Publishing!

Through about 6 months of working at GU Press, I have come to the conclusion that working as an editorial/publishing assistant is one kind of work I might like to pursue after I graduate from Gallaudet next may. One issue with this (as with many fields at this time) is that it is very competitive and a lot of the Presses and Publishing houses I have researched are very small and unlikely to actively advertise or seek for people to fill positions; if anything, they will be cutting positions, not growing. But there is also opportunity to work as an editor/proofreader freelance or as part of other job duties in a number of different capacities, so I will not give up on it before I even explore the possibilities!

It's just so exciting being a part of the process of making books! I've always loved to read and my passion in life is derived from being a student. Working at the Press is the most "student-like"/"scholarly" job I've ever had~!

So the other night I was doing some research and I came across a few interesting tidbits...recording them here mostly for my own benefit so that I can look back to them later, but who knows..others may be interested in these as well!

The first (and number one on my mind) is a summer publishing immersion/intensive at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, BC, Canada: Simon Fraser Program
Not only do i LOVE the idea of the program and the schedule and the intense experience and meeting hundreds of other people who have similar interests/curiosity about the publishing world, Vancouver is probably my favorite city in the world! It is like New York but more fresh and clean and outdoorsy. I doubt I will have the money or resources to attend, but it's fun to dream :) (not to mention that I think it would be super cool to go from Alaska to Vancouver before coming home to D.C.)

Second, when I told my boss about that program, she directed my attention to a similar program in Denver: Denver Program The program is twice as long, and also twice as expensive, and it seems there may be less opportunity for financial assistance...I certainly do not plan to take out any more loans, as I'm already nervous about paying back the debt I have accrued as a Masters student.

Third, looking at publishing internships, there is one in India that looks really neat! India Program As you probably know if you are reading this, it is one of my life-long goals to go to India, but I have always felt like I do not want to go as "just a tourist." I think it is important to have a reason behind going, not feel like I am just adding another person to an already crowded country for no good reason.

So these are the directions my mind takes when I have time off from my grad school responsibilities. Who knows what I'll come up with next week??