Welcome to the central hub for OpenBooks – a new initiative to reach the next generation of book industry talent.
The Publishers Association, Bookseller’s Association and Association of Author’s Agents are proud to collaborate on the development of OpenBooks – a brand new series of free, accessible online events primarily targeting young talent from underrepresented backgrounds.
Take a look at our programme of OpenBooks panel events below. Intended to inspire, and connect to young people’s interests, creative skills and passions, these sessions explore a variety of different opportunities to work in the world of books. All events are freely available to watch at any time.
Read our introductory press release here or check out our resources page for more information about careers in the book industry.
Our Programme
Shelf Help: Book Industry 101
If you’re looking for a one-stop event to find out why the book industry is for YOU, then look no further. Learn about the vast array of opportunities in this creative and fascinating industry, as well as the passions and skills that might be useful to get you through the door. From publishing the best new books, to working with writers as a literary agent, or working in retail to get books into readers’ hands, there are so many amazing paths to choose from. Discover your perfect bookish career – whether that be as an editor, a publicist, or lots more jobs in the book industry you might never have heard of before.
Doing The Books
Are you a whiz with a graph or spreadsheet? Perhaps you’re single-handedly running your own small business empire on Tiktok or Etsy? If so, could you work in book retail or publisher sales? Find out how to put your book shopping skills to serious work with our panel featuring a bookshop owner, subscription box founder and eCommerce expert. They’ll show you the power of crunching the numbers, using business skills, and how to make sure brilliant new books get into readers’ hands.
Judge A Book By Its Cover
There’s never been a better time to embrace your creativity. If you have a passion for art and design, join us on this incredible panel of talented publishing stars. Discover how you could use your creative talents to make beautiful books, from cover illustration to text design to high quality production. You’ll learn all about these inspiring roles in design, art, illustration or production – and discover career paths you may never have heard of before!
A Novel Idea
Whether you like dreaming up stories and reading with an eagle-eye for detail, or love the idea of working closely with brilliant writers and illustrators – if you’re passionate about words, storytelling and writing, then this session is the one for you. Find out more about working in an editorial role in a publishing house, or how you could become a literary agent, from a line-up of inspiring talent.
Spreading the Word
Can’t stop talking about the latest book you’ve read? Excited by the idea of meeting writers and readers at book events and festivals? Or are you obsessed with adverts, branding, and how to help people discover their next favourite purchase? This session is packed with ideas for how you could use your enthusiasm working in book publicity, marketing or events. Come along and learn how a skill for spreading the word could become your dream vocation.
The Internet Made Me Buy Lit
Are you addicted to searching BookTok for the next big thing? Do you instantly head to Insta or Reddit when you finish the final page of your latest read? Or perhaps you’re fascinated by the ways that digital platforms might change the ways we read, share stories, and discover books in the future? Learn about how you could work in the book industry in these exciting roles relating to digital, social media, data and analysis.
Your Passport Into Books
Are you an aspiring globetrotter who loves to travel and make connections with people around the world? Got a special talent for languages? Fascinated by books and stories from other countries and cultures? This session will explore opportunities in some of the most well-travelled jobs in the books industry – international sales, rights and export – and speak to some of the talented people travelling the globe to get readers hooked on the latest books.
Sign up to register your interest
Supported by
Bloomsbury
Hachette
Simon & Schuster
Publishers Association
Bonnier Books
Pan Macmillan
Association of Authors’ Agents
Waterstones
DK
Penguin Random House
Booksellers Association
Resources
Publishing is the home of creativity and communication. It’s where the world’s most brilliant and original minds bring their ideas to be presented to the world.
Want to find out more about working in the book industry? Here are some useful places to start.
Contact us
Follow our activity, and for updates on social media via #OpenBooks
Project managers Kat McKenna, Katherine Woodfine and Nina Douglas, and the wider steering group can be reached on openbooksevent@gmail.com.