Literary Management in Action: A Meeting with Representatives of an Oxford Literary Agency

As part of the implementation of the Educational and Research Program “Literary and Artistic Management” at the second (Master’s) level of higher education (program guarantor – Associate Professor Hanna Tabakova), a meeting was held between faculty members and students and representatives of the Oxford-based literary agency Felicity Bryan Associates, Katherine Clark and Michelle Topham. The event was also supported by the Vice-Rector for Research, Professor Yana Sychikova, and the Coordinator of International Activities, Professor Ihor Lyman.

The event took place during the first internship of prospective Master’s students and became an important stage in their professional development and awareness-building. In her welcome address, the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Maryna Bohdanova, emphasized the importance of such meetings for developing students’ practical competencies.

The discussion focused on the specifics of a literary agent’s work and the current challenges of the publishing industry. In particular, attention was paid to the criteria for evaluating the commercial potential of a manuscript, the role of an agent in the context of the growing self-publishing sector and platforms such as Amazon, as well as common mistakes made by emerging authors when presenting their work.

Special attention was given to legal aspects of the profession, particularly issues related to intellectual property. The topic of the impact of generative artificial intelligence on the publishing industry sparked lively discussion, especially regarding changes in contracts for translation and audio rights aimed at protecting authors’ interests.

The meeting was held in an open dialogue format and provided a valuable opportunity for both students and faculty to gain deeper insight into the international literary process and current trends in the creative industries.

The Educational and Research Program “Literary and Artistic Management” is aimed at training specialists capable of working in the contemporary cultural environment, including the fields of publishing, promotion, and international communication. The involvement of practitioners from leading global agencies is an essential component of the program’s implementation.

Nataliia Rula,
Associate Professor, Department of Ukrainian Language and Journalism