Interview with Dr Maddie Sinclair: A Journey into Open Access and Editorial Work at OLH

In this interview, we speak with Dr Maddie Sinclair, Editorial Officer at the Open Library of Humanities, about her journey into scholarly publishing, her thoughts on open access, and the day-to-day realities of editorial work. 

What initially drew you to apply for a role at the Open Library of Humanities?

I became interested in open access publishing during my PhD in comparative literature at the University of Warwick. I attempted to publish some of my research open access, and I realised its importance for equitable knowledge exchange. At the same time, I also experienced the challenges that arise when trying to publish open access. 

After finishing my PhD in October 2024, I began exploring roles in academic publishing. I had long admired the work of the Open Library of Humanities and I was excited to see the Editorial Officer position advertised. I felt I had both the passion and the principles aligned with the organisation’s mission, and so I applied.

Some early career researchers avoid publishing open access due to concerns about reputation and journal rankings. What made you decide to publish open access anyway?

I strongly believe in the importance of research being publicly available to everyone, not just academics. As a researcher, I became aware very early on of the structural inequalities in publishing systems, and I didn’t want to perpetuate them.

I co-edited a book with a colleague, published by Routledge, where access and power imbalance featured as central themes. I felt it would have been slightly hypocritical not to make that particular book open access. Thankfully, we secured funding and now it is publicly available. I would have struggled with the contradiction of talking about for instance, equitable exchange, and then not practising it during the publication process. Of course, that might not always align with the most straightforward academic career path, but I feel strongly that open access is the right approach.

Could you tell us more about your academic and professional background?

My PhD was in English and Comparative Literature at the University of Warwick. Afterward, I held a teaching fellowship at the Institute of Advanced Teaching and Learning, focusing on interdisciplinary teaching and research.

Before my PhD, I spent a few years working in the participatory arts sector coordinating community outreach programmes. It’s a little different from academic open access publishing, but I think many of the same values are carried through.

During that period of my life, I often thought about who has access to cultural experiences like the arts, and the structural factors that contribute to these disparities. I think there are many parallels between the arts and academia in this respect. I’m sure you’ve also encountered this in your own research into museums and related areas.

How have those earlier experiences shaped the work you do now at OLH? And how do you think they'll inform your future work?

I've gained a lot of editorial experience, having seen publications move through editorial workflows, managing them, and acting as a point of contact for contributors and authors. I have a lot of practice liaising with academic communities, nudging projects along and helping to maintain publishing momentum – despite the mounting pressures and time constraints academics often face. 

At the same time, these experiences have really instilled in me the importance of values like open access and knowledge equity. Those principles continue to shape the way I think about publishing and research.

Have you had editorial experience as part of your PhD as well?

I worked on several edited collections during my PhD, including a book and several special issues. I was also part of the editorial team for the European Network of Short Fiction Research. Prior to that, I interned with the writing development organisation New Writing North, where I worked on their online magazines and publications. Altogether, these roles gave me valuable editorial training and insights.

What do you find most challenging about editorial work?

I think the biggest challenge in an academic context is getting things published on time, simply because of the realities people face. Everyone is incredibly busy, and securing peer reviewers can be especially difficult since it involves unpaid labour. There are so many moving parts and people involved in the process, and coordinating everything so that it all comes together by the deadline is often the hardest part. That said, it’s incredibly rewarding to see new work published, especially when it’s freely available. 

What have you been working on as part of your training at OLH so far?

So far, I’ve been introduced to Janeway, the platform that makes open access happen, which has been a valuable learning experience. I’ve been getting familiar with the platform and focusing on pushing things through the editorial workflow such as for example, chasing editorial decisions or article revisions. I’ve also received training from the tech team, who have introduced me to the technical side of open access at OLH, including platforms like Github. 

There’s a lot to learn, but everyone has been extremely generous with their knowledge, which is exactly what you might expect from a dedicated open access publisher. 

What are you most excited to bring to OLH? and what do you hope to learn from your role?

I think what I bring most is a genuine commitment to the politics of open access and to building communities grounded in that ethos. In practical terms, that involves nurturing relationships with journals, supporting new journals as they come on board, and being a reliable point of contact. A big part of my role is holding regular check-ins with journals, making sure everything is running smoothly, answering any questions, and anticipating potential issues. I’m looking forward to meeting this expanded community of open access advocates. 

In terms of what I hope to learn, I’d like to continue developing my technical skills and deepen my understanding of academic publishing workflows. I’m also eager to learn from the team’s expertise in best practice for open access publishing and equitable approaches to scholarly communication.