Writing, Editing, Literary Agenting, and Publishing Training bespoke programmes in-person and online. Contact the office to start a conversation.
Executive Publishing Training and Consultancy
We are the Primary UK Publishing Training Partner for the Literature Publishing and Translation Commission (MoC) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In 2024 and 2025, we ran an in-person Core and Advanced International Literary Agent Training Programme with tutor Kate Nash, from the Kate Nash Literary Agency.
We’re proud to be helping LPTC establish the Literary Agent sector within KSA as part of the cultural exchange and sharing our 200 year old literary agenting practice in the UK. The courses were part training, part exposure and networking with leading literary agencies in London.
In 2025 we partnered with a leading KSA training partner Swiss Hospitality/STTAR to further develop and support the visionary cultural investment in the publishing sector in line with 2030 Vision.
Since 1998, Cornerstones has facilitated training programmes within the publishing sector with the aim of empowering writers, editors and publishing executives to further their publishing professional development.
Call now for bespoke training packages, online or in-person, including book fair and writing festival panels and workshops. We offer training on:
Creative Writing
Editorial
Literary Agenting
Publishing Consultancy
“We are pleased to announce the signing of a strategic partnership agreement between STTAR and Cornerstones UK, one of the most respected consultancies in the fields of publishing and literary development in the UK.
Cornerstones has established a global reputation for empowering writers, publishers, and creative professionals to achieve the highest editorial and publishing standards. At STTAR, this partnership reflects our ongoing commitment to advancing Saudi Arabia’s cultural ecosystem by introducing world-class expertise into key subsectors of the creative economy.
Together, we will leverage Cornerstones’ deep experience in literary and publishing consultancy and STTAR’s proven capabilities in workforce and sector development to deliver initiatives that refine skills, foster knowledge exchange, and create sustainable opportunities that contribute to the ambitions of Vision 2030.”
Helen Corner-Bryant, CEO of Cornerstones
Helen Corner-Bryant spent several years in editorial at Penguin before setting up Cornerstones Literary Consultancy in 1998. In 2016, she opened Cornerstones US, creating the world’s first transatlantic literary consultancy. Cornerstones is known for teaching writers, editors, literary agents and publishing industry professionals. They also teach self-editing techniques and provide editorial feedback on all genres. They scout for agents, and launch many writers published by global industry giants, including: HarperCollins, Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Hachette, Bloomsbury, Bonnier Books, Chicken House Books, Picador (Pan Macmillan), Faber & Faber, Macmillan USA, Amazon Publishing, and more.
Helen is the co-author of On Editing: How to Edit Your Novel the Professional Way (John Murray, 2018).
Teaching:
Helen is the course director of the Cornerstones/PWA online course, Edit Your Novel the Professional Way, CPD.
Guest lecturer and training workshop posts:
The London Book Fair, Columbia Journalism School in Oxford, HarperCollins, Roehampton University, York Festival of Writing, Salisbury Festival, I am Writing Conference, The Self-Publishing Conference, Bath Literary Festival, Bournemouth Literary Festival, SBWI (The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators), NAWG (National Writers’ Group), Romantic Novelists Association (RNA). She teaches the developmental editorial module for UCL MA Publishing (University College London, World University Ranking top ten). In 2025 Helen was made an Honorary Associate Professor of the Department of Information Studies, UCL in recognition of her professional standing in publishing and her teaching practices.
Cornerstones hosted and facilitated the International Literary Agent and Literary Agency Training Programme for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in London in 2024 and 2025. Cornerstones was confirmed by MoC as the primary UK publishing training partner.
