HarperCollins Interview Questions!
What do you hope to gain from this internship?
As I considered where to apply for internships, I contacted a few editorial assistants who had experience interning with the Big 5 via LinkedIn. Of the seven that I met with, the interns who worked at HarperCollins had only positive things to say and felt they gained the most valuable professional development experience under the staff who trained them. I hope I can also come away with the same kind of training. I think I could learn a lot from you about the publishing industry as well as the "do's" and "don'ts" as I get started on my editorial journey.
How have you overcome an issue in your line of work? How have you dealt with difficult people or situations?
As an Editor for Open Ceilings, I work with a team of about five editors, and we get to the point where we're done with content edits and we move on to copy edits and then proofreading, which I think you guys would know about, and that time is usually pretty relaxed, however, with the most recent literary magazine we published things got a little hectic. Two of the editors on my team were unable to complete most of their edits and make the deadlines in time, and it put us behind schedule. Because we were all on the same team, me and another editor went in and do the portions they were supposed to edit which was about sixty pages for each of us. Although it was stressful, especially being in such a deadline driven industry, I successfully completed the task while balancing my other editorial and academic duties with careful time management. More People Based: As an editor for Open Ceilings, one of my absolute favorite parts about interning for them has been getting to work with writers and authors directly. However, and I think every editor has had this experience, there are times where an author isn't the most easy to work with. The way I've overcome that obstacle and I feel lucky that it's only happened twice, is by remaining on the bright side of things. I hate disappointing people and its why I give everything I do my all, because I love completing amazing work. So in those situations with an author, it's easier to I am content with knowing that I've d I did my absolute best At the end of the day, I want the author's piece and work to reflect their vision and I'm always more than happy to put aside my own wants on a piece for there's.
Tell me about yourself
I love books. That sentiment is largely due to the fact that books have been a teacher and a friend and a comedian. When thinking about what I wanted to do with my life, I knew I didn't want to be an author or the creator. Instead., I want to be the conductor, the person who, by being a reader in every sense of the word, understands books so well that I'm able to lend a hand in the crafting of literary worlds and characters, whether that be fiction or nonfiction. Once I started college, I looked for opportunities that would enable me to do just that and realized that it was interning in the editorial departments that suited that that goal was being achieved, and ever since I came to that realization, I've been pursuing a career in publishing.
Why are you the best candidate for this position?
I'm confident that I'm a good fit for this position for a few reasons, but most specifically because of my dedication to going above and beyond in a job. I really don't like letting people down, which is why I try to ensure my best to ensure that all the work I complete is as close to the best it can get. I'm also highly motivated, passionate, and am eager to learn more about the trade publishing. Also, I believe that my hands-on experience in publishing has equipped me with a skillset that is a perfect match for the internship.
Weakness
Inner critic
Why Balzer + Bray?
Interesting story! When asking my mom what publishing company I should work at, she said look at all your favorite books and see who publishes them, and that's how you'll know. So I looked at all of my favorite books, and when I did so, the imprint for most of them was Balzer + Bray. So it was reading Balzer + Bray, such as The Hate U Give, Happily Ever Afters, Big Nate, and everything by Becky Albertalli that have brought me so much joy because they've given me a friend, a teacher, a confidant, and various other things. Also, the imprints dedication to publishing books by diverse authors and which feature diverse protagonists is something I genuinely admire. So, being able to work for an imprint as amazing as B+B would be such an honor.
Why Amistad?
It is essentially due to the imprint's goal to "educate, entertain, and empower" through the telling of Black stories. Growing up, there weren't many stories that featured Black protagonists or stories, and so, being in a position where I have some say about where I'd like to work, I want to be at the place that works to bring Black stories, these stories that I didn't have nearly enough of, to fruition and into the world because they're important and because people need to read not only about Black struggles but about Black joy and success. To work at an imprint that does just that is the dream because it aligns greatly with my own goals of increasing diversity in publishing. In addition, I love many of the books Amistad has published like The Secret Women and Think Black and all of Zora Neale Hurston, and so working at the imprint that has published a lot of my favorite books would be an honor.
What is your favorite book?
Perks of Being a Wallflower! * It's the first book I ever read that I felt I understood everything that was being said on the page and I think that that stemmed from the fact that I felt that the book understood me and I it. He would just write something and I'd go OH MY GOODNESS yes, I know exactly what you're talking about! Stephan Chbosky showed me the power that words could have with their ability to convey feelings and emotions that you may not have had the ability yourself to convey, and that's a beautiful thing. I think that's why we like music so much.
Ways to reach a younger audience?
Having a strong social media prescence is key, especially one that focuses on romance fiction and the types of books Avon publishes. However, I think reaching a younger audience is also publishing books that look more like the younger generation. From what I've been able to gather, teens want to see more of themselves in books, especially communities that are underrepresented. Growing up many of the protagonists in stories weren't people of color or curvy and I think that to reach a younger audience, books have to be more diverse, because yes, you can have a strong social media presence, but if a book doesn't speak to a reader, then it won't interest readers. So I think there have to be more books that feature people of color, characters who identify with the Lgbtq+ community, girls who are curvy, people with idds or metal disorders, and various other things, and I think that's how you reach a younger audience.
What books are you currently reading?
I just finished a novel by Deb Calleti called The Last Forever (YA romance) and Heartstopper. I'm currently reading One True Loves!
Why publishing?
I love books! And I am sure with every ounce of my being that I will always love books. And I am in the rare and privileged position right now to be able to ask myself what I love, and to see if I can make a future that walks beside the things I love. To have a job that a love, a job that would allow me to go into work every day and essentially give back to the industry that has given me so much in the form of the written word is the dream. So when thinking about what I wanted to do with my life, I knew I didn't want to be an author or the creator. Instead, I want to be the conductor, the person who, by being a reader in every sense of the word, understands books so well that I'm able to lend a hand in the crafting of literary worlds and characters, whether that be fiction or nonfiction. Once I started college, I looked for opportunities that would enable me to do just that and realized that it was interning in the editorial departments that suited that goal best. I believe the editorial intern position at Avon is such a natural fit as the role would not only help me expand my knowledge of the publishing industry but would once again put me in a position where I'd be achieving that goal.
How would you assess a submission for success in the market?
The way I'd been assessing submissions for success during the acquisition process for Open Ceilings and Dzanc hadn't been put into words until my internship with Dzanc Books. Michelle Dotter had been explaining the process of looking for submissions and had said, look for stories that have a soul, and I may not be able to define that in such concrete terms but she said it was the book that stays with you. I think as editors we've all encountered books that have had that effect on us; the books that make us go oh, okay, and I had been doing that but I didn't know that what I had been looking for in regard to a submission was a soul. Putting the soul stuff aside, I'd also take into account the plot of the story, particularly with whether it's unique enough to be interesting to a reader. Also the writing's ability to bring the characters to life, make the plot engaging, and the plot's relatability to reader's, especially in regard to whether the reader can see a reflection of themselves in a story.
What is a strength
Time management, positive attitude
