Behind the Books Bi-Weekly Update 09 March 2026

Hello! This is my bi-weekly update on publishing. I hope you haven’t missed me too much, but here I am again with another catch-up for all you wonderful people who are dying to get into the industry just as much as I am. So, without further ado, here’s another segment of the blind leading the blind!

Hello, hello! This post is a bit later than planned, but things were so hectic at the beginning of March, I honestly couldn’t believe it. It was busy in a positive sense, and I haven’t felt so invigorated and productive in such a while. I mean, I’ve always been applying for jobs and keeping myself busy even when I’m not, but it can feel like wading through mud. These last few weeks haven’t felt like that, and it’s been such a pleasant change.

This month was the London Book Fair, which I briefly mentioned I was volunteering for, and I want to take some time here to tell you about my experience.

The Beginnings

First of all, I wouldn’t have thought of volunteering without my mentor (from SYP) encouraging me to. And of course, like with many things, you have to cast your net wide. My first piece of advice to anyone thinking of doing it: don’t ask to volunteer for one of the Big Five publishing companies, it’s not going to happen. Instead, go through the exhibitor list on the LBF website, work your way through it, and email as many as you can, including smaller businesses, companies, agencies, bookstores, and publishers, etc., because you probably will not hear back from about 97% of them.

The ones I did hear back from were very lovely and invited me to visit them at their stalls, but they didn’t need any help. So out of what was hundreds of emails (okay, it wasn’t that many), I had one company say yes! 

I ended up volunteering for the fine leather-bound book company, Rare Biblio, founded in California, USA. I also couldn’t believe it when I realised the other volunteer I was working with was a girl I went to university with, we’d even sat in some of the same modules!

A Good Shout For Volunteering

First of all, I would say that if you can, try to volunteer with Bookcareers.com. It is founded and run by Suzanne Collier, who is a huge advocate for young people trying to get into the industry. She does everything you could think of to support them and is a strong promoter for young people being paid for any type of work experience, as well as helping them find their way into a career in publishing.

The reason you should go through them is because they take on a number of volunteers, so there is a higher chance of getting a place. I met a few people who applied through them, and they were all lovely, so with someone who is genuinely eager to help young people gain experience, it is a really good route to consider.

But like I said, do not limit yourself to one avenue, ever, because no one else is, including the people you are applying to. If they have the option of hundreds of applicants, you should give yourself the same number of opportunities to apply to.

The Venue and Getting Set Up

Okay, so technically my first day was not actually the first day of the fair. The founder, the marketing director, the other volunteer, and I had to help set up the stand. The physical structure was already there, tables, chairs, carpet, shelves, etc., but we had to make it look charming by arranging the books, adding decorations, and putting together many, many brochures with their signature bookmarks inside.

The venue itself was massive, with the Big Five publishing stands (I don’t even think you can call them stands, more like open-air buildings that take up about 25% of the room) sitting centre stage with their incredible space. They had reception areas and what felt like bodyguards manning them, making sure no one uninvited could go in. Unlike other companies, the Big Five are there for business meetings, international rights sales, networking, and setting the tone for the publishing year. Hence why I said it is pretty much useless to even think you will be able to talk to them, let alone volunteer. 

It was nice to experience the Book Fair at the Olympia venue before the move to Excel next year. The only thing I associate with Excel is sitting exams during my final undergraduate year, so if I step in there and my heart starts going a million miles an hour, I will know it is not because of the books, just some casual PTSD.

Making Connections 

What was so brilliant about contacting so many people to volunteer beforehand is that even if they rejected my offer, they still wanted to see me, which was amazing. When I went up to them, I felt like I had a reason and a purpose, because approaching someone unannounced and starting a conversation can be hard. Just saying something like, “I emailed you before about an opportunity for volunteering and you asked me to stop by… I just wanted to say thank you for responding and being so warm,” makes it much easier. From there, the conversation starts naturally, you can ask how they’ve been finding the fair, do a bit of background research on them so it’s obvious you know what they do, why you like them, and why you wanted to volunteer.

Of course, as I said, you need to offer yourself to many people, but it doesn’t have to look like that. Show them you like their company for them. Two things can be true at once: you can genuinely like their company while also offering yourself to many others in the industry.

It was also nice having somewhere to go when I wasn’t at the stall. Moving between people and stalls felt like more than just physical movement, it was emotional too. I could feel myself making progress with every person I spoke to, and even just becoming more comfortable and at ease felt like I was accomplishing something. At the beginning, I had felt a bit out of place, so that really helped.

A Mentors Advice

Having my old mentor there as well was such a privilege. She came to visit my stall, gave me advice, and we walked around the fair together. Having someone who is already in the industry to guide me and make me feel welcome made a huge difference. The best advice she gave me for when I felt anxious about speaking to people was: “Not every conversation you have will be this monumental exchange that lands you a job. Chances are, it’s just another contact for you to know in the industry.”

From that, my tactic became to make a friend first. That way, it doesn’t feel like you’re just trying to get something from someone. Interesting people are interested in others, and walking into any interaction saying, “Can I have a job/work experience/volunteering?” isn’t the best start. They don’t get a sense of who you are, what you’re like, and you won’t make a lasting impression. Now, take this with a pinch of salt, I still don’t have a job, but that’s just what I realised.

A Mutual Contact

I was also lucky enough to meet up with my brother’s friend, who works on the Rights side of the industry at an Intercontinental Literary Agency. We spoke for a bit, and she even invited me to a Junior Publishers social. It was mostly meant for young publishers to meet up and have a drink, but it wasn’t a problem that I came along. I met some lovely people, including two individuals who had recently started as editorial assistants at Penguin! They were very gracious and helpful, and it was brilliant to hear another perspective from someone just starting out in their career, what they might have done to land the role, and what the early experience is like. I gained a lot of knowledge, and it didn’t feel like I was begging or forcing anything; it was more social and relaxed, so people were much more open to opening up.

The Value of Volunteering

I do believe volunteering is so important because it’s better than just arriving as yourself, if you can help it. It’s good for people to see that you have a purpose beyond simply looking for work experience or a job, because this book fair is very much about B2B, buying and selling rights, and the relationships between agents and publishers. Hiring isn’t at the forefront of most people’s minds, but volunteering gives them a chance to notice you in a meaningful way. Going there with a role first, and an interest in experience second, might be the way forward. I had a lot of interest just from people coming up to the stall and asking about the company, which often led to conversations about other topics we found interesting, and sometimes those conversations became contacts that could help me later.

But let’s be honest: of course I was interested in volunteering because of the connections and experience, but we can’t ignore the ticket prices. Without being an exhibitor or volunteer, the cost is extortionate, so in the current cost-of-living crisis, that’s a real consideration, and we shouldn’t feel guilty about it being a big reason. Things are getting more and more expensive while wages don’t keep up, so to be unemployed and spend that kind of money on a book fair where you might not gain experience, a job, or even a helpful conversation would be… devastating (yes, devastating). I see you all, because I am right there with you.

Reality Check: Entering Publishing

I also got to see a few people I went to university with! They were all doing an MA in publishing, and it was really interesting to hear their perspective on the industry from a completely different angle and see what they thought. But what I’ve learned is that, regardless of the route you take or the tactic you choose, it’s a struggle. There really isn’t a “wrong” way to go about it because the job market is so astonishingly tough. We don’t even need the stats to know that from experience, but for peace of mind, here they are: unemployment remained relatively high from November 2025 to January 2026, close to its highest level since 2015; the overall unemployment rate was near its highest level since 2021; and youth unemployment was just below its highest level since early 2015. (UK labour market statistics, House of Commons Library.)

It’s not you, I promise, I have to keep telling myself that. I cannot believe I live in a world where I tried my very hardest at school, studied so I could go to a grammar school for A-levels, get the education I desperately needed, and then study at university. I was proud to go to KCL, only for my prospects to seem limited to hospitality or retail. I didn’t know that working so hard to give myself the best future possible could leave me… here.

Turning a New Page… If You Can Get In

I also went to one talk, hosted by the SYP, called “Turning a New Page in Your Career.” Now, the ironic thing is that the talk was meant more for people already in the publishing industry, or for those looking to move ahead and further their careers. But in my humble opinion, once you’re in the industry… you’ve done it, you’ve made it. The people who need the most advice are those trying to get in.

I also think that 99% of the attendees were not in the industry and didn’t have the privilege of thinking ahead, they just wanted to take something, anything, away that might help them later on. Funnily enough, I think the interviewer and panelists realised that, because their answers seemed much more tailored to people who haven’t even got their foot in the door.

It was an enjoyable panel, and the ladies had some really interesting experiences and takes on the industry. But when you’ve been trying to get into publishing for such a long time, all the advice starts to sound the same. As I’ve always said, getting a job is 50% hard work and 50% luck. Using all the advice someone has given you in your applications is great, but if you don’t have the luck, well… it’s just words. So now I’m just waiting for that luck.

Rare Biblio

My experience with them was amazing. My roles really couldn’t be tied to just one thing, from setting up the stall to speaking with potential clients, contributing to social media content, networking, and pre-event planning. I was here, there, and everywhere. Thanks to the advice from my mentor, I knew it was important to branch out and not stay at the stall the whole time. After all, I was volunteering, this was my experience and my time too. They were incredibly easygoing about how I split my time between the stand and exploring the rest of the book fair.

A Fun Perk 

Oh, and one of the coolest parts, if you stay behind after everyone is packing up, some publishers give away their books to exhibitors and volunteers milling around the space. Since they have so many on display, 99% of them go to charity, but sometimes they’re kind enough to offer a few to people. So even if you don’t get paid for volunteering, you might make up for it a little in free books!

Reflections on My Experience

Honestly, I had a lovely time. The people I spoke to and interacted with were all so kind, and it makes a huge difference when they approach you with genuine interest. That makes it so much easier to ask for advice or find out opportunities, or anything else you might need from them.

The best part is that everyone shared the same passion: books. You really can’t go wrong with that. I didn’t know what to expect from the Rare Biblio stall, since most of their business is in the US, and they were using the LBF to gauge the market in the UK, but it was quite a success. That gave me confidence in my own approach to meeting people: no one felt pestered, because if you work in publishing, 99.9% of the time, you like books, or at least the business of them. Sometimes we had to reach out to get people over to the stall, but once we did, they were hooked. Most of the time, they came on their own, which I found really interesting.

It was long days, I don’t live in London, so I was up at 6 a.m. and to bed around 10:30–11 p.m., to do it all again the next day. But after being unemployed for so long, I really appreciated the structure. Your social battery is completely drained because you’re talking most of the time and putting your best self forward, I didn’t know I could talk for so long! The atmosphere was busy, engaging, and exciting, and the second you go home, you really feel it, but it's a productive, feel-good tired.

Don’t get me wrong, it was intense, and I don’t want anyone to think I found it easy. I didn’t. There’s the insecurity of being unemployed and the pressure that every interaction could make a difference in your life and career, which makes you overthink everything, I definitely did. But that couldn’t take away from the positives I found there.

It was also cool to see all the different types of stalls; some were really beautiful, including my own.

And to all my lost bookworms,

Stay Steadfast x