Recently, I was fortunate enough to experience a work placement with independent Scottish publisher, Luath Press. I went in thinking I knew what I wanted to do with my passion going into the industry, but after working my way through the process of publishing start to finish, a new idea emerged.

Through the placement, we had the opportunity to try our hand at numerous stages of book publication, from assessing the suitability of a manuscript to take on, editing the manuscript, and preparing an AI sheet to get things started; to planning events, gathering market research, and publicising a book to gain traction. I have always thought I exclusively wanted to go into editing (as most getting into publishing do), but through the course of the placement, it surprised me to find that my favourite part of the process was not what I first expected. In fact, I felt a strong draw to design.

I have never had a particular affinity for design or art of any kind (or indeed, talent for it), but throughout my course I have shocked myself. I like design. Don’t get me wrong, I find it incredibly difficult, and have spent many hours cursing InDesign over the last few months, but largely the end result actually feels worth it. Even before reaching the end, while it is supremely demanding, I am growing to enjoy certain aspects of the creation. I find, the more I do it, and the more I understand it, the greater my interest grows.

This particular experience of design was enhanced by having a framework to work with based on Luath Press’ existing catalogue. I was able to assess their previous publications, and use their specific style to inform my ideas. I found it an incredibly interesting challenge to not only work to a template for certain aspects, such as the back of the book, but also to base a concept off of their past designs. Ensuring my cover fit with their style and image brought out ideas I don’t think I would have had otherwise. This in turn allowed my to practice different skills in design, to create entirely new effects I had not tried previously.

I am incredibly grateful to my placement for forcing me out of my comfort zone, and encouraging creativity and risks. This gave me the space to try new things without fear, and be bold. Throughout the course, I have been challenged with new experiences that have changed my perception of publishing and different roles within the industry. My openness and creativity have certainly developed because of it, and the placement with Luath Press has been the most demanding yet rewarding experience thus far. It has changed my opinion on publishing as a whole, and potentially influenced the trajectory of my career.

Bibliography

Luath Press. (2024). Available at: https://luath.co.uk/collections/all-books?srsltid=AfmBOop1RR-vKFzHKnTLxRkKECRz_Jc6AnBOQPwGzcfwLCfErdAuNrF_
Pavlov, I. (2017). A close up of a computer screen with a menu. Unsplash.