Katie Brooks

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Katie Brooks

• Reference Editor
• Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd

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What Im going to talk about

• What I do
• How I ended up doing it
• What next?

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Chambers Harrap

• Based here in Edinburgh
• Around 30 people
• Editorial Prepress (design/typesetting)
• Production Computing
• Admin Sales and Marketing
• Part of a much larger organization

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What we do

• Chambers English language
• Dictionaries
• Reference books
• Schools/education
• Crosswords etc
• Harrap Foreign language (bilingual)
• Dictionaries
• Phrase books

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The job 1

• Finding and briefing contributors
• Authors
• Compilers
• Proofreaders
• Copy-editing material
• Checking proofs

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The job 2

• Researching and compiling facts
• Writing (cover copy, articles, etc)
• Lots of other bits and pieces!
• New words meetings
• New title meetings
• Answering queries

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The skills

• A very good eye for detail (a.k.a. pedantry)
• Project management skills (juggling)
• Research skills
• An ability to write clearly and consistently
• Computer skills

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The books main past projects

• Chambers Science Factfinder
• Chambers Dictionary of Music
• The Chambers Dictionary

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The books current projects

• Adult Learners Guide to Numeracy
• Dictionary of Science and Technology

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The books other projects
Digital and Video Art
Arts Library
Crossword Lists
Reference Atlas
Sports Factfinder
Crossword Dictionary
Book of Facts
Film Factfinder
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Good points

• Using my science background
• Science projects
• The token scientist
• Using other interests
• Music
• Crosswords
• The range of projects
• Effort results

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Not-so-good points

• The inevitable dull bits
• The hierarchy (but it could be worse!)
• The pay

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Training

• Internal training
• Group training eg training project
• Seminars
• Interdepartmental exchanges
• External training courses
• Proofreading
• Copy-editing

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Progression within the company

• Started as Assistant Editor
• Promoted to Editor in under 2 years
• but
• Small company can limit opportunities

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You might be wondering

• What I do
• How I ended up doing it
• What next?

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The plan
Academic science research?
Natural Sciences degree at Cambridge
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The revised plan
Academic research? Research in industry? PhD?
Year out at Cambridge Life Sciences
Wellcome 4-year PhD at Edinburgh
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The problem

• My needs
• Effort results
• Breadth
• Work fits round other things

• Science
• Effort ? results
• Focus
• Other things have to fit round work

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Solution-hunting

• Temp admin job for a charity
• Identify skills and knowledge
• Science background
• Good English skills
• Medical writing? Science editing?

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Another problem

• All medical writing and science editing jobs are
  in London (well, nearly)
• I didnt want to move

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A stroke of luck

• Former colleague sent Chambers advert
• Chambers Science Factfinder on publishing
  programme
• Offered job despite numerous candidates with
  publishing qualifications

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Only 2 more slides!

• What I do
• How I ended up doing it
• What next?

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What next?

• Similar job, different company
• Freelance work
• Proofreading
• Editing
• Project management
• Something else entirely!

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My one real piece of advice
Enjoy the journey!