Let the Adventure Begin

My publishing adventure began about a year ago when I did my first internship with a publishing house. I instantly got very excited about the whole place and the wonderful people I worked with and soaked up all information like a sponge. After a couple of weeks, I was already sure that I wanted to pursue a career in the publishing business. I enjoyed reading manuscripts and looking for possible translations on the foreign market. I started to care even more about commas and full stops while doing some final proofreading and I was amazed about the opportunities digitisation offers.

So I knew where I wanted to go but I didn't know how to get there. As many people I asked as many advices I got and I spent hours and hours on the internet searching for the best possible way to start this career. Until one day I came across the MA Publishing in Cambridge. It seemed to be the perfect place to go to. Even though I'd never been there before I imagined it to be some magical place dominated by the old, enchanting buildings of Cambridge University spreading a Harry-Potter-like charm all over the place. Reading further through the course website the name Cambridge University Press popped up and that did it. I wanted to – I had to – go here! 

Now, the first weeks at Anglia Ruskin and in Cambridge are already behind me and it feels like I've been here for at least more than two month. Meeting new people, starting uni and finding my way around this beautiful old town has been both exciting and exhausting. My first classes showed me how little I really know about the whole publishing business, especially about the UK market. But it also got me very excited about everything I'll be taught during the year. I can't wait to do my first internship, meet key individuals of the business and – and I can't quite believe this myself – start working on my first assessment.

Especially exciting was my first visit to Cambridge University Press. Our course had been invited to attend a Digital Product Showcase to see how digitisation has influenced the business during the last years. 

The feeling that overcame me when I entered the premises is hard to describe. Reverently I looked around and to some extent I couldn't realise that this is actually the place where all those prestigious, well-known books were produced.

Since I am particularly interested in digital products, the showcase was very inspiring and enriching and meeting all those friendly people washed away my fear of contact. It was a truly amazing time and I can't wait for my next visit which will hopefully come soon.