A Look Back in Time

I came across this building while out and was immediately struck with sadness and awe. Sadness that the era of this grand building is ending, and awe because it still stands as a testament to glory of books. I couldn’t stop staring at its green exterior, now showing its age with rust dotting its hull like age spots. It stood assumed empty in hell’s kitchen watching the younger buildings thrive and grow tall. But it remembers the glory that embodied it once. The height of books and the power of the written word that is so subtlety yet quickly being taken over by its electronic brothers.

The McGraw Hill Building is located on 330 West 42nd Street. Wikipedia – admittedly not the most reliable source – says it was completed the same year as the Empire State building. It’s the only New York building shown in the influential International Style exhibition in 1932, and has been cited as a Art Deco design landmark. It also became a National Historic Landmark.

It’s now been replaced by a spiffy new building in a more business-like area, but I find this building to be one in a million. When we will ever again see a publishing company so big, they can place their name on the top of the building?

Things I Wish I Knew Last Year

I’ve just read a very interesting article about a summer program at NYU specifically for publishing. For six weeks, students learn about the ins and outs of the publishing world and make contacts in the business. Most have interviews lined up by the end of the six weeks, and still go to a job fair where the top publishers in the business show up in mass. The key to success for this program, according to this article, is networking.

I can network.

I can network with the best of them, and my business background helps that immensely. Plus, I assume that you need to have some interview skills. I rock the interview. Seriously.

It’s such a great looking program that I’m tempted to apply now, though I’m sure I wouldn’t be eligible for classes until next summer at this point. However, I feel I am making contacts in the business all ready, and I may get a job in a company I can enjoy shortly. I can’t know for sure of course, but I already work for two literary agencies, and I’ve recently interviewed with another, for a paid job this time.

So? What’s the harm in applying anyway? The tuition is only $5,000 which seems relatively cheap considering how much was shelled out for my MBA. And if you get a job before the courses start, then you can back out right?

Well Inner Lisa, that’s all well and good but I don’t have $5,000. (Did I mention that I got laid off from my last job shortly after I moved into a new apartment? Isn’t that just how it goes?) Plus there’s something near 500 applicants for only 101 spots – what an odd number. Not that I’m concerned with getting in, I got into the best MBA school in Florida by sheer determination alone; A summer program doesn’t frighten me.

Still, the purpose of this post is to point out the things I would have done differently last year had I known. And this is it. This is most definitely the one thing that I would have done differently.

Here’s the article if you’re interested:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/21/nyu-summer-program-publishing_n_905561.html

And the NYU summer program site, in case someone comes across this post and thinks – I can learn from her:
http://www.scps.nyu.edu/areas-of-study/publishing/continuing-education/summer-publishing-institute.html

A Bit of Whimsy

Check this out. http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/​

I too hold the belief that you can never have too many bookmarks or books. I've always wanted a room full of books, but there's never enough space, bookshelves, or books to fill the room. At least not yet - and maybe never with the way trends are going. Bookmarks are small though. So you can always get more of those, even if you don't have that many books to use it with.

I tend to lose the really pretty and expensive bookmarks myself. The tattered paper ones are the only ones I manage to have around for years. But with this craft, maybe I can make my own paper bookmarks that are really pretty - or pretty monstrous. Either way, it looks like a fun craft. I especially love the picture near the bottom, of the bookmarks the children created.

Recent Developments

So, the new job is more advertising than marketing, and the difference between the two in my mind is push versus pull marketing. What we do at the new job is push marketing (advertising) which means we are salesmen trying to sell you something “but wait there’s more!” – kinda stuff. It’s simply not what I expected going in.

And for those of you who worry “she shouldn’t be saying things like this, someone from work might see”  this isn’t anything that I haven’t said in the office. They are well aware that things are in a transition right now, and quite frankly no one’s jobs there are what they expected them to be. Because the company is changing/growing and there will be some pains to go with that. A lot of pains.

Still, I like it, the people are nice, and it took me a little while to get the hang of things but I think I’ve got it most of it. So now, the only thing I’m waiting for things to settle down so I can be less stressed.

Of course, the fact that I have four jobs now doesn’t decrease my stress level at all. Well that’s a lie – in a weird way they do. You see I’m still working at the Container Store, because I love it. And it’s my work out for the week. Yes, yes, I know you’re supposed to work out more than once a week, but who has the time? However, my other jobs, which I am not getting paid for, I started recently. I am a reader for a two literary agencies. One deals with mostly YA authors, the other is looking to expand into YA because lets face it, it’s one of the few growing area of the book publishing industry. Anyway my job is to read books and write a short page about it, my feelings on it, my thoughts, maybe even some recommended editing. The literary agents then take that review and decide to represent the author or not. Of course I’m not the only say, but more of a second opinion for them.

That does mean that I have to put other books I’ve been reading aside, but it’s worth it. This is something I can put on my resume towards my goal. I’m pretty sure, I’m going to have to cut something out to make room for it on there. And figure out how I want to explain exactly what I do at the real job ( you know the one that pays me).  So much to do and only one day off.

It’s kinda nice going from no job to four. I feel like I’m accomplishing something finally.

But yeah, the other jobs take my mind off the stress from the first because through physical labor and then escaping into a story mostly while on the train – I love my brand new Kindle (I’ll talk more on that sometime soon). So yeah… that’s pretty much an update on my jobs right now.

I'm employed! Wut?

I have tried to be discreet with my job search. Never letting on how many interviews I've been on or at which publishers. Especially, since I give them all this blog address. But the time has finally come to drop names.

Drum roll please

Sherman’s Travel is my new employer!!!

They are a travel destination advice publication that sends out a weekly newsletter discussing the top travel deals out there right now. I got lucky. They were losing two people from a small team and they needed someone quickly. I'm pretty sure I wouldn’t have been looked at if they didn't need a replacement so quickly since I was considered over qualified with my MBA.

Which still gets me a little flustered because if I'm overqualified for this job but don't have the experience for another higher position then I'm stuck in the middle with no one wanting me. But that’s all over now!

As I said, they needed someone quick and according to my new boss, everyone who applied was over qualified. In fact, my lack of experience may have helped me to get this job since they wanted someone to start at an entry-level position.

The job comes with a full benefits package and some nice travel perks. Meaning they will send me places. Poor Calvin... he can't go. >:D

There will a trial period of about a month to determine if they did indeed chose the right applicant and I’m going to assume they will love me. I fully expect to love them too. I certainly hope that's the case considering I can't afford to wait another 7 months for the next opportunity to come around.

But that's neither here nor there!

After the month, it will become permanent with all the bells and whistles.  

“But… but what about this blog?” the adoring fans in my head ask…

Well -  I made it into a publishing company, not one I expected to 7 months ago but one that sounds like a lot of fun regardless. AND YET the title of this blog is Worming my Way into the Trade.

So technically, I haven't made it to my ultimate goal. I would still like to work in children's books some day. For now though, this is a great opportunity. One I may never again have a chance to experience. So I'm taking it. And I'll keep you updated on the rest.

Conference Day TWO

The second day of the conference started out with me falling on the ice. It was a humbling experience that hurt my pride and my knee. What I found most interesting: people simply look at you when you’re on the ground as if you intended to be there. I honestly would have preferred that someone snicker at me.

Anyway! Once I hobbled to the train and into the conference, I found that there were a significantly lower amount of people there. No seat stealing needed this day. There were plenty to spare. I came in during the award presentation in time for them to announce the Art Showcase Winner. I missed the name of the grand prizewinner but not her screams of joy. Congratulations whoever you are! I hope you get that limo you requested!

After that, Sara Zarr gave the opening keynote speech of the day and let me just say now… wow.

Sara started out with a detailed description of her personal 15 year journey towards publication. By doing this, she immediately showed to every writer in that room that we are not alone. We understood and felt her struggles because every one of us has been where she was. Some of the people in the room were probably there at that moment. Words simply cannot describe the connection she made to everyone in that room. A hush descended at her words and no one wanted her stop talking. Eventually, she came to the hopeful part of her speech. The advice that was in part given to her and in part her own lessons. “The time between when you are beginner and breaking in is the hardest of all. And no one can tell you how long that time will be.” To make it through Sara’s advice was this: create and feed your creative life. This life cannot be taken from you by a lost job, a husband, money, or anything. “It may be the only thing in this life that is truly yours” And it is filled with days of normal, small, progresses that might not seem like a lot until years later they result in a work or body of works.

In order to create this creative life, you must:

• Realize that there is always something more to do towards your career, because for writers, there are no retirement fantasies. In general, you are doing it for life.
• Your creative life must be sustainable, engaging, invite company,  and avoid obstacles
•  Obstacles include:

• Self obsession (not allowing yourself to do things for or with others)
• Loss of faith in yourself (believing that you aren’t good enough)
• Disenchantment

• You must also seek out mentors and be mentors to others. They can be older or younger, the only stipulation is that they must help you with something you’re missing; discipline, social media, calm under pressure.
• Set up the content of your life to make it less stressful. “Leave the drama for your stories”
• Take care of yourself. Do what you need to do to take care of mental health and physical health then worry about getting work done.
• Find what habits and routines feed your creative life.
• Understand that the REAL SATISFACTION IS IN DOING THE WORK.
• Know the industry but understand the difference between what your work means to YOU and what it means to the BUSINESS.
• Choose your people wisely. Surround yourself with people who encourage you to write and keep to your goals.

Finally she stressed that all that matters in the end is the work. And if you focus on doing your best with that, then you don’t have to worry about being published, because the work will speak for itself.

She gained a standing ovation when she was done. She deserved it.

The day continued with the “Look Whose Laughing: How to Do Funny for Young Readers and Why” panel. I didn’t find the panel’s advice very useful to me, so I didn’t take very many notes about it. However, if you didn’t see it you missed a pretty funny panel. They were openly fighting one another for the limelight on stage. Marvin Terban stepped in for Leonard Marcus and nearly stole the panel before he was even introduced. Lenore Look at one point even took away his microphone to which he responded, “I can still be heard without it!” And he was. 

Apparently, during his talk, which he claimed to be unprepared for, he gave all the advice the Lenore Look had intended to discuss. She declared he looked at her notes.  Therefore, both stated that incongruity, wordplay, and misheard words are three keys to writing funny.

The third panelist was Mo Williams. Who didn’t say much during the exchange between the other two, but when he did say something, it had us all in stitches. His main key to writing funny: “I do believe if you're going to be funny that you need a New York/LA joke and a urine joke.” And his essential ideals about his audience: “I trust my audience. The fundamental difference between kids and adults is that kids are shorter”.

The final speaker for the 2011 SCBWI Winter Conference was Linda Sue Park. Who encouraged us all to NOT believe in ourselves. That’s right. I wrote that correctly.

Linda told us that when you know you can or can’t do something you have confidence in those things. But when the outcome is uncertain, this is where people begin to say, “You can do it” and “Believe in yourself”. “If I could believe in myself, then I wouldn’t need you to tell me to believe in myself,” answered Linda.

Therefore, don't believe in yourself believe in the work. It’s not about you; it’s about the story.

You can train yourself to better understand what makes a good story by reading. Through reading you find out what you like or don't; what works and what doesn't. And you take that information and apply it to your work subconsciously. “If you read enough great stories, novels, poems and memoirs, you begin to build a mental standard.” – Linda Sue Park.

The conclusion then becomes that training for writing is reading. So you must find the time to train a little every day.

In the end, day two was inspiring, funny, and hopeful as all SCBWI conferences are. The next step for me, following the advice given. Which is always a challenge.  

Conference Day ONE

Going to a networking event can be daunting. Especially when no one else knows it’s a networking event. Everyone at the SCBWI Winter’s Conference was there to find a publisher or agent to publish their book. OK, so it was networking but not in the same way.  

The main ballroom was full of people who were still registering when the introduction on the first day started. Seating capacity was around 1200 people. And every seat was full. There was even people standing in the back. Seat stealing ran rampant, as I'm sure you understand.

The keynote speakers were very well chosen. Lois Lawdry spoke about what inspired her to write 9 different books and each one skillfully led into the last. No wonder she wrote such memorable books such as “the Giver” and “Number the Stars”. R.L Stein who spoke during lunch was hilariously funny and divulged that he never intended to go into horror stories when he first started out. Back then, he was known as Jovial Bob and to tell you the truth I think I’ll see him that way forever more. When he started writing teen horror, he said he stayed with it because he “liked killing teenagers. Probably because [he] had one.” As for the last speaker of the day, it was Jules Feiffer the illustrator of “The Phantom Tollbooth” one of my all time favorite stories (even though I’ve only seen the movie – I’m a bad fan). 

In between the keynote speakers, were the breakout sessions. Sitting in the breakout sessions were informative but if you were in the back, it was difficult to hear the questions from the front. There was a woman in my first breakout session who felt the need to comment with every question made up front about its low decibel level, making it difficult to hear them even more.  The editor in that breakout session as Lisa Sandell from Scholastic and she had some pretty fantastic advice:

• eBooks provide new opportunities to increase visibility.
• Everyone is looking for fresh material that feels exciting and new with a great story line.
• How to construct a pitch: 30 second pitch to Oprah at a Cocktail party

MINE: "The great war of magic which has spanned generations of time in Eden is coming to the end and the key to winning the final battle has lost her memory and been sent back to Earth.

• Writing is the MOST IMPORTANT job for writers. Marketing is secondary.
• First time authors should have agents.

In the second breakout session the senior editor spoke at length about the market. But when asked a question about the trend of publishers going towards direct marketing, she clearly had no idea what I was talking about; I had to explain the terminology to her and she gave me some condescending answer. On top of that, she degraded her own company stating “No one knows who we are”. Great employee.

The third breakout editor was Alexandra Cooper from Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.  I’ll admit I didn’t stay for the entire hour with this one. It was getting pretty late in the day and I thought it’d be rude to involuntarily nap through the rest of it. But the main points I caught were these.  When writing novels (she had picture book advice as well but I don’t write those so whatevs!):

• Voice is important.
• Manuscript must have a new spin on an idea.
• It’s rare that series of works are picked up.
• Do your homework about the publishers and steer your pitches. Don’t send a publisher who doesn’t publish your type of books your query letter. He’s not going to read it.
• Read what you want to write.

Finally, all the editors had advice to give on the query letters:

• Don't compare books to best sellers.
• Don't send publishers things that aren't their taste.
• No gimmicks such as tea bags or flowers.
• High concept stuff but with great writing.
• Write from where your heart is but with the story telling to back it up.
• Try to give a first impression vibe; a peek at the story; the feel of a book.
• Rhetorical questions are a turn off.
• Professional and business like.
• Straightforward pitch. Feel/plot/character.
•  Some to a little personal info; maybe a sentence or two.