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From moving out of her hometown to running a student publishing house, Jess has turned her passion for stories into a clear vision for the future.
Now in her final semester of a double major in professional writing and publishing and English and cultural studies, she’s gained real-world experience through her unit with Elephant Page Publishing and an internship with UWA Publishing. Both have helped her to build her confidence, skills and industry connections.
For Jess, studying a double major in professional writing, publishing and English and cultural studies, has been about following her passion for books, stories and the publishing world. Now in her final semester, she’s already looking ahead.
Jess didn’t come straight to uni from high school. Having lived in Margaret River her whole life, she graduated in 2017 and spent a few years working there. She had a great job, enjoyed her work, and loved her hometown – but in 2023, she decided to pursue further study, enrolling in the UniReady bridging course before starting her degree.
Her choice of majors came from a clear goal: becoming an editor. She had always wanted to study Professional Writing and Publishing to see if she could excel at editing, and English and Cultural Studies have given her the chance to explore in-depth topics like gender and sexuality, which she’s found interesting.
The small, tight-knit nature of her majors has been one of her favourite aspects of study.
“You see the same people over the years, and everyone is passionate about books and the publishing industry. It’s different from some other units I’ve taken, where people just want to pass. Here, everyone really cares.”
Like many students moving from a small town to Perth, Jess faced challenges in her first year. “The person I am now compared to my first year is completely different. I was full of anxiety on my first day. I couldn’t talk to people. Coming out of my shell was a huge challenge, but it’s been necessary.”
Along the way, Jess has found mentors who have inspired her, particularly tutor and writer Per Henningsgaard. He’s been a huge inspiration to her, and she feels that he has really encouraged her growth in the industry.
Her biggest highlight has been working with the on-campus publishing house, Elephant Page Publishing. The publishing house runs like a real industry environment, with students taking on roles across editing, marketing, design and acquisitions. Jess stepped into the role of Editorial Director, leading a team of student editors through the process of working on two manuscripts from real authors.
“It wasn’t just practice, it was professional. We were making editorial decisions, collaborating with other departments, and preparing work to an industry standard.”
For Jess, the experience provided her with both professional skills and lasting friendships. She found it to be similar to running a real publishing house, but with the support of her tutors to guide the team.
“I think that’s rare to get as a student, and it gave me so much confidence going into my internship.”
Her internship with UWA Publishing has already put her skills into practice. From proofreading upcoming books to interviewing authors for promotional articles, Jess has been able to bring her classroom learning into a professional setting.
Looking ahead, Jess hopes to continue building her career in the industry she loves. She’d love to achieve her dream of becoming an editor in a publishing house. But with her passion for the industry, any job that involves publishing or working with authors and creatives would be a dream too.
Her advice to future students is simple: “Do your readings, try your hardest, and put yourself out there. Everyone feels anxious at first, but if you make the effort to connect, you’ll find your people and your passion.
