#theinternpress

So, my last day has finally come.

Honestly, I cannot even believe it. Time flies when you're having fun, its true.

Even though I was really back and forth about my career choices, at the end of the day I couldn't be happier with the work that I've done here, the things I've accomplished, and (most importantly) the things I learned.

A little while ago, I sat down to a meeting with my bosses.  They commented on how much they appreciated my self-sufficiency--which was exactly what I needed to hear.  For a few weeks, I've been worried that I haven't been doing things right or that I wasn't really making an impact here.  But, really, they were just letting me do my thing.  And to know that they valued my independence and trusted me to be goal-oriented really gave me the boost I needed. 

I'm looking forward to reflecting on this experience more, to seeing the recommendation letter that the Press promised me, and to seeing the critique that my boss promised to get to me.  I'm really interested to see what he thought and what he believes my potential to be.

Even more, I'm looking forward to the publication of the book that I've been so dedicated to this summer.  They let me know that my name would appear in the book.  What an honor!  To know that anyone who took the time to browse the bylines would notice my  name really means a lot to me.  I couldn't have hoped for a better edition to my resume.  I'm excited to go into interviews knowing I have solid proof of my work ethic in print!

I've really gained so much understanding here this summer.  I might have griped along the way, but I wouldn't change a thing.

Because this is my last week on the job, I figured I would share two posts with you all this week instead of one.  I guess you can call it a farewell present of sorts.

But really, the point of this post is to make some serious connections regarding my work here at the Press and to reflect on my goals and whether or not I achieved them.

When I applied for the stipend which enabled me to do this internship, part of the deal was to write a blog entry once a week and to, at the end, write a paper reflecting on the experience.  In my application, I wrote: "I plan to not only make direct connections to the writing skills, research skills, and analytical theories which I learned during my time at Hiram College, but to also further develop these skills in a professional setting....  At the end of the summer, I will write a reflective essay showing how my writing and researching skills have changed.  I will also discuss how my analytical skills were utilized in a professional setting, as compared to an academic setting.  I will consider how this opportunity has impacted my future plans and if it has helped me reach a conclusion regarding my post-graduate goals."

So let's break this down.

Did I make direct connections to my writing, research, and analytical skills while I was working in this professional setting?

I think so.  I wrote a handful of articles for my current book project.  I also edited submissions and read through the manuscript, searching for grammatical issues and addressing those.  The people who I wrote for were primarily satisfied.  Most of their issues with my work were based on factual discrepancies.  I learned a lot about creating, what I would call, a "journalistic" tone for this book.  I also worked on unifying my tone so that the pieces blended together well.  

Research skills were utilized in a few different ways.  I had to research for the articles that I wrote.  I learned that in a professional setting these facts have to be checked and you have to make sure that, when adding additional information, it is okay with the author and it reflects their style and tone.  Again, I learned to add things in seamlessly.  I think editing in this context is something I have to work on and develop; I'm glad to be able to recognize that.

I also researched for a different book project and the Press's affiliations enabled me to search through newspaper archives.  That project really opened my eyes to alternative resources. 

Lastly, in more indirect ways, my analytical skills enabled me to view the manuscript in a "big picture" way.  This allowed me to realize the lack of minority organizations, minority writers, and female writers we had contributing to the book.  I was the one who contacted female professionals asking for their perspectives on gender roles in their fields.  I think that it was my analytical skills which made me conscious of this imbalance in the book.  As a young female professional, I felt this made a huge difference in the book as a whole and I can only hope it will widen the audience post-publication.

How have my writing and researching skills changed?

Again, I think I've learned to transition these skills into a professional work environment.  I guess, when I was applying for the stipend, I just kind of threw that information in there to make my work should more legitimate and valuable.  But, I honestly realized the importance of authorial voice.  It was hard for me--as a writer myself, I wanted to fix things so they sounded better.  But that's not always the best choice.  Its much more important to maintain the author's tone and the integrity of their piece.  This internship has really taught me to take a step back and recognize these elements at work in a piece.

How has this internship affected my future goals?

This internship has completely changed--and perhaps even dictated--my future goals.  It's so strangeknowingwhat you want to be and what you want to achieve.  I really love what I'm doing here at the Press.  I love editing, working on acquisition, researching, and writing.  I think this would make a really wonderful career for me.

However, I know now that I want to go to graduate school.  I really have my heart set on it. I'm going to go ahead with my application plans with fall.  And I'm going to use editing as a back-up plan--both now and later.  If I don't get into a graduate program for Fall 2013, then I'll find an editing job.  And, after I complete my MA/PhD program, I will apply for editing jobs and teaching positions.

With only a few weeks left of my summer internship (and of my summer in general!), I thought I would share with you all the pages that I've been perusing over these few months.  I am not sure how often I will be on Tumblr this coming fall, though I hope to get back in touch with my previous internship and there may be an opportunity to reprise my blog, so I thought this would be a good treat!

1. Salman Rushdie's Shame

After taking a class on India and Indian literature, I am completely addicted to Rushdie's work.  His novels are so complex, without being overbearing.  And I love the narrative voices he conjures up.  The narrative voice in this novel is especially strong and I'm really enjoying the way the novel is unfolding.  I'm about halfway through the novel and I cannot wait to see how it ends!

2. Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses

Of course as a new Rushdie addict, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book.  Though I've been spending more time with Shame, I'm about a fourth of the way through this novel as well.  The narrative is so interesting and you can really feel the postmodernist vibe of this novel.  I enjoy the fact that the structure of time in this novel is really manipulated to put the story into an intriguing and, ultimately, original form.  The way Rushdie chose to construct the novel--and how it will ultimately dictate my reading--is something I'm coming to appreciate.  I can't wait to see where he takes me.

3. Lois Tyson's Critical Theory Today

With my senior project around the corner, I thought it might be a good idea to revisit this book.  I read it my freshman year of college and think that it can really contribute to my reading of the above novels, which I plan to use in my senior capstone.  I am especially interested in her take on Psychoanalytical theory, Gender theory, and Postmodernism.  I recommend this book to anyone interested in stepping into literary theory.

4. Eric Schlosser's Fast Food Nation

The reputation of this book is pretty overwhelming and, though I am just a few pages into it, I can already tell why it had so much affect on the Food Industry.  This is the common reading for all incoming first-year students at my school this year and I am really looking forward to the discussions that are going to crop up from it.  Caution, this book is not for the weak of stomach!

I'm spending today reading through the manuscript I've created and filling in some gaps that have been ignored in favoring of larger or more urgent tasks.

I feel like I'm in a pretty good place now.  I have next week off and then will be returning in August to finish up my internship.  So, with only week left ahead of me, I can really look back and see how far we've come with this book project.  I complain about it a lot, but I know how much we've actually done and how much I've contributed to the project.  All in all, I'm happy.  And I know when I leave the Press, I am leaving my editor with a functioning manuscript, questioning notes, and incoming material that will round out the book in a really beautiful way. 

I'm proud of what I've done!  I have been able to engage in a lot of business, some acquisition, and some editing.  I think I've learned a lot and that this experience has been incredibly inclusive and valuable.  I know when I come back I am going to have a lot of questions for my boss (especially because I want his opinion on my work and my time spent here), but for now I have piece of mind--and is there any better way to start a vacation?

The other morning, one of my English professors was at my on-campus office for a meeting.  I had him for a couple classes and, in the Spring, he led a study abroad trip to England (which I attended).  After his meeting, he stopped by my desk to chat for a bit.

I hadn't been planning on asking him for advice about my GRE scores.  But, I had talked to him quite a bit about Graduate programs while we were in England and he was an alum of one of the programs I was applying to.  So, my mouth kind of took over and I just asked. 

I wanted to know what he specifically thought of my scores.  When I told them to him, he said they sounded pretty good, but that he wasn't really familiar with the New GREW and wasn't sure what would be competitive now--as compared to when he took the GRE and attended graduate school.  Understandable.

But, he did offer me one piece of advice: contact the schools.

I had been considering the idea.  The book I profiled previously about writing personal statements had suggested that if you had any questions or concerns, you should call the school and see what information they could provide you with.  Though a lot of information was available to me online, there wasn't a lot of "hard evidence" in regards to GRE scores (only one of eight schools had listed specifically what the average score of their students was). 

However, I didn't really wantto call.  I am very serious about these schools and was almost afraid that if I said my scores out loud, they might laugh at me... Or jot my name down on a list titled "Do Not Accept."  (Did I ever mention that I'm an irrational worry-wart?)

But, when my professor suggested it and we talked about it a little more, I realized that if I wanted to be considered for these schools--and taken seriously--I needed to go to the source for all of my information so that I could prepare the best application possible.  Plus, would it really be that bad to get my name out there?

Now that I've taken the GRE and am (mostly) satisfied with the results, I've gone back to reading for my senior seminar project and working on some graduate school things.  I think I am just going to try to ride out the rest of the summer, get some stuff started, and hopefully I'll be in good shape by the end of August.

Here at the Press, I'm still hammering away on this book project.  On Tuesday, I sent out some emails, made some adjustments to the manuscript I drafted, and did some editing.  I'm trying to get ahold of some female entrepreneurs and some corporations in the area to contribute to the book project, but I think people are ignoring my emails... Either way, I'm spending way too much time clicking that refresh button on Outlook.

The book project has really slowed down.  At this point, we're really just waiting for articles to come in.  Most of the deadlines are throughout August, into early September.  I probably won't even be here to work on the final manuscript, unless my boss lets me do some work from school.  My last day is August 10th--which is quickly approaching!  It feels like I just sat down at the desk a few days ago...

Today, I'm doing some research and trying to find updated data for the charts, maps, and tables we want to include in the book.

Though there isn't much to do but wait, I do like that I have had such a multifaceted experience with this project.  From writing to editing to corresponding--now, I'm researching--I really feel like I've had a well-rounded experience here.  With only two more weeks left (I have another week of vacation coming up), I feel pretty good about my time at the Press and am excited to explore the job market.  I've done some browsing and there are opportunities out there. 

I am so up and down with this internship.  When I have a lot to work on, I absolutely love it.  But, when I'm just waiting to hear back from people, I really don't know what to do with myself.  I've stated (too many times) that I think a career in academia is better suited for me, but I think that editing has its own place in my heart and this internship has really shown me that there isn't a right or wrong answer.

Furthermore, I keep realizing over and over again that I have so much life to live.  I don't need to walk out of the door with diploma in hand after this school year and have a career.  Its definitely something that I want to work on and define over my lifetime; I really don't feel in a rush to make any one decision.  And, I have a game plan.  So, I think I am in pretty good shape.

I just hope editing likes me as much as I like it...

I had my first office meeting the other day.  I was called in kind of suddenly, as it was just the full-time members of the press (which is only three!), and I wasn't really sure how to perceive it.  I think that it was interesting to see the three collaborating and trying to get things together, but I felt kind of put on the spot.  And it wasn't as though they were even evaluating me--which I think I would have been more comfortable with!  They just wanted to know what books I had sent out for review and if I would email reminders to the reviewers.  And my boss just wanted to let me know if I could meet with him for a bit about my current book project.

I think my problem with the meeting was that, like the last eight weeks, there hasn't been any feedback.  I would almost rather be told I'm not good at this than nothing at all.

Perhaps my boss is letting other people talk for him?  One woman really enjoyed the article I wrote up about her to include in the book.  She was very flattered and enjoyed my prose.  More recently, when I was talking with someone I solicited to write a section of the book, she was really impressed with my ideas and my strategy. 

I have stated many atimes that I love my internship, that I thoroughly enjoy editing, and that the project I am currently working on is nothing shy of an absolute joy.  Really, this whole editing thing is right up my alley--I mean, it might be the alley.

But, today... Today, I am tired.  I am getting really sick of this 9-5 clock punching.  In light of last week's pity party, I know this post is sounding pretty redundant.  But, it's getting worse and worse.  I love it here.  But, I really wish I was Toni Morrison.  Honestly, they trusted her editing skills enough to let her do it from her house while she wroteBeloved.  That sounds like the dream.  Can I just whip up an ideal editing job, with bosses who have complete faith in my competence and experience?  (Not saying that my boss doesn't have complete faith in me, he just doesn't tell me to work from the comfort of my bed.)  I guess the real problem with that equation is that I'm the one lacking experience...