Reflections from another IVP Intern

Having loved books from an early age, publishing always had a certain appeal, despite not really knowing what it entailed.  So, when I came across the role of intern on IVP’s website, I jumped at the chance to apply.  Funnily enough, despite a house full of Christian books, I’d never considered Christian publishing, but I hoped it would nicely combine my interests!

With a fourteen-year-break from the workplace due to child-raising and several house relocations, I felt lacking in confidence on day one, yet certain that I should be in an industry in which I had interest and what better way to test this than by throwing myself in at the deep end?  Or though, as I was to discover, not really the deep end at all as everyone was so helpful and kind, enthusiastic to show me how the different aspects of publishing all fitted together and to ensure that I benefited from the broadest possible experience.

The biggest surprise was perhaps the busyness of publishing.  In my naivety, I had envisaged publishing as a sort of conveyor belt where submissions form an orderly queue on the path to publication, whereas the reality was more like Air Traffic Control with projects simultaneously and continuously taking off and touching down and ‘in the air’. 

Also, the busyness of the industry perhaps shouldn’t have come as a surprise but it did.  It is all about the numbers - how much to print and at what price – which in turn is influenced by (and vice versa) a host of other options:  hardback or paperback; Demy or Royal, matt or gloss lam etc…?  And the options don’t stop there; where and how to sell the Rights of a book is another important question, the answers to which can bear heavily on its success or determine its viability at all (especially when it comes to children’s picture books which are obviously expensive to print).

I soon also realised that I had been wrong to view a book’s publication as its ‘end point.’ I had romantically thought that a good book would pretty much sell itself, and yet, as quickly became apparent, a good book still needs to be heavily publicised, and often with the author’s cooperation, especially in a highly competitive market.

Which is all to say that publishing is far more multi-faceted than I had ever imagined, though, in my opinion, far more interesting for it.  And, in my role as intern, I have had the opportunity to see and do it all (or, at least, most!).

 I have enjoyed discussing book ideas; reading book drafts; writing reports and blog posts; making suggestions for book titles and covers; attending the London Book Fair and a book launch; sitting in on numerous meetings – including the annual ‘Birthday Meeting’ (a review of books published within the year); attending two Away Days, co-presenting with the IVP team at the recent SPCK Sales Conference and learning a multitude of new acronyms!  Though I have predominantly been in the Editorial Department, shadowing the IVP Publishing Director Thomas Creedy – who has been brilliant at throwing anything which might be useful or interesting my way – coming into the office twice weekly has also given me exposure to other departments, such as Art, Marketing/PR and Fundraising.  Even the more prosaic tasks of data-inputting (for use by an online theological resource) and providing some administrative assistance to the Finance Department have been useful in giving me a firmer grasp not only of the functioning of the business but of its scope.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my three months as an intern and would recommend it unreservedly to anyone interested in publishing.  I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to experience such a competitive industry and far from putting me off, it has whetted my appetite for more.

We hope these reflections inspire you to apply for our internship - or, if that isn't you, give you more insight into IVP's publishing and posture. We are excited about our future, and if you are considering an internship, we'd love to hear from you.

Find out more about the IVP Internship.