An interview with 2025 Open Book intern: Rebecca Zhong

Tell us a little about yourself and what brought you to apply for the internship.

My name is Rebecca Zhong, and I’m a second-generation Chinese New Zealander. I first developed my affinity towards storytelling behind the counter of my parent’s fish’n’chip shop – constantly devouring either a library book, a crinkled copy of Women’s Weekly, or a cheeky potato cake.

I applied for the Open Book internship in my final semester at the University of Melbourne, where I was studying for my master’s in creative writing, publishing and editing. I was really looking for opportunities to help apply the knowledge I had learnt during the course of my degree, but I knew that entering the publishing industry was a gruelling and intimidating process.

I put off applying for Open Book for weeks. Not for any reason other than the belief that it would be too competitive. But unlike other application processes, Open Book is incredibly accessible, and the questions are written in ways that really let your personality and curiosity speak before your work experience.

What is one thing you learned during the internship that you wished you had learned before?

My master’s degree definitely put editing on a pedestal. I spent most of my degree convinced that editing was the only path of entry I could see for myself.

During my time at Oxford University Press and Hardie Grant, I really was able to see how collaborative all the departments were. This really helped me understand just how vast and multifaceted the industry is. It’s very rare to get to experience being an editor, a marketer, a sales rep and more in the span of 20 weeks!

What is one thing you would like to change about the internship – and/or the broader publishing industry?

The 2022 Australian Publishing Industry Workforce Survey was effective in highlighting just how much work needs to be done in the publishing industry. Initiatives like Open Book are so instrumental, championing cultural diversity in a way we haven’t seen too much of.

If I could change anything about the internship, it would be to see the same phenomenal work done on a larger scale. It would be amazing to see the cohort grow in future years!

What was the biggest highlight of the internship for you?

I hate to be a cliché, but it truly was the people. No one needs to convince me that book people are the best people. Though Open Book certainly affirmed that.

Is there anything you can tell us about your next steps from here?

It’s been a hectic year, so I’m looking forward to taking a short break – fingers crossed I can jump across the Tasman for a Kiwi summer!

I’m currently working on my debut novel, thanks to the support of the Wheeler Centre, and I’m hoping to see its completion in the first half of next year.

Now that the internship is over, I’m looking for opportunities to platform Australian and New Zealand writers and to help foster an appetite for local stories, whether that be in the publishing industry, event programming or advocacy work.

And, finally, is there anything you’d like to add to your reflections?

You would be a fool not to apply!