CAROLE BLAKE OPEN DOORS PROJECT 2023: Being the First Open Doors Mentee

Máiréad Lennon was mentored by Juliet Pickering for six months as part of our internship scheme, the Carole Blake Open Doors Project – follow in her footsteps by applying for the 2024 project now!

When you’re a Brummie in your 30s looking for a change of career, publishing feels a million miles away. There are so few local publishers, trains to London are too expensive, and I can’t leave my family for two weeks for an internship role, but the Carole Blake Open Doors Project Mentorship felt like it was made for me. There aren't many opportunities for publishing hopefuls that are built with a person's lifestyle and personal commitments in mind, but this Mentorship Scheme did just that. The flexibility afforded by the monthly virtual meetings was exactly what I, and many like me, need to break into the publishing world.

The six months of one-to-one mentorship with the expertise and insight of Juliet Pickering, at an agency like Blake Friedmann, was honestly a dream come true. Juliet’s tailored tutelage demystified the terms and processes of publishing, introduced concepts that as an outsider I had never considered, allowed me to practice my manuscript reading and evaluation skills, and provided practical and pertinent job search advice. This welcome into the industry was so much more than I expected because I did feel welcome, not the regional accented outlander I had expected to feel. I didn’t need to prove myself worthy; my love of books, my work ethic and my enthusiasm, were all I needed to feel at home with Juliet and the publishing world at large.

 Six months on, I now recognise the best roles available in the industry, that work for me around my commitments and are tailored to my skills and interests.  I am no longer fearful that I just won't fit in in publishing or that I don’t belong. Because of the Carol Blake Open Doors Project, I feel confident that there is a place in publishing for someone like me who can’t move to London as many jobs and internships demand. It has renewed my hope that publishing is the industry for me, and an achievable one!