Behind the Books Bi-Weekly Update 13 October 2025

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!

Not much has changed on the job front; I’m still applying every day and putting myself out there. On the bright side, I recently recorded a podcast episode with a journalist from the Indian Express about one of her articles, which was really exciting, so definitely give that a listen if you’re curious.

I also had a meeting with my mentor from SYP (Society of Young Publishers), where we went through my cover letters and discussed what could be improved. I came away with some really useful advice that I can’t wait to put into practice.

It might also help if you’re an English graduate like me to follow this advice. I tend to write a bit essay-like, which doesn’t always work for cover letters. After all, a cover letter is meant to be, well, a letter, not an essay where I almost feel like I’m reaching for a thesis. My mentor suggested starting your cover letter as an email (no addresses needed, obviously). It was more for practice and also a clever way to trick yourself into writing like a letter, rather than producing a document, which is usually what I end up doing.

Research is key too. Look into the publisher: what sets it apart, any recent campaigns it’s been involved in, like Hachette’s Raising Readers programme, or HarperCollins and Pan Macmillan taking part in The Sunday Times’ “Get Britain Reading” campaign. This shows you’re not just a book lover, you understand market trends and can see where the industry is headed. That kind of awareness demonstrates dedication and genuine interest, which will set you apart from someone who only says they’re “interested.” It takes extra time, but it’s worth it if it helps you stand out.

Also, it’s much more effective to use a specific example from your past experience to show your strong foundations. It’s one thing to say it, but showing is always better, especially if you use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to keep it concise and impactful. Make sure you explain why you want to work in a particular department, don’t be vague. Point to specific reasons, like their author list or projects they’ve undertaken that contribute to the publishing house. Do you have any experience in that department, or at least a genuine interest you can demonstrate through hobbies, coursework, or other relevant experiences?

Also, if you’re an English graduate like me, don’t make it too wordy, I struggle with this a lot! Selling yourself to a company in a page or so (it really shouldn’t be longer, I’ve heard) is hard work, and figuring out what to cut is even harder, especially when you’re guessing what they want. You have to be astute: make it concise, but still revealing of your character. They’re right, there isn’t a “perfect” way to do this, but there is a better way. So just keep hacking at it, like I am. I hope this advice is helpful, and, fingers crossed, that it starts seeing some results for me too!

And to all my lost bookworms,

Stay Steadfast x