Fall 2026: The Career Course: Inside Book Publishing
Welcome to The Career Journey: Inside Book Publishing!
In the one-cycle Journey, mentees and mentors will map the roles across publishing houses and literary agencies and get into the nuts and bolts of what each one actually does. By the end, those of you looking to turn a love of books into a livelihood will have the tools to approach internship and job applications with confidence—while the seasoned pros among you recharge, widen your networks, and grow as leaders, all in service of the generation coming up behind you.
You are currently viewing the course for this Journey. In this course, you will dive into various roles in publishing that bring books to life, from editorial and design to marketing, publicity, production, and more.
Learning Objectives
The Career Course: Inside Book Publishing Learning Objectives:
At the end of this course, participants will have:
- Publishing Industry Knowledge — Explore the structure of the publishing industry and the roles that contribute to bringing books from manuscript to marketplace.
- Publishing Practice Acumen — Develop an understanding of key publishing practices, including manuscript evaluation, editorial feedback, pitching, marketing, publicity, and audience engagement.
- Professional Communication Know-How — Practice industry-specific forms of communication by creating materials such as pitch letters, reader’s reports, editorial letters, and marketing content.
- Career Readiness — Build professional skills for pursuing internships and careers in publishing through networking, career exploration, and interview preparation.
Requirements
- Complete at least 2 pair sessions per month and log these in your Portal
- Attend the monthly Journey Meetings (see Engagement Dates)
- Complete all lessons and assignments in this course
- Create a career-ready publishing portfolio featuring a reader’s report, a case study analyzing the success of a breakout book, and a tailored résumé and cover letter
Engagement Dates
Participants will attend one Journey Live Meeting each month as part of the course for the cycle. Additionally, you can schedule 1:1 office hours with the Journey Instructor for individual assistance as needed.
Fall Cycle Journey Meetings:
Monday, November 2, 2026, 7 – 9 PM ET
Monday, December 7, 2026, 7 – 9 PM ET
Monday, January 11, 2027, 7 – 9 PM ET
Asynchronous Coursework
Complete each lesson in the the following course. As you progress through each lesson, make sure to press “complete” before moving on to the next.
The Career Course: Inside Book Publishing (Fall 2026)
This course is designed to help develop the skills and understanding needed to successfully position oneself in the publishing job market. Specific topics range from agenting to reader’s reports to resumes and cover letters.
Submissions
You are required to create a career-ready publishing portfolio featuring a reader’s report, a case study analyzing the success of a breakout book, and a tailored résumé and cover letter by the end of the cycle in order to successfully complete The Career Journey: Inside Book Publishing.
Curriculum
- 4 Sections
- 27 Lessons
- Lifetime
- Introduction3 Items
- Inside the Publishing Process: The Agent’s Role8 Items
- The Bestseller Detective: A Publishing Investigation8 Items
- 3.1Journey Meeting 2
- 3.2Introduction & Learning Objectives
- 3.3Investigation 1: The Book in the Wild
- 3.4Investigation 2: Find the Moment
- 3.5Investigation 3: Follow the Reader
- 3.6Investigation 4: Solve the Mystery
- 3.7ASSIGNMENT – The Bestseller Case Study (Due January 10 at 11:59pm ET)
- 3.8Conclusion & Resources
- Inside the Publishing Process – How to Get a Publishing Job8 Items
Instructor
