Well, it’s been a decent amount of time since my last update, so my apologies on that front. Anyhow, wow, a crazy, packed week as passed and there’s quite a lot to be relayed.
So, I completed my first week of work at Peters Fraser & Dunlop Literary Agency and I can’t be happier with my internship placement. It’s an absolutely perfect place for me, especially considering my Creative Writing Major. Basically, as a bit of background on what a literary agency is, they represent authors and deal with the business side of publishing. They’re the ones you wrote to when you want to publish, and if they end up liking your submission (more often than not they reject you), then they’ll draw up contracts, figure out editing and publishing deals, foreign rights, film rights, etc. It’s actually a really complex business- I understood a basic amount of it all from my own research beforehand, but I feel far more knowledgeable about it all now, and the processes that go on, since I’ve started working here.
So, what do I do? Well, being the intern I definitely have my fair share of menial tasks, such as filing, looking up client information, transferring information, cleaning up their ridiculously messy envelope/stationary room, transporting books from packing boxes to their gloriously huge library (that’s been an ongoing task that’s carried on even into Week 2), running errands for some of the senior agents, and the likes. But then I get the fun stuff as well, like ordering books online for them, reading full manuscripts that agents have taken an interest in, and reading partial manuscripts in which they literally let me decide whether or not it’s worth giving to an agent. As in, if I reject it, that’s it. They don’t see it, they trust me, etc. And I had to do that on the first day, and I had to write three rejection letters. They definitely help you fit into your “heart breaking hat” right away here. I’ve been told I will become very cold and systematic about reading and rejecting. I’m not exactly sure if I want to become that, especially considering I know that’s what’s going to happen to my own submissions when I start trying to publish again. Oh well, like I said, it’s fantastic insight to the publishing process.
So, other little details of my working week. I’ve got a ridiculously scary “head agent” working here. Seriously, he’s like Sandra Bullock in The Proposal- yells a lot, swears a lot, basically just a terrifyingly bi-polar man that you just had to nod your head and agree with when he comes storming up towards you. My own supervisor, Lucy, is fantastic, easy to get along with, as are many of the other assistants that I’ve been working alongside of here at PFD. The atmosphere is great, especially when people aren’t too stressed and they’re being silly and fooling around. So much swearing- it’s so stereotypically British, and I love it. The other day the girl that I sit next to and I were looking at movie trailers, discussing how she cut her wedding cake with a sword because the reception took place in a Dublin Castle
Wednesdays are “slush lunches” in which we receive free lunch for staying in at lunch and going through all of the unsolicited submissions- all of which are normally rejected. Again, lots of dream-killing, but last Wednesday was definitely an eye-opener for me in regards to what I should and shouldn’t do when submitting my own work, so I really can’t feel too bad. I mean, I can feel bad about rejecting people, but I can selfishly feel good about learning more and more about this subjective process. Fridays, apparently the scary boss buys everyone pizza- so that’s nice, considering I got 2 free lunches last week, and will continue to do so during my time here. Hey, every little bit counts, especially as I can’t be paid due to the fact that I’m receiving school credit for this.
Now, a little about the area I work in- I actually work on a street called Drury Lane (kind of awesome, even funnier because Shrek: The Musical is right down the street). This street is in Covent Garden , which is an absolutely beautiful area. Seriously- I’m in love with it. Not only are their hundreds of amazing places to eat food, but there’s an outdoor market with entertainment, lots of little stalls to browse around (especially when it’s sunny), but it’s also a quick walk from the Tube Stop through a beautiful, bustling area. I honestly couldn’t be happier about the placement, even though it is ridiculously crowded at rush hour.
Anyhow, first week down, and it was fantastic. I love the people I work with, I enjoy the work I get to do (even the typical intern tasks), I get a full hour at lunch to explore around the area, and it’s casual too, so I get to dress comfortably, and if anyone knows me- that makes me a very, very happy person.
So, week done, weekend on. Friday night was… interesting, to say in the least. Without going into too much detail, a bunch of kids from other Pepperdine programs came in, they wanted to go clubbing, so we did, and we had a great time, until half the group left early, and the rest spread out, and I was conveniently left at the club at 5:30 in the morning while rounding everyone up. Fantastic. Last time I do a good deed and try to take care of everyone… Not really though. Ugh. It was an awful experience, and needless to say, Vivian and I are going to be on high alert every time we go out now to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Definitely not one of the best evenings in London
Saturday? Well, considering I got in at 6am, I spent most of it sleeping, panicking over my lost items, and my roomie finally took my out to dinner to make me stop pacing. I got a little more sleep into Sunday, went to the gym to get out excess energy, and then hung out and socialized with people from the house in one of the local pubs in order to keep myself from thinking too much of the dramatics of the earlier part of the weekend. I also indulged in a decent amount of mindless television for further distraction. So You Think You Can Dance has never been better. But really, the dancing was actually awesome, and it did its job at distracting me, so, I call that a small win.
Anyhow, Sunday night the girls in the room next door contributed to my spontaneous insomnia with loud hick impersonations and obnoxious laughter, to a point where I literally got no sleep due to the paper-thin walls. Awesome. So, I went into work on Monday with the worst headache ever and feeling nauseous, because I think I’ve become slightly lactose intolerant, or at least milk-intolerant due to the lack of consuming it here… I’ve felt gross after eating cereal twice now. Ugh. But, I got over that quickly enough (I didn’t really have a choice), and got into work, before realizing that I was being “promoted” to working the front desk and answering the phones, due to the fact that the person who normally does it has a virus. And apparently I’m scheduled to do it all week. And if I screw up, the angry boss will probably consume my soul- not exaggerating. So, I was quickly taught the ropes, taught how to BS my way through it, and luckily one of the other girls who has been covering is at my beck and call when I start feeling particularly lost (thank goodness). I need to figure out her favourite candy or something and bring it to her at the end of the week, because I have no doubt that I will be utilizing her help shamelessly. So, I completed the day without too much failure, met up with Vivian to do some grocery shopping and then got savoury crepes for dinner (seriously, so good. I had a spicy Mexican one that made me go into a happy food coma). This was followed by a nice workout, some socializing, and then a decent bed… until the girls started screeching again. By 12:30, I decided to not care about being demanding and went over and told them to be quiet (in nicer terms, of course). And then I listened to them talk crap on me (about going to bed too early- really? Midnight is early? I can’t help it if they don’t have to get up at 7 am every morning) through the paper thin walls. Awesome. Whatever, I could care less. I wanted sleep. And I got some… I have a feeling I’m going to crash hard tonight.
So, there’s my extremely long-winded update, and it’s only 11am at work. At least I’m getting this phone thing down, and all the post has been delivered (I’m slowly starting to recognize and remember everyone in this office- and there are a lot of people!). So, we’ll see what else is in store today. I’m really contemplating bringing in my laptop, or maybe I can just write on this computer and email everything over. I’m not sure what else I CAN do when it’s this quiet… We’ll see what ingenious ideas I come up with today… Oh, and sorry about any typos. I didn’t feel like editing this. Oh, and the lack of pictures comes from a lack of camera. My bad. I’ll try and steal some from facebook later on- I’m not risking the wrath of the head boss by hopping on FB right now.
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