Publishing is a very small industry indeed.
Sure, there are heaps of us working in the business, but actually – whichever
event or company you go to – you are highly likely to bump into someone you
know or at least have mutual contacts with.
This is one of the aspects of publishing
that I love most. There is so much knowledge out there, and so many fascinating
and intelligent people (who are also completely lovely) and it’s so easy to
meet them!
One of the most important pieces of advice
I was given by my CEO was to join twitter (@charly_ford, incidentally) and
follow lots of publishing folks. Lo and behold, my awareness and appreciation
of industry opinions, knowledge, and news skyrocketed overnight. If you work in
publishing, and are not on twitter, I would urge you to have a think about
signing up for this very reason.
A vital moment in my publishing career has
been to get involved with BookMachine. A great website and series of events, it’s
a fantastic way to meet and stay in touch with a whole array of people that
work in our brilliant industry. Events take place in various places around the
UK (and now globally too) and they are a great way to get your face and name
‘out there’ in the publishing world. I, personally, have made brilliant
contacts through attending events, and have heard talks from inspiring and
interesting people that have, in some cases, led on to business meetings and,
of course, nice exchanges of tweets too!
There are a host of other fabulous events
that take place for publishers (for example OPuS events for those of us that
are Oxford-based!) and, if you want to expand your knowledge of the industry
and some of the people that are working in it, do think about coming and saying
hello. So far, everyone I’ve met has been completely divine.
On 27 June all digital and publishing folks
in Oxford are welcome to join us at House Bar for BookMachine with Tim
Oliver (Head of Digital Publishing Unit at
Macmillan Education). For a mere £5 you will hear a fantastic talk, meet great
people, enjoy happy hour cocktails and early arrivals will get a free drink
courtesy of sponsors emc design! Talented photographer Steve Meyer-Rassow will
be taking snaps.
Find out more and sign up here: http://bookmachineoxfordtimoliver.eventbrite.co.uk/#
