Inside Publishing: What Students Learned from Industry Experts
On 27 April, the School of Arts welcomed two leading voices from Hodder & Stoughton, Charlotte Humphery (Editorial Director) and Charlea Charlton (Senior Marketing Manager), for an honest, generous conversation about how publishing really works. Expertly hosted by our very own Dr Okechukwu Nzelu, the event demystified the industry and offered practical advice for anyone considering a career in publishing.
There isn’t just one pathway into publishing
One of the most reassuring messages was that you don’t need to start at the bottom to break into publishing. Many people enter the industry later in their careers, bringing skills from other sectors. As one panellist put it, most publishing professionals “get jobs elsewhere, build skills and contacts, before moving into publishing.”
Students were encouraged to think broadly: bookselling, marketing, events, arts administration, and other “book‑adjacent” roles are all excellent stepping stones.
Understanding how publishers work
Charlotte offered a brilliant analogy: imprints are “like the colleges at Lancaster University, they all part of one big whole but each with their own identities, budgets, and priorities.” They collaborate, but they also compete for titles.
A simple but powerful tip they shared: read the acknowledgements pages of books you love. They reveal who does what, which editors work where, and how authors talk about their teams.
The panel talked students through:
- what happens in an editorial meeting
- how different teams (editorial, marketing, design, rights) work together
- the terminology that often feels opaque from the outside
The importance of authenticity
Charlotte described her editorial style which was very coaching‑led: asking questions, drawing out the author’s intentions, and helping them shape the strongest version of their book. This applies to fiction and non‑fiction alike, not forgetting that the latter still needs a compelling story arc and deserves to be written artfully.
Both speakers emphasised a growing “hunger for authenticity” in the industry. With AI reshaping the landscape, publishers are already thinking about how to acknowledge AI use in contracts and protect the authors voice. Whether you’re writing fiction or non‑fiction, your voice matters more than chasing trends.
Write the book you want to write
Students hoping to become authors were encouraged to resist writing “what you think will sell.” Trends shift quickly, and trying to predict them can tie writers in knots. Instead, focus on the story or idea that feels true to you.
Practical tips for students exploring publishing
- Look beyond entry-level roles. Experience in marketing, comms, bookselling, or cultural organisations is highly valued.
- Build your understanding of the industry. Follow publishers and editors on social media, read acknowledgements, and explore imprints.
- Develop transferable skills. Communication, project management, teamwork, and digital confidence matter as much as literary knowledge.
- Stay curious about AI and digital change. The industry is evolving fast – being informed is an advantage.
- Remember that publishing is collaborative. Editors, marketers, designers, publicists, and rights teams all shape a book’s journey.
We’re incredibly grateful to the School of Arts for hosting such an insightful session, and to Charlotte, Charlea and Okechukwu for sharing their time, expertise and generosity with our students. Events like this make the publishing world feel that bit more accessible, and we’re delighted our students could benefit from their openness and advice.