This is the sector for the natural storytellers, who get a thrill from bookstores and are bursting at the seams with tales to tell. But it has a home for all kinds of interests, those who love to craft the perfect sentence or spending their day researching new information. In publishing, you’ll get the thrill of bringing a book all the way from manuscript to bookshelf.

There are many book publishers in Ireland, ranging from mass market publishers to speciality publishers. Most of these companies are quite small employing only a few permanent staff.

For the writer, getting a book published can be a difficult process. Early in their careers, writers will often pen their novel before submitting to publishers, but those with more established reputations will sell a book proposal to a publisher before embarking on writing in earnest.

Careers involved in the area of publishing involve far more than just the author. Publishers will assign an editor to a writer to guide them through the book drafting process, the publisher will also handle the typesetting, design and printing of books, much of which is outsourced. Other crucial people involved include; copy editors, literary agents, publicists, copy writers and marketers. 

There are also many journals in Ireland, publishing short stories and essays. These can offer a way for writers to test the waters and to build a reputation in the literary community.

Working in the publishing sector can be fulfilling, but the sector is very competitive, it takes many years of gaining experience in entry level roles to establish yourself in publishing. Similarly, for writers, it can be many years before you build a reputation and it can be difficult to make a sustainable living from writing alone. For both paths, determination through the tough times is key to making it.