If you’re passionate about books and literature, you may want to consider a career in publishing. There are a variety of roles available in this industry, from writing and editing to sales, marketing or promotion jobs.
You can start your career in this field by getting an internship with a publishing firm. This will give you a taste of what it’s like to work in the industry and could help you narrow down your focus when it comes time to apply for a job.
Trade publishing
Trade publishing is the realm of general-interest books, both fiction and nonfiction, that are written for a nonspecialist readership and sold through the general retail trade, including bookstores such as Barnes & Noble in the USA and Waterstones in the UK, independent booksellers, and online retailers. These are the books we most often see on our shelves at home or in our local stores.
The world of trade publishing is not always well known, and it can be a difficult field to break into. In order to succeed in this area, an author must be willing to publish their work in a style that is accessible to nonacademic readers and that will also be marketable to the trade.
To be considered for publication, authors should submit their work to a book publisher that is known for a broad range of general interest titles. This can be done through submissions to the editorial boards of a large trade publisher or through an agent who is knowledgeable in this area.
Many trade publishers accept submissions from both writers and publicists, and it is important to follow their guidelines. These guidelines typically require that a submission arrives at the publisher no less than 4 months before the publication date, and that it includes a full bibliography.
Another popular way to get your work out into the world is to self-publish. This can be a good choice for some authors, especially those who have a strong marketing background. In addition, self-publishing is a good choice for those who have no interest in going through the arduous process of being published by a trade publisher.
There are a number of different kinds of trade publishers, and they vary based on their scope and interests. Some, like Oxford University Press, have a wide range of academic scholarship and a distinguished list of reference and trade titles.
Other trade publishers specialize in creating low-cost books and books-related products for the bargain section of bookstores. These include bind-ups of several novels from a single author and reprints of classics in the public domain.
Academic publishing
Academic publishing consists of circulating and sharing scholarly research through journals, books, and dissertations. This field of publishing is undergoing many changes, as it moves from print to digital formats.
A key part of this process is peer review, which ensures that the work being published is relevant to the audience and of high quality. The process also prevents plagiarism and other issues that could undermine research and scholarship.
The journal’s editor and peer reviewers determine whether the submitted work meets these standards. If the content of the manuscript is not of sufficient quality, it will be rejected. This can be a lengthy and difficult process, especially for authors from small research programs or developing nations.
Another important aspect of the academic publishing process is copy editing. This involves ensuring that the English is clear, consistent, and grammatically correct. It is also important to make sure that all references are correctly cited in the text, as this will aid readers in locating a particular source.
Traditionally, this process is done by hand, though modern computer software has made it much more efficient. Proof reading is another important step in the production process, which involves comparing hand-written corrections with the final proof of the manuscript. The process is time-consuming and error-prone, although it has been streamlined by the introduction of e-annotations in Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat.
In addition to peer review, academic publishers provide a variety of other services, including indexing, book and monograph publishing, and open access publishing. Some of these services are free, while others charge a fee to authors for access to their articles.
Some academic publishers are for-profit companies, such as Elsevier and Wiley, that publish thousands of journals. They are notorious for charging subscription fees that are often a significant portion of a university library’s budget. In response to this trend, some universities have cancelled their subscriptions altogether and others are working with the journals they subscribe to to develop an open access model.
One of the best ways to get a feel for the world of academic publishing is to read about it. For example, Laura Portwood-Stacer’s The Book Proposal Book (link here) is a great read for anyone interested in the process of publishing a book. This book walks you through each step of the process, explains what the different terms mean to editors and publishers, and gives you a good sense of how this industry works.
Copywriting
Copywriting is a career that involves writing advertising and promotional materials for a variety of companies. It can be done as a freelancer or in an in-house marketing department. The job requires a strong writing ability, research skills and creativity. The work can involve writing text for websites, email campaigns, advertisements and social media posts. A copy writer uses assigned topics, links and a style guide to write content that is suitable for the business’s audience. A copy editor reviews a copywriter’s work to make sure it is error-free and written in the correct manner. They may change word choices to match search engine optimization (SEO) best practices.
Copy writers and copy editors may be able to get their foot in the door by working as an intern at an advertising agency. Obtaining an internship can give you the experience you need to stand out from other candidates when it comes time to apply for a full-time position. It also can help you build connections with marketing departments in other companies that may be interested in your skills. The employment outlook for copy writers is good, with job growth expected at 8% between 2018 and 2028. A degree in a relevant field can add to your qualifications and set you apart from other copywriters.