I work for a publisher. Ask me anything.

[isthatapugunicorn]

I’m a senior sales bod at a global publisher... involved in everything from proposal thru to promo.

[Emmapeeler]

Great thread. I have worked in non-fiction publishing - interesting to read about the more glamorous side of it!

[Namechangeomg]

Love this thread!

When talking about diversity, how important is it that an author appears diverse? I’m from an underrepresented background, but due to my English dad and married name, I sound like the most run-of-the-mill Brit ever! I always feel like an imposter saying that I’m underrepresented when my name may as well be ‘John Smith’. Would I be better using my maiden name or a pseudonym?

Also do you think that there are more desirable minority groups, if that makes sense? I’m hearing way more diverse stories at the moment, which I think is a brilliant thing, but I still feel like they are restricted to certain backgrounds. And does this depend on genre?

[doodlejump1980]

Does your firm only do books or do they do music too?

[secretauthorhaton]

That is good to hear! I am a real believer in being nice to everyone, because a book is a team effort and I’m so grateful to be published, so my sales mightn’t be brilliant but I’m doing something right! Hooray. Thank you!

[isthatapugunicorn]

Namechange - diversity means hearing about stories from all backgrounds, it’s not a gimmick, so your upbringing is relevant regardless of your name/situ now. Your background shapes you and therefore your writing but it’s not just about saying oh i’m WC, it’s showing it in your writing. It’s having books that have British Asian characters in it written by a BA author. So no there’s no ‘desirable ‘ minority there’s only the need to have GREAT stories and GREAT books that represent the diversity in this country. We have a long way to go...

[endofthelinefinally]

Do you have any tips or advice for a new graduate trying to find a job in publishing?

[isthatapugunicorn]

Graduate - apply for Sales exec or editorial asst.
Pay is poor for Ed but better for sales and once you work a year or two you can move around between depts quite easily. In sales you learn everything. Show willing and some energy and you’ll get on. Consider a smaller indie publisher- you’ll learn more faster.

[endofthelinefinally]

Thank you.

[isthatapugunicorn]

Oh and endoftheline - don’t sell yourself short on salary if you’re a woman! Can’t tell you the number of female grads who have asked for 4/5k less than the starting salary! I’m always fair but many many mgrs would low ball!

[endofthelinefinally]

Thank you. It isn't for me, it is for a friend's daughter. She is trying so hard but getting nowhere. I will pass on the info.

[isthatapugunicorn]

Sales support/exec. - you get everywhere in that role, marketing ,Publicity, authors, conferences, working the stand at LIBF, proposal meetings. You meet everyone, everyone knows you... you learn commercial awareness and that’s the base of any pub job .

[KingaRoo]

When you say your pay is low could you give a ballpark range? Or just average earnings for editorial / sales?

[isthatapugunicorn]

Mmm, Ed asst with no experience can start at 18-20k, sales exec 22-25k but given that they will be graduates and prob based in London that’s not great money. Sales can shoot up as you get a base salary plus benefit plus bonus. Editorial often incentivised on ‘signings’ rather than revenue...

[doesjonsnowneedadirewolf]

What about 'vanity ' publishers, who charge fees to publish? Is this a way in for authors who maybe aren't getting anywhere the traditional route

[Namechangeomg]

Thanks OP. I definitely think we still have a long way to go on diversity, but I do hope we’re moving in the right direction. If only more people thought like you!

I personally struggle to get my second-generation immigrant POV to be taken seriously. I feel like if I were writing from my mother’s viewpoint, I’d been seen as more ‘authentic’, but my stories are authentic for people of my generation. I wonder how much appetite there really is for them really, though, based on feedback I’ve received in the past. I’ll keep banging on, though, regardless

[Binglebong]

A favourite author is currently in the process of moving from the small publisher who started her to a big one (but keeping her editor!). I can't imagine the small publisher liking this (she's increasingly succesful) but how would they really feel? Is there a stage where a small publisher can't provide what a big author needs and so would support the move?

I have to admit I'm a bit disillusioned by the author for this so please tell me there's a good reason other than money!

[isthatapugunicorn]

As soon as you go to acct mgr ( one up from sales exec) tho - £35k/40k
& £20k more for OTE, plus travel paid, plus car, plus per diem...

[Hollanda40]

I want to write kids' story books (think Julia Donaldson type)...where do I start? :)

I write loads of poetry already...who do I send it to? Do I need an agent???

[Eustasiavye]

Sorry blatant placemarking.

[isthatapugunicorn]

Binglebong - reach, in short, that and the marketing power/money to afford the fees that many retailers charge for promo.
The name of my publisher opens doors for our authors and makes people pick up the phone when I ring. We’re global - so we have offices all over the world. A bestseller in UK/Europe can become a bestseller in the US if you publish with us ( not ways but for the right book) and then your sales are 10 fold. We can do regional editions and change the spelling. We do our own rights and licensing. We produce everything in every format, eBook, digital, print. We can do short run custom editions. We can reprint in 2 weeks. We can translate your work or license some one else to. We can turn your book into a course or e-learning. Sell it to libraries and universities. I can take your book to big corporates and open up an entirely new market for you. We can sell your book into book chains all over the world, supermarkets and wholesalers, department stores, businesses.
There a few small publishers who have that kind of reach so perhaps it’s just time for your friend to move on.

[isthatapugunicorn]

Hollanda - write, finish a book, write the proposal and synopsis and your bio and get it out there - for the kids stuff.
Poetry - much, much tougher. You’re going to have to get out there, do some spoken word, connect with that community before anyone will touch you on that front! You’ll be selling your poetry on your reputation, enter some competitions, win some competitions, get noticed.

[Binglebong]

Thanks OP. That's fair I guess. Just really feel for the old publisher - she must be their top author so for her to leave must be a blow. I am far too into misguided loyalty!

Sadly not my friend, just someone I admire. Wish she was as she'd be a hoot!

[NewYoiker]

Ok.. what would publishers do if faced with a blatant rip off of a well known book (lord of the rings) but the main character was called 'Bob' but everything else was essentially the same including maps etc.

Because a friend has done exactly this and says a publisher is really interested and all I want to say is.. 'I think the publishers were more interested when Tolkien did it

[OccidentalPurist]

Apologies if this has already been mentioned as I haven't had the time currently to RTFT.

I abandoned writing what I thought would be a great novel last year because I heard that when an unknown author sends a synopsis to publishers they often pass it to one of their established writers to create their own version, as it's obviously a more guaranteed success.

Is this true...??

[isthatapugunicorn]

New Yoiker - really? Well I suppose there are really no new stories, and Harry Potter owes a lot to Worst Witch... there are modern ‘re-imaginings’ of older books all the time, graphic novel versions, and newer books are protected by copyright etc.

But if that’s happened, and being published then it still has to be written well, and have something about it that makes it new and fresh and different. Or who would buy it? I think there’s more to it than your friend is suggesting, or your friend is full of it quite frankly!