Award-winning Irish author, Eimear McBride’s journey to publication is a testament to perseverance, creative integrity, and the unpredictable nature of the publishing industry. At The Portobello Bookshop promoting her latest release The City Changes It’s Face (2025), McBride shared candid insights into her experiences with the world of publishing.
A Long Road to Publication
For aspiring authors, McBride’s story serves as both a cautionary tale and a beacon of hope. It took her nine years to get her first novel, A Girl Is a Half-Formed Thing (2013), published. She faced numerous rejections from agents and publishers alike, struggling against an industry that often resists unconventional narratives.
McBride strikingly stating how ‘publishing is not a welcoming place, the only thing to do is to just push through those lows.’
Rather than following a traditional path, McBride’s break came when a friend and owner of an independent bookshop in Norwich, took a chance on her manuscript. He and a group of friends decided to publish the book through Galey Beggar Press before being picked up and republished under Faber & Faber; proving that sometimes, the right opportunity comes from unexpected places.
While her success might seem serendipitous, it underscores the importance of resilience and the value of independent publishing in championing unique voices.
However, she also expressed scepticism about the romanticized idea of perseverance leading to inevitable success. While her story ended well, she acknowledges that luck played a significant role. This perspective is a valuable reminder that talent alone isn’t always enough—timing, connections, and market trends can also be deciding factors in an author’s career.
Publishing is not a welcoming place, the only thing to do is to just push through those lows.
– Eimear McBride
Editing and Maintaining Creative Control
Given McBride’s distinctive ‘rule-breaking’ (Guardian, 2025) narrative style, which often eschews conventional grammar and structure, I asked her how she found working with editors and the general editorial process. She described her editorial approach as ‘aggressive,’ fiercely defending her artistic vision. With A Girl Is a Half-formed Thing, she resisted significant editorial changes, feeling that the book’s fragmented style was essential to its impact.
However, as her career progressed, McBride found herself ‘leaning on [her] editor a lot more,’ for feedback or simply just ‘that outside eye.’ With The City Changes It’s Face, McBride involved a more collaborative process, particularly with structural elements. She recognized the value of an outside perspective in ensuring clarity and balance without compromising her voice. This evolution highlights an important lesson for writers: while it’s crucial to protect your creative vision, being receptive to constructive feedback can enhance the final product.
Cover Design and Author Input
Beyond the writing and editorial process, McBride also had a say in her book’s cover design. While she generally approved of the first version presented to her, she requested the removal of a tattoo on the character’s leg to better reflect the 1990s setting, stating how it just ‘wasn’t a thing at the time’. This small yet significant detail demonstrates how an author’s input can shape the final visual representation of their work, ensuring authenticity in all aspects of the book.
Final Thoughts
Eimear McBride’s journey offers valuable lessons for writers navigating the publishing landscape. Her experience underscores the importance of persistence, the potential of independent publishing, and the necessity of balancing artistic integrity with editorial collaboration. While the industry remains challenging for authors, McBride’s success is proof that original voices can break through—sometimes in the most unexpected ways.
Bibliography and Further Reading
Faber. 2025. A Girl is a Half Formed Thing. [Online] Available at: https://www.faber.co.uk/product/9780571317165-a-girl-is-a-half-formed-thing/ [Accessed 4 March 2025]
Faber. 2025. Eimear McBride Author Profile. [Online] Available at: https://www.faber.co.uk/author/eimear-mcbride/ [Accessed 4 March 2025]
Faber. 2025. Faber & Faber [Online] Available at: https://www.faber.co.uk/?srsltid=AfmBOoq6T8JGpb62Fb1RVluspauCQ5mltwHuxDwEZ0mrBXMAShAKxc7O [Accessed 4 March 2025]
Faber. 2025. The City Changes Its Face. [Online] Available at: https://www.faber.co.uk/product/9780571384211-the-city-changes-its-face/ [Accessed 4 March 2025]
Galley Beggar Press. 2025. Galley Beggar. [Online] Available at: https://www.galleybeggar.co.uk/ [Accessed 4 March 2025]
Hamya, J. (2025). The City Changes Its Face by Eimear McBride: 4-star review. [Online] The Telegraph. Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what-to-read/review-city-changes-its-face-eimear-mcbride/ [Accessed 4 Mar. 2025].
Hughes-Hallett, L. (2025). The City Changes Its Face by Eimear McBride review – brilliantly rule-breaking fiction. [Online] The Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/jan/30/the-city-changes-its-face-by-eimear-mcbride-review-brilliantly-rule-breaking-fiction [Accessed 4 Mar. 2025].
McBride, E. 2013. A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing. Faber. [Print]
McBride, E. 2025. The City Changes Its Face. Faber. [Print]
The Portobello Bookshop. 2025. The Portobello Bookshop. [Online] Available at: https://www.theportobellobookshop.com/ [Accessed 4 March 2025]
Image
McAllister, M. 2025. The City Changes It Face taken at event. Photograph.
McAllister, M. 2025. Eimear McBride in conversation with Sasha de Buyl. Photograph.
McAllister, M. 2025. The City Changes Its Face. Photograph.
MSc Publishing – Industry Accredited Postgraduate Degree 