10 Dream Jobs for Book Nerds

Paper Engineer
Ever wonder how pop-up books are made? Paper engineers are masters of taking 2D things (like paper) and making them 3D. They design the folds, tabs, perforations, and other elements that make a pop-up book interactive.
Editor
I’m probably biased, but editors are under-appreciated creatures. It’s our job to identify trends and talent, work with authors, develop new titles, and advocate for our books through the entire publishing process. Think of us as a book’s best friend.
Literary Agent
Before a book makes its way to a publisher, a literary agent reads the manuscript and works with an author to shape it into something that will sell. Literary agents have a keen sense of the market, know which editors are looking for what, and use saintlike patience to transform newbie writers into professionals. (If you’re more of a visual thinker, you might consider representing artists instead of writers.)
Author Assistant
Being a writer is about more than writing books. Even once a book is published, there’s a lot of marketing work that needs to be done. But writers want to write, not market. Author assistants are lovely humans who answer emails on behalf of authors, coordinate signings and giveaways, set up social media accounts, and do all the other odds and ends that go along with being a writer.

Writer
Without writers, there wouldn’t be any books to nerd out on. If you have a story to tell that only you can tell or an idea that could change the world, you might be a writer. If you put your butt in the chair and type a few pages every day, you might be a writer. If you work long hours alone, you might be a writer. If you ruthlessly throw all that work away and start over because that’s what your reader needs to connect with the book, you’re definitely a writer.
Librarian
Today, librarians are way cooler than we give them credit for. In some ways they act like book buyers, selecting the books their libraries will carry, but they do so much more than putting books into people’s hands. They are research gurus, helping people answer pretty much any question. They are community organizers, inviting readers to meet and greet their favorite authors. And they can even be futurists, building maker labs and experimenting with (shh!) book-less libraries.
Teacher
What better way to get paid to be a book nerd than to help create more book nerds? Teachers can make or break a reader by choosing the right book and showing just what’s so magical about words. And no one says you can’t reread Bridge to Terabithia every single year.
Book Binder
If you’re more the hands-on type, there’s a small market for artisanal book binders. They use traditional techniques to create beautiful hand-bound books that become keepsakes and heirlooms. Their tools include needle, thread, paper, awl, leather, glue, and a creative vision.
Illustrator
Many artists glaze over when they think about how to make a living from their art, but artists who can tell a story with a single image or capture a character’s essence make our favorite books unforgettable. These skills are in high demand, and if you can balance your art with the practical nature of deadlines and feedback by committee, you might just illustrate the cover of the next Harry Potter!
What’s your dream job, book nerd?