Get into Children’s Publishing

A bespoke one-to-one editorial training and mentorship programme tailored just for you.

Or a flexible self-study option with monthly mentoring calls.

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Create your dream career in children’s books.

Are you passionate about children’s books but unsure how to break into the publishing world? Get Into Children’s Publishing programme is here help! Led by experienced editor and author Claire Philip, this six-month training will equip you with the skills, confidence and connections to thrive in the industry.

You can choose between a fully bespoke one‑to‑one training and mentorship option, tailored to your specific goals and offering in‑depth feedback on your coursework and job applications, or a flexible self‑study option with monthly mentoring calls.

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What to expect

Get into Children’s Publishing covers every stage of book production from concept to publication.

  • Learn key editorial skills and gain a thorough understanding of the book-making process.

  • Complete coursework that mimics editorial tasks and a book proposal for your own new title idea.

  • Receive one-to-one mentorship to refine your CV, apply for jobs and prepare for interviews.

  • For the 1:1 bespoke option, make the most of email contact with Claire and access to her expertise beyond the programme.

Who is it for & what will you gain?

Whether you're a graduate, career changer or publishing professional looking to specialize in children’s non-fiction, this programme equips you with the skills, confidence and knowledge to get ahead.

By the end of the programme, you’ll be ready to pursue roles such as editorial assistant, assistant editor or freelancer in children’s publishing.

Why choose the course?

Join the ranks of participants who’ve landed roles at top publishers like Penguin, Hachette, Pearson and Igloo Books.

Build practical skills you can use immediately, gain hands-on experience with real-world publishing tasks, benefit from one-to-one mentoring and make valuable industry connections.

What the programme includes

The six‑month programme includes in‑depth written material on the book‑making process, the different publishing departments and how each one interacts with editorial. Each module contains extensive written course materials, along with several audio interviews with industry professionals.

Each module also includes coursework assignments, requiring around 2–3 hours per fortnight, to help you develop essential publishing skills. Creating book schedules, developing a new title idea, writing author, artist and design briefs, and much more.

We also cover the essential foundations of copyediting and proofreading, giving you a strong starting point to build your editorial expertise. Alongside this, the programme offers support with the job‑application process. You can choose to take the course in one of two ways:

• One‑to‑one mentorship, where Claire delivers the material directly via online video calls. In this option we’re able to explore topics in even greater depth, tailoring the training to your goals.

• A flexible self‑study option, with monthly one-hour mentoring calls to guide your progress and answer your questions as you work through the material independently.

How to start your journey.

Bespoke Mentoring Sessions

For people wanting specific support within children's book publishing, you can book hour-long online calls with Claire to address your needs.

For example:

  • CV and cover letter assistance to enhance your job applications

  • Interview preparation strategies to boost your confidence

  • Freelancing advice to navigate the challenges of independent work in children’s non-fiction

  • Writing and editing guidance for children’s non-fiction projects

  • Inclusion advice to ensure diversity and accessibility in your work

Please send me your specific request and if relevant, your CV and a recent cover letter so I can review them and ensure I’m the right fit to help you. The price is £70 per hour and I am available on Wednesday afternoons.

Get into Children’s Publishing Option 1:
One-to-One Bespoke Six-Month Training & Mentorship

The one-to-one option is for people who want personal support tailored to their unique goals on their learning journey.

Alongside the twelve training modules, the full programme offers tailored career mentoring, job application support plus critical feedback on all your coursework tasks to ensure you’re fully prepared to work in children’s non-fiction.

  • 18 hours of one-to-one training covering all 12 modules

  • Ongoing job application support with cover letter proofreading

  • Critical feedback on homework and your individual project – a children’s non-fiction book proposal

  • Access to networking opportunities, exclusive resources, templates and creative exercises for future use

Currently at capacity. Please email claire@clairephilip.com to find out potential future start dates.

Payment Plan Option: £2975 in full or £525 monthly for six months (totalling £3150)

Get into Children’s Publishing Option 2:
Self-Study Six-Month Training & Mentorship

The self-study option is for anyone who likes to learn independently.

  • Access to all of the written course content month by month, including the coursework so you can still build a full portfolio

  • Six one-hour mentoring calls (one per month) so you can ask questions and gain support. Note: my availability for mentoring calls is limited to Wednesday afternoons.

Payment Plan: £1200 in full or £225 per month for six months (totalling £1350).

Get into Children’s Publishing Course Curriculum

The structure of the programme mimics an actual book schedule – each editorial task is tackled in a realistic order to give a sense of what it is like to be an in-house editor in book publishing. The programme starts with an introduction to trade publishing (traditional book publishing) and then moves through the book-making process from start to finish.

  • This introductory module helps set the scene and then goes on to explain the current landscape of children’s books plus how to spot and predict future market trends. We also discuss the individual project you will complete as part of the programme – a book proposal for a new title of your choice.

  • If you work in publishing, particularly in editorial, there will be admin! Publishers are looking for new editors with impeccable attention to detail and high organisation skills. This module prepares you for that by outlining all of the key documents and trackers you will use, including book schedules, to build your project management skills.

  • Now the fun really starts and we get to look at the vast range of children’s non-fiction for ages 0–12+. We cover key topics and book formats so that you have an excellent understanding of the kinds of books children’s non-fiction publishers print, and you begin to develop the skills needed to create new titles.

  • At the start of any new book project, editors carry out extensive market research to find gaps in their publishing list (quite simply the list of books that they print each year). This module teaches you where to look and what to look for as well as how to present your findings in creative and sales meetings.

  • In this module we explore how editors relate to their sales teams as well as the importance of collaboration and communication. We discuss:

    • The importance of sales material, which sales representatives use to present a new book idea to potential clients at meetings and book fairs.

    • How to write advance information sheets, which describe the new titles and include key data for each title, again used for selling purposes.

    • How to write effective back cover copy, website copy and catalogue copy.

    This module features two audio interviews with Emily Scorer (Sales Director at HarperCollins Publishing) and Nick Hawkes (Head of UK sales at Nosy Crow). Together they explain the three main areas of sales in the UK: UK, foreign rights and export publishing.

  • One of my favourite modules to teach, this module covers the essentials of developing new titles and commissioning artwork, including how to find the right illustrator for your project, the main agencies children’s non-fiction publishers work with, how to write illustrator briefs and how to cost artwork. We hear from Robyn Newton, Head of Children’s Illustration at the Bright Agency.

  • Module Seven teaches how to find the right author for a title, write effective author briefs, and create and review book plans. Module Eight dives into copyediting, house styles, proofreading, and converting British English to American English. It also covers picture research and referencing for artwork commissioning, an essential skill for commissioning illustrated books.

    This module features an audio interview with Fay Evans, Editorial Director at Flying Eye Books, who started her career in bookselling.

  • Editors work closely with designers from the start of every book project, and this module explains how to effectively brief a designer. It covers the essential skills an editor needs to know to use Adobe InDesign – the software used in publishing to create layouts – such as taking in corrections and making minor layout adjustments. We also explore the different design elements that editors and designers collaborate on when crafting engaging book covers and layouts for children. Listen to an audio with Rosie Bellwood, a Design Manager at Arcturus Publishing.

  • In this final main module on book production, we'll explore the key roles of the production, marketing and publicity departments and how they connect with editorial.

    We'll discuss the challenges each department faces, such as how production teams ensure high-quality, safe, cost-effective, and sustainable products. For marketing, we'll look at how publishers are making their books discoverable and appealing to book buyers online, as well as their strategies for promoting books through collaborations, partnerships and social media. There are two audios this week, one with Caroline Kelly, who has a background in book production but now works in Foreign Rights at Miles Kelly Publishing, and one with Sophie Clarke, Scout at Daniela Schlingmann Literary Scouting Ltd.

  • The penultimate module focuses on solving problems in the publishing workplace. Together we discuss different challenging scenarios in publishing and how best to tackle them. We also explore cover letters, update your CVs, discuss interview skills, how to negotiate pay, plan your career – and more.

  • Based on real-life interview questions from publishing professionals, we hold an informal interview so you can practise answering key questions. We also cover editorial tests and other common job application tasks such as writing book reviews, checking submissions and prioritization tasks.

  • Alice L now works at Penguin Random House across both sales and editorial. She worked in marketing prior to taking part in my course

    “Claire’s editorial training and mentorship course was just what I needed to build my confidence and creativity. The course material is extremely thorough and the homework and individual project gave me direct experience that helped me get my first role at a major publisher (one of the big five!). Claire’s mentoring style is supportive and compassionate. She’s great at finding what makes you unique and explaining how to present that to publishers. I’ve just got back from Frankfurt and soon going to Dubai with work. Amazing! I highly recommend her course.”

  • Laura W is now the Fiction Editorial Assistant at Hodder & Stoughton. She was working in medical publishing when she began Get into Children’s Publishing

    “Claire puts so much time and energy into her work, and her industry knowledge means that her traineeship continues to be relevant. She is a wonderful mentor who has continued to support me long after I finished working with her. I decided to go freelance not long after the mentorship, so Claire's advice and guidance was incredibly useful. Since then, she has supported me with the application process to find a job in publishing, providing both practical and emotional support. She is such a warm and approachable person, which makes working with her an absolute joy.”

  • Hannah B was working in teaching when we began working together. She was hired by Pearson after she completed the course and is now the Community Rugby Digital Content Editor at England Rugby

    “I completed Claire’s Get into Children’s Publishing programme in 2020. At the time, I was working as a primary school teacher and wanted to transition into educational publishing. Throughout the course, Claire was informative, approachable, kind and incredibly knowledgeable. The mentorship focused on all aspects of children’s publishing, including understanding the industry, the different roles within a publishing house, and the process of creating a book, from the spark of an idea to the finished product. Claire’s approach to the mentorship was holistic. As well as imparting the knowledge necessary for the publishing industry, she helped me develop my creativity, confidence and to grow as a potential new employee. I developed confidence in my ideas, in how to communicate with colleagues and in how to approach and solve problems. Thanks to Claire’s course and her unwavering support while writing applications and preparing for interviews, I secured a job in educational publishing in 2021.”

  • Becky F came to Get into Children's Publishing having already written a children's book for a major brand but wanting an in-depth training to consolidate her knowledge and build her editorial and writing toolkit

    “A wonderful mentor, a patient teacher and a freelance friend. I approached Claire about her mentorship programme 'Get Into Children's Publishing with Claire Philip' at the start of 2024 because I admired her work (books that my children read every night) and wanted to learn how freelancing in book publishing differs from my background in magazines and newspapers. In Claire, I found a kind and generous mentor who I now consider a friend and, hopefully, a future colleague. I would recommend her skills very highly!”

  • Anne H works as a freelancer and has lots of experience in academic publishing. She completed the programme to help her transition into children's publishing

    “As someone who has worked in academic publishing for many years, I found Claire’s ‘Getting into Children’s Publishing’ course packed with practical advice and real-world insights into how the children’s publishing industry works – many aspects are the same as academic publishing but so much is different! What was most helpful was how the course broke down the different aspects of children's publishing -- from understanding the market and artwork commissioning to editorial work, and marketing and sales. The audio recordings of those working in different areas of children’s publishing were also really useful. Claire is incredibly knowledgeable (and very lovely!) and I highly recommend her course for anyone looking to work in the wonderful world of children’s publishing!”

  • Brigid F went on to secure a publicity internship at Macmillan and a marketing internship at Penguin Random House. She’s now a freelance writer for Observer Media

    “Imagine an editorial apprenticeship, but in addition to learning about all the facets of publishing, you also get the essential therapy needed to be in this industry. That's sort of what Claire Philip is great at. She's fantastic at giving you advice on building your career while also giving you a hand in an industry that is notoriously competitive. Always professional, real, and empathetic.”

  • Hayleigh F worked through the programme to supplement her MA in Publishing

    “Claire was an incredible mentor to me through her 1:1 editorial training programme. Her breadth of knowledge across all aspects of the publishing industry and especially Children’s publishing massively supported my development and completion of my MA.”

  • Louisa C signed up for my course with an interest in both marketing and editorial. She was in waitressing before, and now works as a content manager/strategist

    “I was looking for a career change and I’d always thought I’d like a career in children’s publishing, but Claire showed me that I’d absolutely love one. Claire’s mentorship not only introduced me to the exciting, creative and challenging world of children’s publishing; from conception through to publication, but coupled with her creative coaching, the course helped me to uncover what I most needed in a career, and she gave me the tools to get it.”

  • "This course is an absolute must if you want to break into publishing. Each module explains the editorial processes with clarity, and the expertise and inspiration that Claire provides will most certainly give you that crucial head start in the competition for jobs."

    Belinda Gallagher, Publishing Director

Meet your trainer

Get into Children’s Publishing is run by Claire Philip. She created the editorial training and mentorship programme in 2020 and she now runs it alongside her work for the lovely children’s publisher Three Wishes.

Claire began her career in children’s publishing at Miles Kelly Publishing, which is now part of HarperCollins. She has also worked for Bonnier Books UK and as a freelance editor and writer for dozens of publishers, including DK, Quarto and Little Gestalten.

Claire is also one of the co-founders of Gingerbread Moon Creative, a group of creatives who offer freelance editorial and design support for book publishers.

More About Claire

Just a few of Claire’s book projects!

Download Claire’s free cover letter template for publishing jobs.

Plus subscribe to Claire’s newsletter on LinkedIn and/or Substack for up-to-date news on the programme, short podcasts, publishing insights and tips about getting your first job in children’s books.