Breaking Into Publishing
Events, new books and working in publishing: The Real Skills That Get You Hired
A very happy Friday Scribbler,
I hope 2026 is being kind to you. This week we launched our first poetry collection ‘These are the Things we Have Lost’ by Janice Warman, to kick off our year of travel through books, and I had a lovely strategy meeting with John Ironmonger, whose next life-affirming novel will be out in hardback on the 1st of September this year: ‘The Angel of St Piran’ - we are calling this an eco-thriller, with chimpanzees at the helm!
In terms of events, I will be at The Curious Cat Bookshop in Frodsham, Cheshire to talk about editing and compiling our short story craft book ‘The Subtle Art of Short Fiction’ on the 29th of Jan (join us here) and Creative Writing lecturer Sarah Schofield will host an online creative writing workshop on structure on the 5th of Feb (do sign up here for this - debating if we have the numbers to go ahead and it would be super useful to know early :))
Last night, we kicked off 2026 at the Fly on the Wall Press Publishing Academy with an online session that demystified CVs, cover letters, and the reality of job hunting in publishing. So today’s blog is all about working in publishing - though if you’re thinking about career changing from one role to another, there will be transferable knowledge across industries below!
Here’s the first thing business and mindset coach Ibrahim said that made the room go quiet:
“If you’re not getting hired, it’s never personal. It simply means there’s skill gaps in how you’re positioning yourself.”
Job hunting is a skill set — one you can learn and practise; the goal being to become so competent and well-positioned that hiring you feels like the obvious choice.
The Catch-22
“I can’t get publishing experience without a job, and I can’t get a job without experience.”
You don’t need to be formally employed to build evidence of your skills. Self-directed projects, portfolios, volunteering—it all counts. Employers aren’t checking whether you got paid to learn graphic design or social media strategy. They’re checking whether you can actually do it.
Companies aren’t looking for the perfect candidate. They’re looking for competent individuals that align with company values.
Let’s rework your CV…
We reviewed CVs from Academy members before this session, and some patterns emerged.
Stop Saying You Have a “Passion” for Books
You love reading, but so does literally everyone applying for publishing jobs! :D
Instead, show your enthusiasm through specificity. Talk about a recent book the publisher released and what fascinated you about it. Mention a social media campaign they ran that you thought was brilliant. Make them feel your interest.
Stop Sounding Uncertain
Cut these words from your applications immediately:
“I think”
“I believe”
“I’m quite good at”
“I’m slightly experienced in”
Write like you already have the job.
Instead of: “I believe I could be a good fit for this role” Try: “My experience in community management and editorial projects aligns directly with this role’s requirements”
The Writer Problem
Here’s a controversial one: mentioning you’re a writer can actually hurt your application.
Not in every role. But when hiring managers see “aspiring novelist” on a CV, they sometimes worry you view publishing as a stepping stone to getting your book published, not as the career itself.
If you are a writer, position it strategically. Frame it as understanding the editorial process from both sides, or having empathy for authors.
What Stands Out
