Career Information

Book publishing is an amazing industry that of course depends on the writers of the books that it publishes. But the writer, although a pivotal job, is one of the scores of jobs available to those who want to work in this ever-changing and all-important industry of books. There are those who work for and with the writer, the literary agents, as well as those who edit the writer's words, the editor, copyeditor, and proofreader, all performing different editorial functions. There are also, at larger houses, editors whose sole function is to acquire books and other editors who develop those titles. There are those in production, from graphic designers and interior book designers to book jacket designers, copywriters, and desktop publishers to those who teach about book publishing in masters or non-degree programs.

Although the process of creating and getting published is still based on hard work and well-written prose, poetry, and illustrated children's books, desktop publishing, as well as electronic books, POD (print on demand), and online bookstores have revolutionized the book industry in the last two decades.

Careers in Book Publishing Resources

If you are pursuing a career in book publishing, you might find the book I co-authored with my husband Fred useful to you. Here's an e-mail Fred and I received from a recent college graduate who was kind enough to share her enthusiasm for our book with us:

Hi Mr. and Mrs. Yager,

I just wanted to drop you both a quick note to tell you how much I appreciated Career Opportunities in The Publishing Industry. I graduated from college this May with a degree in English and have felt lost in my search to begin a career. (If one more person asks me if I want to be a teacher...) Your book really gave me some much needed inspiration and focus. I've always loved books, magazines, newspapers --anything to do with reading and writing and now feel like I have that "calling" I've always dreamed about. I am eager to begin a career in publishing (hopefully book publishing) and am grateful to you for helping point out the way. I love the way the book is organized and your helpful tips are much appreciated. Once again, thank you!

Best,

J. B.

Yager, Fred and Jan Yager. Career Opportunities in the Publishing Industry. NY: Facts on File, Inc., 2005. Foreword by Pat Schroeder, President and CEO, Association of American Publishers (AAP). Hardcover edition, Ferguson, an imprint of Facts on File, Inc. Publishing. Trade paperback edition, Checkmark Books, an imprint of Facts on File, Inc. Profiles of 86 jobs in books as well as newspapers and magazines. Includes an introduction to the history and current state of the book publishing business. Each profile covers the job's duties, alternate titles, salary range, employment prospects, advancement possibilities, prerequisites, a career ladder, special skills, and associations or unions as well as tips for entry. Extensive appendixes including undergraduate and graduate degree programs, non-degree publishing programs and courses, unions and associations, internships, selected companies, agencies, and fellowships, trade shows and conferences, basic proofreading symbols, a glossary, and a bibliography.

Available at your favorite local or online bookstore or directly from the publisher Facts on File, Inc.

Internship

Book publishing is a learn by doing type of business. Because of that, if you want a career in book publishing, one way to learn about the book business is to do an internship at a publishing company. Whether for credit or for an hourly wage, internships over the summer or during the Fall or Spring semesters provide a college student with the opportunity to learn about one particular aspect of publishing, when working at a larger house and in a particular department, or to learn about various jobs and duties, if working at a smaller, independent publishing company whereby multiple job functions are performed by one person. To find out what internships are available, and to apply for those that might be right for you, read the free want ads at:
http://www.bookjobs.com
http://www.mediabistro.com

You might also go to the websites of major publishing companies; many have internship programs with information about how and when to apply at their website. (Some summer internships have a January through March deadline so check the application requirements and deadlines carefully.)
Here are a few companies that offer internships and have information about the program at their website:
www.simonsays.com (Simon & Schuster, Inc.)
http://www.randomhouse.com (Random House, Inc.)
http://www.harpercollinscareers.com/careers/students/st_internships.html (Harper Collins Publishers)

The association I belong to, Women's Media Group, has an annual internship competition designed to promote diversity in the publishing industry. For more information, and to apply, go to:
http://www.womenmediagroup.org

Literary agencies also offer internships.

Although this site is mainly for internships (and jobs) in the entertainment industry, occasionally there are internship openings listed at a literary agency or publishing company:
http://www.entertainmentcareers.net

Internship at Hannacroix Creek Books, Inc.
In May 2005, Hannacroix Creek Books, Inc. began a for-credit college internship program. If you are entering your junior or senior year of college and you wish to be considered as an intern for an upcoming semester, summer, Fall, or Spring, please note that you must be able to commit to a minimum of 5 hours a week working in the Stamford, Connecticut office of the company. Stamford is 45 minutes from Manhattan or New Haven and 1 hour from New Jersey. There will also be additional hours decided on an individual basis, depending upon how many credits you expect for the internship, completed as a telecommuter. To apply, send a cover letter and your resume to: internshipinquiry@hannacroixcreekbooks.com. You must be entering your sophomore, junior, or senior year of college at the time you apply. You also need your college internship department to be actively involved in the application and internship process. Please include your resume in your e-mail; do not send any attached files. Those e-mails with attached files will be deleted, unread. Also, because of the volume of inquiries, we reserve the right to only contact those students who are under consideration.

Links

Compiled by Jan Yager, Ph.D.

Disclaimer: The accuracy of any link cannot be assured since addresses, even the existence of a URL, or its ownership and emphasis, may change, nor does inclusion or exclusion of a link on this list represent an endorsement of a particular site.

www.publishersmarketplace.com
You may access for free the book publishing jobs that are listed at this online newsletter and central resource for contacts in the book publishing industry at literary agencies, publishing companies, and literary scouts.

www.mediabistro.com
Informative site for the publishing industry, mostly magazines and books, with free job listings as well as informative articles on how to get published. Many of the articles are transcripts of in-person or on-line courses that mediabistro.com offers in New York City, cyberspace, and other selected cities. Industry networking parties are also sponsored. There is a new fee-based service called Freelancers Marketplace, offering another way for freelance writers, designers, producers, and others to find employers.

www.bookjobs.com
A job-hunting website for those seeking a job in the book publishing industry requiring you to register (but it's free) developed and maintained by the AAP (American Association of Publishers). Available internships are also listed.

Consider attending non-credit courses in publishing at the local university. If you are in the New York City area, several colleges offer non-credit as well as graduate degree programs in publishing including New York University, the City University of New York and Pace University. There are also extensive summer publishing programs, some for recent college graduates, such as the programs at New York University, Columbia University, and Stanford University. Go to the websites for those schools to find out more information.