publishing studies

Pan Liu, MLitt in Publishing Studies 2012-2013

January 24th, 2013 by Pan Liu | Posted in Student Profiles | Comments Off on Pan Liu, MLitt in Publishing Studies 2012-2013
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I chose publishing studies for my post-graduate study because I really love books! Besides, I’m interested in collecting interesting stories and to find good writers. In China, I majored in Packaging Engineering.  There are a lot of gifted writers, they should be noticed by the public and  their outstanding books should be shared with the people around the whole world, not only in my home country. Also, I think digital publishing is very interesting. In China, students work very hard and they got a lot of books to read. So, their schoolbag is very heavy. But I think they could get relaxed in the future because of e-books.

The field of publishing is constantly changing and many new and advanced things will appear like electronic books. It’s interesting and a motivation for me to keep going on to satisfy the people’s need. In the following days in University of Stirling, I will focus on the main courses through continuous reading and writing. Further, I will explore some relevant areas in publishing studies which could help me and broaden my horizon in the long run.

Lastly, University of Stirling is a leading institute in the field of publishing among the European universities. It provides the students with wide range of readings, advanced facilities and of course, excellent and experienced teachers. I really enjoy studying in Stirling.

Qinyu Sun, MLitt in Publishing Studies 2012-2013

January 22nd, 2013 by Qinyu Sun | Posted in Student Profiles | Comments Off on Qinyu Sun, MLitt in Publishing Studies 2012-2013
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Hello, you can call me Safina, and  now I am studying on the MLitt in Publishing Studies course in the University of the Stirling.  I am from Shanghai which is located in the east of China. When I was an university student, I always invited my friends to visit the bookshops together and had a cup of tea. Now I have missed that style of life. Anyone who wants to do it with me will make me feel so excited

“Knowledge is the power.” It’s the familiar sentence for us to know during my life of studies in China. So that is one of the reason for me to further my studies here.

My undergraduate degree in Exhibition management and planning was completed in my hometown.  During that time, I took a lot of courses, such as marketing, public relation, economic, accounting, design and so on. I have to do some part time jobs with advertisement companies and some exhibitions. I like creation and design. Fashion is what I purchase now. So you can image that I want to be an editor in the fashion magazine. Design, planning and writing can make me become an editor in a fashion magazine’s company. I wish my dream will come true.

Now I have been here for several months, I have learnt a lot in the publishing major. If you want to more about my daily life, you can come to my facebook or Sina Weibo. 

“If it comes down to it, then eat the baby food” – Society of Young Publisher’s Internship Panel

January 14th, 2013 by Aija | Posted in Blog | Comments Off on “If it comes down to it, then eat the baby food” – Society of Young Publisher’s Internship Panel
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At the annual intern event of the Society of Young Publishers  junior staff members from various Scottish publishing houses gave, in a rare opportunity for us fledgling publishing students, insight and information on how to get one’s foot in in the publishing business. Sobering realities were spoken, albeit in warm tones.

The panel of eight, chaired by Dr. Padmini Ray Murray of Stirling University’s publishing studies, shared their labour intensive attempts of cracking into publishing – starting from advice on how to write a thorough research dissertation that can be used to one’s benefit when applying for a job, to some of the bittersweet intern experiences (such as having to promote a baby food cook book and actually having demonstrate the excellence of the cook book by eating some of the gourmet choices, and thus securing a rave recommendation) and with the comforting notion that a lot of luck is in question, and it might take months (or as in one case) about a year before a young publisher would land on their first job within an actual publishing house.

The key is to do as many internships as possible, to be social, hardworking and foremost, to be proactive. Nothing will be gained from sitting on one’s bum, waiting for that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow to just drop in your lap in the form of a job advert or offered internship through the (hopefully) varied connections. The general consensus between the panel was to be bold enough to contact publishers and publishing houses, big and small, and tell them you are available to work for a week or two weeks and to emphasize on top your already existing skills the fact that you are out to learn. Naturally this should go with a thorough knowledge of the publisher’s goals and previous titles, just so you can dazzle them with a proper explanation as to why you think they would be the best to provide you with invaluable experience.

Interestingly enough, many in the panel mentioned how applying for smaller companies is in many ways a better opportunity, as big publishing houses have enough to deal with as it is and often do not need interns in the way smaller companies are able and willing to take a youngling in with open arms — especially if they are willing to work, FOR FREE.

Armed with new motivation and more hands-on information (it is always good to know others have struggled as well) on how to secure an internship and further on, a career in publishing the students filed out to the Edinburgh dusk, ready to try out their own publishing wings as soon as possible – secured with the conviction of actually being ready to eat that baby food, if it comes down to it.

Cheridan Smith, MLitt in Publishing Studies 2012-2013

December 21st, 2012 by Cheridan Smith | Posted in Student Profiles | Comments Off on Cheridan Smith, MLitt in Publishing Studies 2012-2013
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My name is Cheridan Smith and I’ve come from Manchester to study in Stirling. My initial aims for studying on the MLitt Publishing Studies course are to learn about the publishing industry and gain the experience and knowledge needed for a career as an editor. When I was shown pictures of the university campus and around the area I knew where I wanted to study, and upon reading the course teaching programme I was happy to see it would be as promising as the landscape. From the overview of the modules on the course, it seems thorough in its content and structure which will be beneficial for getting as much knowledge as possible about publishing.

Having completed an English literature with English language course at undergraduate level from the university of Salford, I have had experience in analysing literature and the contents of books or publishing materials; however, this is the first time I have gained any official experience in how publishing works. Every part of this course is therefore exciting and I’m passionate about learning all I can from it. Hopefully my passion for reading will be a good start for book publishing and I will be able to get more involved with how books are marketed, conceptualised, edited, and produced. Once completing the course I aim to work specifically in the editorial sector of the industry but the other departments are also interesting to me.

Joanne Marjoribanks, MLitt Publishing Studies, 2012-2013

December 19th, 2012 by Joanne Marjoribanks | Posted in Student Profiles | Comments Off on Joanne Marjoribanks, MLitt Publishing Studies, 2012-2013
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I have had a lot of career aspirations in my life – teacher, meteorologist, dancer, political researcher – but the only constant passion in my life since I was a child has been my love of books. There is even some hilarious family video footage of me at about one and a half years old enthusiastically waving a Disney book around and then trying to flip through the thick pages with my little stubby fingers. When I graduated with my undergraduate degree, I was convinced that my future career lay in the world of politics, even going so far as to take up an internship with the Scottish Liberal Democrats during my year out. However, although the internship was a really great experience, I left convinced that a political career wasn’t for me.

Disillusioned, I turned to my mother for advice, and she suggested publishing. I felt so stupid – of course, why hadn’t I thought of that?! I immediately began a Google search and quickly found the MLitt Publishing Studies course here at Stirling. For some reason that still eludes me, I had never considered a career in publishing before. I loved books and literature, yet I didn’t want to be a teacher, so I felt that my passion would have to remain a hobby. However, publishing seemed like the perfect fit for me, and this course the perfect avenue into the industry. I have no direct experience working in publishing – although what I learned during my Lib Dem internship has helped me a lot – however I have been published twice in poetry anthologies via two national poetry competitions run by Poetry in Print.

I completed my undergraduate degree in American Studies at the University of Dundee in 2011. The flexibility of the course was fantastic and allowed me to study modules in English, Politics and History, which were completely focused on the USA. In my final two years I was able to narrow my focus in terms of the modules that I chose. I also had to decide which of the three module subjects I would focus my dissertation on. Considering that at the time I thought I wanted to work in the political sphere, it would have made sense to undertake a dissertation in politics. However, I couldn’t shake my love of literature, and to that end I wrote my dissertation on the significance of the wolf symbol in American Literature, beginning with Native American legends and ending with a number of late 20th century novels featuring the wolf as a central character. Despite the stress involved, I actually really enjoyed the process, and only wished I could have written more than the 11,000 word limit allowed!

I am only a few weeks into the course, and having finally gotten to grips (I hope!) with the classes schedule and all the assignments for this semester, I feel I am finally settling down to enjoy what I am learning. I already feel that the way I look at the world is changing, not least because I am now seeing Helvetica everywhere! When I pick up a book and see that the paper it is printed on is of a poor quality, I wonder what led the publisher to make that decision. I find myself looking at posters, leaflets and magazine advertisements and trying to decide whether or not they represent examples of effective marketing. I can only imagine how my impressions of books and the wider world will have changed still further by this time next year, but I am definitely looking forward to finding out where this course will lead me.

 

Eva Graf, MLitt Publishing Studies 2012/13

November 7th, 2012 by Eva Graf | Posted in Student Profiles | Comments Off on Eva Graf, MLitt Publishing Studies 2012/13
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“A house without books is like a room without windows.” Heinrich Mann

Growing up (in a small village in northern Bavaria) I  bought books rather than sweets with my pocket money. This love for the printed word never declined over the years, therefore the decision what subject to choose after finishing grammar school came easy to me. It had to do something with books…

In the end I made my way to the Johannes Gutenberg-University in Mainz to study Book History. My minor subject British Studies manifested the wish to go abroad after my Bachelor’s Degree. So after handing in my thesis on the topic of private book collecting I started the application process for Stirling. Why? Because after doing a degree with lots of history on the book I wanted to experience the more practical side of publishing. I feel that I did make the right decision to come here and I am really looking forward doing my Master’s in Stirling. I feel a career in publishing is never a wrong choice, books have been around for centuries and in my opinion will be here quite a while longer!

Kristin Funk, MLitt in Publishing Studies 2012-2013

November 6th, 2012 by Kristin Funk | Posted in Student Profiles | Comments Off on Kristin Funk, MLitt in Publishing Studies 2012-2013
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After finishing my Bachelor’s degree in Book Studies and Sociology at the Johannes Gutenberg-University in Mainz, I decided to move across Europe to continue my journey in Publishing Studies at the University of Stirling. Literature has been a constant companion of mine, from early childhood until today, and therefore the decision to pursue a career in the publishing industry was an easy one. As passionate as I am about books, I find it essential to never lose focus on reality and the hardships that come with being a publisher in the 21st century. I am highly interested in new digital developments and eager to expand my knowledge regarding ebooks and apps and the extraordinary opportunities that come with them.

I am most excited about the book project we will be working on. This is a unique opportunity to not only work creatively but to learn about every aspect of publishing books or magazines. I am especially thrilled to be given the chance to design a product cover to cover, and cannot wait to see my work in printed form.

Laura Craddock, MLitt in Publishing Studies 2012-2013

October 26th, 2012 by Laura Craddock | Posted in Student Profiles | Comments Off on Laura Craddock, MLitt in Publishing Studies 2012-2013
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Before I was even close to finishing my English degree at the University of Dundee I had already started to entertain the idea of undertaking a course in publishing.

Although I have always enjoyed creative writing, I also displayed an interest in the process of how an idea or an author’s manuscript is transformed into the final product. My first and only experience of the publishing process so far was when I opted to join my High School’s yearbook production team. Even though we hit quite a few bumps along the road, it was a proud moment when we finally saw months of hard work come to life in the form of a physical copy.

The University of Stirling’s MLitt in Publishing Studies stood out to me over other courses available because of the broad, hands-on introduction that it provides to the publishing industry. For me, the course appears to contain the perfect balance between theory and practical skills in every section of publishing, which allows everyone to have a taste of each role before deciding what sector appeals to them the most.

Although it is still early days, I am excited to see what the rest of the course brings. Please feel free to follow my adventures on twitter @lauracraddock.

Blake Brooks, MLitt in Publishing Studies 2012-2013

October 23rd, 2012 by Blake Brooks | Posted in Student Profiles | Comments Off on Blake Brooks, MLitt in Publishing Studies 2012-2013
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Ramshackle writer and aspirational editor. I’ve studied at The University of Stirling since 2008, firstly as an Undergraduate doing a joint honours in English Studies and Film and Media Studies, and now as a Publishing Studies MLitt student. During this time I have worked on numerous projects in a variety of fields; radio, television, magazine journalism and occasionally creative writing. I was Arts Editor for BRIG, the Stirling University Student Newspaper, in 2010, which involved a lot of work with other writers and doing a lot of reviews. More recently I worked as TV Section Editor for Hi! Magazine, launching the section and working with a team of around ten writers to produce an average of three articles per week. I regularly wrote for both these projects, but was also in charge of editing, proofreading, design and layout, and with Hi! Magazine I was also in charge of social media marketing for the section. I run my own Tumblr blog which, although full of wonderful nonsense from the dark corners of the internet, I do use for occasional writing and opinion pieces. In an attempt to make order out of chaos I also run a WordPress Portfolio of all of my writing, under the Something Ineffable brand which I created, but failed to do very much with. I am also on Twitter: @blake_brooks

On a more personal note, I am a tea obsessive, with a collection of teas from around the world. I enjoy travelling, though more for the experience and adventure than for the tea’s I pick up along the way! I am in love with the Nordic countries, having lived in Denmark for six months on exchange, and a large Scandinavian community in Stirling. I hope someday to live and work in Finland, and hopefully also in Denmark or Sweden. I speak the tiniest amount of Danish (Jeg kan kun taler lidt Dansk) but other than that I am afraid I am mono-lingual. However, in order to make up for my total lack of skill in languages I have attempted to become as fluent and eloquent in the use of the English as possible, and other than my penchant for expletives I think I have a talent for talking that is, if not unique, then at least interesting.

Elise J Guay, MLitt Publishing Studies 2012-2013

October 19th, 2012 by Elise Guay | Posted in Student Profiles | Comments Off on Elise J Guay, MLitt Publishing Studies 2012-2013
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My journey began in the states at a university called Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island. I was studying American Studies with a minor in Creative Writing when my junior year (third year) came around and it was time to decide where to study abroad- an earned right for upper classmen. My three options because of the limited nature of my major were Stirling University, Edinburgh University, and a university way down in Sydney, Australia. I had to choose one and deep down I knew Sydney wasn’t the place for me, and having always been on a campus setting, being in the city at Edinurgh was scary to me. Univerity of Stirling was the right fit, so this Goldilocks packed 50 pounds of luggage and made the trip over, fully intending to go home after four months.

I arrived in February of 2010 and haven’t left, excpet for holidays of course! After being here a little short of a month I was already looking into transferring. I got all my paperwork in and sorted out my visa, and was ready to complete my undergraduate degree. I graduated in June 2012, and 2 years in Scotland just didn’t seem enough for me so I applied for my Masters. At first, I had the same attitude that I had while transferring which was if I get in, that’d be great, if not then maybe it’s time to go home- which I quickly discovered was a survival mechanism to keep myself calm during the process. But, as the summer wore on and it got closer to the acceptance date, I became more and more nervewracked. When I finally got my acceptance letter, I screamed so loudly I woke my flat mate up. I’m looking forward to the prospects and the doors that doing this course will open for me.

I actually have been writing my own book for about two and a half years now. The title is Fledgling. I have my own website so feel free to have a look! {Beatha. Gaol. Sgriobh} It is entirely set in Scotland and was inspired by my study abroad semester. Coming here gave me a new sense of creativity and this is the brain child of that creativity.

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