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Indie Novella Aspiring Editors Programme
Funded by Arts Council England

Championing Diversity in Publishing – Aspiring Editors Programme at Its Halfway Mark

 

In a time when many organisations are rolling back diversity initiatives, Indie Novella is proud to reaffirm our commitment to levelling the playing field in publishing with the success of our inaugural Aspiring Editors Programme, funded by the Arts Council. Now at its halfway stage, the programme has exceeded expectations, taking on 20 talented aspiring editors—far surpassing the initial target of 10–16 due to overwhelming demand.

 

At Indie Novella, we believe strongly in creating pathways into publishing for underrepresented groups and individuals from lower-income families, particularly those living outside London. Our programme aims to address a longstanding issue in the publishing industry: the lack of accessible opportunities for those unable to afford unpaid work experience or meet the increasingly stringent requirements for internships.

 

The Aspiring Editors Programme provides practical, remote-based training to participants over the course of a year. Through twice-monthly Zoom sessions, participants gain valuable insights into the editorial process from industry experts. So far, speakers have included Neil Griffiths, publisher at Weatherglass Books and founder of the Republic of Consciousness Prize; Mattie Whitehead, senior commissioning editor at Little Tiger; Sarah de Souza, former editor at Atlantic and Hachette; and Ciara McEllin, agent at Watson, Little. The programme is led by Damien Mosley, Indie Novella publisher and a 2023 The Bookseller Rising Star.

 

In addition to these expert-led sessions, participants gain hands-on experience by shadowing Indie Novella editors, reviewing submissions, and working on live manuscripts. This ensures they leave the programme not just with theoretical knowledge, but with the practical skills and confidence to navigate the publishing world.

 

Unlike many diversity schemes that focus on supporting authors, our initiative emphasises the importance of diversifying the gatekeepers—the editors—whose perspectives help shape the publishing landscape.

 

This initiative is especially vital at a time when major companies like Meta, McDonald’s, and Walmart have publicly backtracked on their diversity programmes. At Indie Novella, we believe that diversity is not a trend or optional extra but a core value and a necessity for a thriving, inclusive publishing industry.

 

We are proud to champion this belief alongside the 20 aspiring editors currently part of the programme. Their passion and dedication to improving accessibility and representation in publishing are both inspiring and transformative.

From the Editors Themselves

 

(Insert blurbs/quotes from current participants about their experiences, what they’ve learned, and how the programme has impacted their goals.)

Ellie Grey

I am a recent BA English Literature graduate from the university of Leeds determined to break into the world of publishing. Becoming an Aspiring Editor has been a wonderful way for me to network, apply my skills, gain hands-on experience, and build my confidence.

PXL_20250113_172312578~2.jpg

Georgia Weston 

My name is Georgia Weston and I found the Aspiring Editors Programme while I was looking for courses to help me to gain the skills I needed for my dream job. Having graduated from University and remaining in the Northeast, there weren't many opportunities that I could attend, whilst also having to work full-time. This programme has taught me new skills, given me confidence and allowed me to ask questions to publishing professionals. It's an amazing programme and I feel very lucky to have been part of it. 

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Looking Ahead

 

As we continue the programme through to July 2025, we remain committed to equipping these aspiring editors with the skills, experience, and confidence to forge meaningful careers in publishing. We are grateful to the Arts Council for their support in making this possible and invite others in the industry to join us in ensuring diversity remains a cornerstone of publishing.

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