York Literary Review: Amy Boyle
Introducing Amy
Originally from Leeds, Amy came to York to study her English Literature and History BA. After completing her degree, she decided to continue at York St John and complete her part-time Publishing and Contemporary Literature MA.
Who is your favourite author?
That’s an almost impossible question! At the moment, I would have to say Margaret Atwood. I’ve been studying her “MaddAddam” trilogy for my dissertation and can’t get enough!
What are you currently reading?
I am currently reading Don Delillo’s Americana.
What are your top 5 books you’d recommend?
- Margaret Atwood – Oryx and Crake
- George Orwell – 1984
- Bret Easton Ellis – American Psycho
- Joshua Wong – Unfree Speech
- Toni Morrison – Beloved
What do you do in your spare time?
In my spare time, I dabble in a number of things. Aside from uni work, I like to cross stich, read, and play my Nintendo Switch. At the moment, however, I’ve been doing a lot of publishing-related things in my spare time, including editing and designing Connected, a new York St John Student magazine!
Where is your favourite place in York?
That’s a difficult question! My favourite place (or one of them at least) is the museum gardens – the perfect place to read or catch up with friends!
YSJ Questions:
Why did you choose to do your undergraduate at YSJ?
York St John was the last University I visited when I was deciding where to go, and truth be told, I booked the open day expecting it to be my back-up choice. However, from the moment I set foot on campus, I knew it was the place for me! I did a joint honours degree for my undergrad, and so I found that when visiting open days, I always liked one of the courses and not the other. At York St John, however, I loved both – and that was the deciding factor!
Why did you decide to do your MA with us?
I love York St John, and so it only made sense for me to continue my studies here! I also loved the look of the Publishing MA, which was new this year, as I’ve always been interested in the industry!
What does your MA actually entail?
For my MA, I essentially do a joint honours (though it isn’t referred to in this way). I do modules in both Publishing and Contemporary Literature, with a balance between the two. As I am doing my MA part-time, during term time I have around two sessions per week, and every session is a group seminar. On my Publishing MA, I have had the opportunity to meet a variety of people in the industry and work on some really interesting projects, including the York Literary Review and Connected. Through my Contemporary Literature MA, I have been introduced to some amazing contemporary literature and had the opportunity to engage is some fascinating discussions about our contemporary world.
How has the York Centre for Writing and your MA developed your career plans?
In so many ways! The past year was a strange and difficult year for everyone. I finished my undergraduate degree just as the pandemic was starting, and before the pandemic I had been rigorously job-hunting to no avail. The pandemic meant that a lot of the jobs I had applied for were no longer hiring. I had no plans initially to do an MA this year. I had always told myself that I would come back to education if I felt it was necessary. However, the past year had left me feeling largely useless, and all it took was one peruse of the Publishing and Cotemporary Literature MA on the York St John website for me to decide to go back.
The Publishing MA in particular has completely altered my career plans. I have always loved English and History, and although always interested in publishing, I’ve done a lot of voluntary work and work experience in museums and felt that this was the path for me. However, after doing only one official module on the Publishing MA this year, I was completely swayed. I now hope to one day own my own independent press, and I owe that dream to the Publishing and Contemporary Literature MA at York St John.
What’s your favourite memory from your time studying with us?
Another difficult question! As of right now, my favourite memory is completing the York Literary Review. A couple of weeks ago, we got the first print copies of the anthology and it was one of the best experience of my life – getting to see and hold a physical book that I helped to create!
York Literary Review Questions:
What was your role in producing this anthology and what did that entail?
I was on the editorial team for the anthology. As a small team of only four, we all took on various responsibilities. I helped with a lot of the written communication, as well as social media, selecting and editing submissions (of which we had almost 500), and helping with the typesetting process. It was a truly immersive experience, and I got to help with almost every aspect of the process.
Did you enjoy the process?
I loved it! By the end, it really did feel like we were a small independent press. It has given me a glimpse into a future that I hope will someday be mine.
How long did it take?
The whole process took around six months – starting after Christmas and finally completed in June.
What was the best and worst thing about the entire process?
The best thing about the process was getting to experience the entire publishing process from start to finish – it is an opportunity that I don’t think I would’ve had had it not been for the Publishing MA.
The worst thing? Nothing really stands out as being particularly bad, but if I had to pick one it would the typesetting. It caused the team a lot of issues and set backs, but it also allowed us to really examine our knowledge of the typesetting process and to learn from our mistakes. So, some good came out of the bad!
Has the experience changed your career plans?
Absolutely! As I’ve already mentioned, the Publishing MA alone has made me want more than ever to enter into the industry. However, my experience on the York Literary Review editorial team has completely confirmed my dream!
Which was your favourite submission to the anthology and why?
That’s a tough one – I love the whole anthology! If I had to choose, though, I would probably have to say ‘1069’ – a story set in a bar in Germany that considers the changing of the self over time. It was one of the most interesting submissions I had the pleasure of reading, and is actually the first piece in the anthology!
Next Steps:
What are your plans for after your MA?
That’s a big and ever-looming question. Ideally, I would love to secure a position in a small press. However, jobs are far and few between, particularly in smaller presses. I would love to start my own press, so my plan at the moment is to spend the next year planning and researching, and then hopefully apply for a grant to turn my dream into a reality. It will definitely be a long process, but I look forward to the journey!
Is there a publisher you’d like to work for?
I would love to work for some smaller presses. I love Valley Press and their connection with York St John. I also love Bluemoose Books and Hajar Press! There’s so many presses that it would be an absolute pleasure and dream to work for, I’ve just got to hope that some opportunities appear!
Would you prefer to work for a Big Publisher, a smaller independent publisher or start your own publishing house?
My end goal is to own my own press. However, in the meantime, I would love to work for a smaller independent press. I believe that it is the small presses that are now paving the way for future developments in the contemporary publishing industry, and I would love to be a part of this movement.
Do you have any advice you’d like to share?
It sounds clichéd, but follow your own path! I’ve spent the last year thinking I should be doing one thing and then doing another – watching friends progress in their careers and worrying that I’m not moving quick enough. But, everyone’s journey is completely different and I’m confident now that I’m on the right path for me!
