Behind the Books Bi-Weekly Update 27 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!

Another two weeks have flown by, and this time I actually have some real information, proper intelligence, not just me rambling and hoping I make sense or actually help anyone (including myself)! No gatekeeping here.

Last week, I had the chance to meet and chat with a Marketing Director at a major publishing house. I feel so lucky because this connection came from another opportunity to meet publishing professionals for advice. I reached out after getting their contact details, and they actually responded! It reminded me that even if you think someone “too busy” wouldn’t have time for you, it’s always worth asking. My mindset was simple: if you don’t ask, the answer is 100% “no.” If you do ask, there’s at least a small chance it could be “yes.” And this time… it really was!

Here’s what I learnt:

The main thing that stuck with me was AI. The director explained that it’s perfectly acceptable to use AI, and that not doing so could put you at a disadvantage, since other applicants are likely benefiting from it as well. But here’s the key: it’s how you use it that matters. They can spot an AI-generated answer from a mile away. AI shouldn’t be doing the thinking for you, your answers need to be genuine. It can help with structure, grammar, punctuation, or other small details, but your ideas and experiences need to be real. Otherwise, your application will end up reading exactly like everyone else’s, and you won’t get noticed. Stand out, because being different is essential, and AI, on its own, won’t do that for you.

As for interviews, if you’re lucky enough to get that far, the main thing is to be authentic. Sounds obvious, right? But nerves or expectations can make people come across as too intense or “perfect,” with rehearsed lines. Knowledge and research are important, of course, but publishing is a people business. You’ll be working with authors and clients, so you need to show that you can build good relationships with colleagues too.

Be honest, but in a way that makes you look appealing. Don’t trip yourself up thinking that “showing your real self” means oversharing flaws, focus on your strengths and what you do well. For example, if someone asks, “How would your peers describe you?” don’t say something like, “They can’t rely on me, I’m all over the place,” or something scripted like, “I’ve always got my head in a book.” Instead, surprise and excite the interviewers. It’s a conversation, after all, and they’re doing a lot of them, so stand out in a positive way!

Research! Knowledge! You need to know the imprint, department, or team you’re applying to inside out (like the back of your hand) as if you already work there. You need to show real passion. What books have they recently published? Read them, learn about them, and understand how the team contributed, whether through marketing, editorial, sales, or something else.

And here’s a tip: bring one of their books with you to the interview. I thought that might be “too much,” but it’s not! It actually shows how serious you are and that you genuinely care, care enough to buy their work and engage with it.

Share an interest in the people interviewing you, interesting people are interested in others! Have some questions ready about their work to show you’ve done your research. Keep it natural and informed, but you don’t need to spend the whole interview offloading every detail about their family tree, that might be a bit too intense!

Keep your CV to one page if you can, they’ll be flicking through them like wildfire. Get rid of anything they probably won’t think twice about. Don’t stress too much about listing your education (don’t worry too much for A-levels, let alone GCSEs). Publishing has always been about experience, and it still is, so lean on that wherever you can.

Last but not least, contacts are everything. Publishing is tiny, so knowing someone in the industry can really help. Of course, the director acknowledged it’s easier said than done, and a lot of the advice they gave I might have already heard, but it’s true. These steps and rules are what many people actually follow to get into the industry, so live by them (as much as your resources and opportunities allow).

We spoke about so much more, moving beyond application processes to chat more generally about her career, what I’m doing, and some of the up-and-coming news in publishing, new imprints, book deals, and whether she’s been impacted by any of it. And of course, just some general chit-chat.

It was such a lovely experience. I was super nervous, so meeting someone so calm, encouraging, and welcoming was amazing. I never once felt rushed, small, or out of place, even talking to someone so high up in the industry. It really gave me a boost, and I hope you find this article helpful too!

And to all my lost bookworms,

Stay Steadfast x