Fiction Book Publishers Education and Training

Launch a small fiction publishing company with the right education, training and experience

By Nikki Wheeler
It takes a lot of capital, years of experience working in the publishing field and practical knowledge for fiction publishers to find success. No two professionals have taken the same exact path of fiction book publishers education and training, but there are some key educational components that need to be achieved for success in publishing fiction.

Traditional fiction book publishers education and training will prepare you for the business of publishing fiction by teaching you the following key components:

1. Fiction publishers need to be very business savvy and financially oriented.

2. Fiction publishing requires much knowledge in the literary arts, and the ability to recognize the next big thing in fiction.

3. A publisher needs to have many contacts within fiction publishing companies and elsewhere in the business.

 

Start fiction publishing education with an undergraduate degree

A few schools offer a certificate in publishing as part of an undergraduate education or continuing ed program.
Try: The City College of New York's undergrad publishing certificate program includes courses on the publishing business and book editing, as does the publishing certificate program at New York University's School of Continuing and Professional Studies.  Find a good list of academic publishing degree programs at the Association of American Publishers.

Prepare to publish a novel with a Masters degree

Following a Bachelors degree in business or English with a Masters in publishing perfectly shapes a student for a career in publishing by providing more in-depth education, experience and one-on-one instruction. Getting a Masters will open up the possibilities of securing the financing needed to start a business in small publishers fiction.
Try: Emerson College offers a two-year Master of Arts program that covers writing, editing, distribution, production, and design of books. Pace University offers a two-year Master of Science program that specializes in financial and technical aspects of publishing.

Learn the ropes of publishing fiction with an internship

An internship with a publishing company will provide the opportunity for training and experience while still in school. You will learn how the business is run, gain hands-on experience and network in the business for important industry contacts.
Try: Search for publishing internships from all around the world listed at University of Dreams. Search for summer internship programs to work during summer break from college at Random House, one of the largest fiction publishers in the world.

 

  • If getting enough capital to start publishing is not an option, earn publishing experience with self-publishing small presses fiction.