Publishing is a highly competitive, over-subscribed field, and entering the industry can seem like a daunting and overwhelming task. However, progress is being made regarding the transparency of the publishing industry and the growing availability of amazing resources for aspiring publishers. These are just some of the groups, events and newsletters that are perfect for publishing hopefuls.
SYP
The Society of Young Publishers is a long-standing community for aspiring publishers, first established in 1949. The SYP is a volunteer-run organisation offering advice, community and potentially mentorship to anyone hoping to make it into the industry. If you’re looking for experience in publishing, anyone can apply as a volunteer to gain useful skills and contacts, with multiple committees based across the UK.
Whilst the SYP does offer a range of free resources and low-cost events for non-members, there is also the option of becoming a member. Annual student membership is £24 and will provide access to their quarterly magazine, Jobs Board and events at a discounted or free rate.
Publishing Hopefuls Facebook Group
This Facebook group is a community of over 3000 aspiring publishers and is a curated space to share questions, concerns and even rants about the struggles of making it in publishing. Every week they share a threat of the latest jobs and internships, making it easy to find all the latest publishing roles in one place. Whilst it appears that everyone is competing for the same set of jobs, there is a wonderful willingness from the community to offer help and advice to anyone struggling with an application question or interview tips. This positive and driven community is the perfect place for anyone interested in publishing.
The Publishing Post
The Publishing Post is a fortnightly newsletter boasting a team of over 100 publishing hopefuls collaborating to bring their 1000+ subscribers a huge wealth of publishing information. It is free to subscribe to receive the newsletter in an email and all articles are also available on their website. From interviews with people in publishing to upcoming events, ways to upskill and the latest releases, the Publishing Post is an incredible resource for those interested in publishing. It is run entirely by aspiring publishers — many of whom have since become working members of the industry — and anyone can get in touch and become a contributor. They can be found at www.thepublishingpost.com.
The Indie Insider
Another incredible, free newsletter dedicated to independent publishing houses and their latest book releases. The Indie Insider spotlights lesser-known publishers and offers amazing insights into unrated works of fiction. They can be found on Twitter @_indie_insider.
Bad Form Review
Bad Form is an incredible platform supporting Black, Asian, and racialised community writers and offers marginalised creative opportunities to develop their publishing skills. Their one-day course, How to Get Into Editorial Book Publishing, is unfortunately sold out, but it is worth following them on social media for future events. Find them at www.badformreview.com
#MarketYourMarketing
#MarketYourMarketing is an events series created by Ellie Pilcher, a marketing manager and debut novelist (What Planet Can I Blame This On? out June 3rd). She offers industry insights into CVs and cover letters, networking and useful side hustles. These events are often collaborations with other writers and publishing professionals and are a great resource for learning more about marketing. All the events are free to register for, and previous events are available on her YouTube channel. She can be found on Twitter @ElliePilcher95.
