Publishing industry myths

Unravelling the truth behind publishing myths: what it really takes to succeed in the publishing industry

There are countless myths about the publishing industry, from publishers sitting down and reading all day to everyone being editors, to my personal favourite: fannying about with press releases and being able to afford a one-bedroom flat above Borough Market (Bridget Jones has a lot to answer for).

These myths are surprisingly common misconceptions, particularly when a publisher finds themselves at a party or a family gathering, and someone asks the inevitable ‘How’s work?’ question.

Not to ruin people’s rose-tinted view of publishing, but I’ve yet to spend a single hour at work reading an actual book. So today I’m going to break down some of the most common publishing myths we hear from the other side.

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It’s not what you know, it’s who you know

I remember being told this a lot when I first started applying for roles within the publishing industry. It’s simply not true.

Sure, having contacts helps in some cases, but having contacts helps, whether you’re looking to get into publishing or haggling at a farmer’s market.

Having contacts isn’t necessary to get a job in publishing, and it doesn’t always help. In fact, I’d say nepotism is fairly frowned upon nowadays. Many companies I’ve worked at have placement schemes set up to avoid interns arriving with the ‘my Auntie works here’ explanation when asked why they’re interested in publishing.

But what about networking? Networking is beneficial for learning from professionals, meeting mentors, and hearing about opportunities within your chosen field. But building a reputation or an arsenal of knowledge is not the same as building a Contacts list. Networking helps you develop the skills and understanding you need to break into publishing, but it won’t hold the door open for you.

eBooks are killing the print industry

I cringe every time I hear this statement, particularly in 2024. In 2016, I could almost understand the confused fear. In the 2010s E-readers and the Kindle app were a new form of reading; at the time there were only 100 books in the Kindle Monthly Deals - now there are over 1000 each month - and people didn’t consider getting a No. 1 Kindle bestseller as the pinnacle of their publishing career.

However, ebooks, like audiobooks, paperbacks, and hardbacks, are just another format of reading. They’re not killing anything.

Ebooks have made reading more accessible and cost-effective for the average reader. Through e-readers and apps, we can now carry our libraries wherever we go, and physical book sales have stayed stable as a result of readers reading more due to the ease of access and limited cost of reading digitally.

As Stephen Fry said: One technology doesn’t replace another, it complements. Books are no more threatened by Kindle than stairs by elevators.

You need a degree to work in publishing

Maybe once upon a time, this statement was true, but thankfully not anymore. However, I know of a lot of people in the publishing industry who have a master’s in publishing, but it’s not necessary to have a degree or a Master’s in any topic, or at all, to enter the industry.

For example, I don’t have a Master’s in Publishing. I do have a degree in History and Creative Writing but my degree never got me a job, my book blog did. I got my first internship and my first full-time roles because I could use WordPress, do basic coding, design creatives on Canva and market my work on social media.

My university degree never even came up in interviews.

The industry recognises skills instead of a university degree. Many publishers in the industry still have a degree, because in a sense it gives you three to four years of study to perfect other skills and gain work experience, whilst supported by student loans. I got my first two internships whilst at university, so when I graduated I had six months of work experience under my belt, which meant I got a job within three months of graduating. Many people pursue MAs in Publishing specifically because they include work placements.

It’s the experience and skills you develop while at university, not because of university, that matters. But you can still gain these same skills and experience if you don’t attend university.

You just sit around and read books

Hahahahahhahahahah. This truly is a myth. The myth in fact.

Although, I’m pretty sure this is what my family and friends think I do all day. In many publishing companies, there’s an unspoken rule against reading during the day. Unless you’re editing a book or flash-reading submissions (usually the first chapter only), you’re not supposed to read during work hours. Work hours are meant for negotiations, meetings, pitching, positioning, reviewing, revising etc. Reading is not part of that list.

I don’t think I’ve read a book during office hours - although now I’m freelance I’d say that is softly shifting as my hours become more flexible. But if you think reading is what you’ll be doing all day if you enter the publishing industry, I’m afraid I have to burst that bubble hard.

Editorial is the only job

Nope. Whilst editor and editorial assistant are the most well-known job titles in publishing, there are tons of others. There are marketers, publicists, sales representatives, literary agents, booksellers, librarians, production staff, designers, strategists, human resources, recruitment companies, audio producers, distribution, communications, operations, and so many more.

Roles are being created every day. From staff responsible for an increase in diversity throughout the industry to specific roles focused on developing TikTok channels etc. Editorial, whilst important to publishing, is not the only role.

Have you heard any other statements about the publishing industry? Let me know in the comments below; I’m always interested to hear how the wider world sees the book industry.

And as ever, I’m always happy to share insights into the industry and break down the barriers that make it seem daunting or inaccessible to those looking to break into it, at any stage of life. Let me know if you have any questions.