Overview

If you’re a new editor with responsibility for commissioning and list-building in educational, academic, or professional publishing, this unique programme will give you the best possible start. The course is supported by the main players in these fields.



This is an intensive residential event, which is hugely rewarding for those who take part. Not only in terms of the knowledge and skills gained, but also the networking and relationship building opportunities.



You will learn how to:


* evaluate markets and develop lists
* find and keep valuable authors
* understand financial costings
* get publishing proposals accepted
* negotiate author contracts that work
* plan for profit and return on investment.



The aim is to help you develop an effective list that meets overall company strategy and management goals.



You’ll find out how to create a market-led proposal, and how to plan publications working closely with colleagues in other functions, especially in sales and marketing. You’ll also get a clearer understanding of financial management and how costings work, as well as ways of managing yourself and your time constraints to better effect.

Who is it for?

Development Editors, Assistant or Commissioning Editors, Research Editors, Production or Managing Editors.

What will I learn?

Day one

* What kind of publishing world is it: an overview of the industry; current pressures, challenges, threats, demands and opportunities.
* The role of the commissioning editor: an examination of the skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary to become a successful commissioning editor.
* What a successful Commissioning Editor needs to know about market research: market wisdom rather than market knowledge; planning/managing your research; top tips for effective techniques; overcoming obstacles.
* Working with authors: how to manage the author/editor relationship most effectively.



Day two

* Finance: costings, margin and profit: A practical interactive session explaining financial terminology, how products are costed, how to improve their profitability and why your organisation makes the demands on you that it does.
* Planning and investing in digital products: a consideration of the many different types of digital products, from VLEs (Visual Learning Environments) to Wikipedia commons, and how the approach differs from traditional print media.
* Scoping the case study: title; costs, income, and profit. Delegates have on hand an expert advisor to assist with decisions and spreadsheet preparation.



Day three

* Case study work: delegates work on their plans for commissioning, producing, marketing and selling their chosen project in preparation for the presentation on the final day.
* Essential features of an author’s contract: key elements of the author publisher contract and the responsibility of the editor to understand and communicate these clearly.
* The marketing/editorial interface: how this important relationship can be improved for optimum results with a thorough understanding of each party’s pressures and concerns.
* Building a successful list: the editor's role in building a list within company context; building brands; managing demands of format revenue and time; building a profitable list.



Day four

* Routes to market: an academic bookseller gives his views on how publishers and booksellers can work together more closely for mutual benefit.
* Case study presentations: Each group presents their project proposal to a ‘board of directors’.
* Feedback and conclusions

How will I be assessed?

You will not be assessed, but will recieve a certificate of attendence.

Address

The course takes place at Milton Hill House, just south of Oxford - ten minutes by taxi from Didcot Parkway station

Travel Information

The course takes place at Milton Hill House, just south of Oxford - ten minutes by taxi from Didcot Parkway station

Additional Notes

Please visit our website for a range of discounts available for our short courses.