Careers with Words: Jobs to Inspire You

jobs to inspire you

In this booklet, you can find out more about potential careers and jobs for you, which all have writing and/or reading at their core.

This careers guide has been produced as part of Careers with Words, a programme to inspire young people aged 14+ to consider a future in the library service, in publishing, as a writer, or in one of the many roles our speakers talked about.

In this booklet, you’ll find careers information from publishers, editors, novelists and booksellers, as well as details about the many roles available in libraries.

You’ll discover career opportunities that have writing at their core, and see you can choose to set your own course and create the job which is right for you.

This booklet will provide you with insights, information and signposting of where to go for further information.

Above all, we want you to feel inspired to consider a career working with words in whatever form you’re enthusiastic about.

We can’t wait to hear what jobs and careers you end up working in later down the line.

Arts Connect, ASCEL and Writing West Midlands

Careers with Words programme partners

publishers and editors

P6 – 7

Careers with Words aims to inspire young people to consider professions they might not otherwise have known about.

The obvious first career is that of a writer. We’ve highlighted three different writer career paths, all of whom earn a living as a writer, but also have several parts to their writing careers.

Being a writer allows you to work flexibly, and from anywhere, but it does require you to be organised and able to advocate for yourself.

You’ll need to do more than just the writing, including publicity events, basic accounting for yourself (like invoicing, and ensuring you’re properly paid when you do work). These are all skills you can learn as you develop your writing, and there are many tutorials and guides online to help you.

Here’s a snapshot of how some of the speakers came into their writing roles.

Kasim’s debut novel, Good Intentions, was published in April 2022 when he was in his mid-20s. Although Good Intentions was his first published novel, it was actually the 22nd novel he wrote. For him, reading was and remains as important as writing, and he told the young people this:

“Keep writing. Keep reading. Read everything you can – all genres – from thriller to romance to literary fiction. It all shapes you, and gives you intel on how to write a good story, good dialogue, how to make a character likeable or not. You get better at writing the more you write, so above all, you must keep writing, and trying new things.”

Kasim sent Good Intentions to agents when he believed it was as good as he could get it, and was offered representation by Juliet Pickering at Blake Friedmann. You can find out more about literary agents and their jobs on page 8.

Other novelists who spoke at Careers with Words include Charley Barnes, prolific crime writer of 10+ novels, who talked about the publishing and publicity process and explained that writing is a job above all else:

“Block out time in the diary when you’ll be writing, and don’t let yourself put anything else in there. That’s your writing time, and it’s sacred. Even if it’s only two hours on a Tuesday morning, do it every Tuesday morning, and respect that that is your time to write. Soon it’ll be part of your routine and you’ll be amazed how much you can produce.”

Screen and play writer Dave Payne has written for CBBC, the BBC and independent productions. His theatre work is on tour in 2023 across the UK. He’s also a Producer on Radio 4’s The Archers, the longest-running soap opera in the world. His work is varied, and it all feeds into one writing career.

kasim ali novelist

charley barnes novelist

dave payne screenwriter

publishers and editors

Most writers wouldn’t be able to get their work seen or read without publishers and editors, who help their words become books, pamphlets and magazines.

Here are two people who work in this area explaining what they do and how they got into their first industry roles.

kasim ali editor at penguin then amazon

After a degree in English and deciding he didn’t want to be a teacher – which is what he had assumed he would do –Kasim considered working in publishing. As an avid reader his whole life, he was interested in how books are made and what the jobs involved in publishing a book are. Kasim found the organisation Creative Access (link on the back page), which offered him a 6-month internship placed in the publishing house Faber & Faber. Once he was working there, he was able to meet other people in publishing, and become aware of entry-level job vacancies. He applied for a job as an Editorial Assistant at Penguin Random House, which became his first post-University job.

“The internship through Creative Access was crucial. Once you’re in publishing, even as an intern, you learn how publishing works and which jobs or areas you’re most interested in. For me, that was Editorial, but for you, it may be Marketing, Publicity, Production, or Sales. There are lots of roles, all linked to books.”

james trevelyan publisher at the emma press

James worked for five years at Arts Council, providing funding management, advice and support across the London arts and national literature sector. His experience working in different areas within the industry means he has many transferable skills, including running a publishing press. James had a specific priority focus supporting writers and publishers. In recent freelance roles, James led and taught a module on The Writing Business on the Creative Writing MA at University of Westminster and supported production of Deptford Literature Festival 2022.

literary agent

Literary Agents provide the bridge between the writer and the publishing business. A good literary agent will be your champion and advocate, and you will trust their feedback, judgement and recommendations implicitly.

The job of a Literary Agent is multi-faceted and includes contract negotiation, editorial feedback and support for writers, financial management of advances and royalties, and publicity and marketing for their writers. Many writers remain with the same Literary Agent for their entire careers, with the relationship being as crucial as that of a business partner or spouse.

juliet pickering blake friedmann literary agency

Juliet started out as a bookseller at Waterstones after University, and became aware through meeting writers that they had Literary Agents. She did a few weeks’ work experience at a Literary Agency, and then applied for a role as Agent’s Assistant. After a few years learning the role, she began building her own list of writers and gradually became a Literary Agent in her own right after five or so years at the agency.

“Most often the way into the industry is to do an internship – many of which are paid, and some come with help towards accommodation if you don’t live in London. It doesn’t have to be in an agency, it can be at a festival, a bookshop, a library…. You’ll get to see how the industry works, and what the job is like, as well as become aware of job vacancies you might want to consider.”

You can find more links to organisations which advertise graduate roles, internships, and help with accommodation if you’re not based in London, on the back page of this booklet.

roles in libraries

Library services have kept pace with the changes in our society - they are dynamic and innovative spaces that are free and open to all, supporting communities with social prescribing, digital support and innovation, business development, and creative and learning opportunities – all still with books and reading at their core.

Libraries vary from public libraries, mobile libraries, prison libraries, school and university libraries - which leads to there being a huge range of roles available to consider.

andy searle academic liaison

librarian, the hive, worcester

Andy came to the librarian profession later in life, after working as a teacher and scientist in his 20s and 30s. His role now is to help students and members of the public access the resources the library has to offer, as well as support students who need a little extra help to be able to complete their studies. He also develops The Hive’s information technology.

“You usually need to have a degree if you want to work in academic library work – you need to have an interest in research and academia. Working in the general library, you develop lots of customer and people skills, you will be speaking to people of all walks of life and abilities and trying to help them. It’s really varied, and really rewarding.”

You don’t need to have a formal qualification to enter the library service, however there are degrees and apprenticeships available if you wish. Look into CILIP for more information (details on the back page).

festivals, and writing events

(in person and online)

Books, whilst usually enjoyed individually, bring people together. There are hundreds of book and literature festivals across the UK, and many more bookshops running events as well. You can certainly seek them out and volunteer to help out, or even just attend to see what the events are like and if you’d like to be part of that side of the industry.

becky shaw ledbury poetry festival

Becky works at Ledbury Poetry Festival as well as St David’s Cathedral Festival. She has 30 years of experience in publishing.

“I was not sure what I wanted to do after uni. I had no contacts of any kind or any relations in London. But knew I wanted to expand my horizons and go there. So I managed to get some odd jobs, and that led to hearing about a job packing books in a warehouse under a church…. I was asked to help out ‘upstairs’ which was a publishing company in this converted church. That led, eventually, to an entry-level job in publishing.

Take every opportunity you can. You never know what it might lead to!”

kurly mcgeachie schools and community workshop leader

Kurly McGeachie is an experienced poet and community workshop leader, working in schools with children of all ages, as well as in Pupil Referral Units and prisons. Kurly’s company, Memorhyme, provides young people and adults alike with workshops where language and performance allows them to explore experiences, feelings and issues they might not otherwise be able to. Kurly’s work support social change through action, and was developed after years of his work in schools and communities which didn’t feel that the arts, poetry and performance were “for them”.

leena normington poet and booktuber

Leena is a poet and YouTuber who has amassed over 11 million views with her video essays and thought-poems, as well as commentary on the publishing industry. Leena started out working in bookselling at Waterstones, then made the leap into publishing by working on the marketing and PR side of the industry, predominantly in social media at Penguin Random House.

“Working as a bookseller at Waterstones was invaluable. So many of my colleagues in publishing had never really interacted with readers, whereas I spent my days at Waterstones talking to book buyers and hearing all about what they loved reading and why, or why they had picked up a particular book over another. That insight was crucial in my second role where I was helping shape how we, as a publisher, reach those readers.”

bookshop owner and bookseller

Many of the people featured in this booklet started out in bookselling, and credit it as being formative for the rest of their careers. It’s a job which teaches you many skills you’ll use in whatever profession you’ll eventually settle in – from customer management to basic accounting skills through to stock management and communications skills. You’ll also get to work with what you love already: books and writers!

jenny mccann bear books

Jenny started out as a teacher, and trained straight from University. She taught English in secondary schools for 15 years, but after having her own children, developed a fascination for how young children can interact with books and how transformative that experience can be.

During the maternity leave for her 3rd child, Jenny set about founding Bear Bookshop in Bearwood, Smethwick, an independent children’s bookshop which is also at the heart of the community and offers events, workshops and play spaces for local families as well as introducing children to books they’ll love.

mog giacomelliharris warwick books

After a career in Theatre Design and retail, Mog and her partner Pauline spotted an opportunity when the beautiful Warwick Books was being sold as a going concern some years ago. Situated on the historic Market Place in Warwick, Warwick Books was at the heart of the town and very much loved by locals, but needed some rejuvenation.

Mog and Pauline brought together their combined experience of retail and administration, and were delighted to find that, although there was a lot to learn, the publishing and bookselling communities

embraced and supported them. They were able to access training through various organisations including the Booksellers’ Association (see back page for resources), and learnt the job whilst on the job. Warwick Books is now a thriving business with events, community meetings and much more, as well as showcasing some beautiful and captivating books which Mog and Pauline select based on intimate knowledge of their customers.

“Everyone wishes you well in this industry – writers, publishers, festival and events organisers, even fellow booksellers. There’s plenty of resources available to help you with specific skills, and people in the industry support and look out for one another. You can absolutely go into bookselling even if you’ve not worked in a related industry before.”

about careers with words

Bringing together Arts Connect and ASCEL with Writing West Midlands, Careers with Words toured to libraries across the West Midlands during National Careers Week (6-10 March 2023) to inspire young people aged 14+ to consider a future in the library service, in publishing, as a writer, or doing one of the many roles we’ll showcase with writing at their core.

The project was funded by Arts Council England via Arts Connect, and delivered by Writing West Midlands.

About the Organisers:

Arts Connect (artsconnect.co.uk) has a mission to lead changes in provision and access to high-quality creative opportunities for children and young people, especially those who are disadvantaged and facing the highest barriers to engagement.

Arts Connect knows that opportunities for young people are not equal and aims to reduce these barriers through their work.

ASCEL (ascel.org.uk) is the Association of Senior Children’s and Education Librarians. ASCEL leads excellence in Library Services for Children, Young People and Schools.

Writing West Midlands (writingwestmidlands.org) is the creative writing development agency for the region, and is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.

To find out more about possible careers with words, see:

The Association of Authors’ Agents: agentsassoc.co.uk

The Bookseller Jobs: jobs.thebookseller.com

The Bookseller’s Association: booksellers.org.uk

The Booktrade Benevolent Society Grants: btbs.org/grants

CILIP (Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals): cilip.org.uk

Creative Access Jobs: opportunities.creativeaccess.org.uk/ jobs

The Publishers’ Association: publishers.org.uk

The Society of Authors: societyofauthors.org

The Society of Young Publishers: thesyp.org.uk

Waterstones jobs: waterstones.com/careers

The Writers’ Guild of Great Britain: writersguild.org.uk

This programme is produced by Writing West Midlands.

Design by Keith Dodds

Images by Lee Allen and Paul Stringer

Printed by ClarkePrint.