Behind the scenes of book publishing: Industry insights with NBT’s online course

What happens between a manuscript’s acceptance and its arrival in a bookstore? For many, publishing remains a mystery. The National Book Trust, India’s Online Course in Book Publishing aims to change that.

Since 1994, NBT’s Certificate Course has trained professionals for India’s publishing industry. Initially a one-month in-person programme, it evolved during Covid-19 into a three-month online format with expanded content. Faculty are selected to provide students with insights from top industry experts across the country.

This revamped programme welcomed 124 participants this year, offering an insider’s view of publishing. With nearly 60 sessions and 35 expert faculty, students explored global standards and local practices. Through interactive Q&As and discussions, they understood how books come to life. The course revealed the often-invisible work behind every published book.

India’s publishing industry grows steadily, driven by rising readership and accessibility, creating expanding market opportunities. Director of NBT, Yuvraj Malik, noted, “A unique feature of the Indian publishing industry is its rich diversity in language and culture. This diversity creates a demand for professionals across various domains within the sector. Since 1994, the National Book Trust, India, has been addressing this need by offering a publishing course aimed at individuals with a strong interest in the field. Over the years, this programme has successfully trained a significant number of professionals in the industry.”

Sharing her thoughts on the publishing scenario globally, Claudia Kaiser, vice-president, Frankfurt Book Fair, emphasised that, “...this course is...extremely valuable as the publishing industry in India is growing. It needs qualified people to develop the industry and take it to the next level, especially in today’s world where we see so many new challenges like AI.” 

Abhijit Gupta, a veteran of the industry, who runs a similar course for Jadavpur University, said, “The annual publishing course run by the NBT is one of the pioneering publishing courses in the country. It is rigorous in method and comprehensive in scope, and has as faculty members some of the most distinguished publishing professionals in the country.”

Priya Singh, senior vice-president, Hachette, who spoke on the art of book production, said, “This well-established programme continues to offer valuable insights into the publishing industry, covering the full spectrum of functions — from editorial and design to production, marketing, and rights. Its strength lies in the way it blends practical knowledge with the experience of professionals from across the field.” 

Bena Sareen, consulting creative director, Aleph, had sessions on the art of book cover and layout designs. While elaborating upon the techniques, colour, font, scanning, page layout, and readability, she exemplified the course as, “very carefully curated and covers every aspect of the publishing industry. [It] fills in the gap...[and] will go a long way in building new generations of publishers and readers… [It was] heartening to see the number of enrolments go up each year. A population interested in books can only enrich our society.”

A living, breathing industry 

The publishing world, often viewed as slow-moving, proved anything but static to the participants. The course provided insights into publishing’s evolving importance. Spread across four modules, it covered introduction to publishing, editorial, design, production, marketing, sales, and digital formats. Well-structured sessions made the entire ecosystem accessible. A key highlight was the faculty — seasoned professionals from top publishing houses — who shared real-world expertise.

Students mastered modern publishing roles and workflows. Through internships and projects, they developed hands-on skills across all publishing stages. Weekend classes allowed professionals across India to enhance skills in editing, marketing, and design. Industry experts provided practical knowledge, making publishing feel more accessible.

More than just theory

Students gained understanding into 21st-century publishing career paths. The course covered concept development, commissioning, editing, design, marketing, book launches, and sales analysis — helping students grasp both creative and business aspects. Through a one-month internship and project module, they developed professional skills and industry exposure, enhancing employability.

People and possibilities

Participants brought diverse perspectives — professionals, students, poets, educators, researchers, and career changers learning together. Some sought entry into traditional publishing, others wanted self-publishing tools or to improve freelance editing skills. For some, the course clarified that publishing was not their path — an equally valuable outcome.

A former student, Vipin NP said, “...when the [New Delhi World Book Fair] was postponed due to the Omicron wave...Rubin DCruz handed me a manuscript to read. What followed was an eye-opening experience — not only did he later show me a letter he had drafted to the author citing inconsistencies, he also included some of the issues I had pointed out. [That] was the first time I [had]...hands-on experience of what an editor really does. That moment had a defining impact on my career path.”

What comes next? 

Feedback was positive, highlighting faculty accessibility, well-paced content, and diverse expert awareness. Participants appreciated exploration of international publishing and opportunities for mentorship.

“Wouldn’t hesitate in saying [this was] one of the best comprehensive book publishing trainings from NBT... Absolutely [the] best in the industry and [in] India,” said Abdul Azeez, a student of the current batch.

A former participant, Sahana Ahmed, added, “The course taught me the ropes of book design and production…my project submission went on to become the first ever title published by Bare Bones.”

Pallavi Sharma, a former student shared on X, “This one is closest to my dreams...I see with open eyes...The learnings [and] exposure are invaluable.” Whereas Gandharbi Ghosh, another former student posted on LinkedIn, “Never stop learning, never stop reading!! The insights we received from experienced professionals are invaluable. And the best part, I got in touch with published authors, editors, and beginners like me who took part in this course and extended a hand of friendship.”

In a rapidly evolving publishing world, this course opened doors to internships, freelance work, book deals, and even potential future imprints for its participants — going beyond traditional teaching.

Rubin DCruz, the officer-in-charge for the Book Publishing Course, shared, “This is not an academic course run by a university...The course is well structured so...most of the students...get a good introduction into all aspects of book publishing. We have great satisfaction in having students from all parts of the country — literally from Kanyakumari to Srinagar and Jamnagar to Imphal. This is an advantage of being online. Students were mostly young graduates but publishing enthusiasts from all walks of life. This year’s online course had 124 students, out of which 101 were female while 23 were male; 85 students were less than 30 years.”

To wrap up in the director’s words, “Moving forward, we plan to resume the publishing course in an offline format starting this year, while continuing to offer the three-month online publishing course as well. Through these combined efforts, we aim to build a pool of well-qualified professionals to support the continued growth of the publishing industry in India.”

(Priyanka Misra is a publishing consultant based in New Delhi, with over two decades of industry experience. She has worked for several reputed publishing houses and is currently empanelled with the Economic and Political Weekly for editorial assignments and serves as a faculty member for NBT’s Publishing Course.)