Get into publishing. No unpaid internship, London contacts or MA required.
Learn how books sold and positioned, from editorial and rights to marketing, design and publicity, with an award-winning independent press. Self-paced training, two live industry talks a month, and CV and cover letter support.
- Self-paced: fits around your job
- 2 live (and recorded) industry talks every month
- From £14.99/month, cancel any time
No experience needed. You'll get your Academy invite by email within 24 hours.
British Book Awards: Northern Small Press of the Year 2024
FutureBook Award Excellence Finalist 2025, The Bookseller
5★ from the Society of Young Publishers for our industry talk series
Backed by universities
Featured in The Bookseller
Taught with speakers from across the industry
Publishing shouldn't only be for people who can afford to work for free
Breaking into publishing can feel impossible. Entry-level roles ask for experience. Experience means unpaid internships. Internships mean living in London. And a publishing MA isn't an option for everyone.
We think that's wrong, so we built something better.
The Publishing Academy teaches you the practical skills employers look for, from people who work in publishing every day. You learn from home, at your own pace, and you finish with skills that make your CV stand out.
Everything you need to take your first step into publishing
An online course
Covering every major publishing department, with guided exercises: edit a manuscript, plan a campaign, follow a book from idea to finished product.
2 live industry talks a month
1 hour 15 minutes each, recorded so you never miss one. Ask questions directly to the people doing the jobs you want.
A community of peers
Our private discussion forum and members' WhatsApp group, plus advice and support from FOTW's Isabelle Kenyon.
In-person opportunities
Optional opportunities for work, networking and shadowing.
Ready to take your first step into publishing?
Join the Academy13 modules. The whole publishing process.
Overview
The life cycle of a book
Understanding publishing contracts and negotiation
Editorial: everything you need to know
Design and production
Evolving digital markets (e-books and audio)
Publisher marketing plans
Book PR (publicity)
Sales
Agents
Rights
Q&A drop-in sessions (recordings of past sessions)
Your next steps: CVs and cover letters
New content is added every month from our live sessions and workshops.
What you'll walk away with
- An understanding of every major publishing department
- Practical editorial and marketing exercises for your CV
- The industry vocabulary employers expect
- Stronger applications and interviews
- Contacts with industry professionals
- The confidence to talk about publishing professionally
- A clearer sense of where you fit
Built for people outside the traditional routes in
The Academy is for you if you are:
A recent graduate:
who wants publishing experience without an unpaid internship
A career changer:
bringing skills from another industry
Based outside London:
and tired of opportunities that assume you can get to the capital
Considering an MA, or already studying:
and want practical, job-ready skills alongside it
You don't need any prior experience. Most members are 22 to 45, but there's no age limit.
Writers are welcome, but this course is about working in publishing. If you want to get your own book published, our Getting Published course is the better fit.
Sound like you?
Start your publishing careerLearn from a press that does this every day
The Academy is designed by Isabelle Kenyon, CEO of Fly on the Wall Press and MA Module Leader in Publishing at Arts University Bournemouth. Isabelle was named a Leader in Publishing by The Bookseller in 2025.
Fly on the Wall Press has been publishing bold, ethical and socially engaged books since 2018.
Fly on the Wall Press achievements
- 🏆Northern Small Press of the Year 2024, British Book Awards
- 🌍Winner of the Manchester Culture Award for Sustainability
- ✨FutureBook Award Excellence Finalist 2025, The Bookseller
Isabelle Kenyon
Founder & Publisher
Live Masterclass
Twice-Monthly Industry Talks
The Press
Award-Winning Indie Publishing
What our members say
‘The publishing course is definitely one of the best around for anyone looking to kick start a career in publishing. Not only is it affordable but incredibly accessible... I would say this is definitely the best course for those of us outside of London trying to get in.’
‘The steps are wonderfully structured, there were many useful things in the texts for me, especially the part related to rights.’
‘I enjoyed learning about an area of the industry that not many people think about, and how different departments come together to get books on the shelves.’
Choose your plan
Same Academy, same access. Pay monthly, or commit for six months and save.
- Course, all 13 modules
- 2 live industry talks a month + recordings
- Discussion forum and WhatsApp group
- CV and cover letter support
- Course, all 13 modules
- 2 live industry talks a month + recordings
- Discussion forum and WhatsApp group
- CV and cover letter support
You'll get your Academy invite by email within 24 hours. Questions first? Drop a line to isabelle@flyonthewallpress.co.uk.
Your questions, answered
Your way into publishing starts here
You don't need London, an MA or a year of unpaid work. You need the skills, the vocabulary and the people. We'll help with all three.