Every now and then I like to make a record of an average working day in my life as a publisher and literary arts producer. Partly this it to communicate to the outside world what it is I actually get up to, here in my little corner office in Toynbee Studios, and partly to remind […]
Every now and then I like to make a record of an average working day in my life as a publisher and literary arts producer. Partly this it to communicate to the outside world what it is I actually get up to, here in my little corner office in Toynbee Studios, and partly to remind myself of the same thing. So I picked today, a run-of-the-mill Monday in March. Admittedly there’s no accounting, but this is pretty close to a typical day.
9.30
Get in and make myself a cup of tea
Check emails and answer urgent ones immediately
Check in on Facebook (I have Twitter on my phone so no need to check that)
9.45
Process and package up book orders that have come in over the weekend
Package up some review copies of The Shipwrecked House
10.30
Start going through inbox
Reply to various emails related to two projects I’m working on, ADRIFT and EVP
Send an advisory email to the Poetry Book Society (I’m a board member)
11.15
A new review of The Method by Rob Stanton comes through!
Put this out on Twitter and Facebook, update book’s webpage, and print and file the review for records
More book processing
11.30
Nip to the Post Office
12.00
On way back pop home for a sandwich (I live locally) and do a couple of domestic chores
13.00
Back in the office – coffee is brewed
Respond to new emails that have come in over lunch
13:30
Make final edits to manuscript of Meghan Purvis’s Beowulf (due out in May)
2.30
Leave for meeting at the Sir John Soane Museum in Chancery Lane to discuss opportunities to work together
5.00
Back in the office after a great meeting
Check and reply to emails
Collect and read the post, including submission form for the Forward Prize, which I file carefully
Fulfil another book order which has just come through
Check book stock with my distributor
Write an email about ADRIFT project
5.30
Chat to Corinne who works in the office about some big news she’s just received
More Beowulf editing
6.15
Phonecall with poet Ross Sutherland about his EVP commission
6.45
Write emails to arrange rehearsals for EVP
7.00
Read through and reply to unsolicited submissions
7.30
A few final tweaks to Beowulf – tomorrow I’ll be sending it to print!
7.45
Hungry now. Write this blog post
8.00
Leave office
