Life as an Editorial Intern: Week 2 (Or How I Got My Internship)

So some of you may be wondering how I got my position as an editorial intern.

This is a pretty easy question to answer. A family friend mentioned to my mom that she thought there was a publishing company based in New Orleans. Since we live just over an hour from New Orleans, I figured that would be a perfect place to intern, so I looked them up. Pelican's website was straightforward, with a spot on the sidebar that read, "Intern Guidelines". I applied.

The not-so-easy part of getting this internship came with the application process. First, I had to submit a resume, cover letter, information regarding a start date and completion date, a note from my parents stating their awareness of the company's location, and a two page writing sample. Once I was in contact with the editor-in-chief, she requested that I take a timed, proctored proofreading test. Then I was at their mercy. Luckily, they were in contact with me quickly and the news was good. :)

When it came to my application, what worried me the most was my writing sample. Someone telling you they want a two page writing sample is very vague, and it's especially hard to know when you're applying for an editorial internship, when the most complicated original writing you're doing is probably a manuscript evaluation. Since I am an undergraduate student, I figured (and Google agreed) that a sample from a paper I'd written for a class would be fine. (The one I used was from an honors American Lit class on Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Birthmark.") I picked out what I considered to be the best paper I'd written in college and took the strongest section of it. I included my thesis and what I'd written the paper for, as well. This is definitely not the way to go for all writing samples, but I think most people will understand if you're an undergraduate student applying for a first internship. They just want to be sure you're writing is up to par.

If you're actively looking for internships, I recommend you check out the aptly named BookJobs.com. They're list is easily the best I've been able to find online. They've got a great list of companies actively seeking interns. Some of the listings are old and the dates are wrong, but, from what I've seen, they're looking for interns. (They've also got regular jobs, but I'm just talking about internships.)

I hope this has been at least vaguely helpful! If you have any questions (or suggestions for me, honestly) let me know in the comments! :) Happy Saturday--also, Happy June!

Suddenly Royal by Nichole Chase

Release date: April 19, 2013
Author info: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Pages: 452
Format: Ebook
Source: Purchased
Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon

Samantha Rousseau is used to getting her hands dirty. Working toward a master’s degree in wildlife biology while helping take care of her sick father, she has no time for celebrity gossip, designer clothes, or lazy vacations. So when a duchess from the small country of Lilaria invites her to dinner, Samantha assumes it’s to discuss a donation for the program. The truth will change the course of her life in ways she never dreamed.

Alex D’Lynsal is trying to keep his name clean. As crown prince of Lilaria, he’s had his share of scandalous headlines, but the latest pictures have sent him packing to America and forced him to swear off women—especially women in the public eye. That is, until he meets Samantha Rousseau. She’s stubborn, feisty, and incredibly sexy. Not to mention heiress to an estate in his country, which makes her everyone’s front-page news.

While Sam tries to navigate the new world of politics and wealth, she will also have to dodge her growing feelings for Alex. Giving in to them means more than just falling in love; it would mean accepting the weight of an entire country on her shoulders.

Suddenly Royal is my first foray into new adult, one that I took rather hesitantly, since I've heard very mixed things about the classification. Personally, I don't see the need, but that's a discussion for another day. Looking past all of that, as a whole I enjoyed reading Suddenly Royal. It was very predictable and very formula, but I expected that going in. With that in mind, I found it to be a perfectly fun and light read; it's definitely a good one for the summer, despite taking place in the cold. :)

Suddenly Royal follows grad student Samantha Rousseau, who has always considered herself the height of average. She smart and has always worked hard, rather than partied hard. So when the lady-killing prince of L:ilaria shows up at the campus of her school, she can't help but roll her eyes. But when his aunt, a duchess, invites Samantha to dinner, her whole world is turned upside down with the news that she is royalty, not to mention the prince (who she has to admit is astoundingly attractive) is making eyes at her. Samantha is faced with the choice of accepting her history and going to Lilaria to take her place or staying put, where things are familiar.

Because I wasn't expecting anything groundbreaking going into the book, I was really able to mindlessly enjoy this. If I'd been reading more critically, I would complain about how I didn't really connect with most of the characters (barring Chadwick) and how the plot was kind of meh and how the new adult classification shouldn't be something that lets an author just throw gratuitous sex scenes into a book that is otherwise very young adult (because there are most definitely some decently graphic ones, not Fifty Shades, but more than I care to read). I would complain, I would. But, sometimes I just don't care. I can tune a lot out when all I want is something uncomplicated and easy.

For me, there's something about sitting down to read a book you know isn't going to be a classic, you know it's not what you should be reading. It's the same reason so many people read trashy romance novels in the summer; it's fun. Simple as that. And I think that Suddenly Royal is fun. I honestly enjoyed reading it and I don't think there's anything remotely wrong with that.

IT'S MY 2 YEAR BLOGOVERSARY! + GIVEAWAY

I stole this from here. :)

Can you believe it?? I certainly can't! Two years ago today I decided to start a blog. My first review was for  A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn (but don't go and find it; it's horrible.) I had no idea that two years later I'd still be posting here or I'd have such a lovely and loyal readership. :) For some reason, two years seems like so much longer than one.

Before I get to the fun of the post, I just want to say thank you. Without people reading and commenting here, I doubt I would still be here. Blogging has become such an integral part of my life that I don't know what I'd do without it, or without you guys! Not only do I love it, but blogging has helped me define my future. When I began my blog, I was debating changing my major back to English from Pre-Pharmacy. After spending that first summer reading, writing, and meeting others who love reading like I do, I did change my major! I'm now about to start my second semester as a junior (Disney put me behind one semester. Oops!), I've got an editorial internship, and I'm absolutely loving where my life is going. That is in a large part due to this blog. So thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Now, I know what you're looking for. A GIVEAWAY! What better way to celebrate my anniversary and my lovely readers? I wanted to do something special, but I don't have any cool autographed books and I'm not going to any signings any time soon. So I figured, who doesn't love winning a book of their choice? So that's what you can win! :)

One winner will receive the book of their choice (up to $20 USD) from The Book Depository! That means this is INTERNATIONAL, as long as TBD ships to your country. There's only one winner for now, but if I'm feeling nice (and rich) or y'all are just too awesome, I may add more winners. We'll just see. (Wink wink.) This will end at midnight EST on June 30 (Yes, a month to get lots of entries!)


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Teaser Tuesday: Towering {24}

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Title: Towering
Author: Alex Flinn
Release date: May 14, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 293

At first, I merely saw his face, his hands on the window ledge. Then, his whole body as he swung himself through the window. Only I could not see what he swung on.

Until, one day, I told my dream self to look down. And it was then that I saw. He had climbed on a rope. I knew without asking that the rope had been one of my own tying.

Rachel is trapped in a tower, held hostage by a woman she’s always called Mama. Her golden hair is growing rapidly, and to pass the time, she watches the snow fall and sings songs from her childhood, hoping someone, anyone, will hear her.

Wyatt needs time to reflect or, better yet, forget about what happened to his best friend, Tyler. That’s why he’s been shipped off to the Adirondacks in the dead of winter to live with the oldest lady in town. Either that, or no one he knows ever wants to see him again.

Dani disappeared seventeen years ago without a trace, but she left behind a journal that’s never been read, not even by her overbearing mother…until now.

My teaser, from 36% in the egalley:

Still, I stood a moment. And then, I heard it, a voice singing. I ran toward it, unconcerned about noises or foxes or anything but finding out what it was.

I have a weakness for Alex Flinn's books. I've read all of her fairy tale retellings and enjoyed most of them. They're not mind-shattering or anything, but they're always fun, so I'm enjoying this one thus far, though I'm not far. Plus, her name is Rachel! :) Also, my 2 YEAR BLOGOVERSARY is tomorrow and the first book I reviewed on here was one of hers, so it fits.

If you leave me a link to your post I am definitely going to be visiting back, it just won't be until late in the day today since I'll be at work till 5. Have a lovely Tuesday!

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

Release date: May 7, 2013
Author info: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Publisher: Putnam
Pages: 457
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

The 5th Wave was not a book I was originally excited about. I thought the premise sounded fine, but I'd tried to read The Monstrumologist previously and just couldn't get into it. But then the rave--and I mean rave--reviews started to roll in. After seeing person after person telling me that I had to read this book, I decided that I did, in fact, need to read it. Luckily, the hype did not disappoint!

Based on the synopsis, I thought we'd really only follow Cassie, but the book is split (mostly) into two narratives--there are four in all, but two are very brief--those of Cassie and Ben. Cassie is sarcastic and strong, but damaged. She's seen the death of her father and is fighting to find her little brother, who has been taken from her. There are times where she desperately wants to give up, but her love for and promise to Sammy keep her going. She finds companionship in Evan just when she needs it most. I found Evan compelling, mostly in that he was someone who belonged nowhere, but I still find myself not trusting him. We'll just have to see, maybe I'm just too skeptical.

While I found myself drawn to and interested in Cassie, I really waited for Ben's parts. Watching him become who he is at the end of the book is just awesome. In many ways, his struggle is much harder than Cassie's. Ben has a painful past, just as Cassie does, but he has no one to fight for. There's no little brother who believes in him waiting on the other side. He has to live with profound regret and the repercussions of his actions. It would be so easy for him to give up, to say that he's had enough and there's nothing worth living for. But he doesn't, and that's why he is the one I was rooting for most of all.

While I did find the plot twists somewhat predictable, I didn't care. I was still kept on the edge of my seat, waiting with bated breath to see what happened next. I am terribly excited to see where this series goes and hope there are lots and lots more aliens to come.

Stacking the Shelves {17}

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where we get to share the books we've bought, been gifted, or received for review!

How was everybody's week? I had a good one! :)

Purchased:

Everblue by Brenda Pandos (A freebie, really, but Amazon acts like it bought it! Hehe.)
Tear by Rachel Van Dyken

A recap of the week here on Paper Cuts:
Monday - I reviewed Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo.
Tuesday - I teased from The Girl With the Iron Touch by Kady Cross.
Wednesday - I talked about my time as an editorial intern thus far.
Friday - I discussed choosing books.

Books I read this week:
The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

I'm currently reading:
Suddenly Royal by Nichole Chase

So that's been my week! Nothing terribly exciting, nor am I getting much reading done--which isn't fun--but I spend all day reading other things! :) Anyways, I'd love to see what y'all got, so leave me links! I'll be visiting about in just a little while. :) Have a lovely Sunday and a fabulous week!

Let's Talk About... Choosing Your Next Book

I know, I know, this seems like a weird thing to "discuss", but as I'm sitting here, trying to figure what to post about for Friday (today!), I can't help but let my mind wander to what I'm going to read next. (Hint: I'm writing this Thursday night, so greetings from the past!) I finished The 5th Wave Wednesday night, and it was excellent. But now I still haven't picked my next book to read.

It's not like I don't have two hundred books all of kinds sitting around, waiting to be read. Some of them are review books, some aren't.

Oddly enough, picking my next book is quite a challenge for me. I don't read on a schedule, like a lot of bloggers do. I know that if I force myself to read things--aside from what I have to read for school--I will read so slowly that I'll get desperately behind, or my mood will affect my enjoyment of a book. (This happened with The Iron Prince most recently.) So without a schedule, I pick my next read when it becomes necessary.

The problem is, I don't know what to read! I'm a mood reader (Just like I'm a mood eater, but that's different...) A lot of times I'm in the mood for a specific type of book, and if I don't have any of that kind, I'll go out and find one. But other times I'm not in the mood for anything specific, so nothing jumps out at me as something I must read. Everything sounds okay, but nothing sounds like it's going to knock my socks off.

When I get like this, I pick up between three and six different books (on average), read a page or two, and put them down again. Eventually, something catches my fancy and I go on, but the couple of days that I don't have a book to be immersed in are the worst.

Anyways, this doesn't feel much like a discussion, does it? More like a mope. Oh well! I want to know how you pick your next book! Do you read on a schedule? Or do you just pick up what sounds interesting? Also, is there anything that's mind-blowingly awesome that I should be reading? :)