How to network in publishing
Does the phrase 'it's not what you know, it's who you know' still stand in publishing? Networking never hurts.
How important is networking to breaking into and developing your publishing career? It is important, but networking is not going to guarantee you a job at entry level.
What it will do is prepare you for when you do break into the industry. You’ll have a network of supporters, mentors, and coaches, and that support is invaluable no matter what level you reach within publishing.
This is a small industry. Everyone knows everyone, or at least it feels that way sometimes. You’ll likely work with people multiple times at different companies throughout your career, I certainly have, and having a network of people to learn from and build relationships with is truly wonderful.
So start networking today with my top recommendations for where and how to network professionally.
Do your research
My first tip on how to research is to:
Follow publishers, booksellers and authors on various social platforms: LinkedIn, BlueSky, Instagram, TikTok and, if you can face it, X (formerly Twitter)
Search these sites to find people you want to connect with, be it a publisher who publishes the books you’re most interested in, an author whose work you truly admire, or a bookseller from whom you want to hear honest recommendations.
TIP: If you’re looking to get into editorial, follow the editors, and if you’re looking to get into marketing follow the marketers, etc. These professionals are usually the first to share job alerts at their respective companies as well!
Many publishing professionals put their job titles and the company they work for in their social bios so you can also search directly.
Join communities online
There are a ton of publishing communities online. A lot of them are aimed specifically at entry-level publishers, such as @pubinterns on Twitter and The Publishing Hopefuls group on Facebook.
There are also newsletters you can subscribe to, like The Publishing Post or @publishing_post on Twitter/Instagram, and the more general societies like the Society of Young Publishers (@SYP_UK, they also have regional/wider societies like @SYP_Scotland and @SYPNorth etc) or the Publisher’s Publicity Circle or Book Marketing Society.
Whilst these societies usually include paid-for membership you can still network and communicate with them for free via social media. Plus, they will still share resources and advice online for free.
When you’ve joined these communities it’s easy to start networking by replying to their posts, resharing content, and generally getting involved.
Remember, social media is meant to be social. So engage and chat, don’t just follow.
Get in touch
When I’m asked ‘how to network’ by entry-level publishers, my go-to answer is this: say hi.
I guarantee you that no one in publishing will begrudge you for getting in touch with them by jumping into their DMs or emailing them directly with a quick introduction and request for either a Zoom call, a coffee or even a simple email Q&A. We all started somewhere. However, don’t chase them; if they don’t reply assume they’re too busy to respond at this time and respect their space and if they do reply but don’t have time to answer your questions currently, there are plenty more professionals in the industry.
Be careful when choosing what time you approach people as there are particularly busy periods in the publishing calendar, such as London Book Fair week (March), Frankfurt (Oct) and during the run-up to Christmas (Nov-Dec), where publishers and others within the industry (booksellers especially over Christmas!) will not have a second to spare.
That doesn’t mean you should give up.
If someone can chat with you, schedule a 30-minute Zoom call or a coffee at a location that suits both of you within a flexible timeframe. Come prepared with questions or a rough idea of what you would like to get out of the meeting. Don’t expect a job offer or work experience, instead use these informational interviews to learn how they entered the industry and what their advice is in the current job market.
Follow up after the meeting to say thank you and see if they can provide any further resources or advice over email/DM, if discussed, and stay in touch.
Go to events
Before the pandemic, there were a lot of events that you could attend as a publishing hopeful or publishing professional. These events are far fewer, but they still exist - the Market Your Marketing events for example.
There are the big ones like the London Book Fair which runs in the spring, not to mention book festivals and literary conventions like YALC and Hay Festival.
However, there are a lot of smaller events run by publishers, associations, and societies that you could also attend. Keep an eye on The Society of Young Publishers, The Publishing Post and BookMachine’s website for upcoming online and in-person events.
And don’t neglect book events such as book festivals like Cheltenham, Bloody Scotland, Primadonna Festival etc. As well as events run by associations like the Romantic Novelist’s Association and Crime Writer’s Association.
Don’t be afraid
And finally, don’t be afraid. I know it seems scary, and it takes practice but anyone can network.
At events it’s far too easy to slip off into a corner with a warm glass of prosecco and hover in the corner on your phone for an hour. Bite the bullet and say hello to someone.
One hello and you’ve networked successfully. It’s as simple as that.
I’ve found that going into a networking situation with a few questions prepared is the best way to kill the nerves. My go-to questions are:
So where do you work?
What are you reading right now?
Are you involved with this event/society/association?
How long have you been in publishing?
The one guarantee at networking events in publishing is this: everyone reads books. So ask a question about books and you’re guaranteed to start a conversation.
Good luck! And if you ever see me at an event come and say hi.