How we got started in publishing pt.1

Posted on May 6, 2020 in UK

Many of us have found ourselves with more time to think recently, so over the next few months we’ll be bringing you some personal stories from our committee members about their paths into publishing and everything they’ve learnt along the way. Our Inclusivity Officer Iram Satti kicks things off talking about her first experiences working in publishing.

Taking time to reflect

During these strange times, I have actually been taking some time to really reflect on things such as where I am on my life journey, all the things I have learnt, all the challenges I have faced, and all of the unexpected stuff (good and bad) that has come my way. I think a lot of people have been doing this.

When it comes to my career, I decided to step out of the publishing industry after 7 years. A few might say I had the seven year itch, I think it was a case of hitting my late twenties and wondering if there was a little more of the world I could be a part of or be exposed to before I missed the boat. This, on reflection(!), is nonsense. Surely you’re never too old to try new things, engage with different people and perhaps take a risk that you would have been too afraid to take as an anxious early-twenty-something. I’d like to think with age I have become more brave and thinking back to my first publishing experience, I would like to think if I were to have another first publishing experience I would approach it in a slightly different way.

I graduated in July 2012 and the day after my 22nd birthday (that October), I started my publishing career with Routledge as a sprightly, albeit slightly nervous, editorial assistant. I remember on my first day, the team bought a chocolate cake because they knew that I’d had my birthday the day before – at this point I knew I was in the right industry! Friendly people who weren’t afraid of chocolate cake. There were two incredibly memorable aspects of that first day, apart from the cake, the first was I had survived my epic commute from Birmingham to Didcot and the second thing was how much I enjoyed scanning image libraries for book cover art!

I have always been very attracted to packaging. Yes, I am a product of our times where if something looks pretty and sparkly and catches my attention – I will make a beeline to it. I absolutely loved all of the image library scanning sessions I had over the last 7 years – if someone told me that would have been one of my favourite tasks throughout my publishing career, that’s a nugget of knowledge I would have been very pleased to know.

The second memorable aspect – the commute! Travelling from Birmingham to Didcot (and back, daily) was a pretty epic journey. A few hours to get to work and back everyday was interesting. Draining and eventually one of the reasons why I left my job in Didcot. Don’t get me wrong, there were other commuters but as far as I can remember no one was travelling down from the North – all were coming in from the local areas or London. After 6 months I did move to Didcot, but only for 6 months. I found it really expensive to pay rent, bills and buy food etc etc – it was a really important learning experience for me and I grew and developed a lot by living away from home but as I am part of the boomerang generation I inevitably moved back home. When I went back to the commute I found new ways to use it for my benefit – reading, writing, looking out of the window… developing core strength when packed like a sardine!

When I moved to Edward Elgar Publishing, I was there for 5 years. I was still commuting but it was a cheaper and much more manageable commute. After about 7 years of commuting, all in all, and with extra travel during the last few of those years it was taking its toll – I was forever tired! Feeling tired all the time has such major effects on so many different aspects of your life.

I moved to Birmingham City University in October 2019, living and working in the same city for the last 6 months has been amazing. Suddenly having time on my side felt like a revelation and now we’re in lockdown, time really has slowed down. Not being at such a fast pace, contrary to my personality as it feels, has given me a chance to actually take time to slow down, look around, take everything in and be grateful for where I am, the beautiful people in my life and all of the blessings that surround me.

When I look back to the very start of my career, I wish I had relaxed, didn’t hold onto things too rigidly and not blame myself when things didn’t work out in the way I thought they would. Always remember when one door closes, another will open!