Making the first step into the publishing industry can be daunting: it’s competitive, and entry-level opportunities often seem elusive. But experience can come from anywhere – admin roles and retail bookseller roles – and it isn’t just the Big Five that you need to watch. Countless publishers and literary agencies offer internships, work experience, and traineeships to give you the valuable experience to take your first steps in the industry.
Here at Madeleine Milburn Literary, TV & Film Agency, the traineeship is an excellent way to practice your front desk, office assistant skills while offering support and learning the ways of all three departments in the agency – primary agents, international rights, and film & TV rights.
My name is Sinéad, and I am the current office assistant trainee for Madeleine Milburn Agency. After four months in the office, I’ve put together the key things I’ve learned during my time as a trainee.
Organisation really is everything
It’s a tale as old as time, but the ability to remain organised is especially important when you are learning. You may need two or three notebooks to separate notes, to-do lists, and calendar management. One technique I used was numbering my tasks to create a sort of schedule which told me which task to do after the first is complete; this stopped me from jumping between tasks, and I could organise by deadline and priority.
Be curious
As with any new role: ask questions! Don’t be afraid to ask what you think may be a “silly” question. As a trainee, it’s expected that you may not know everything, and it’s important to make the most of this opportunity to deepen your understanding of all aspects of the role. Ask questions across departments, ask for tasks you want to learn, ask for any opportunities that can enrich your time as a trainee. These questions can help you discover a whole new aspect of publishing that you didn’t know about before, and maybe one that you want to explore even further.
Be specific
Notes can be misconstrued without the right details. Especially in an agency dealing with multiple territories and timelines, it is crucial to be specific when exchanging and logging information. Make a note of all names, territories, languages, and timescales. Some publishers will operate across territories, so it’s important to distinguish between them, such as HarperCollins US or HarperCollins UK. When saving files and information, it’s key to be specific with all these details to ensure it goes to the right place, and the right person. Check everything when you send it to make sure it’s the right person with the right files.
Make time
Literary agencies have a huge, varied workload, which means time is always sacred. Make sure you’ve established any deadlines for tasks and have the time to meet them. This helps to give you a sense of what to prioritise and when to begin. Like the numbering trick, time stamp when you will start a task. During royalty season – the time when all publishers send out the royalty statements for our authors from the previous period – I made sure to set out time to tackle general admin before settling in for a round of royalty processing. Reading manuscripts was a task I could tackle on my commute, saving time at my desk for other duties. But make sure the time is available and not plucked from thin air: if you find you’re struggling with completing tasks, don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Be passionate
The publishing industry is creative at its heart, passionate about getting books to readers. Agencies are no different, but with the added edge that we champion authors from the very beginning. Working alongside the agents, you can truly feel the passion and care they have for their authors and their work. This is no half-hearted role – we are all in this industry for the love of books and reading, and this passion drives you to complete all tasks to the best of your ability. Keep reading and expanding your worldview of literature, explore new genres and voices, and engage in the industry wherever you can.
Take the plunge
This is just a summary of what I’ve learned as a trainee, but the truth is there is so much more. From requesting author endorsements to handling royalty statements, managing the agency social media and blog posts to staying on top of inboxes, the traineeship has given me invaluable experience to begin a career in publishing.
If you’re on the fence about applying to that summer internship or that training scheme, I’m here to tell you to go for it. Experience is everything, and opportunities can feel scarce in the current climate, so it’s important to seize whatever comes your way. The worst outcome? A rejection. But the best? A foot in the door of a wonderful and booming industry, taking you into a career that you can truly love.
