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 |   Exploring the future through the present. One day at a time. |
| I received the following email yesterday (in part): “Andra I enjoyed speaking with you recently. I would like to offer you the volunteer position of Associate Editor of Spark, if you are still interested. Please let me know at your earliest convenience.” Although it’s not a paid position, the insights I will gain into the magazine industry (and publishing in general) will be invaluable. Plus I get to read all the stories before anyone else! For more on the magazine: http://splickety.com/imprints/splickety-love/ |
| It isn’t the anxiety beforehand. Nor is it during the interview itself. It’s the aftermath. I just ended an interview for a magazine associate editor’s position. This was especially nerve-wracking because I haven’t done an interview in twenty years. It took place over Google Hangouts which was interesting and kinda cool (I’ll describe why in a second) with two ladies involved with the magazine. They asked me about my writing, my editing strengths and weaknesses, and my expectations with the position. They will be interviewing several others, and will let me know either way within a few weeks whether or not I obtain the position. Now for why the aftermath is the worst part of the interview. For the next two hours I will mentally scrutinize every word I spoke, and every action of my face and rest of my body. Did I stutter too much? Did I blink too much? Did I pick my nose? Did I yawn? Did I talk with my hands too much? Too little? I could have answered that question better! I should have said something else! Why, oh why did I say that?! The upside of it taking place over Hangouts was they couldn’t smell my bad breath due to nervous dry-mouth, or that my deodorant gave out three hours ago. |
| A few weeks ago I posted a question about how one gets through harsh criticism. Afterward, I decided to back away for a few days before I studied the comments with a more objective eye. Once I did, I decided to apply their critiques (the consistent ones, anyway), mostly to see how they would affect my novel. I ended up with an entirely new prologue and changed the point of view character in the first chapter. I think it’s much better. I’m glad I let go of my pride and decided to look at my story through the critiquers’ eyes instead of my own. It was hard, but hopefully worth it in the end. Time will tell. And if you're interested, you can read the prologue and first three chapters here: "Born of Fire"  |
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