Be Curious, Not Just Bookish: Why Publishing Professionals Need to Stay Engaged with Their Industry

In the publishing industry, we work with ideas, stories and knowledge every day. Yet how often do we stop to think about our own knowledge – about the industry we’re in? It’s a strange contradiction: we spend our days making content discoverable, yet we don’t always make time to discover what’s shaping our own sector.

When I teach Book Marketing & Sales at the University of Sydney, I devote the final class to looking ahead – exploring trends, challenges and possibilities in sales, marketing and publicity. We talk about workflow tools, the role of AI (even the controversial bits), and the changing nature of discoverability. But each week I also encourage students to pay attention – to follow industry news, subscribe to publishing newsletters, attend events and festivals, and take an interest in how our ecosystem functions. Curiosity may not be part of your job description, but it should be part of your professional practice.

Let’s be honest: publishing can be intense. You’re juggling deadlines, last-minute changes, elusive authors, metadata dramas and shipping delays. But if you’re only focused on your to-do list, you miss the bigger picture – and the chance to connect more deeply with your work and the people around you.

As Ted Lasso (quoting Walt Whitman) wisely said, “Be curious, not judgemental”. Curiosity is one of the best tools we have for long-term career satisfaction. It helps us build context, stay relevant, and – let’s not forget – have more interesting conversations that go beyond who’s on the bestseller list this week.

The case for awareness

Ask yourself: when was the last time you read an article about publishing that wasn’t directly related to your role? Have you explored the challenges distributors are facing right now? How they’re managing sustainability or supply-chain issues? What’s happening in rights and licensing? How’re publishers experimenting with formats or marketing channels?

These aren’t niche concerns. They shape the business decisions that underpin every part of our industry. If you’re a production editor, understanding how metadata flows through distribution systems will give you insight into how books are discovered – or overlooked. If you’re in marketing, a working knowledge of what booksellers need (and why it matters) makes you a better partner to sales teams. If you're in editorial, knowing the latest consumer reading trends helps position your titles more effectively.

No matter where you sit, understanding how the puzzle pieces fit together makes you better at your job.

Don’t be buried in a book

It sounds strange in our line of work, but some publishing professionals are a little too focused on books. We love them, of course – but our job isn’t just to work on books. It’s to understand readers, audiences and markets.

And yet, some of us haven’t joined our local library or been to a book event in years. How can we claim to work in a reading culture if we don’t participate in it?

Even casual engagement with book culture – via libraries, bookshops or social-media trends – helps us understand what’s working and what’s shifting.

Metadata matters (yes, even to you)

Metadata is the hidden infrastructure of book marketing and sales. It’s how readers, booksellers and librarians find your book.

You don’t need to memorise ONIX codes, but you should understand why clean, timely data matters. Ask your sales team how often they’ve dealt with missing publication dates or broken links.

Good metadata supports good marketing. It’s not exciting, but it’s essential.

How are you leading?

What do people come to you for? That’s your leadership zone. Own it. Share it.

You don’t need a formal title to lead. Sometimes it’s as simple as sharing a great article or helping colleagues think beyond their task list. Leadership can be about awareness and encouragement just as much as direction.

Celebrate what you know – and what you can learn

We spend a lot of time in publishing celebrating books, authors and award lists – and, yes, indulging in a bit of gossip. But we don’t always celebrate our own contributions or professional growth.

It’s refreshing to talk about industry developments instead of office politics. It’s energising to connect over a shared interest in how publishing is evolving. And it’s inspiring when someone new to the industry asks a big question – not because they don’t know the answer, but because they want to know.

So, if you’re new to publishing: welcome. Subscribe to industry newsletters like BookBrunch (UK), Books+Publishing (Australia), The Bookseller (UK) and Publishers Weekly (US). Follow local publishers and authors on LinkedIn or Instagram. Join your local library.

If you’ve been around for a while: share what you know and invite others into the conversation. Be the person who sparks curiosity.

After all, we’re in the business of ideas. Let’s not forget to have some of our own.

Rachael McDiarmid is a lecturer in Book Marketing & Sales at the University of Sydney, Australia. She runs her own consultancy, RM Marketing Services, and has over 30 years’ experience of working in publishing. Follow her on LinkedIn.