Discovering the Industry beyond Editorial – SYPinto Mentee Juanita

Posted on July 18, 2018 in London

This week we will be introducing you to some of our SYPinto mentees. SYPinto is one of two streams in SYP London’s new mentorship scheme; aimed at supporting individuals with an interest in publishing who are not yet working full-time in the industry. We wanted to hear from our mentees how they view the industry they are about to enter and what their mentoring experience with the SYP has been like so far.

SYPahead, the second stream of the mentorship programme, dedicated to junior professionals in their first or second jobs, will be launching very soon!

Hi, my name is Juanita and I’m one of the lucky 16 mentees on this year’s SYPinto Mentorship Scheme.

I currently work as a Communications Officer for the NHS. I have a love of reading and writing – non-fiction books are my thing at the moment, but I dabble in the occasional fantasy, YA book every now and then. I write fanfiction in my spare time too. I love how both books and fanfiction allow me to get lost in the moment where I get transported to a different place.

The SYPinto Mentorship scheme has been a blessing to say the very least. It’s been just over two months into the six-month scheme and I’ve learnt and experienced so much in that short time. My mentor, Emma Winter from Darley Anderson Literary Agency, has been the mentor I’ve always wanted; our meetings have been productive, and she’s guided me through practical things such as CV and cover letter writing, and interview preparation to personal things such as being motivated, building confidence and harnessing my qualities. Aside from having our meetings, we converse regularly via email so she’s always around when I need advice, guidance and motivation. I couldn’t have asked for a more supportive and dedicated mentor in Emma. There’s no doubt that she’s like a ‘big sister’ to me.

The biggest misconception that people who aren’t involved in the industry have about publishing is…

…that it’s all about editorial or being an editorial assistant. As much as editorial is amazing, that’s not all there is to the industry. There are so many different departments and areas that make up the publishing industry.

For departments you have sales, marketing and publicity, rights and permissions (where I’m hoping to get into!), audio, production, HR….. the list goes on, and within each department there are so many things you can get involved in, and each team works with the other departments to create that one goal – publishing an author’s work.

Outside of publishing houses are literary agencies like the Darley Anderson Literary Agency or the Madeleine Milburn Literary, TV and Film Agency, publishing and writing associations like The Literary Consultancy and The Publishers Association, literary scouts like Daniela Schlingmann Literary Scouting, booksellers like Waterstones and independent bookstores… again, the list is endless. I only know some of these things from all of the events and fairs I’ve gone to this year (tip no. 2 is important – don’t knock it).

The publishing industry is huge and diverse, so please don’t think it’s just one thing because it’s not. There’s so much to see, do and it’s a chance to really be creative. It’s like a Kaleidoscope with all of its different angles and shapes that make up this one big picture. Have a little research of the different departments and areas that make up publishing and you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

My Beginner’s Guide to Publishing would include the following top tips:

• Twitter is your best friend– it’s like the hub, the mecca, Narnia if you want to push it that far. Twitter is your source for all the latest in the industry, job opportunities, musing about books, the place to interact with fellow bibliophiles and much more. Lots of publishing houses and organisations are on Twitter so it’s also an incredible way to see what they’re getting up to and get in touch with them. If you haven’t already, create that Twitter account, and explore. Once you do that, follow SYP at @SYP_UK (yes to the plugin! But, seriously…follow them.
• Go to events, festivals and fairs – apart from the SYP events, book fairs and festivals are great ways to know more about the industry and meet people such as authors, industry professionals and aspiring publishers like you and me. This year I went to The London Book Fair and discovered so much about publishing that it set the course for me pursuing publishing today. I also got to meet some lovely, cool, friendly people who have helped me gain more experience in publishing but have also just been really cool to talk to.
• Believe in yourself and your capabilities – if you’re looking to get into the industry, as with any field, it can be difficult to get a foot in the door. However, one of the most important things is to really believe in yourself and what you have to offer to the table. There is only one you – what makes you unique and vibrant may be exactly what the publishing industry needs so don’t shy away from your strengths and those aspects that make you, you.

This summer you should read…

…Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi. I will forever rave about this book until the cows come home. Before reading Adeyemi’s debut novel, I read a review that said the story was a mix between Harry Potter and Nigerian culture. You could definitely say that but it’s so much more. It’s magical with fantastical elements set against Nigeria’s culture and heritage. Adeyemi’s words create a world so vibrant and mystical you truly want to be there and discover what clan you belong to and your animal sidekick! The story touches on topics such as discrimination, prejudice, love and forgiveness – honestly, a great read for the summer. By the way, it’s going to be a movie so I don’t know what you’re waiting for – go get the book, please.

Juanita is on Twitter. Follow her over at @Juanita_QP!