My Open Cover Letter (of Sorts)

 

Before anyone jumps to conclusions, let me explain. I have not seen many examples of this myself, although that does not mean it is new. It almost certainly is not. If others have done it, I would genuinely love to know so I can send you their way too. I promise I am not a thief, nor am I sneaking off with anyone else’s good ideas.

With that, let me start by saying writing cover letters and tailoring CVs are a given in any job application, in any sector. What I would like to do here is stop repeating myself quite so much. Do I expect this post alone to get me a job? No, I do not. I am not that naive. But would I like hiring managers to read this and see the full picture? I would be foolish not to, given that this blog exists for precisely that reason. Here, I can show the breadth and detail of my transferable skills so you can see exactly why I am a strong fit for the roles I am aiming for.

If you had not already noticed, I want to work in publishing. While my long-term interests lie in publicity and subrights, I am keeping an open mind. As I explained in my previous post, I am applying for a wide range of roles, from sales and customer assistant positions through to editorial and, of course, publicity assistant roles. I know I cannot guarantee where I will end up, particularly as I have not yet worked formally in these areas. What I am drawing on instead is my own research and my understanding of what these parts of the industry involve. I am very willing to learn, to refine where my interests truly lie once I am there, and to let those interests evolve as my experience grows.

A little context. I graduated in law, and shortly afterwards my mother was diagnosed with lung disease. For several years I was her unpaid secondary carer, until her unfortunate passing this May. During that time I began to pivot gradually towards publishing, though I did not take that shift seriously until about a year into reading more widely and critically.

The turning point came when I read a poorly edited novel published under Simon and Schuster and was struck by the contrast with an independent author I had read around the same time, Danielle Lori, whose work had not received the same level of visibility or backing. That imbalance is what first drew me towards editorial and, more broadly, the publishing industry itself.

Alongside this, I built a book review blog, PaperPagesPR, and an accompanying Instagram account under the same handle. I originally started these spaces to engage with ARCs and to explore book influencing, but over time they became tools for research and industry observation instead. As a result, the metrics are modest, intentionally so.

More recently, around a month ago, I launched Paper Chapters as a dedicated space to showcase my developing insights into publishing and to think more deliberately about the industry I want to work in.

When I am asked about my relationship with books, the answer is a simple one. They became my solace during a period that was both upsetting and demanding. Watching someone you love slowly leave is not easy, and books offered a way to step out of that reality, a few chapters at a time.

I read widely during that period, from religious texts to romance fiction. If you have read any of my posts, you will already know that it was Hook, Line and Sinker by Tessa Bailey that stayed with me most. A small-town romance set in Westport, following Fox Thornton and Hannah Bellinger, it drew me in through familiar tropes I return to often: friends to lovers, forced proximity, and emotional restraint slowly giving way.

Even now, after my mother’s death, through job applications, rejections, and the quieter lessons that follow both, reading remains the way I find stillness. Escaping for a few pages at a time has a way of silencing the noise when my own thoughts become their own worst company. There is comfort in entering a world with clear boundaries, problems that can be solved, and the quiet promise of a happily ever after.

Slowly, my bookshelf, both physical and digital, grew to depths I never imagined it would reach.

The next hurdle was figuring out exactly where in publishing I wanted to work, a loaded question, because there is so much to choose from. I entered through the vast, familiar path of editorial, meandering from aspiring editorial assistant to dreaming of becoming an editor, then imagining a role as a development editor. Over time, I realised that might not be exactly where I want to be. I’m not ruling it out completely, I haven’t worked in that sector enough to know, but to narrow my focus, I looked at publishing through the lens of a consumer and asked what I wanted to see change. That led me naturally to PR and subrights, particularly the opportunity to bridge the gap between the US and UK markets in a more equal way, whether through influencer events, special editions, or exclusive bonus content.

If you were to ask what I have built over the years, it is nothing traditional, but I would argue just as meaningful. My bookish Instagram and my PaperPagesPR blog were started around the same time, both born out of curiosity rather than a master plan. The Instagram was once destined, at least in theory, to make me the next big book influencer, while the blog existed to flex my editorial muscles, breaking down what made a book good, bad, or simply worth the time. That remains something I am firmly committed to, especially when it comes to championing indie authors.

My thinking has evolved since then, as it tends to do, but both platforms are still standing and very much in use. The Instagram, in particular, has become a testing ground. If you scroll through it now, you will see a mix of posts, because the point is not polish but process, what draws attention, what falls flat, and how the community actually engages.

This blog arrived later, fashionably so, and has only existed for around four to five weeks. Its purpose is singular, to give me space to share my opinions, observations, and newly formed ideas about publishing, in public and without pretending I have all the answers.

The skills. I am already rolling my eyes as I write this, because I firmly believe I could list skills and examples all day long, and still not quite land the point. Until we sit down and talk, it is hard to fully convey how I work, but for now, this is my attempt to show it rather than simply say it.

The work I do across my blogs and Instagram reflects how I approach publishing more broadly, I am selective about what I write, not every book earns a post, not every idea survives its first draft, I think carefully about who a piece is for, what it adds to the conversation, and whether it deserves a reader’s time, this attention to audience and impact translates directly into publicity and marketing, understanding what resonates, testing ideas, and shaping content to connect with the right people,

Everything I publish goes through multiple rounds of revision, I am unsentimental with my own writing, cutting more than I keep, returning to drafts with fresh eyes, and focusing on structure, clarity, and tone, if something is not doing its job, it does not stay, consistency matters more to me than volume, maintaining these platforms alongside caregiving, study, and job applications taught me how to work steadily and reliably,

Social media is not just performance, it is research, I test formats, captions, timing, and positioning, paying attention to how different audiences respond, low engagement is not a failure, it is information, that mindset carries into publicity, rights, and sales, where campaigns, pitches, and launches must balance creativity, clarity, and commercial impact, I have learned to see the patterns that make messaging land, to coordinate ideas across platforms, and to keep the audience front of mind,

Teamwork is another cornerstone, being a secondary carer and coordinating multiple medical professionals, often acting as the mediator when it should have been them, taught me patience, diplomacy, and adaptability, I have seen firsthand how important clear communication is, and I bring that awareness to any team I join,

None of this exists in isolation. These are habits I have built through doing, and together they form the basis of how I work and the kind of publishing professional I am becoming.

In terms of the job hunt, I’ve had my wins and my near-misses. You can click here for the full run-down, and the lessons I’ve learned inspired my previous post, which is right here. All in all, the unsuccessful interviews, assessment days, and close calls have taught me one thing: it’s not that I’m lacking, it’s just a tough crowd out there. I’m endlessly curious, eager to learn, and genuinely excited for the moments someone proves me right, and even more for when they prove me spectacularly wrong.

What I’m looking for now is a chance, a shot at cracking the tough walls of publishing and showing what those years of applications have been quietly building. Not to annoy you, but you can find the full post of the role I’m aiming for right here. That said, I’m open to anything in publishing, from a sales role to a publicity or subrights assistant position. I’m ready to learn, roll with the punches, and work my way up, even if the path ends up completely different from what I’ve imagined.

Between blogging, reviewing, and coordinating projects, I’ve learned a lot about communication, creativity, and persistence. I’m nervous, yes, but also fired up to keep learning and watch these skills grow in the real world of publishing.

So here I am, books in one hand, curiosity in the other, navigating the messy, brilliant world of publishing. I’m not sure exactly where I’ll land, but I know it’s going to be interesting. Also, treat yourself if you made it this far.

With that, I’ll close this open cover letter and return to revising my end of year 2025 post, again.

Until then, don’t forget to visit my Let’s Connect page to visit all the other places I’m active.

I’ll see you between the pages.

Vivian.