Introvert Monday
So I’m an introvert. And I’m shy. And. I’m awkward. I’m sure the universe is amused. It’s made me a triple threat, in a socially inept sort of way. So I chose a career path that made sense for my mixed bad of anxiety inducing sensibilities. I decided to pursue both writing and editing. Writers are expected to be odd, reclusive, mysterious. And oftentimes, so are editors. But here’s what I’m learning. Both career paths require a significant amount of networking for success. For my career as an editor this means building relationships with not just writers, but also literary agents. The easiest way to move forward as an editor is to acquire books that are not only amazing reads, but that are wholly salable. To do that you must know agents who can pitch you books with strong marketability. To get on these agents radar you have to meet with them.
Fellow introverts know how terrifying it is to meet someone you don’t know well and be expected to carry on delightful conversation. You have to turn yourself “on” in order to do this. Maybe even psych yourself up days ahead of time. But what happens when a one-on-one meeting turns into a group meeting? Or the day of your meeting arrives and you are feeling especially shy and introverted? What if that day all you want to do is stay at your desk and remain silent, but you have to go and out and be charming, smart, and engaging? I’m learning to own my awkwardness and my introversion. But I still find it quite impossible to have consistency with my planned networking engagements. if I’m “on” that day it’s amazing, if I’m not it’s a total disaster.
First Line Friday
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”
—Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
Introvert Monday
I’m a strong introvert! This means that being alone is something that is not only a desire, but also a necessity. For my sanity. As a typical employed person, I work a 9-5 job, in a small office (maybe not so typical), at a desk, with no walls. I live in a major city—NYC—and have to commute to work. That means being surrounded, in close proximity to people, on my way to work, at work, and on my way home. By the end of the day, the serene silence and stillness of my apartment is a comfort and mental boost.
But, I don’t live alone. I have a partner who needs me. And after giving my all to stay sane for my job, I often have nothing left for him. I don’t want to talk, or be touched. It can feel abrasive after a day of absorbing the energy of various New Yorkers and my co-workers. How do other introverts do it? How do you find that balance between the time you need for yourself after a hectic, or just people filled day of work, and the time your non-introverted partner needs? I can’t keep making him lie silently in bed with me while I read. It’s quality time for me. Not for him.
First Line Friday
“Under certain circumstances there are a few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.”
—The Portrait of a Lady, Henry James
How the merger of Penguin and Random House Could Affect Digital Sales on Amazon
I read this article on Tech Crunch this morning. They had a very interesting take or the power Penguin Random House could have over Amazon. What do you guys thing? Will Penguin Random House try to force Amazon to change the way it handles ebook pricing? Will Amazon cave under the pressure?
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! My computer is back!
And, why doesn’t Tumblr support Twitter’s embed feature. Now my website looks totally stupid and I have to spend the weekend figuring out how to put this CSS stuff into a specific post. Blurggg!
Top 25 E-Book Sellers for the Week of 1/26/2013
Rank* Title Author Publisher Price** Change 1 (1) Safe Haven Nicholas Sparks Hachette $ 6.64 – 2 (2) Gone Girl: A Novel Gillian Flynn Random House $ 12.99 – 3 (3) Someone to Love Addison Moore Self-published $ 0.99 – 4 (n/a) Wait For Me Elisabeth Naughton Self-published $ 0.99 New 5 (4) The Forgotten David Baldacci Hachette $ 9.20 -1 6 (n/a) Private Berlin James Patterson; Mark Sullivan Hachette $ 10.90 New 7 (12) Beautiful Creatures (Beautiful Creatures Series #1) Kami Garcia; Margaret Stohl Hachette $ 6.99 +5 8 (6) Fifty Shades Freed: Book Three Of The Fifty Shades Trilogy E. L. James Random House $ 9.99 -2 9 (7) Fifty Shades Darker: Book Two Of The Fifty Shades Trilogy E. L. James Random House $ 9.99 -2 10 (5) Fifty Shades Of Grey: Book One Of The Fifty Shades Trilogy E. L. James Random House $ 9.99 -5 11 (8) Catching Fire (The Hunger Games Trilogy – Book 2) Suzanne Collins Scholastic $ 5.99 -3 12 (9) Mockingjay (The Hunger Games Trilogy – Book 3) Suzanne Collins Scholastic $ 5.99 -3 13 (11) The Racketeer John Grisham Random House $ 12.99 -2 14 (13) The Black Box (A Harry Bosch Novel) Michael Connelly Hachette $ 7.50 -1 15 (n/a) Crazy Little Thing Tracy Brogan Amazon $ 3.99 New 16 (19) The Fifth Assassin Brad Meltzer Hachette $ 12.74 +3 17 (17) Witch’s Daughter Paula Brackston Macmillan $ 2.99 – 18 (14) Private London James Patterson; Mark Pearson Hachette $ 8.28 -4 19 (n/a) Beautiful Darkness (Beautiful Creatures) Kami Garcia; Margaret Stohl Hachette $ 6.99 New 20 (21) Reflected in You: A Crossfire Novel Sylvia Day Penguin $ 9.99 +1 21 (10) The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games Trilogy – Book 1) Suzanne Collins Scholastic $ 5.00 -11 22 (22) Bared to You: A Crossfire Novel Sylvia Day Penguin $ 9.99 – 23 (24) Notorious Nineteen: A Stephanie Plum Novel Janet Evanovich Random House $ 12.99 +1 24 (23) Life of Pi Yann Martel Houghton Mifflin Harcourt $ 8.63 -1 25 (n/a)Inferno: A NovelDan BrownRandom House $ 14.99New
* Previous week’s list rank in parentheses.
** Price reflects minimum price across all retailers throughout the week. Price may vary between retailers and may change throughout the week. Contact Iobyte Solutions for more information on e-book pricing.
P.S. This list is originally from Digital Book Wire. The full article can be found here.
