withglassinhand

As I've said, I think book scouting is where I ultimately want to be. Yesterday, this job advertisement turned up:

Four person book scouting agency reporting to several major international publishers is looking for an associate scout. Duties include in-depth coverage of US publishers and agents; extensive reading and reporting; and significant database entry / management. Candidates must demonstrate exceptional organizational, analytical, and communications abilities regarding both fiction and nonfiction as well as foreign aptitude.

A minimum of two years BOOK publishing experience in editorial or rights is required; internships do not count toward this.

While we appreciate your interest, we will only respond to applicants we are considering to interview. Send cover letter, resume, and writing samples, and note that a further writing test will be required.

Let's look at this, shall we?

OK, in-depth coverage of US publishers and agents: what does that even mean? Do I have to know them, or know of them?
Extensive reading and reporting: again, what does that even mean? I read extensively, but I haven't done a ton of reporting--not recently anyway. Significant database entry/management: OK, well I have experience in all sorts of databases doing entry and management. Could they be more specific perhaps? 
How does one demonstrate foreign aptitude, exceptional or otherwise? Speaking/reading/writing a foreign language? Traveling a lot? Able to get around on the Metro/Tube/whatever they call it without getting lost? Again, could they be more specific?

Hmm, two years experience in editorial: yeah, well I'm doing editing and sales... do you think that counts? Of course my time as an intern DOESN'T COUNT, of course. 

Send a writing sample: again, more specific. A 600-word writing sample? A two-page writing sample? Published article?

And WTF is this further writing test crap about? 

So, in sum, this is the job I'm aiming for and as you can see, I have quite a ways to go until I'm "there."

Over the past few weeks I've been thinking a lot about what I want 2010 to be for me. Last year, my whole being was wrapped up in finding a job in publishing, or else. And although I did get that job (in November), 2009 was an exhausting year for me in a lot of small ways. I'm glad it's over. Not that I didn't enjoy myself, didn't have fun, didn't do exciting things, but on the whole? Well, let's just say I'm glad that I finally got that job.

But if 2009 left me exhausted, what does that say about 2010? It's hard to look forward to the coming year when all you can focus on is how long that last one felt. And short. Too short, too long. But isn't every year like that? 

So, 2010. What am I going to do with this year?  Well, for starters, I'm making a list of things I want to learn and do.  And so...
( My list of things to learn & do in 2010 )

So, no goals, just twelve things (one per month) that I want to learn and do in the coming year. Some of these will be done over the course of the year, some of them are tied together, but all are things I've been wanting to learn or do more of.

If I can write every day for a month, I can write every day. Right?

Write. 

Some days my job is just a clusterfck of stupidity.

Other days, it's just a clusterfck.

Although of what, I'm not really clear...

So, the month of November has passed by in a haze of horrible writing and eyes that feel like someone (read: me) took a soldering iron to them every hour on the hour for the sheer fun of it. (In case I'm not clear, I really like NaNoWriMo.) Sadly, beyond NaNo, I've done pretty much nothing this past month. Blah blah fishcakes.

Also:

Had my BIGOHMYGODMUSTSTUDY talk with my boss today...and yeah, I so did not need to worry. Remember where I said that my boss really likes me, well he does. The talk was actually a "getting to know you" talk, not a "let's discuss your job and my expectations versus your expectations" talk. Which actually just made it more funny, because remember when I said that no one knows how old I am at my job, because no one has read my resume and they all think I'm in my low twenties...

Heh. So we're talking about college and majors and I mention that I majored in finance. And he says something along the lines of how it's weird that I studied finance but work in publishing. So I said "Actually, I worked in Finance and moved here in the summer." I could honestly see him trying to fit that information into the age he thought I was and just failing. So then he asked how old I was, I said "You're not supposed to ask that," but I told him anyway.

Jaw drops. Hysterical. He then goes on to say that that (my age) explains a lot about me, my attitude, maturity level, and general state of awesomeness (my adjective) at work. About how it (my age) explains why I'm awesome and can handle everything he gives me to do, plus more. He also said that (because of my age), he'll push to get me a raise sooner--like May. Not a promise, and it wouldn't be a lot (he said 3 to 5k more), but it would be more. He said that it's good I'm taking on some of the responsibilities that I am (financial stuff) because the boss-boss will see it (my awesomeness at work) and be more willing to pay me more.

However, it's backfiring slight because in addition to giving me the A/R (yup, just put QuickBooks--oh, the irony--on my computer so I can start invoicing), he said that I should also be doing the A/P. Not happy with this idea, because that moves me away from editing/marketing/sales, but we'll see.

So, in sum, I completely shook my boss's world in regards to how old I actually am, got lots of kudos, and did not discuss my career goals. Win?

Also:
I listened to the President address the nation* and two three things stuck with me:

The first was that he thinks the troops will be out in 18 months. (I hope he's right, but I fear he won't be.)
The second is something a senator said, that there's talk of instituting a war tax. Granted, only for people who make more than 30k, but still. I can't afford more taxes.
The third is that we've been at war for eight years. I know that, intellectually, but it really doesn't fee like it.

Also, things of interest and note:

Farscape is dirt cheap on Amazon.com right now.
This book, Generation Kill, would be a nice gift. Note, I already have One Bullet Away. And the HBO miniseries.
I'm buying myself a bread maker this year, because I'm tired of not eating bread. I want bread. (I'm in an auction right now!)
I have not yet made my Christmas calendars for people yet. Opps.

*I usually don't watch this stuff, because I find it boring and tedious and they never say anything, but lately I've been feeling like I should at least be informed, even if I think they all say the same thing over and over. I'm tempted--really tempted--to assign myself a reading list, but I'm not sure how I'd even start that. Marine Corps' reading list? Top ten best-sellers on Amazon.com's non-fiction list?

Suggestions welcome.

Yup. 50,044, with hours to go.

Damn. I love this.

This past week was something of a challenging one:

Started my new, full-time, pays for shit job in publishing. However, I also spent the week fighting off a cold and living in a continuous state of exhaustion all week. I'm actually wondering if I'm anemic again, or just stressed out. Probably bits of both. The cold didn't help either. Hopefully I've kicked that.

Failed at NaNo*. Well, I suppose that's a bit harsh. I'm behind on NaNo, way behind and I'm going to have to push myself each weekend to catch up. I already informed my roommate I was going to be (somewhat) anti-social at Thanksgiving.

And yeah, that's it. I've been at this computer for over 12 hours, and I'm completely sick of it. (Not really, precious, you know I love you best, right?)

*All NaNo stuff is going to be over at heathercanwrite

Oh, I don't even know where to start.

I got a full-time, salaried job offer from the publishing firm I was interning/freelancing/part-timing at on Thursday. I start full-time on Monday, the 2nd, and no, it's not enough to live on. (Hence,the copious drinking I'm going to start.)

I'm going to be the Sales and Marketing Assistant, assisting the Sales and Marketing Manager (bet you didn't see THAT coming) and the Special Sales Manager, and as I understand it my duties will be mailing invoices, creating royalty statements, helping to acquire books (no clue yet), and editing the books that the SMM has acquired. I'll be able to tell you more when I actually start the job.

I really wish I was excited about it. I mean, I guess I am excited about it, but at the same time, it's not enough to live on and I'm going to have to get a part-time job for at least a little while, which means long hours and crap jobs and oh, please, someone, where is my drink?

Also, NaNoWriMo starts in five days and I am beyond not ready. I haven't written anything in at least a week, none of my research books have come in yet, and what with starting a new job and looking for/working part time, I'm not going to have any time to write. On either story.

I'm going to find time to write, although I don't know when or how or if it'll be after one drink or five. 

So yes, that's my life in a nutshell. Worrying over work, worrying over money, worrying over NaNo, and worrying about everything I can't afford to worry about right now, because my plate is kind of full at the moment, thankyouverymuch, where the hell is my drink?

PS: I went to Boston & Salem this past weekend to meet up with friends from Seattle and it was a lot of fun.
 

Ugh. Am sick. Very tired. Not writing.

On a happier note, my new shoes are at the post office, waiting for me.  Poor, lonely shoes.

I will save them tomorrow.

If I have not died from my cold.