Monday, April 10, 2006

working-day warriors

We are but warriors for the working day.—Henry V 4.3.109

(I’ve never started an entry with an epigraph before… what do you think?)

So yesterday I didn’t really have a Sabbath. (Scratch the “really.” I just didn’t.) I worked all day, and for most of the evening, getting ready for a three-hour meeting at my Zondervan internship today. Yes, three hours! It went quickly though…

I had asked my supervisor last week if I could sit in on an acquisition-editor meeting, since that’s a part of publishing I’m pretty interested in. (Acquisition editors, or AEs as they call them, are the people who decide whether or not the company will publish a book or not. They look at book proposals from prospective authors and think about how they could work with the authors, how to sell the book if they accept it, etc.)

My supervisor gave me copies of the two proposals the editors would be considering in the meeting, so I spent yesterday reading and rereading them. (I had been warned that my opinions would be asked for… yikes! I wanted to make sure I knew my stuff!) I also had two longer proposals with sample chapters to look at for one editor in particular. I was supposed to read those thoroughly and write a one-page summary on each, explaining why or why not the company should consider the book. Those were much longer, and I wanted to make sure I gave them enough time as well.

So yesterday was definitely “Read and Review Day.” Fortunately my friend Jen came and studied with me, so it was kind of festive after all.

Then today I went in to work just before noon so that I could chat with my supervisor about the meeting. (And so he could show me where the meeting would be… I haven’t figured out the cubicle maze yet.) The meeting began at noon, and I was so grateful that everyone was as kind to me as they were.

A lot happened in those three hours! They discussed ways to give more attention to some new authors, brainstormed possible titles for a new book, talked about one author’s progress and ways to encourage that progress, analyzed marketing and sales figures, and debated those two proposals I had looked at. (Sure enough, they did ask for my opinion. And were kind enough to listen and consider it… that helps encourage this timid intern!)

It was so interesting. I used to work in a Christian bookstore during high school, so I’m familiar with that end of the whole book-selling industry. I really appreciated getting this close look at what goes on inside the publishing house, though. I’m constantly aware of how little I truly know about it… I’m glad to keep learning about it all. Next up on my internship plate? Copyediting a devotional, proofreading cover design, and more…—jl

Posted by Jenn Langefeld on 04/10 at 08:51 PM
(4) Trackbacks • Permalink

<< Back to main