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The Contemporary Publishing Industry

Module description

The scale and scope of the Contemporary Publishing Industry can feel bewildering, for aspiring Publishing Professionals and Creative Writers alike. Who are the ‘Big Five’? What is Conglomeration? Is there a difference between an imprint and a publisher? What is it, exactly, that Literary Agents do? How have digital technologies transformed the industry? Is the printed book still prevalent? Who are social media influencers and how do publishers, and authors, collaborate with them? Will artificial intelligence harm or help publishers and authors in the future? How are careers built, and sustained within the industry?  Through this module you will critically engage with these questions to gain thorough understanding of how the Contemporary Publishing Industry operates.

This module is only available to students registered on MA Creative Writing or MA Publishing

Module aims - intentions of the module

Through a series of seminars, archival workshops and lectures from industry professionals, this module will introduce students to the organisation and features of the Contemporary Publishing Industry. This unique module synthesises the knowledge and experience of published authors and publishing experts to provide a holistic and practical overview of the present challenges and opportunities across literary, genre, young adult, children’s and picture book markets.

Throughout, the module demystifies the evolving roles of authors, publishers and readers within a publishing industry increasingly shaped by digital technologies, which create new opportunities to read, write, publish and publicise books. This module will also introduce students to important legal and business terminology used within the industry, to empower and inform learners with publishing-specific knowledge. Dialogue with industry professionals and published authors will offer experiential insight, and practice-based knowledge, to complement critical approaches drawn from Publishing and Literary Studies. Module assessments are designed to support industry-facing research and professional development, with differentiated assessments for Creative Writing and Publishing students. Intended to provide grounding in current industry trends and challenges for Publishing and Creative Writing students alike, The Contemporary Publishing Industry will instil students with relevant knowledge to kick start their careers as a Publishing or Creative Writing Professional.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Demonstrate advanced knowledge of the contemporary publishing industry, including how organisations and creative markets are structured
• 2. Gain understanding of current trends, including threats and opportunities, present within the contemporary publishing industry

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. Analyse how diverse literary and publishing institutions condition the production, circulation and reception of books
• 4. Demonstrate interdisciplinary understanding of how writers, readers, publishers, and booksellers interact within the contemporary publishing industry
• 5. Demonstrate understanding of how legal frameworks and technological changes shape publishing and creative practice

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 6. Conduct industry specific research and identifying opportunities for professional development
• 7. Network with and learning from industry professionals

Syllabus plan

Although the module’s content might vary from year to year, the module will consistently cover the following:

• The Author
• Digital Publishing – New Platforms and Self-Publishing
• Poetry Publishing
• Picture Book Publishing
• Children and Young Adult Publishing
• Literary Agents
• Rights and Adaptation
• Finance
• Genre
• Live Literature, Festivals and Publicity
• Bookselling – Spaces and Communities
• Readers and Audiences
• Artificial Intelligence

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 50%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Baverstock, Alison, Bradford, Richard and Gonzalez, Madelena (2020) Contemporary Publishing and the Culture of Books. London: Routledge.
• Murray, Simone (2021) Introduction to Contemporary Print Culture: Books as Media. London: Routledge.
• Philips, Angus and Bhaskar, Michael, eds. (2019) The Oxford Handbook of Publishing, Oxford: Oxford University Press. 
• Sinykin, Dan (2023) The Conglomerate Era. Durham: Duke University Press.
• Thompson, John (2022) Book Wars: The Digital Revolution in Publishing. Cambridge: Polity.
• Wilkins, Kim, Driscoll, Beth and Fletcher, Lisa (2022) Genre Worlds: Popular Fiction and Twenty-First-Century Book Culture. University of Massachusetts Press.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• The Bookseller - The Bookseller - The Bookseller | At the heart of publishing since 1858
• Cambridge Elements in Publishing and Book Culture - Publishing and Book Culture
• Publisher’s Weekly - Book Reviews, Bestselling Books & Publishing Business News | Publishers Weekly

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

• Writers and Artists Years Book 2025

Key words search

Publishing Industry; Print Culture