So sorry to hear about your job troubles. It kind of sounds like your employer is out to get you, regardless of how you perform within one month. Still, it seems to me if you cite all the examples of ways you have tried to promote the store, you can make a case for yourself. I think you’re right though, they’re trying to lay all the blame on you and cover their own asses.
But that’s if you even want to keep working there. I can give you a little bit of advice about being a book editor since that was one of the things you mentioned you might be interested in doing. What you’re describing actual sounds like a copy editor position. Copy editors are different from editors in that they read word-by-word through entire manuscripts looking for grammar and punctuation errors, as well as checking for storyline continuity and fact checking. It’s long, tedious work that requires a lot of concentration and detailed notes. On the plus side, you usually get to sit in a nice comfy office with an Internet connection (highly useful for fact checking, or when your brain needs a break from the tedium). Copy editors can also do freelance work on the side, pulling in some extra cash, because there is always a huge demand for talented copy editors and many companies outsource their books to freelancers. There are very specific written symbols that are used by copy editors for marking pages for corrections. If you are serious about pursuing a career in copy editing, you will need to take classes to learn the notation system, as well as get basic background info on how to proofread well. There might be night classes you can take or something since going back to school full time probably isn’t an option.
Editors, on the other hand (not COPY editors) deal more with the creative side of helping authors work out their storylines, and basically just acquiring books for the company to print. It takes years of working in publishing though, before you can reach the level of Editor. It’s one of the top positions at a publishing company, so you’ll have to work your way up through the ranks, and in some cases, wait for somebody to retire or quit so that their position becomes available.
I’m with you on the whole not wanting to compromise your artistic integrity just to get a job somewhere (like a photo place). I realized a while back that it’s highly unlikely that I’ll make a living using my actual talents in life, unless I completely bend to someone else’s will. I don’t want to do that, so I got a job that is totally unrelated to what I want to do, which pays the bills so I can keep doing my artistic stuff on the side. Not an ideal situation, but it works for now. Good luck in your search!
But that’s if you even want to keep working there. I can give you a little bit of advice about being a book editor since that was one of the things you mentioned you might be interested in doing. What you’re describing actual sounds like a copy editor position. Copy editors are different from editors in that they read word-by-word through entire manuscripts looking for grammar and punctuation errors, as well as checking for storyline continuity and fact checking. It’s long, tedious work that requires a lot of concentration and detailed notes. On the plus side, you usually get to sit in a nice comfy office with an Internet connection (highly useful for fact checking, or when your brain needs a break from the tedium). Copy editors can also do freelance work on the side, pulling in some extra cash, because there is always a huge demand for talented copy editors and many companies outsource their books to freelancers. There are very specific written symbols that are used by copy editors for marking pages for corrections. If you are serious about pursuing a career in copy editing, you will need to take classes to learn the notation system, as well as get basic background info on how to proofread well. There might be night classes you can take or something since going back to school full time probably isn’t an option.
Editors, on the other hand (not COPY editors) deal more with the creative side of helping authors work out their storylines, and basically just acquiring books for the company to print. It takes years of working in publishing though, before you can reach the level of Editor. It’s one of the top positions at a publishing company, so you’ll have to work your way up through the ranks, and in some cases, wait for somebody to retire or quit so that their position becomes available.
I’m with you on the whole not wanting to compromise your artistic integrity just to get a job somewhere (like a photo place). I realized a while back that it’s highly unlikely that I’ll make a living using my actual talents in life, unless I completely bend to someone else’s will. I don’t want to do that, so I got a job that is totally unrelated to what I want to do, which pays the bills so I can keep doing my artistic stuff on the side. Not an ideal situation, but it works for now. Good luck in your search!
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