As I mentioned in a previous blog post, for many years I worked as a publisher of books for children and young people.
A publisher’s job is all about helping writers turn their stories into books. The publisher guides the writer through all the steps that one needs to take to make a book. The publisher helps the author make their book the best it can be. They talk about the ideas in the story, and they might make suggestions or ask questions that help the author work out how to improve the story. The publisher and editor also try to make sure that there are no spelling errors in a book! Have you ever spotted a spelling mistake in a book? It’s the publisher’s worst nightmare when this happens!
Some people might wonder if because I was a publisher it’s easier for me to be a writer. In a small way I suppose it is, because I know how the publishing world works. I know what happens once an author sends their manuscript to the publishing company. But in other ways I don’t think it’s easier at all! A publisher has to think of lots of things, like who will read the book, how should the book be marketed, what should the cover look like, will the book be likely to be set as a text for school students, and things like that. I find when I’m writing that it works best when all I’m thinking about is the story and the characters, and not worrying too much about anyone else’s expectations of it. So when I write, I have to shut down the publisher side of myself!
Another question that people often ask me is whether I have ever published one of my own books! I haven’t – I always work with a different publisher with the stories I write.
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