I cannot recommend this course enough to those trying to forge a path in publishing. As a publishing hopeful, the Introduction to Book Publishing course was an incredibly useful starter to help me figure out what I would like to do specifically in publishing. There were presentations from highly experienced people in the industry, and we had the opportunity to ask them questions too, which was extremely insightful. It was eye-opening to explore many of the different roles in publishing and how they come together. Before starting this course, I thought I wanted to go into editorial. However, after the knowledge the course provided me, I now want to go into rights sales. I would highly recommend this course for anyone looking to find a career in publishing but doesn’t necessarily know where to begin.   All of the speakers, as well as Heather, who runs the course, were enthusiastic, happy to be there and eager to answer any of our questions, which I found helpful. It was lovely to know that people in the industry love their job and what they do so much, so much so that they are willing to share industry expertise. There was also a talk on getting a job in publishing which was very useful – another bonus is that you can put the course on your CV!

The ‘Introduction Into Publishing’ course was a fantastic chance to hear about the processes and day-to-days of those in the industry today, as well as the skills required for those looking to enter the industry themselves. The course is structured so that each day and session reveals a new process of the industry that only enhances the one just heard about, as you see how each industry role informs on the others. I feel I better know how to market my skills and experiences to stand out against other applicants, with a new familiarity of the lifecycle of a book to speak confidently on them. Whether your just beginning your dive into publishing, or clarifying your understanding, you have the opportunity to engage with others and make this course your own, so I would definitely recommend it.

I'm a junior law student who decided to spend her late nights taking this course from Japan. But you know what? IT WAS SO WORTH IT. The Introduction to Publishing Course did much more than explain what I didn't know about the publishing industry; it inspired me to go after my dream of working with books. I want to thank Heather for organizing an event where participants from all over the world were welcome and for demystifying an industry that I initially found to be out of reach. I also want to thank the speakers for sharing their expertise through not only their successes but failures. Although it was a virtual course, it was clear that everyone who joined the program was eager to network and level up their knowledge about the publishing industry. It didn't matter whether we were in a room together or not − our shared passion for books was enough for us to bond throughout the discussions.

I enjoyed the exercises we did, as it was excellent practice using the skills we had learnt and applying them to real-life publishing scenarios. The exercises also gave the opportunity for us to receive feedback tailored to us as individuals. The highlight of the course was the section on CVs, cover letters and interviews. The speakers were so open to questions and gave such insightful answers to all of our niche queries, which was so useful as we rarely receive feedback on our job applications when we are unsuccessful. The course overall was truly invaluable and it was lovely spending the weekend chatting with like-minded book lovers!