Press Owners With Day Jobs: Claire Thom and The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press
In the world of literature and publishing, it's not uncommon to find individuals who wear multiple hats, juggling their passion for books with their day-to-day professions. In this interview, we meet a remarkable individual who has managed to strike a balance between her career as an English teacher and her role as the editor-in-chief of The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. Meet Claire Thom, a dedicated educator and publisher, who shares her journey of navigating the realms of teaching and publishing simultaneously.
A Multifaceted Background
Claire Thom holds an MA Hons degree in French and Spanish from Edinburgh University, a testament to her love for languages and words. Following her academic pursuits, she ventured into secondary teaching in Scotland, where she taught French and Spanish. However, the administrative rigmarole and endless meetings in the UK's state education system soon left her seeking a change. She made a bold decision to move to Spain, where she began teaching English. Since 2007, she has been shaping young minds and honing her expertise as a Speaking Examiner with Cambridge University. Her teaching hours span the afternoon and evening, primarily focused on preparing teenage and adult students for official exams. In addition, she occasionally examines in the mornings, weekends, and a significant part of June, all while managing her full-time teaching schedule.
Connecting Language and Publishing
As an English teacher and examiner, Claire Thom is deeply entrenched in the world of language and communication. Her proficiency extends beyond English to Spanish, making her a true wordsmith. These linguistic talents and her passion for words naturally led her to explore the realm of publishing. As the editor-in-chief of The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press, her role as a language specialist aligns perfectly with her editorial responsibilities, allowing her to thrive in both worlds.
Balancing Act: Day Job vs. Publishing
The delicate dance between her teaching career and publishing venture is a testament to Claire Thom's dedication. With her afternoon and evening teaching schedule, mornings are often reserved for her publishing responsibilities. However, her commitment extends into the weekends and late-night hours, acknowledging that there are never enough hours in the day to fulfill her publishing ambitions.
The Kindness Behind the Press
The driving force behind The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press is kindness. Claire Thom envisioned creating themed poetry anthologies where 100% of the royalties would be donated to charity. Her full-time teaching career provides financial stability, allowing her to allocate time and resources to her press. She also acknowledges the invaluable contributions of her team of nine volunteers, who share her vision and help manage the workload.
Overcoming Challenges
Running a publishing venture while working a full-time job presents its challenges, the most significant being financial. All royalties from their anthologies go to charity, and expenses such as ISBNs, proof copies, and domain maintenance often come out of Claire Thom's own pocket. However, the generosity of supporters who contribute to their "buy me a coffee" page has been a welcome relief.
Another challenge Claire Thom faces is managing her energy, given the demanding nature of her day job. Teachers, she believes, are often underpaid for the extensive work they do in and out of the classroom.
Teaching Influence on Publishing
Claire Thom's role as an English teacher and examiner influences her publishing choices. She has a keen eye for poetry that showcases creativity and language mastery, much like the skills she encourages in her students.
Staying Motivated and Focused
To stay motivated and focused on her publishing goals while managing the demands of her day job, Claire Thom emphasizes setting clear and achievable objectives. Maintaining a well-structured to-do list and fostering open communication within her team are also essential elements of her success.
Unexpected Benefits
One unexpected benefit of her dual roles was the opportunity to host an online workshop about using poetry writing in the classroom, offered by a local language school. Despite the effort required to create the workshop's content, Claire Thom found it to be a rewarding experience.
Advice to Aspiring Publishers
For those aspiring to start their own publishing venture while working full-time, Claire Thom offers sage advice: Go for it! However, she stresses the importance of not doing it alone. The creative community is rich with talented individuals willing to collaborate and share the workload.
The Future of The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press
The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press is a non-profit endeavour deeply tied to charity. As such, Claire Thom envisions a future where she continues to teach and examine while expanding the press's creative community. Her day jobs sustain her financially while publishing remains her passion. With a dedicated team of volunteers, she aims to publish more anthologies, creating ripples of kindness in the literary world.
In Claire Thom, we find a shining example of someone who has successfully merged her professional life with her passion, demonstrating that with dedication, organization, and a strong support network, it's possible to achieve one's publishing dreams while working a full-time job. The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press stands as a testament to her commitment to spreading kindness through the written word.
Founded by Claire Thom, The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press is an indie publisher which creates poetry anthologies and digital zines. 100% of the proceeds from sales of our anthologies is donated to charity. A small press with big ideas which aims to showcase fantastic poets from around the world, and give them a platform to get their words out there.
Are you a publisher with a day job, please tell us your story. We would love to hear it.