Bound announces course on book and digital publishing

Starting in September 2023, the three-month certification course will offer an in-depth understanding of book publishing, including the entire publishing chain from manuscript acquisition, editing, design, rights management and printing, to marketing, sales and distribution. 

The course will be led by core faculty members at Bound: Tara Khandelwal (founder and director), Aishwarya Javalgekar (head of originals), and Michelle D’costa (head of learning and editing). It will also feature 70 distinguished guest faculty members who will share insights into the latest trends and technologies in book and digital publishing. 

These include Ananth Padmanabhan (CEO, HarperCollins India), Sayantan Ghosh (executive editor, Simon and Schuster), Hemali Sodhi (founder, A Suitable Agency), Sidharth Jain (founder, The Story Ink), Chitranshu Tewari (director, product & revenue at Newslaundry), Subodh Shankar (founder, Atta Galatta), among others.

Announcing the course, Tara Khandelwal, founder and director, Bound, said, “People are always shocked when I tell them I don’t have an English degree. But students don’t need training in English to work in publishing, though good grammar skills and a passion for reading is a must. The industry requires so much more. What you need are specific, practical skills and an in-depth understanding of how the business works.”

“I am an alumna of the 2-month Columbia Publishing Course, which I attended after studying Economics. This helped me get my first job in publishing and helped me do it well. There are very few high-quality comprehensive courses on both book and digital publishing in India. After 10 years of working in the industry and trying to demystify what it’s all about, I wanted to create the Bound Publishing Course to help students go beyond the theory and learn everything they need to excel in this world in one place. The idea is to help students become good at their jobs before day 1,” she added.

Aishwarya Javalgekar, head of originals, Bound, said, “The Book Publishing Course I attended at Humber College, Canada added immeasurable value to my publishing journey and was the starting point for me. I wanted to create something like that in India, a holistic course that truly bridges the gap between industry and aspirants, legacy organizations and disruptors. And this course, which we hope to build into an annual certified course, is our answer. Bound has always been focused on making the publishing industry accessible to anyone who wants to enter it. It has been the driving force behind our courses, retreats and the resources we have created over the years, - like our 2020 publishing research report and our video podcast and newsletter, The Book People. This course is another giant leap towards a promising future.”

Michelle D’costa, head of learning and editing, Bound, said, “When I started out ten years ago, I wish such a course like this had existed in India. I decided to follow Toni Morrison’s advice: if there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it. Many have the impression that the publishing industry is all about editing and reading books. It’s much more. There’s PR, sales, marketing, and a whole ecosystem to make books happen. Being an MBA in HR, I am glad this course marries my strengths in commerce and arts. Anyone who has a passion for books deserves to know about this wholesome view of the publishing industry. And being virtual, students from any part of the world will be able to access the brightest minds in publishing.”

The course will include four key modules:

Phase 1: Foundation: Get a holistic overview of all the aspects of the publishing process from top industry professionals

Phase 2: Specialisations: Choose a career track from three specializations: Book Editing, Marketing and PR, and Digital Publishing

Phase 3: Recruitment Drive: Interview with India’s biggest publishing and content companies

Phase 4: Capstone Presentation: Test your new-found skills in a capstone presentation where you will simulate the operations of a publishing house

It is open to young graduates and postgraduates of any discipline, freelancers as well as aspiring creative professionals keen in pursuing a career in the book industry.  The program will be conducted online, allowing participants from all over the country to participate. 

Upon completion, the students will receive a certificate which will help them advance their careers in the industry, an opportunity to interview with India’s biggest publishing companies like Rupa Publications, Cactus Communications, Notion Press to name a few and lifetime access to Bound’s community and network.

Applications are open till 30 June 2023, and two seats have been reserved for alumni of the Akanksha Foundation, a non-profit organization known for nurturing some of the brightest minds in India.