On Saturday 1st April 2023, I set off bright and early to attend SYP (Society of Young Publishers) Scotland’s annual Spring Conference at Central Hall, Edinburgh. The aim of this year’s conference is to teach aspiring publishers a few tricks of the trade and share top tips on entering the industry. SYP recognise that being a newbie to publishing can be daunting, hence the conference name ‘Skill Seekers: Navigating the Rollercoaster World of Publishing’. Indeed, entering this industry can feel like a whirlwind and the conference agenda covered it all: from networking, personal development, freelancing and creating a work/life balance brought to life by the impressive multitude of speakers and panellists.

After seeing some familiar faces, including fellow publishing peers, I took my seat, retrieved my pen and paper, and anticipated the first keynote speech. Co-founders of Edinburgh-based independent publisher 404 Ink, Laura Jones and Heather McDaid, took the stage first. They were once just like us, they said, fresh-faced publishing hopefuls, ready to get their teeth stuck into their first publishing job. After testing the waters in the industry, Laura and Heather set up their very own publishing house, 404 Ink – acclaimed for its quirkiness and colour – and they assured us that with a bit of hard work, anything is achievable.

Since its formation, 404 Ink has won a collection of prestigious awards, including Publisher of the Year at Scotland’s National Book Awards in 2022. Laura and Heather explained that success stems from believing in yourself, enhancing your skillset, and recognising that your knowledge is valuable. Feeling inspired after this opening talk, I was excited for the rest of the day.

Next up, we learnt all about the creation of a book from start to finish, through the experiences of a lineup of panelists who work in editorial, production and publicity. I discovered so much from this panel, but for now here is a snippet of wisdom from each of the speakers. Kira Dowie, from Luath Press, said that we would be surprised how easily skills from previous customer-service roles can be transferred into publishing. Ever dealt with an unhappy customer? Take that experience into difficult conversations with authors and hey presto, author management! Hannah McGeechan, from Canongate Books, said that production is much more than physically putting a book together. It also involves keeping to tight budgets and ensuring that books are ready for print on time. Publicity master Jennifer Andreacchi, from Birlinn Ltd, said that keeping in continual contact with your authors is key.

Now, here comes a word that might evoke fear. Networking.

After listening to advice given by the networking experts themselves: Kristian Kerr, Rachel Morrell and Lindsey Fraser, it was time to put my interpersonal skills to work. To make things even more interesting, we were each given a networking bingo card. We had to first find and then talk to people who matched a certain criteria (see picture below). I spent the session chatting with individuals who had been in the industry for over five years, those who had recently switched careers and entered the publishing world, and other students who were also finding their feet. Dare I say I actually enjoyed being thrown into the deep end of networking?

Image of networking bingo card: Photographed by Elizabeth Smith

After a delicious (and complimentary!) lunch, I returned to my seat for the afternoon sessions. The agenda shifted to focus on balancing work and social life. I particularly enjoyed the approach shared by Isla Aitken, founder of Green Gables Editing. For Isla the answer is simple; as a coastal resident, she carves out time to step away from the computer, take a stroll along the beach, switch off from technology and listen to the waves crashing on the beach.

Finally, the day concluded with two marvelous speakers. The first, Carrie Marshall, eloquently spoke about her writing journey as a transgender woman and the importance of feeling valued by her publisher.

Michael Pedersen closed the day by performing a few of his emotional and poignant poems about love and loss. And if you haven’t heard of Michael’s poem “The Cat Prince” then I suggest checking it out (warning: for the curious-minded).

Featured image: Permission granted by SYP Scotland.
Designer: Elise Carmichael