Inside The Comma Press Publishing Insights Day

Posted on July 21, 2025 in INTO, North

On Thursday 3rd July, I had the incredible opportunity to attend Comma Press’ Publishing Insights Day at Manchester Metropolitan University, representing the Society of Young Publishers’ North Branch alongside our brilliant Communications Officer, Jess Hill.

This annual event, run by not-for-profit publisher Comma Press, is designed for early-career publishing hopefuls. It offered a packed programme of talks and interactive workshops covering different career routes, day-to-day roles, and practical advice on how to get a foot in the door. At each stage of the day, there were always plenty of opportunities to ask publishing professionals any burning questions about the industry or their journey into it.

One of the standout qualities of the day was how thoughtfully the sessions were pitched. Whether you were completely new to publishing, already gaining experience, or looking to pivot careers, the content struck a perfect balance between accessible guidance and deeper industry insight. The talks were accompanied by clear visual aids and the speakers were incredibly engaging and always open to questions.

Each talk was led by professionals from across the industry, spanning both large (including Big 5) and independent publishers. Their honesty about the highs and lows of their careers was refreshing to hear and made the advice feel both grounded and genuinely useful. Especially for those starting out in the industry, the openness of the speakers’ answers was helpful in building a realistic picture of what it is really like to work in what can often feel like an elusive industry.

Hannah Smith Keynote

The day started with the keynote from Hannah Smith in which she shared her personal publishing journey. Tracing her career from unpaid work experience to senior editorial roles to Head of Romance at Penguin Michael Joseph, Hannah offered a candid and inspiring account of her career journey, highlighting both the wins and the harsher realities.

Her advice for job applications was particularly insightful. Just some of what she mentioned included:

• Tailor everything. Your cover letter, your CV opening, it all needs to reflect your knowledge and enthusiasm for the specific press and imprint you’re applying to.
• Talk about the books you genuinely love, particularly recent reads. Include titles specific to the imprint and don’t just talk about popular books, show you know the wider market.
• Include your cross pollinating skills. Publishing is a customer-service industry, so customer-facing roles in retail and hospitality are in fact relevant.
• Show how you apply your skills, not just that you have them.

Hannah also didn’t shy away from the tougher truths. Editorial roles, in particular, she noted, require going above and beyond the standard nine-to-five schedule. As she put it, “publishing is a lifestyle,” highlighting that passion and resilience must go hand in hand here.

Indie Publishers & the ‘Big Five’ Talk

One of the most dynamic talks of the day explored the differences between large corporate publishers (the so-called ‘Big Five’) and indie presses. All panellists had made the leap from one to the other and were refreshingly honest, again, about the pros and cons of both.

The contrast between the workload and responsibilities behind the same job title in the different settings was especially eye-opening for me. At a Big Five house, roles may be more specialised and structured, with larger teams and clear hierarchies. At an indie, roles can be more creative, more hands-one, and broader, encompassing a range of responsibilities. However, it can also be more demanding in terms of multitasking and resourcefulness.

For anyone trying to figure out where they might fit, this session offered a nuanced view of two very different (but equally exciting and valid) publishing environments.

Introduction to Publishing Talk

Comma Press’ CEO and founder, Ra Page, rounded off the ‘Talks’ section with an excellent presentation laying out the entire publishing process. He walked us through from acquisition to reader, as well as breaking down the different structures and systems you may find in different types of publishing environments. This ‘Publishing 101’ session covered everything from types of publishers and print workflows to finances and distribution, even touching on the distinctions between print and digital-first models.

I learnt a lot during this talk and it really put into perspective how complex and finely-tuned the whole process is. It is such a collaborative and interconnected industry with a wide range of routes and roles to get involved with.

Practical ‘Deep-Dive’ Sessions

In the final part of the afternoon, attendees took part in a hands-on workshop that delved deeper into specific areas of publishing, choosing from: editorial, publicity and marketing, cover design, or even how to set up your own press. These workshops offered a brilliant opportunity to apply what we had learnt throughout the day and explore the area of publishing we thought best aligned with our individual skills and interests.

The editorial workshop took the form of a lively seminar and Q&A-style discussion, while the cover design workshop, led by acclaimed designer David Pearson, encouraged creativity through a hands-on, mixed media cover design activity. Each workshop gave the chance to explore real-world publishing tasks and gain a better feel for the roles behind the scenes.

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What stood out most to me throughout the day was the openness of the speakers and their willingness to share honest accounts of both their successes and their setbacks. Publishing is a competitive field, but events like Comma Press’ Publishing Insights Day help to demystify it and remind us that there is space in the industry for a wide range of voices, backgrounds, and skillsets.

If you’re looking to break into publishing, or even just to better understand its inner workings, I highly recommend keeping an eye out for Comma Press’ next event (updates can be found on their social media: @commapress).

Written by Sophie Austen