Thanks to Frogboots, i got a Wednesday away from a moody 3 year old. I did not spend the week up to this meeting writing out detailed questions to ask The Editor. I wanted it to be a relaxed, informal sort of thing. If i hyped up the experience in my mind, i would have went there nervous and freaked out. I did get a cute skirt though because meeting or no meeting I wanted to look semi-professional.
My aunt has a day off to day, and said she would take me to Soho as soon as she dropped Michelle off at the Babysitter. I think she was more excited about the trip then i was. As a burgeoning fashionista, any excuse to hang around clothes stores is enough incentive for her. We left the house at 9:20 to catch the 9:50 bus to Grand Central station. I looked kind of weird wearing a nice skirt, a cardigan, and my converse shoes. I know i looked tacky without the proper shoes ( I put the heels in my bag so i could change into then when i got there) but there was a lot of walking and i would risk fashion for safety any day.
Getting to Grand Central was easy. Getting on the subway posed a small problem. I don't think I've written about me fear of public transportation. I've been here two weeks and I still refuse to ride the bus. It's small, cramped, and i have heard my fair share of "some guy was masturbating next to me" stories to fear riding the Bee-line.
I've only been on a subway once (when i was 10) and other than the smell of pee, it was not a bad experience. At GC you can go down a tunnel which will lead you to the subway. Unlike the train, you have to get a Metro Card to ride the subways. It's 4 dollars (round trip) but you get to train hop until you get to your destination. Of course when we got there the line to buy a Metro Card was long. So long that it would take 20 minutes of just waiting to get it. We went all over Grand Central looking for another place to find a Metro Card. A nice guard, pointed us in the direction of a place no one remembers to go for a Metro Card.
The Subway is hot and dark. There was a moment as we descended some stairs that i thought i was walking into hell. When the subway did come, we jumped on the wrong one and had to get off at one stop to get one the right one. This error was not too big because 15 minutes later we were in lovely Soho.
I can't even describe this place without squealing. Unlike the terribly busy, noisy, cramped quarters of Time Square. Soho is the darling sister of her unruly brother. There are shops all over the place, and i saw more models in one day then i could take. Because we were an hour early, we went window shopping through every store. Besides my loan payments, i need a job to buy some new clothes. I look like a bum compared to everyone else (cute skirt and all).
I left my aunt at Crate and Barrel (the Soho edition) and went to the publishing company. It was as I imagined, a bookworms dream!!! I had to get a name tag, and hand over my drivers license but as soon as i was guided up the escalator and to the receptionist office i was wide eyed and eager. I was a half and hour early, but i figured it was better than being late.
The Editor was much younger than i thought. I felt a little overdressed as she greeted me in some trousers and simple blouse. She invited an editorial assistant to lunch with us, and we headed up a few flights of stairs to the rooftop cafe.
When we all got out meals it was time for the meeting. I immediately wanted to ask the assistant more questions, because she has the job that i want. The Editor went to get her microwaved lunch inside, which gave me a few minutes to ask the assistant a crap load of questions.
I won't say that the editorial assistant wasn't nice (because she was) but you can tell she was very territorial about her job. She's into children's lit like a pro and my proclamation for an interest in adult fiction rubbed her the wrong way (there is a huge difference between children's and adult literature. One that extends to the editorial department of publishing companies) Though i thought the lunch was a forum for me to ask questions, the EA asked me all kind of questions about literature. Did i have interest in children's lit? If so, what kind of books? What's the last thing I read?
When the Editor came back she shot me the same questions. I mentioned a few books that i am reading now, none of which were children related material. Somewhere during the luncheon as i stared out at new york, i mentioned that i wanted to be a writer. This was only after The Editor asked me why i relocated to the city. When i mentioned the word writing, i could feel the EA give me the stank eye through her shades. The Editor, hit me with a little knowledge concerning my writing aspirations and a job in publishing. If i want to write, i won't do much of that in publishing.
I knew she wasn't trying to be a Debbie Downer, but the reality of the situation made me think. The Ea wanted to know why i was interested in publishing. It was one of the first questions that she asked me. I must admit that i really didn't have an answer. I mean i love books, i have a BA in English and i would make a horrible professor. Publishing is something i know i can do with the skills and interest that i have in books. I don't think that answer came off as well as it did in my mind. I sounded sort of nonchalant and like publishing was my last resort.
They described publishing as something you have to a passion in because the pay is so-so and the hours are long. Work extends into the weekends, and you read a lot of shit manuscripts before you get a good one. The payoff is that you get to follow the transition of a manuscript into a book. You get to play a pivotal role in publishing books, and seeing something beautiful reach the public. This is what the Editor said, and i kind of wished i would have said something like that.
The luncheon lasted for about 50 minutes. I didn't eat much of my lunch because i was trying to take in as much as i could. The Editor told me to give the publishing world some thought. Why take a job as an editorial assistant if it isn't something i am passionate about? Why fill some space that someone else really wants? The Editor and I rode the elevator down together, where i puzzled over my new conundrum. Is publishing something i want to do? And if so, would i sacrifice writing in order to break into the field? Is there any way to find a balance between writing and publishing that can give me a fulfilling and interesting life.
That is one question i do not have an answer to. The Editor said there was a potential internship available if i was interested in it. I would have to first read some manuscripts and analyze them with a critical eye. If all was to work out, i could apprentice with her and have the much needed experience i need. I think I've already made my decision but my heart feels heavy with any thought of the sacrifices i may have to make.
4 comments:
Good luck with your decision. At least you'll have a job in the book industry and you'll learn a lot plus you'll be making bank and you'll probably meet lots of people with connections in the publishing department. Think of it as another step towards your goal. Frogboots hooked you up!! Hope it works out. see you in space.
oh my crap! go for the internship! dude! I'LL go for the internship!
(i think I forgot to warn you that she's a children's lit editor - sorry).
what an amazing freaking opportunity, with a very well established publishing house!
territorial assistants - yeesh. not my kind of person. but you have to be a little cutthroat, i think, in most cities. it's why i ran back to academia.
sounds like a really awesome meeting. and i am SURE you felt much more nervous, etc, than you seemed. likewise: the Editor is a nice woman, and knows about new college grads being nervous.
oh, please please try out the internship! it's *only* an internship, it gives you a chance to try something out that you've got some interest in.
you love books and stories, and you DO consume them (movies, tv, books) with the eye of a critic/writer/editorial intern ;)
you've participated in writing class workshops, which is, essentially, doing the work of an editor, just on a smaller scale. the very worst that happens, if you get the internship, is you discover it's not the field for you. you'll get experience, for one thing - any experience, anywhere, is great. you'll meet interesting people.
man, i say go for it. beats babysitting. and if you want a crash course in children's lit, i'll happily send you a reading list. or two or three :)
vnmz01: Thats what i was thinking. I could have an internship, gain experience, and meet a lot of people with connections in the publishing world. I've decided to take the internship (i emailed her as soon as i woke up Thursday), but i don't know if she is still offering it to me. I just have to wait and be patient.
Frogboots:
For some reason I didn't make a connection between the publishing company and Clifford the Big Red Dog. Even when i got my name tag(with the dog on it) it still didn't hit me that "hey this is a children's publishing group".
It is an amazing opporunity, I just hope they don't think I'm a writer trying to get into publishing world to publish my book. That's so far from reality it's almost laughable.
I'm just waiting for a respone from the editor now. Waiting is the worst part of it all. I now know what it feels like to be that love sick girl waiting near the phone for a call from her crush. Except i'm waiting near my computer, checking my email constantly for some good news.
A crash course in Childrens/YA fiction would be perfect during this waiting period.
wheee! i'll work on a book list for you today and email it tonight or tomorrow.
this will be major fun for me. and i'll ONLY suggest books that I like. and i must say, my students almost *always* like (if not love) the books i pick for my syllabi, so clearly I have some taste.
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