Working in Publishing with Anna Howarth

I’m Anna and I work as a production controller at an independent trade publisher in London. I previously worked in bookselling and have been working in publishing for almost two-and-a-half years.

Whilst I loved selling books, I wanted to move into a different role in the book industry and started researching into different publishers and departments before finding my current job. It is my first office job and I started at assistant entry level before moving into my current role.

In publishing, the production team are responsible for organising other departments, and making sure that each book project is planned and controlled so that we have final copies available at the right time and to the correct standard. It’s a great job for someone who likes organising!

Hello! First up can you tell us a little about your current role in publishing? What does your usual day look like?

My typical day can include sending reprints and new titles to press for printing, checking new books when they come into the office, running costs and estimates for the sales team, and checking in on the other departments to check that everything is on schedule for new books about to be printed and published.

I also provide administrative support to the rest of the production team, such as maintaining databases and requesting and organising files. We also work closely with the design team to confirm what the final book will look like.

How did you get into publishing and how would you describe your journey to your current role?

I studied English Literature at university and knew that I wanted to work with books in some capacity but wasn’t sure what! During and after university, I worked in a bookshop and that’s where I first started noticing I was interested in the packaging of a book, as I was quite picky about what I thought looked good and what didn’t. This was also where I learnt more about different publishers and imprints, and I started looking for roles in publishing.

I started researching different departments and thought that production would suit me as I am organised, enjoy working on multiple projects at once and collaborating with others. I started as a production assistant in June 2021 and was promoted to production controller in April 2023.

If you’re thinking about working in publishing, I’d recommend looking through all the different departments and seeing what suits you or interests you most…Staying up to date with publishing trends and new books is also really useful as it shows you have a pre-existing interest in the industry.

How would you describe the publishing industry and what do you enjoy most about working in publishing?

My favourite thing about publishing, but production more specifically, is being able to see how books are created from conception to the final product. There’s a tangible satisfaction when you’re able to hold the book and understand the work that each team has put in for it to be made.

What don’t people know about the publishing industry?

That there are so many different roles which cater to vastly different skill sets and interests!

What advice would you give someone who is considering a career in publishing?

If you’re thinking about working in publishing, I’d recommend looking through all the different departments and seeing what suits you or interests you most. It’s also good to research different publishers, to see what they’re doing and if their books interest you. Staying up to date with publishing trends and new books is also really useful when you’re applying and interviewing as it shows you have a pre-existing interest in the industry!

And, finally, how would you describe a career in publishing in three words?

Rewarding – You get to see the physical results of everyone’s hard work when the book is made.

Motivating – It’s great getting to work on new and exciting books and knowing that you’ve played a part in their production.

Engaging – You’re always learning new things on the job as no two books are the same!

This interview with Anna Howarth was written for Work in Publishing Week for publishers.org.uk.