I can't believe it's been a year. I stopped posting on this blog weekly an entire year ago? How is that even possible?
I know I tried to re-start in September. I got... sidetracked. My wistful plans to move to NYC and just start working got put on hold when I took a part-time job at Barnes & Noble. I figured that I needed to be doing something to work towards my publishing goals aside from sitting on my bed applying for jobs all day. At least this way, I can show that I know how to sell a book, and I know the book store market.
It was only supposed to be temporary. Seasonal. They were looking for help for the holidays. October- January. That was it.
But I settled into it. I took a couple weeks of my job search to get acclimated. When I returned to it, I was more open to taking internships, paid or unpaid. At least if I didn't have to move. If I could continue living at home, working part-time, I could do an internship.
And that's how I ended up doing an internship at a magazine.
To be fair, I never technically applied for this role. I didn't want to work at a magazine. I don't like shopping, and magazines often seem to exist solely to promote consumerism.
No, I applied to be a publicity intern at PR by the Book. I thought it would be the perfect fit. I wanted to do publicity/PR/marketing for books. I obviously didn't have the experience necessary to be offered an assistant position (what is up with needing 2-4 years experience for an entry level position?), but I could do an internship.
They liked me. But they decided they didn't need another publicity intern. But many on staff also worked part-time at TLM. So they offered me the editorial internship there.
I took it, hoping that I'd prove myself and they'd offer me a full-time position at PR by the Book. I certainly have proved myself- I've been offered part-time work there and a move up to Editorial Assistant at TLM- but there doesn't seem to be any paid, full-time positions to be had.
I feel... stuck. Between the internship and B&N, I don't have much time to apply for jobs (especially since I spent my Saturdays on set of Merry Maidens for 3 months-- but that's a story for another post). I can't live at home forever. I need to move on.
So here we go. Blog re-start attempt 2. I'm even posting on a Thursday, just like old times. Because if I love books as much as I say I do, you better believe I have a book blog.
Thursday, April 27, 2017
Monday, September 19, 2016
My Time In Denver
As I talked about in previous blog posts, I went to Denver for grad school. I was enrolled in the Publishing Institute, and I thought I'd share some of what I learned.
Publishing is the "Accidental Industry"
Apparently, most people in publishing, up until more recent years, didn't set out to be in publishing. They fell into it. Even for people who had gotten into it in the last 20 years, many got their break largely because of good timing. Yes, they were doing something to advance their career- moving to New York, working at a bookstore, going on informational interviews, etc., but they were in the right place at the right time and that's how they got the job.
Everyone Wants to be an Editor
One of the primary goals of the program was to convince people to look at other areas of publishing. People who choose to go the editorial route spend a long time paying their dues to move up. It's also the hardest area to land a job in, because of the competition. I was slightly frustrated with this aspect of the program. As I came in with almost no interest in the editorial side, I felt that they spent far too long on it (nearly half the program!) and not enough on everything else.
Diversity is Harder to Achieve Than I Previously Thought
The publishing industry is overwhelmingly filled with white women. Books with authors of other races are often seen as not having mass-market appeal, only to people of that culture. Unless the author is a celebrity, of course. Without people of color entering the industry to fight for those authors, I fear that those voices may not get heard. Looking at my class at DPI, we reflected the industry. There were 98 of us- 92 were women. Of those 92, maybe 5 or 6 were WOC.
These Are My People
Look, I know myself. I can be kind of an awkward human. I don't always bond the same way other people do. But I didn't meet a single person in the program that I didn't like. If they're representative of the industry, then I can rest assured that this is the industry I want to be in. These are the people I want as my bosses, my coworkers, the people I interact with daily. And I think that was the most important lesson of all.
Publishing is the "Accidental Industry"
Apparently, most people in publishing, up until more recent years, didn't set out to be in publishing. They fell into it. Even for people who had gotten into it in the last 20 years, many got their break largely because of good timing. Yes, they were doing something to advance their career- moving to New York, working at a bookstore, going on informational interviews, etc., but they were in the right place at the right time and that's how they got the job.
Everyone Wants to be an Editor
One of the primary goals of the program was to convince people to look at other areas of publishing. People who choose to go the editorial route spend a long time paying their dues to move up. It's also the hardest area to land a job in, because of the competition. I was slightly frustrated with this aspect of the program. As I came in with almost no interest in the editorial side, I felt that they spent far too long on it (nearly half the program!) and not enough on everything else.
Diversity is Harder to Achieve Than I Previously Thought
The publishing industry is overwhelmingly filled with white women. Books with authors of other races are often seen as not having mass-market appeal, only to people of that culture. Unless the author is a celebrity, of course. Without people of color entering the industry to fight for those authors, I fear that those voices may not get heard. Looking at my class at DPI, we reflected the industry. There were 98 of us- 92 were women. Of those 92, maybe 5 or 6 were WOC.
These Are My People
Look, I know myself. I can be kind of an awkward human. I don't always bond the same way other people do. But I didn't meet a single person in the program that I didn't like. If they're representative of the industry, then I can rest assured that this is the industry I want to be in. These are the people I want as my bosses, my coworkers, the people I interact with daily. And I think that was the most important lesson of all.
Monday, September 12, 2016
The Return of Sam
Hi guys! Been a while, hasn't it? I said that I would post irregularly over the summer, but without a deadline, I lost motivation. Oops. You'd think I'd know that about myself by now. There were just so many other things to do, books to read, shows to watch, jobs to apply for...
But I really stopped doing this weekly because it took too much of my creative energy, leaving not enough for my weekly vlogs. Well, I've got videos scheduled for the next two months now and I could use another creative outletespecially since I'm unemployed and have all the time in the world.
So, what have I been up to? Well, I've been reading, obviously. Not as much as I should be. Netflix and YouTube are just such great distractions. Plus, I can do that while I'm cooking or cleaning or doing laundry.
I got a lot of books at the Denver Publishing Institute. I should probably dedicate a whole separate post to my time there. I learned a lot about the publishing industry, and I remain firm in my resolve that it is the industry for me. I also met some really cool people, and I hope I'll have the chance to work with them in the future. Anyway, I'm currently working my way through the books. I'm actually reading a nonfiction book that isn't a memoir right now, so that's a first. With each one I read, I think of a friend or two who might like it, and have been sending it to them for their birthdays. I've never been particularly good about giving people gifts, but I think this is a nice gesture.
I've been trying to start going to book events in my area and make some contacts. I've been to two so far, but it appears that authors aren't traveling with their agents or publicists or whatever. However, I think that attending these events gives me a better understanding of how a book tour works, and thus I will eventually be a better publicist for it.
I think that's quite enough for my first blog back, but I will return. I've got a few ideas of stuff I want to talk about, so keep your eyes peeled.
But I really stopped doing this weekly because it took too much of my creative energy, leaving not enough for my weekly vlogs. Well, I've got videos scheduled for the next two months now and I could use another creative outlet
So, what have I been up to? Well, I've been reading, obviously. Not as much as I should be. Netflix and YouTube are just such great distractions. Plus, I can do that while I'm cooking or cleaning or doing laundry.
I got a lot of books at the Denver Publishing Institute. I should probably dedicate a whole separate post to my time there. I learned a lot about the publishing industry, and I remain firm in my resolve that it is the industry for me. I also met some really cool people, and I hope I'll have the chance to work with them in the future. Anyway, I'm currently working my way through the books. I'm actually reading a nonfiction book that isn't a memoir right now, so that's a first. With each one I read, I think of a friend or two who might like it, and have been sending it to them for their birthdays. I've never been particularly good about giving people gifts, but I think this is a nice gesture.
I've been trying to start going to book events in my area and make some contacts. I've been to two so far, but it appears that authors aren't traveling with their agents or publicists or whatever. However, I think that attending these events gives me a better understanding of how a book tour works, and thus I will eventually be a better publicist for it.
I think that's quite enough for my first blog back, but I will return. I've got a few ideas of stuff I want to talk about, so keep your eyes peeled.
Friday, April 29, 2016
So... I don't have to do this anymore
The semester is wrapping up, and my class requirement of keeping a blog is over. I got to admit, I actually really like having a blog. It's something I've thought about doing for over a decade, but never really made the commitment to doing. I guess I just figured that no one really cares about what I have to say.
I definitely feel like doing this took up a lot of the time and creative energy I would have normally spent on vlogging- for those of you who follow Finals And Hearts, you can probably tell that my video quality tanked this semester. And I want to change that back this summer. But... I think I want to keep the blog.
So here's what I'm thinking. I go back to better quality vlogs weekly, and this becomes a more organic, irregular blog. I'm still going to focus on books, adaptions, and publishing, I just won't post every Thursday like I did during the year. Just... whenever I feel like I have something to say.
I guess that's it. Goodbye- for now.
I definitely feel like doing this took up a lot of the time and creative energy I would have normally spent on vlogging- for those of you who follow Finals And Hearts, you can probably tell that my video quality tanked this semester. And I want to change that back this summer. But... I think I want to keep the blog.
So here's what I'm thinking. I go back to better quality vlogs weekly, and this becomes a more organic, irregular blog. I'm still going to focus on books, adaptions, and publishing, I just won't post every Thursday like I did during the year. Just... whenever I feel like I have something to say.
I guess that's it. Goodbye- for now.
Thursday, April 21, 2016
Life After Bradley
With graduation less than a month away, the pressure to figure out what you're doing afterwards is on. It seemed like everyone in my classes had a job lined up or was going to grad school. Not me. I knew my path was going to be a little different, because I want to go into publishing, which isn't a direct application of my degree. It will be useful, for sure, but I would have to prove that to a hiring manager. Industry standard is applying for a job two weeks before you're ready to start, so even while I was applying, no one was going to take me seriously until May. Plus, I had my heart set on getting a graduate certificate in publishing, which would give me the edge I needed to get in for an interview. I had no idea what I would be doing after graduation.
Fortunately for me, most of my friends are not in my major, and were pretty clueless as to their next step too. Yeah, Katrina's sitting pretty with a nice software job in South Carolina and Alex is off to Arizona at one of the top research institutions for fiber-optic-something-sciencey-that-I-don't-understand. But the rest of us? No clue. So I had plenty of people to commiserate with.
Last Friday, that changed. I got into the Denver Publishing Institute! Man, I wish I had gotten it on camera. I was sitting on the couch narrating as I tried to get to the page with my application status, and Olivia (my flatmate) was in view, on her bed, freaking out for me.
I called my mom. She happened to be having dinner with my aunt, so I told her too. Then I tweeted. Then I posted on Facebook. (As I write this, I can hear Olivia telling her mom over the phone.) And then I decided we needed to go out. Olivia had wanted to go to the bars anyways, but the people we had originally invited were too busy. So we invited a bunch more to celebrate. Turns out only Casey could join us, but we had a good time anyways.
I'm really excited about this opportunity. It's only a month-long graduate certificate program, but the skills I'll learn there and the contacts I'll make will be invaluable. Another girl in the program saw my tweet/Instagram about getting in and tweeted at me. Turns out I wasn't the only one she tweeted at, so I went and followed her and everyone else she had found who got in. Everyone seems so cool and smart and nice. I really think I'm making the right choice for me, and I'm finally getting excited about life post-Bradley.
Fortunately for me, most of my friends are not in my major, and were pretty clueless as to their next step too. Yeah, Katrina's sitting pretty with a nice software job in South Carolina and Alex is off to Arizona at one of the top research institutions for fiber-optic-something-sciencey-that-I-don't-understand. But the rest of us? No clue. So I had plenty of people to commiserate with.
Last Friday, that changed. I got into the Denver Publishing Institute! Man, I wish I had gotten it on camera. I was sitting on the couch narrating as I tried to get to the page with my application status, and Olivia (my flatmate) was in view, on her bed, freaking out for me.
I called my mom. She happened to be having dinner with my aunt, so I told her too. Then I tweeted. Then I posted on Facebook. (As I write this, I can hear Olivia telling her mom over the phone.) And then I decided we needed to go out. Olivia had wanted to go to the bars anyways, but the people we had originally invited were too busy. So we invited a bunch more to celebrate. Turns out only Casey could join us, but we had a good time anyways.
I'm really excited about this opportunity. It's only a month-long graduate certificate program, but the skills I'll learn there and the contacts I'll make will be invaluable. Another girl in the program saw my tweet/Instagram about getting in and tweeted at me. Turns out I wasn't the only one she tweeted at, so I went and followed her and everyone else she had found who got in. Everyone seems so cool and smart and nice. I really think I'm making the right choice for me, and I'm finally getting excited about life post-Bradley.
Thursday, April 14, 2016
LIW Award Winners
So... the winners for the LIW Awards were announced on Saturday, so I thought I'd catalogue my reactions. Click here to see the videos.
Best Chemistry on Screen
Me: I'm gunning for George Squared. Er... Adam Bowes and Steven Christie as George Gleeson and George Bates in Call Me Katie.
Winner: Mandy Harman and Tanner Gilman as Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe from Green Gables Fables.
My reaction: At first, utter disappointment. Then, remembering how cute they were and how much I actually ship them and was super heartbroken for Gilbert when he told Anne he loves her and she rejected him.... a lot less so. They deserve it too...
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Me: I want Elise Cantu to win as Cara Graves in Classic Alice. But... not by much. If she doesn't win, I'll understand.
Winner: Abigail Snarr as Ruby Gilles from Green Gables Fables
My reaction: Really? I mean, she was great, but she really wasn't that big of a character until right before she died. I'm genuinely surprised, but not at all upset. But I am sensing a pattern...
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Me: Oh, I actually want Tanner Gillman as Gilbert Blythe from Green Gables Fables to win this one... but now that they're winning everything I'm not so sure... but he was the best, I just like the underdog.
Winner: Tanner Gillman as Gilbert Blythe from Green Gables Fables
Reaction: Surprise, surprise. I mean, he was really good.
Best Costume and Set Design
Me: The Misselthwaite Archives better win this hands down. Have you SEEN the glade? Or the basement? Too perfect.
Winner: The New Adventures of Peter and Wendy.
Reaction: Ok, yes, their costumes and sets were absolutely impeccable. And I would have voted for them too if I didn't feel like having sponsors for that was like cheating. I mean, they have a set dressing sponsor (lootcrate) AND a costume sponsor (modcloth). How could it not look incredible?!
Best Script
Me: This one goes to Misselthwaite Archives for me too. Like, damn. Mary's one-liners are my favorite thing EVER.
Winner: Green Gables Fables
Reaction: Again? But... as much as I love that show, the script never wowed me. Also, we're halfway in and a show in it's first season has yet to win. That's going to bother me. Also GGF has won 4/5 categories.
Best Ensemble Cast
Me: I struggled really hard with this one but ultimately settled on From Mansfield With Love. But now I just don't want it to be Green Gables Fables because I don't want any one show to win over half the categories.
Winner: Lovely Little Losers
Reaction: Well, I'm glad it wasn't GGF. But LLL wasn't one of the ones I was debating between. Yeah, the cast is really talented, but I just don't feel that LLL did them justice. Also, LLL was a spin-off series, so it's basically a second season.
Best Transmedia
Me: Well, I originally voted for Green Gables Fables, but now since I'm kind of rooting against them (sorry not sorry), I don't know. All of them deserve it, and all for completely different reasons.
Winner: Green Gables Fables
Reaction: They deserved it... and now they've won half the categories.
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Me: I'm for Phosido Dwinte winning for his role as Kitso Harper in Lovely Little Losers... but I would not be disappointed if Steven Christie won for George Bates in Call Me Katie. Just saying.
Winner: Steven Christie as Gorge Bates in Call Me Katie
Reaction: A big smile. Still a little bit in love with him. Also, FINALLY! A new show won.
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Me: Holly Truslove. Holly Truslove. HOLLY TRUSLOVE. (Frankie Price in From Mansfield With Love)
Winner: Many Harmon as Anne Shirley in Green Gables Fables.
Reaction: Yeah. So... the clip they used of her for the videos was best. But like... it came out during nomination time and should have not been considered.
Best Literary Inspired Webseries
Me: I really really want From Mansfield With Love. Or The Misselthwaite Archives. But I think we all know who's going to win here.
Winner: Green Gables Fables
Reaction: Acceptance. We all knew it was coming.
So... Green Gables Fables won 7/10 categories. 7/9 that they were nominated for. I suppose that's better than last year, when Nothing Much To Do won 8/10 categories, 8/9 they were nominated for. I feel like every year there's going to be one show that dominates and it makes me sad because I would love to spread the love to many deserving shows. The Misselthwaite Archives was nominated in EVERY CATEGORY and did not win a single one.
I also thought that this second-season phenomenon was weird. Only one category had a winner who was new this year, the best actor in a supporting role, Steven Christie as George Bates. Interestingly, he was also the only person of color to win, and he is definitely white-passing. But we can save a rant about racism in the media (even out of the mainstream, sadly) for another time. And, of course, Steven Christie will be reprising his role in a spin-off series, Nothing Like the Sun, as a main character. Don't get me wrong, I'm way excited about that, but I worry that we're discouraging new, fresh shows and faces.
Best Chemistry on Screen
Me: I'm gunning for George Squared. Er... Adam Bowes and Steven Christie as George Gleeson and George Bates in Call Me Katie.
Winner: Mandy Harman and Tanner Gilman as Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe from Green Gables Fables.
My reaction: At first, utter disappointment. Then, remembering how cute they were and how much I actually ship them and was super heartbroken for Gilbert when he told Anne he loves her and she rejected him.... a lot less so. They deserve it too...
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Me: I want Elise Cantu to win as Cara Graves in Classic Alice. But... not by much. If she doesn't win, I'll understand.
Winner: Abigail Snarr as Ruby Gilles from Green Gables Fables
My reaction: Really? I mean, she was great, but she really wasn't that big of a character until right before she died. I'm genuinely surprised, but not at all upset. But I am sensing a pattern...
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Me: Oh, I actually want Tanner Gillman as Gilbert Blythe from Green Gables Fables to win this one... but now that they're winning everything I'm not so sure... but he was the best, I just like the underdog.
Winner: Tanner Gillman as Gilbert Blythe from Green Gables Fables
Reaction: Surprise, surprise. I mean, he was really good.
Best Costume and Set Design
Me: The Misselthwaite Archives better win this hands down. Have you SEEN the glade? Or the basement? Too perfect.
Winner: The New Adventures of Peter and Wendy.
Reaction: Ok, yes, their costumes and sets were absolutely impeccable. And I would have voted for them too if I didn't feel like having sponsors for that was like cheating. I mean, they have a set dressing sponsor (lootcrate) AND a costume sponsor (modcloth). How could it not look incredible?!
Best Script
Me: This one goes to Misselthwaite Archives for me too. Like, damn. Mary's one-liners are my favorite thing EVER.
Winner: Green Gables Fables
Reaction: Again? But... as much as I love that show, the script never wowed me. Also, we're halfway in and a show in it's first season has yet to win. That's going to bother me. Also GGF has won 4/5 categories.
Best Ensemble Cast
Me: I struggled really hard with this one but ultimately settled on From Mansfield With Love. But now I just don't want it to be Green Gables Fables because I don't want any one show to win over half the categories.
Winner: Lovely Little Losers
Reaction: Well, I'm glad it wasn't GGF. But LLL wasn't one of the ones I was debating between. Yeah, the cast is really talented, but I just don't feel that LLL did them justice. Also, LLL was a spin-off series, so it's basically a second season.
Best Transmedia
Me: Well, I originally voted for Green Gables Fables, but now since I'm kind of rooting against them (sorry not sorry), I don't know. All of them deserve it, and all for completely different reasons.
Winner: Green Gables Fables
Reaction: They deserved it... and now they've won half the categories.
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Me: I'm for Phosido Dwinte winning for his role as Kitso Harper in Lovely Little Losers... but I would not be disappointed if Steven Christie won for George Bates in Call Me Katie. Just saying.
Winner: Steven Christie as Gorge Bates in Call Me Katie
Reaction: A big smile. Still a little bit in love with him. Also, FINALLY! A new show won.
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Me: Holly Truslove. Holly Truslove. HOLLY TRUSLOVE. (Frankie Price in From Mansfield With Love)
Winner: Many Harmon as Anne Shirley in Green Gables Fables.
Reaction: Yeah. So... the clip they used of her for the videos was best. But like... it came out during nomination time and should have not been considered.
Best Literary Inspired Webseries
Me: I really really want From Mansfield With Love. Or The Misselthwaite Archives. But I think we all know who's going to win here.
Winner: Green Gables Fables
Reaction: Acceptance. We all knew it was coming.
So... Green Gables Fables won 7/10 categories. 7/9 that they were nominated for. I suppose that's better than last year, when Nothing Much To Do won 8/10 categories, 8/9 they were nominated for. I feel like every year there's going to be one show that dominates and it makes me sad because I would love to spread the love to many deserving shows. The Misselthwaite Archives was nominated in EVERY CATEGORY and did not win a single one.
I also thought that this second-season phenomenon was weird. Only one category had a winner who was new this year, the best actor in a supporting role, Steven Christie as George Bates. Interestingly, he was also the only person of color to win, and he is definitely white-passing. But we can save a rant about racism in the media (even out of the mainstream, sadly) for another time. And, of course, Steven Christie will be reprising his role in a spin-off series, Nothing Like the Sun, as a main character. Don't get me wrong, I'm way excited about that, but I worry that we're discouraging new, fresh shows and faces.
Thursday, April 7, 2016
BookTube
So. In an earlier post, I mentioned that I'm not a fan of BookTube. It's shocking, I know. Books and YouTube are two of my biggest passions, so why don't I like BookTube?
BookTube is the YouTube community surrounding books. While there are some authors involved, it's mostly fans discussing books. They do challenges which gives them rules on how to select books and how long they have to read them. They do reviews and give recommendations. They also try to facilitate discussion. A few big names in the community actually work with the authors to do book cover reveals.
In theory, I like all these things. I like challenges, but I would rather do them than watch someone else talk about doing them. I get excited when someone I watch gives book recommendations, and I add the ones that sound good to my list. But I don't want a constant stream of recommendations because I don't have much time to read during the school year, and my list is already a mile long. I'd rather it be a happy surprise. And obviously, I love talking about books; this is what my blog was supposed to be about, but with my aforementioned time restrictions, I don't get around to reading too often.
I never really got why anyone watched book reviews. If I haven't read the book in question yet, I don't want anyone's opinion to taint my reaction to the book. I want my reading experience to be separate so I can form my own thoughts. Discussion is for afterwards. On the flip side, if I've already read the book, why would I watch a review? People look towards reviews to decide what to read. It seems contradictory, so I never watch them.
Perhaps after graduation, when I have a bit more downtime and get back into the groove of reading nonstop, I'll look into BookTube again; it has been a few years since my last attempt to get into it. But for now, I'm happy without it.
BookTube is the YouTube community surrounding books. While there are some authors involved, it's mostly fans discussing books. They do challenges which gives them rules on how to select books and how long they have to read them. They do reviews and give recommendations. They also try to facilitate discussion. A few big names in the community actually work with the authors to do book cover reveals.
In theory, I like all these things. I like challenges, but I would rather do them than watch someone else talk about doing them. I get excited when someone I watch gives book recommendations, and I add the ones that sound good to my list. But I don't want a constant stream of recommendations because I don't have much time to read during the school year, and my list is already a mile long. I'd rather it be a happy surprise. And obviously, I love talking about books; this is what my blog was supposed to be about, but with my aforementioned time restrictions, I don't get around to reading too often.
I never really got why anyone watched book reviews. If I haven't read the book in question yet, I don't want anyone's opinion to taint my reaction to the book. I want my reading experience to be separate so I can form my own thoughts. Discussion is for afterwards. On the flip side, if I've already read the book, why would I watch a review? People look towards reviews to decide what to read. It seems contradictory, so I never watch them.
Perhaps after graduation, when I have a bit more downtime and get back into the groove of reading nonstop, I'll look into BookTube again; it has been a few years since my last attempt to get into it. But for now, I'm happy without it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)