Harper-versary

Today I’m celebrating my one-year anniversary working at HarperCollins. And I still love it! Nine months ago I tracked what I did for a week to give all of you an idea of what an ‘average’ week for an editorial assistant. So this is what I’m doing now-a-days:

Monday, 11/14

9-9:30	Settle in, emails, social media
9:30-10:45	Write Reader’s Report for second draft of BOOK A, which I read over the weekend. Review Boss #1’s editorial letter for first draft of BOOK A.
10:45-11	Emails, prepare for meeting with Boss #1
11-12	Meet with Boss #1, discuss BOOK A, how to help author with some publicity for BOOK B, rework text in BOOK C, new acquisition of BOOK D
12-12:15	Review final BOOK E
12:15-1	Eat lunch while sending emails, organizing emails, reading industry-related emails, update group documents
1-1:15	Leave office to run personal errand
1:15-2	Update Facebook page with our Winter 2012 titles
2-2:45	Meet with Boss #1 and Digital Person to discuss digital strategy for author of BOOK F
2:45-3	Misc including emails and circ’ing materials
3-3:45	Read SUBMISSION A
3:45-4	Mail copies of BOOK E to author and illustrator; copying
4-4:45	Read SUBMISSION A
4:45-5	Discuss ideas for SUBMISSION B with Coworker #1
5-5:15	Read SUBMISSION A
5:15-5:30	Circulate materials, organize and prepare for tomorrow

Tuesday, 11/15

9:15-9:30	Settle in, emails, social media (late due to subway problems!)
9:30-9:45	Circulate materials
9:45-10:15	Misc, including emails and researching a conference I might attend in March
10:15-10:30	Finish updating Facebook page with our Winter 2012 titles
10:30-12	Read SUBMISSION A
12-1	Group “Lunch” meeting with Kate Jackson (Sr VP/Associate Pub/Editor-In-Chief)
1-1:30	Run out to get lunch and do some personal errands
1:30-1:45	Eat lunch, emails
2-2:30	Finishing reading SUBMISSION A, write Reader’s Report
2:30-3	Misc, including emails, mailing book to author
3-3:15	Help author order additional copies of BOOK G
3:15-3:45	Research information online to help author with publicity for BOOK B
4-5:30	Research information online about publicity for BOOK H
5:30-5:45	Organize email
5:45-6	Read industry magazine, prepare for tomorrow
6:30-9	CBC Trivia Night

Wednesday, 11/16

9:00-10	Settle in, emails, social media, finish reading industry magazine
10-11	Draft catalog copy for BOOKS I, J, and K
11-11:45	Misc, including helping author with publicity for BOOK B, updating addresses
11:45-12	Read industry blogs
12-12:30	Maintain KT Facebook page
12:30-4:45	Read BOOK L (eat lunch around 1:30)
4:45-5	Review and circulate materials
5-5:30	Review meeting notes, prepare for tomorrow

Thursday, 11/17

9-9:45	Settle in, emails, social media
9:45-10	Read industry emails
10-10:45	KT Books team meeting
10:45-11:15	Discuss covers for BOOKS L & M, and others, with designers
11:15-11:30	Format and submit flap copy for BOOK N
11:30-12:30	Draft catalog copy for BOOKS O, P, Q, R, S
12:30-1:15	Attend HarperCollings Emerging Professionals (HCEP) meeting
1:15-1:30	Misc including go to mailroom to get UPS labels, circulate materials for signatures
1:30-2	Type up meeting notes from HCEP meeting
2-2:15	Marketing meeting
2:15-2:30	Finish typing up HCEP meeting notes
2:30-3:15	Prepare bookseller mailing for BOOK Q
3:15-4	Misc including emails, social media, circulating materials, helping author with two publicity opportunities for BOOK B
4-4:30	Read SUBMISSION C (planned on reading for an hour)
4:30-5:15	Create P&L for SUBMISSION A

Friday, 11/18

9-9:45	Settle in, emails, make one personal phone call, revise P&L for SUB A
9:45-10	Find reviews to support quotes for BOOK N’s flap copy
10-10:30	Finish drafts of catalog copy for BOOKS I, J, and K
10:30-10:45	Misc including finish putting together contract request materials for SUB D and circulate, email out HCEP Meeting notes
10:45-11:15	Draft catalog copy for BOOK T
11:15-12	Circulate materials, read industry emails, revise P&L for SUB A
12-1	Draft copy for BOOK L
1-1:15	Read industry emails/websites while eating lunch
1:15-1:30	Run out for personal errand
1:30-2	Misc including emails, read industry blogs, print label for mailing artwork of BOOK O, review circulating materials
2-3	“Digital Tutorial”
3-3:15	Review and organize reviews received
3:15-3:45	Prepare, package, and send artwork for BOOK O
3:45-4	Misc including circulate P&L for SUB D, review circulating materials
4-5:30	Read SUB C

Saturday, 11/19

8:45-10:30	Read SUB C (eat breakfast around 9:15)
11:30-12:30	Read SUB C
1:45-4:30	Read SUB C

Sunday, 11/20

9-10	Read SUB C
6:45-8	Read SUB C
10:45-11:15	Read SUB C

With twenty books and four submissions in one week—there are plenty of great projects I’m working on! An editorial assistant’s life is busy, but it’s so worth it! Year in and year out!