@gmail.com

ThisisthesecondyearthatJennyhasbeenaPressandMarketingO-cer.ShecurrentlyworksorRandomHouse,doingpublicityorChatto&WindusandHarvillSecker.

ThisisJosrstyearonthecommittee.Sheiscurrentlystudyingoran

MAatCityUniversity,havingpreviouslyworkedorZondervanintheUS

orayear.

ThisyearJennyandJoarehopingtohonetheprocessopublicisingthe

SYPSpeakerMeetingsassoonaspossible,attractlotsonewmembersand

alsotomakesuretheSYPhasahighproleinthetradepress.

Jobs CoordinatorsAneta Neumann & Julia Wells

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page

mail@aneta-neumann.de/julia.wells@ucl.ac.uk

ThisyeartheJobsCoordinatorsplansomeexcitingdevelopmentstourtherbridgethejob-seekinggap. KeepyoureyeoutortheirnewPersonalAdpageonthewebsiteal-

lowingyou,themembers,toadvertiseyourselorspecicroles,beitwork

experienceoryourrst/second/thpositionexcellentorthesmaller

publishinghousesinneedotalentedrecruits.

Sponsorship OfficerJo Pickeringjopickering8@googlemail.com

ThisisJosrstyearontheCommittee,havingstartedhercareerinpub-

lishinglastautumn.SheiscurrentlyworkingorReadersDigestBooksas

EditorialAssistant.

Shelovesworkingwithexcitingnewction,butndsherselalittlein

aweatthevastnumberobooksbeingpublishedandthechallengeond-

ingnewvoicesinwriting.

DuringhertenureasSponsorshipOcer,Johopestoosterrelationswith

theSYPscurrentsponsorsandtoattractmorenancialbacking.

Speaker Meeting CoordinatorsAnewratotalenttakesthereinsoSpeakerMeetingCoordination.This

yearseesthreenewacesallcurrentlystudyingonthePublishingMA

courseatUCL.

Sean Moss, Rachel Menzies & Ragna Heidweillerseandabean@googlemail.com/rachel.menzies@hotmail.com/

ragan-ragnain@yahoo.com

A

soneotheSpeakerMeetingCoordinators,Seanhopestokeepattend-

ancelevelsashighastheyweretowardstheendolastyear,andipos-

sibletotopthem.Thisyeartheteamaregoingtotrytoengagewithsome

widerdebatesaboutthepublishingindustry,tobringinabroadercrowdand

helptogettheSYPsproleup.

Rachelisparticularlylookingorwardtothepre-Frankurtspeakerevent

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thatwillbearst-timersguidetotheBookFair.Practicaladvicewillbeon

oeraswellasstallsromdierentindustrybodiesverydierentromthe

usuallecturestyleoSYPSpeakerMeetings.

Ragnaishopingtogetgreatspeakerstothemonthlymeetingsthatappeal

bothtoSYPmemberswhoarestillatUniversityandtomemberswhohavebeeninthebusinessorawhile.HergoalistomaketheSpeakerMeetings

interestingandunandtogetahigherturnoutthaneverbeore.

Web Developer

Alex Painteralex@bookhouse.co.uk

ThisisAlexsrsttimeontheCommittee,althoughhehasbeenanSYPmember,onando,orawhilenow.HecurrentlyworksastheMar-ketingManagerorthePublishingTrainingCentre(PTC).

Alexstopprioritythisyearistoensurethatpeoplecansignuponline,

buthehaslotsootherthingsinthepipeline,includingarevampo

thedesignandsomemoreinteractiveeatures.

Web Content EditorKevin Mahoneyeditor@authortrek.com

KevincontinueshisroleasWebContentEditor.Hehasbeenworkinginpublishingproperor9monthsnow,asaCuttingsAdministratoratRandomHouse.Hesalsorunhisownliterarywebsite,Authortrek.com,or10years.

ThisyearKevinaimstobuildonwhatwasachievedwiththewebsitelast

year,andtohelpmakethesiteanevenunkierplacetovisit.Heislooking

orwardtotheSYPseminarattheLondonBookFairthisyear.

Student Liaison OfficerBridgett Kenninghamkenningham_locations@yahoo.co.uk

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page

BridgettisnewtothecommitteeandiscurrentlystudyingoranMAinPublishingatKingstonUniversity.Shehasworkedorthelast10yearsinthelmindustryandisalsoworkingasabursarystudentorKingston

UniversityPress.

ThisyearBridgetthopestoenableaverydirectrelationshipbetweenthe

studentsandtheSYP,andbetheireyesandearsontheground.

InPrint EditorDaniela Nava

enquiries@thenakededitor.co.uk

ThisisthersttimethatDanielahasbeenontheSYPCommittee.Shecurrentlyworksasareelancer(theNakedEditor;www.thenakededi-tor.co.uk)andoersediting,prooreadingandtranslationservices.Her

customersaremainlypublishinghousesbutshehasalsoworkedorother

businessesintheUKandItaly.

ThisyearDanielasroleaseditoroInPrintwillinvolveheroverseeing

averybigteamoreallyenthusiasticpeopleandadesignerwhohaslotsoamazinglygoodideas.InPrintisgoingtohaveaacelitsoonandsheisde-

terminedtobringuseulandinterestingarticlestoSYPmembers.

InPrint Designer/

Production ManagerRebecca Foxgetoxy@hotmail.com

RebeccaFoxyFoxjoinedtheSYPCommitteeasjointSocialSecretarywithClaireShanahan.Shethenwentontodosomedesignwork,suchasconerencecataloguesandposters,andlastyearwasInPrintDesigner.

Shelovesallthecreativeprocessesthatcometogethertomakeabook.

DarrenFulleriscurrentlystudyingoranMAPublishingatUCL.

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Publishing in the World of

Finance: an Editors PerspectiveJason Mitchell reports from the Ox ford Speaker Meeting onone of the lesser known sides of publishing

Oxords fnal Speaker Meeting o 2007 considered the world o

fnancial editing/publishing and working or the City: a large

sector o publishing ot overlooked when considering a career com-

pany within the industry.

Ourguestspeakerortheevening,MarkLeech,sharedhisexperiences

oworkingasaneditororStandard&PoorsandFitchRatings,twoothe

topcreditratingandnancialanalysisagenciesintheworld.Heexplained

howhecametobeworkinginthissectorandwhatdierentiatesitrom

thewiderpublishingarena.Hebeganbyoutliningtheroleothenancial

editor:

Editorsareneededbecausenancialanalystscompilereportsorthecompanysownpromotion.Theeditorsjobistomakesurethesearelegible

andconsistent,sincethesereportsarereadallovertheworld.Itsaverybig

sectorwithlotsocompaniesinvolved,andreportscomeindailybetween

27,000wordslong.Eachreportiseditedon-screenandsentbacktothe

analysts.ThesearethenusedindatabasesandontheInternet.Verylittleo

itisprint-based;thesereportsaremainlyortheweb.

Leechelaboratedontheprocess:Werebasicallythelterbetweentheanalystandwhatgoesout.Thetargetaudienceistheinormedamateur

andthereportneedstobeconcise,consistentandneutrallyphrased(itis

meanttobeunbiased).

Intermsotheskillsrequired,theemphasisisonaccuracy,especially

underpressure,andpatiencewiththeanalystsreports:some60percento

staarenon-Englishspeakers.Itisclearlyatime-criticaloperation:Leechs

currentemployers,StandardandPoors,havesome20analystsworldwide;

eachspendsmonthsworkingontheirreports,analysingcompaniesand

compilingdata.Theeditingprocessisallottedamuchshortertimeschedule.

Incomparisontosimilaron-screeneditingroleswithinthegeneral

publishingeld,editinginthenancialreportingsectorisgenerally

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page

JasonMitchelliseProductionEditoroebooksatTaylor&Francis.

betterremunerated.Thiswasoneotheattractions

orLeech:

Itiswellpaidbecauseeditorsinthisrolearequitea

rarebunch.Therearequiteaewcompaniesandnot

enoughexperiencededitorsoutthere.Otherperks

otheroleormeincludeworkingourdaysathome

andonlyonedayotheweekintheLondonoce.I

hatedworkinginCanaryWhar!

StandardandPoorsrecruitdirectromuniversity,and

theyandtheFTwillconsideremployingcandidates

withoutanancialbackground.Peopleotenenteraneditorialrolewiththeintentionobecomingananalyst,

gainingexperiencebeoreembarkingonaqualication

suchasanMBA.

Thereare,ocourse,certaindrawbackstobe

consideredbeoreworkinginthissector:12hour

workingdaysarethenorm,andthesubjectmattercan

besomewhatdull.Itcanalsobehighpressure:Analysts

occasionallytrytocatchyouout,andtherearenancialsectordicultieswhichresultinstalayo.The

1991/1992recessioncostalotoeditorstheirjobs.

DuringtheQandAthatollowed,Leechinsisted

thatortherightcandidatethisnichebusiness/nance

editorialsectoroersadistinctinternationalelement

(heworkswithcolleaguesinallglobalregionsexcept

theUS),andintermsopersonalandproessional

developmenttherolehasitsclearattractions:Financialeditorsarealwaysindemand,theroledevelopsediting

skillsandtechnique,andspeedimproves.

Correction:InthepastissueoInPrint(No.122),

thearticleonOUPsuggestedthatthecompanyhad

justcelebrateditscentenary,wheninactitisthe

OUPschildrenslistthatcelebrateditscentenary;OUP

hasbeenaroundorabout400years.WeapologisetoOUPandthearticlesauthorthatthiserrorcreptin

duringtheeditingprocess.

12 hourworking

days are

the norm,

and the

subject

matter can

be some-

what dull.

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Freelance

GlanceCharlie Wilson advises us on fees, Ts&Cs and what

to do when coming across the occasional Mr Sludgein our lives

Freelancesnationwideareunitedbyonecommonoverarching

concern:money.Yes,weedit/

prooreadbecauseweenjoythe

workandthevariousperkso

beingsel-employed,butultimately

ourbusinessplanistomakeenough

moneytopaythebillsandlivea

(un!)lieoutsideourwork. WhenIrststartedthinking

aboutgoingreelance,Iheardthe

samethingromallquarters

Dontdoit!Thepaysappalling.

Suchpearlsowisdomdidnt

determe,however;Icertainly

wouldntgetrichbeingareelance

prooreaderandeditor,butIsawnoreasonwhyIcouldntmakeadecent

living.

Earning proper money

Overtheyears,Ivebuiltmy

businesstoapointwhereIm

satisedthatIreceiveaairraterom

eachomyclients.Ocourse,inthe

earlydaysitwasadierentstory,

andmycondenceincharginga

proessionalratetooksometimeto

acquire.Butnow,wheneverIm

quotingoraprojectorlookingat

aclientsproposedcoststructure,I

keepinmindtheollowing:Prooreadingandeditingare

highlyskilledproessional

services.Clientsarepayingor

myexperience,myqualications

andmyskill,andthesethings

comeataprice.

Freelanceshavenoneotheperks

obeingemployed.Wehavenopaidholidays,nosickpay,no

pensiondeals,noocejollies,

nostationerycupboardopenor

aspotopilering.Weootall

thecostsoourbusinesspremises

romelectricityandinsurance,

topostagestampsandink

cartridgesandwedontreceiveanice,predictablepaypacket

eachmonth.Eachprojecteehas

toactorintheseelements.

Iaclientdoesntwanttopaya

aireeormyservices,Idont

wanttoworkwiththem.Bottom

lineis,iyoupaypeanuts,youget

monkeysandImnomonkey.

Zero tolerance or late

or non-payers

ByarthetoughestlessonIvelearnt

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page

inthecourseomybusinessisthat

therespreciouslittleroomorMiss

Nicey-Niceywhenitcomesto

gettingpaid.Mypaymenttermsare

30days,andthatreallydoesmean

thataclientshouldpaybyday30.

Iusedtobetootimidtopush

late-payingclientsandsimplywaited

untiltheydecidedtopayoten

threemonthsatermyinvoice,which

invariablycausedmecashfow

grie.Butlastyearaparticularclient

pushedmetooar.Asaresult,Iwas

orcedtolooklongandhardatmy

accountsprocedureand,asLady

Macbethputit,screwmycourage

tothestickingplace.

Theclientinquestion(whoIshall

callMrSludge,justorun)owedme

almost3,000oraparticularproject

aprettysignicantsumomoney.

Wehadworkedtogetherbeoreand,

thoughnotaastpayer,MrSludge

hadalwayspaidinvoiceswithno

quibbles.Thereore,Ihadnodoubts

thatmyinvoicewouldbepaidina

timelymanner.Buttimepassed,and

mybusinessbankaccountremained

woeullyshortounds.

Overtheollowingmonths,

MrSludgeandIexchangedmany

communications,inwhichheassured

metimeandtimeagainthatIwould

bepaidvery,verysoon.Hehada

wealthoexcuses,mostowhich

wereveryplausible,soatrstI

waspreparedtowaitandkeepour

businessrelationshipsweet.Butateracertainpoint,Ihadtoyankmyhead

outothesandandstartbehavinglike

abusinesswoman.

Needlesstosay,MrSludgewas

lessthanimpressedwhen,ve

monthsatertheinvoice,Ihireda

debtcollectorandthenledcourt

proceedingsagainsthim.Theperectly

nicemanIhadonceworkedwith

becamealiarbeoremyeyes.Im

yettoseeMrSludgeincourt,butI

havebeenassuredbyexpertsthathe

doesnthavealegtostandon.Ihave

plentyopaperworktoshow

Icompletedtheprojectorhim,

senttheinvoiceandchasedhim

ormonths.MrSludgewillbe

compelledtopaymethebalance

otheoutstandinginvoice,plus

courteesandahetychargeor

interestandcompensationorhis

latepayment.Ishallcelebrateby

givingmylong-sueringVISA

cardarest.

Charlie says

ThemostvaluableadviceIcan

giveanyreelanceisnottolet

anybodypushyouaround.Iyou

wanttosucceedatreelancing

(andsleepeasyatnight)gettough

withanyonewhothinkstheycan

tramplealloveryoubypayingyouapittanceor

notpaying

youatall.

Beingassertive

cansometimes

beastruggle,

butyoureally

havenothingtolose.Iyour

clientisnt

preparedtotreatyouairly,whyworkwiththem?Youreworthmore.

Iyouhaveanyquestionsaboutreelancing,youcanemailmeat

ino@perectlywrite.co.uk.

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Lookaroundyouonthetrain,onthebus,inthecoeeshop:therearebookseverywherepeople

needbooks.Publishingremains

relevantandvital.Yetwithdebates

inallquartersaboutpay,prospects

andopportunities,andagreatuncertaintysurroundingtheuture

otheindustryinthedigitalage,

eventhemostloyalartsgraduate

maystarttothinktwiceabout

publishingwhenacedwitha

wealthoother(otenmore

nanciallyrewarding)options.It

issaetoassumethatthevastmajorityoyoungpublishers,or

thoselookingtoentertheindustry,

havealong-standingloveo

books,butisbecomingapublisher

toomuchoasacricetomake

orthislove?

FlickthroughthisyearsTimes

Top100GraduateEmployerslist,andyoullndonlyone

publishinghouse,amidstarange

oaccountancyrms,banks,and

managementconsultancies.A

soberingobservation.

Yettoseethisasa

starkrefectionon

theindustry,andthe

opportunitiesitoers

tograduates,wouldbe

wrong. Themajorityo

publishinghousesare

relativelysmall,and

mostdonotoer

graduaterecruitment

schemesassuch,

anditisthereore

misleadingtocomparethemwithgraduate

employerswhich

operateonamuch

largerscale.Indeed,

operatingonasmall

scalecanmakeora

close-knitandsociable

workingenvironmentwhichemployersin

othersectorsarenot

alwaysabletooer.

Publishingisnotable

In Defence of Publishing:Balancing the BooksAlec Dubber answers criticisms of the industry and argues

that now is an exciting time to enter the world of publishing

for books are not absolutely dead things, but docontain a potency of life in them to be as active asthat soul was whose progeny they are John Milton,

Areopagitica

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page

tocompeteintermsothenumber

ovacanciesitoersgraduates

thosecurrentlyapplyingorrst

jobsintheindustrywillknowthat

thecompetitionorpositionsiserce.Butipublishingisoryou,it

canbeworththestruggle.

IdontthinkIneedtotellthose

whoareconsideringacareerin

publishingothepleasurethatcanbe

gainedrombooks.Aloveobooks

iswhatdrivesthoseintheindustry,

andthesatisactiontobegainedromcommissioning

anewbook,and

seeingitthroughrom

deliverytopublication,

canbeimmense.As

AmandaGilbert,othe

publishingrecruitment

agencyInspiredSelection,says:Most

peopleenterinto

publishingbecause

theyloveworkingon

aproducttheyeel

passionatelyabout

(namelybooksand

literature!)ratherthanworkingeveryday

withaproductthey

dontlike.

Andorthosethat

lovebooks,acareer

inpublishingoers

theopportunityto

exploreeveryaspectowhatgoesinto

makingone.Amanda

Gilbertpointsoutthat

publishingisprobably

oneotheonlyindustriesinwhich,

regardlessowhichdepartment

youworkin,yougraduallydevelop

anunderstandingothewhole

process.Inmanypublishinghouses,youwillworkinrelativelysmall

teams,andyourinputcanmakea

substantialdierence.Althoughthis

canbedauntingatrst,theamount

ocontrolwhichmanyrolesoer

overtheproductionoabookis

compellingandexciting.

Aspublishingfirtswiththedigitalage,thisisauniqueand

ascinatingtimetojointhe

industry.AsRosKindersley,o

publishingrecruitmentagencyJFL

Search&Selection,says,publishers

areconstantlychallengedbytrends,

newtechnologyandcompetition.

Whoknowswhatpublishingwilllooklikeinten,orevenve,years

time?Willtheboundariesbetween

book,magazineandonline

publishingbecomeblurredasall

contentmovestowardsasingle

ormat?Whatiscertainisthatthis

generationoyoungpublisherswill

beinstrumentalindeterminingtheutureopublishing,andin

revolutionisingthewaythatpeople

accessandabsorbinormation.

Todaysyoungpublisherswill

occupyacrucialplaceinthe

narrativeotheindustry,and

indeedoneothemostattractive

aspectsoacareerinpublishingisanawarenessotheindustrys

history:howithasallowednew

voicesandideastobeheardin

literature,politics,science;howit

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hasprovidedanarchiveomodernsocialhistory,andhowithasshaped

cultureandsocietyinawaythatewotherindustriescan.

RosKindersleyventuresthatthoseinpublishinghavetakenan

unspokenoaththattheywillsuernanciallyandworkorpeanuts

whilebuildingacareerthatisgoodorthesoul.Itslargelytruethat,unlessanduntilyoureattheverytop,yourend-o-yearbonus(iyou

receiveoneatall)willnevercomparewiththoseinbig-businessinthe

City.However,therehasbeensomeimprovementinrecentyears,and,

saysRos:publishersareawarethattheyhavetooeranattractivepackage

tokeepgoodpeople.Tobesurroundedeverydaybyanenvironmentthat

stimulatesyou,tobecreatingproductsthatinorm,entertainandeven

provoke,andtohavetheopportunitytomakeasignicantdierenceto

theutureoyourindustryisarewardinitsel.Andtoseeastrangeronatrainengrossedinabookthatyouhaveplayedanysmallpartinproducing

isarareanduniqueeeling.

Alec Dubber is Assistant Editor, Economics, at Palgrave Macmillan.

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page

Th e E ss entia l Gui d e

to Work Exp e r i en c eNora Mahony illustrates the dos and donts of this rite ofpassage that so many young publishers go through

Spareathoughtorthatmuch-malignedperiodinalloourpublishinglives,thosekeyandseeminglyendlessweeksounpaidworkexperience.Thesetipsarestandard,butkeeptheminmindasyougoyoud

besurprisedhowmanypeoplemissthemarkandhow

easyitistoberememberedasagreatcandidateor

upcomingentry-leveljobs.

For your appli cation:-Prooreadyourentireapplicationandnow,doitagain.

-Senditinontimeandtothecorrectaddress.Alludetoanyextra

materialsinyourcoverletter,e.g.writingsamplesavailableuponrequest

ormyulldesignportolio/booksblogcanbeviewedatwww

On r e c eiving th e o f f e r:-Askaboutanyremunerationandwhatreceipts,bankingdetails,etc.you

mayhavetoprovide.

-Askaboutdatesandtimes,hoursowork,dresscode,etc.

-Itherestime,requestacataloguesothatyoucanreadup.

For your fi r st day:-Makeaneort:brushyourhair,shave,wearsomethingclean,ironedandcomortable.Dontwearanythingtoorevealing.

-Arriveveminutesearly.

-Introduceyoursel.

-Bepreparedtogowiththefowatlunchtimeandatthedaysend.

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Wh i l e at work:Sayyes.Whensomeoneasksyoutodosomething,smileandsayyes.I

youhavebeengivenmultipletaskssimultaneously,continuetosmileand

sayyes,andaskwhichtaskshouldtakepriority.

Do not u s e your mo bi l e oriPo dNusaid.

Do not compla in

Iyouareatthecompanyorawhile,trytospeaktosomeoneaboutthe

kindoworkyoudliketodo,butotherwiseyoucanbutmakeitknown

thatyoudbeVeryInterestedtoReadSubmissions,orthatyouwould

ReallyLovetoWorkonaPublicityCampaign.

VolunteerBepreparedortheactthatsomethingscantbedelegated.Also,try

volunteeringorthejobsnoonewants;iyoudosomeoneaavour,theyaremorelikelytolistenwhenyouexpressyourPassionateInterestinX.

Ta k e a n int e r e stDontunderstandwhyyouredoingsomethingorhowyourtasktsinto

thebiggerpicture?Whentheresaquietmoment,askquestions.Doingso

willhelpyoutogettoknowmoreothesta,andwillgetyounoticed

andremembered.

Ask for a r e f e r en c e,or,iyougotonparticularlywellwithacertainstamember,askiyoucouldlistthem

asareeree.Checkwithallreereeswhatcontactinormationyouhave

permissiontolist.

Youstandtolearnanenormousamount,makecontactsandevengeta

joboutoyourplacement,and(heresthegoodpart)youshouldonlyneed

todothisaewtimesbeoresomeonewilllookatallthoselovelylineson

yourCVandgiveyouarealjob.Untilthen,trytoenjoyit;itis,asthey

say,whatyoumakeit.Somakethebestoitandtrytokeepyourwits

aboutyouandyoursenseohumourkeen.

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1

page

T heScottishSYPwasociallylaunchedwithawonderulsoireduringtheEdinburghBook

FestivalinAugustlastyear.Since

thenthingshaveprogressedtothe

pointthatwehavenowdecidedit

istimetoevolveevenurther.So

arwehavebeenhavingmonthly

meetingsinconjunctionwiththe

Edinburghliteraryorganisation,the

City of Literature.Thesehavebeen

extremelybenecialorestablishing

theScottishSYPspresenceand

turnouthasbeenpositive.However,

wenoweelitsimportantto

establishastrongeridentityandto

takeonmorechallenges.Thereore,

inadditiontothecurrentsocial

meetings,wearegoingtobranch

outanddevelopourremiteven

urther.Eachmonthweplanto

haveadditionalmeetingswitha

smallergroupopeople,specically

thoseworkinginpublishingor

otherliterarysectors,inorderto

discussrelevantissueswhichare

particularlyimportanttothem.We

plantotakethecurrentormata

stepurtherandhaveintroductoryspeakersatthebeginningoeach

sessionwhowillopenthediscussion.

Thetopicscoveredwillbewide-

rangingsoeelreetogetintouchi

youhaveanysuggestions.Weeelits

necessarytoprovideaurtherorum

inScotlandorpeopletoexpress

theiropinionsandideaswithinthe

atmosphereothevibrantpublishing

sceneuphere.

Wehopethat

eachmeeting

willbring

alivelyand

worthwhile

discussion.

Wewillalso

beaddingto

thesenseo

community

inScottish

publishingbysendingouta

newsletteratereachmeeting

summarisingthesubjectatthecentre

oourmeetingandtheresulting

discussionthissparked.Primarily,we

wantthistobeunandsomething

thatpeoplewilleelpassionateabout

beinginvolvedwith.Itisanexciting

steporwardandanexpansionothe

ScottishSYP,soianyoneisinterested

incomingalongorwouldliketondoutmore,pleasecontactmeat:

amy.mitchell@mainstreampublishing.com

Exciting DevelopmentNorth of the BorderAmy Mitchell reveals all about the plans

the Scottish SYP has in store for 2008

.

Amy Mitchell works in Marketing and Rights at Mainstream Publishing.

amy pic

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A Day In the Life ofEmma HayleyToni Din interviews Emma Hayley, Director of Metro MediaUK, for a deeper insight into independent book publishing

EmmaHayleysetupMetroMediain2003,primarilyocussingonbookpackagingandwentnichewhenshelaunchedSelMadeHero,agraphicnovelandmangabookimprint,in2007.

Hayleypreviouslyworkedasajournalist,lmPR,andeditorialdirector

oranumberosmallpublishers.Herbackgroundispredominantly

ineditorialrolesbutshehasmovedontoocusonthebusinessandentrepreneurialsideobookpublishing.

SincethelaunchoSelMadeHero,shewasshortlistedasYoung

PublisherotheYear,aspartotheBritishBookIndustryAwards.Here

shegivesusalittleinsightintoherworkinglieandherthoughtsaboutthe

publishingindustry.

What does an average working daylook like for you?SinceIdidapostgraduatediplomainjournalismatCityUniversity,Ihave

alwaysbeeninpublishingeitherasajournalistoraseditorialmanageror

magazinepublishersandbookpublishers.Themainthingaboutpublishing

isthereisnosuchthingasa95day.Youneedtobepreparedtowork

longhourswhetheryouareworkingorsomeoneelseorrunningyour

owncompany.

What are the upsides of your job?Iamquitehands-onwithallothebooksthatwepublish.Ienjoybeing

partothecreativeprocess.Ialsoenjoythecontrastothiswiththe

businesssideotheoperation.Torunasuccessulbusinessyouneed

tobeconstantlyawareothenumbersanduturepotentialdeals.Iam

alwayslookingornewideasonesthatarenotonlyinnovativebut

alsocommerciallyviable.Ienjoylookingtotheuturewithaparticular

visionandseeingthechallengesthatliebeoreme.And,Iparticularlylike

workingwithatalentednetworkoartistsandscriptwriters.

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21

page

What are the downsidesof your job?Inthebooktrade,youneverknowhowwellyour

bookisgoingtosell.Youcanestimateandguess

butintheendyouneverknowwhetheryour

bookisgoingtobeasuccessoraailure.When

youarerunningacompanywhereyoumustbe

commerciallysuccessultosurvive,itcanprove

extremelystressul.Cashfowisotenaproblemor

smallcompanies.WhenIrstthoughtostartingmyownbusinessIimaginedalieoreedom,going

onholidaywhenIwantedandsoorthinact,the

oppositeistrue.Becausethecompanyisyourown

responsibilityitismuchmorediculttohavethat

sortoreedom.

What steps would yourecommend to takeif someone wishes topursue the same careerpath as you? And what

do they have to lookout for?Iyouaspiretorunyouownpublishingcompany,

Iwouldrecommendyoundoutwhatsortoa

personyouarerst.Doyouenjoyleadingordoyou

liketobeled?Doyouenjoyalotoresponsibility?

Areyouabletohandlestresswell?Areyouable

tohandlepeoplewell?Doyouhavethequalitiesneededtobeasuccessulbusinessman/woman?

What is your opinion on

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the uproar about poor wages inpublishing?Iyouareinpublishing,youneedtobepassionateaboutwhatyouare

doing!

SelfMadeHero is covering ahighly specialised niche market.How important do you think, isdiscovering a niche market at the

right time and in what way hasSelfMadeHero done that?Iidentiedtheincreasingriseinsalesographicnovelsandmanga

globally,andparticularlyintheUK,andIcameupwiththeideaoManga

Shakespeareintheyearwhengraphicnovelsaleshadrisenby98%rom

2004to2005.Thetimingwaskey.NowIhavealotocompetition!

Do you think SelfMadeHero maybe contributing to the battleagainst teenage illiteracy?Teenagersarearmorevisuallyliteratethanpreviousgenerations.Re-

inventingtheclassicsinavisualwaymustundoubtedlyappealtoayounger

generation.So,yes,ontheonehand,ourbooksencourageteenagersto

read,andontheotherhandwealsoseethebooksasreshinterpretationsotheclassicsthathavetheirownmeritoutsideoencouragingliteracy.

What are the most importantaspects of running a successfulpublishing house?Youneedtobeabsolutelypassionateaboutwhatyouaredoing,youneedtohaveavision,andyouneedtochooseateamwhocanexecuteyour

visionsuccessully.

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23

page

In a few words, what do youthink the future of publishinglooks like?Itisveryimportantthatbookpublishersunderstandtheimportanceandeectodigitalisation.Thebookwillneverdiebutpublishersneedtolook

atnewmediatostayahead.

FormoreinormationonMetroMediasproductsandtheteamvisit

www.selmadehero.com.

EmmaHayleyinJapanontourwithmangaartists.Sheisseenherewithawishtree

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24

page

TheannualOxordPublishingSocietyInternationalEvening,heldthis

yearonthe29JanuaryinBotley,isbecomingrmlyestablishedasa

ocaleventinthepublishingsocialcalendar.

Itisalsogradual lyworkingitswayaroundtheworld,withthisyearsstopbeingIndia,aterlastyearsvisittoSpain.ThechoicerefectedIndias

growingimportanceasaworldeconomicpowerhouse,andnotjustin

publishing.OPuSwereortunatethatNewgenImagingSystems,oneo

theleadersoIndiasnewpublishingsurge,agreedtosponsortheevening.

BasedinChennai,theirEuropeanoceisinOxordandrunbyAneeta

Madhavan,whogaveabrieoutlineotheimpressivescopeohercompa-

nysoperations.

Otherspeechesollowed,anditwasatributetothespeakersthatmostotheattendeesmanagedtoresistchargingthebuet,despiteenduringthe

exquisitetortureosmellsromthedeliciousIndianeastbubblingawayin

thebackgroundthroughout.Alsoaddingtotheatmospherewasauthentic

IndianclassicalmusicprovidedbyNimPathyonfuteandPrashantPotnis

ontabla.

Itisworthnotingthepresenceoawidemixopeopleromdierent

typesocompaniesandorganisations.Thisillustratedhowmuchpublish-

inghasgrownintheOxordarea,andhowvarieditis,withpeopleromcompaniesincludingElsevier,Wiley-Blackwell,OxordUniversityPress,

TaylorandFrancis,Imago,Macmillan,LionHudson,PUPandManches.

TherewerealsovariousreelancersplusahealthysprinklingoBrookes

students,allmanagingtonetworkandhaveunatthesametime.

Lookingorwardtonextyearsevent,OPuSiskeentohearromanyone

whohasanysuggestionsastowhichinternationalvenueshouldbethe

nextstop.Pleasealsotakealookatwww.opus.net.co.ukorinormation

onotherorthcomingOxordPublishingSocietyevents,whichincludeInternationalMarketinginApril,ajournalseventinMayandtheannual

authoreventinJune.

Katharina Baier is Library Marketing Executive at Taylor & Francis

OPuS International

Evening 2008Katharina Baierreports from the popular OPuS InternationalEvening 2008, which brought together well-known compa-nies, freelancers and students

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Oxford Book ClubCoordinator Emily Macleod

discusses Other Peoples Moneyby Neil Forsyth

Onararedepartureromction,wepickedatrue-liestoryorourJanuary

read.OtherPeoplesMoneyisthestoryoElliotCastro,Britainsmostaudaciouscreditcardraudsteranditscertainlyworthareadbyanyonewith

acreditcard.

Notmanypeoplehaveenoughmaterialtollajuicybookbytheirearly

twentiesbutwediscoveredthatElliotisnoordinaryyoungman.Toldinthe

rstperson,OtherPeoplesMoney is aconvincing pseudo-autobiography

inwhichtheauthorneithergloriesnor judgesElliotsactions.Thestory

is,however,ulloexcitementandsparkleasElliotdeceiveshiswayacross

theglobe.Thisaccountistemperedwithsoberingdetai lsoEll iotsstaysinprisonwhich,thoughprovidingasharpcontrast,arenotoverplayedinthe

styleoatweemoralitytale.Indeedsomeaspectsothestory,namelyElliots

sexuality,whichcouldeasilyhavebeeninfatedtodominatethenarrative,

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aredealtwithsensitivelyandmatter-o-actly.This,

weelt,wasasignthattheauthorhadbeensuccessul

inwritingasElliot,orwhomthesedetailswerethe

normandsodidnotneedtobesensationalised.

NeilForsythkindlycamealongtoourdiscussion

tondoutwhatthebookgroupthought,bringing

withhimcopiesoElliotsbankstatementsandthe

cautiousletterhereceivedromElliotwhenherst

wrotetohiminprisonwithaproposaltointerview

him. This paper trail, he explained, is the most

accuratewayotrackingElliotsspendingsprees,the

details o which Elliot himsel struggles to recall.

Spendingwasanaddictionthatobviouslybecameless

andlessulllingandlessandlessabletocompensate

orhisenduringloneliness.

Thereadercandetectseverallevelsodeceptionin

thenarrative;asElliotliesandcommitsraudtohide

himsel,hestealsotheridentitiestopreventhimrom

havingtoconronthisown.Towardstheendothe

booktheresapowerulsenseoinevitabilityabout

hiscaptureandasenseoatigueabouttheendothe

chase.Elliotrecognisesthathehasreachedtheend

othelineandtheresanoverwhelmingreliewhen

hesnallyputunderthesupervisionandcontrolo

somebodyelse.

What were we let thinking ater reading this

book? I believe wewere all quite surprised at just

howstraightorwarditwasorElliottolayhishands

on other peoples money without getting his own

dirty.Initiallyhedoescommitactsothetbutthe

bigmoneycomestohimthroughraud.

Thiswasathoroughlyenjoyableandentertaining

read inwhich the author created genuine empathy

orEll iotin spiteo,and certainlyneverowingto,

his criminal activity. During our discussion, Neil

toldthegroupthathebelievesElliotisessentiallya

goodratherthanabadperson,andthatwithoutthis

premise,hewouldneverhavewrittenthebook.So,while this is no traditionalmorality tale, ethicsdo

playapart;Elliothasbeenjudgedromthebeginning

butitsagoodjudgementandthereaderisconvinced

The

readercan detect

several

levels of

deception

in thenarrative

Emily McLeod is the oxford SYP Book Club Cooordinator

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oitsintegrity.

Neiliscurrentlywritinganovel.OtherPeoplesMoneyisoutinpaperback.

Seewww.neilorsyth.comormoredetails.

.Ask Ros: Careers Clinic

Advice from the SYPs favourite agony aunt

Dear Ros,

I have just graduated from university and have been told in interviews that I

would benet from getting more experience. At the moment I cant afford to

accept unpaid work so how can I get temp jobs in publishing?

Elizabeth, Birmingham

Dear Elizabeth,

First of all, well done for getting your degree! But this is only the beginning.

The most important thing for you to focus on now is getting ofce experience.

Contain, for a moment, your passion for books and concentrate on learning the

basics of ofce etiquette and you can do this in a variety of ways. There are

plenty of temp jobs for receptionists and administrative assistants where you

can gain condence on the telephone and pick up invaluable IT skills in Word,

Outlook, Access, Excel and PowerPoint.

Once you are fully equipped with ofce skills, you can start applying for

entry-level jobs in publishing. These are likely to be assistant roles and may

be temporary or permanent, remembering of course that many temporary jobsevolve into a permanent position once you have made yourself indispensable.

Also, do remember to do your research into publishing; look around book-

shops to gain an understanding of the different genres and categories, read

the book reviews in the papers and start building a knowledge of the different

publishing disciplines. Good luck!

Dear Ros,

Ive been working in a bookshop for the past couple of years and now wouldlike to move to a publishing house. How can I convince the interviewer that

Im right for the editorial job I have applied for?

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Andrew, Bath

Dear Andrew,

Two years experience in a bookshop will give you a fantastic head start over

other candidates applying for entry-level jobs in publishing. In addition to

your natural love of books, you will now have an invaluable insight into what

sells and the different genres, ranging from Childrens to Adult Trade Fiction,

to Mind Body Spirit and Illustrated Lifestyle. You will also know the range of

different publishers, their authors and what they specialise in and in particu-

lar you may have been involved in promotions such as book signing events.

I feel that rather than focusing solely on editorial, you could consider some of

the other disciplines, such as rights, sales, publicity or production as these sec-

tors offer great career paths too. Your knowledge of the retail and commercial

side of publishing will be invaluable for any discipline you decide to go for.

Your best chance of convincing your interviewer that you can add value is by

conveying your passion for the industry, your insight into the book trade and

your willingness to be exible. And nally, remember to do your homework

before the interview. Preparation is key!

Ros Kindersley is Managing Director of JFL Recruit Search & Select. To ask

Ros your question, email inprint@thesyp.org.uk

Words: 472 it will take up 1 and pages

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Dates for your Diaries

For regular news on forthcoming events, please ensure you are sub-scribed to our press emails. All the events are regularly updated with

the latest details on www.thesyp.org.uk and the SYP Facebook grouppage.

Tuesday 15 AprilGetting Ahead in UK Publishing London Book FairWednesday 23 AprilThe OED De-mystied (Oxford)

Monday 28 April

London Speaker Meeting: Going it Alone Independent Publishing,Bookselling and Start-upsWednesday 21 MayBTBS/SYP Pub CrawlWednesday 28 MayProof-reading/skills taster session (Oxford)

Monday 2 JuneLondon Speaker Meeting: Book production a matter of ethics?

Wednesday 25 JuneHow to start writing a novel/Commissioning new novelists (Oxford)

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Chairs Column

If any event on the UK publishing calendar can demonstrate in a single sweep

the sheer scale of this industry it is the London Book Fair, this month in Earls

Court from the 14

th

to 16

th

. If you havent been to one before then now is thetime no amount of facts or gures compares to an hour walking the vast

oor space and taking in the offerings of this giant book market. If youre a

student you can still register and attend LBF at no charge; most of the semi-

nars are free to attend as well, the most crucial, of course, being hosted by the

SYP. The panel will discuss how to get ahead in UK publishing and Id highly

recommend arriving early to get a seat!

Among the many events we are organising, May sees the return of the hugelypopular BTBS Pub Quiz weve moved to a larger venue and found our-

selves a larger wooden spoon to go with it. In September, with the Frankfurt

Book Fair looming large, the SYP is hosting an event focused on how to

make the best of this potentially daunting experience. It will be a truly unique

Speaker Meeting and indispensable for anyone attending Frankfurt or interest-

ed in what happens at the worlds largest book fair.

Our monthly Speaker Meetings are more popular than ever and were turn-

ing a brighter spotlight on the issues that matter to the industry. At our now

regular home in Foyles Gallery, weve already addressed the tricky business

editors face when predicting publishing trends, plus the myriad of challenges

in the Childrens book market. Each month we look at a different sector with

some of the biggest names in the game imparting their wisdom these events

are free for members and can all be found on our website.

The centrepiece of our year is the SYPs Annual Conference this November

a packed day of key seminars on how technology is affecting the industry,

paired with careers clinics designed to help you succeed in publishing. The

event is an SYP speciality and an example of what a network of publishers

can offer: support and insight made possible with genuine enthusiasm for the

work were involved in.

In short, a good time to get involved!

Jon Slack is working in Sales & Publicity at Taschen Booksand can becontacted atjslack@thesyp org uk