Skip to main content

PTC Guides

PTC Guides are designed to give you information and insight into a particular aspect of publishing. Written by industry experts, including PTC authors and tutors, they were all updated in 2023. Each Guide is a relatively quick and easy read, ranging in length from 8 to 16 pages.

The Guides are free and easy to download. Simply click on the image or text below to find out more and download your free copy.

If you have any questions about or comments on the Guides, or suggestions for new topics, please email us at .

Copy-editing and Proofreading

Copy-editing and Proofreading

  • Margaret Aherne
  • Essential Proofreading co-author Margaret Aherne talks you through the jobs of copy-editor and proofreader, and the skills required for each job.
On-screen Editing

On-screen Editing

  • Anne Waddingham
  • A free guide that will help you prepare for an on-screen copy-edit.
Children's Publishing

Children's Publishing

  • Brenda Stones and Sarah Fergusson
  • A detailed guide to the skills, attributes, and experience you will need for a successful career in children’s editorial
Publishers' Contracts

Publishers' Contracts

  • Kevin Stewart
  • This guide aims to bring you the essential tools you need to handle publishers' contracts.
An Author's Perspective on the Editorial Relationship

An Author's Perspective on the Editorial Relationship

  • Cathy Rentzenbrink
  • Bestselling author Cathy Rentzenbrink reflects on how a book she never thought she could write got into the world and became a bestseller
Finance in Publishing

Finance in Publishing

  • Alan Hurcombe
  • Download our free PTC guide to finance in publishing to make sure it all adds up.
Getting the Best from Self-Study by Distance Learning

Getting the Best from Self-Study by Distance Learning

  • Peter McKay
  • Your handy guide to the advantages of distance learning plus top tips for getting the most out of your studies.
Publishing Strategy

Publishing Strategy

  • Kay Symons
  • Strategy is essential for long-term business success and that is just as true for publishers.
Social Media for Academic Publishers

Social Media for Academic Publishers

  • Alistair Horne and Carly Bull
  • Are academics beyond the reach of publishers efforts with social media? Download our free PTC guide to social media for academic publishing to discover top tips to building a social media strategy.
Marketing in the Digital Age

Marketing in the Digital Age

  • Julia Garvey and Hermione Ireland
  • A concise guide to the key skills that every marketer needs to master in order to run effective campaigns and develop a successful career.
Getting Ahead in Publishing

Getting Ahead in Publishing

  • Suzanne Collier and Jonathan Donovan
  • Hear from two industry insiders who know how to get in and get on in publishing.
Commissioning and List Management for Educational Publishers

Commissioning and List Management for Educational Publishers

  • Paul Cherry
  • Some people say that being a Commissioning Editor is the premier job in educational publishing. But what do they do and is it for you?