I made some inroads into working through the copy editor tests and developmental editor emails. I’ll be sending out some emails today, but I’m still working on copy editors. Copy editors are actually much more difficult to hire than developmental editors, for some reason. Part of it is that, over the years, I’ve found that some people think they have the chops for copy editing, because they pick out typos or missing punctuation in the books they read, but the truth is that copy editing is an incredibly multi-layered position and to be a copy editor, you have to be highly skilled, very detail-oriented, know the ins and outs of the Chicago Manual of Style and grammar rules quite well, and be able to remember details, timelines and other things in order to compare and spot inconsistencies. In short, it takes amazing focus and not many of us have that.
I know some of you have been waiting for a submissions update. There are still November books under consideration. This could generally be considered a good thing, because taking longer means they’re getting a closer look. Any reprints submitted are still under consideration while we worked out our plan for them. We’ve got that in place and editors are looking through them as we speak. Because of the number of editors we have, at any given time, anywhere from 70 to 130 submissons are being actively reviewed. Now that we’re up and running, response times will be well within the 8 to 12 weeks for anyone submitting. I’ll do a more thorough submissions update this week, but we’re moving very quickly through submissions and now is a good time to get your submission in, as we’re still looking to acquire for Summer 2010 release. We’re especially targeting erotic romance, contemporary and paranormal romance, m/m romance, fantasy, science fiction and historical. But we’ve acquired across the board in all fiction genres, so if you have a good story, get it polished and send it in!
Something new we’ve started and just announced the first date for to our authors: we’ll be doing live meeting chats (using phone and computer) with our authors on a regular basis. These are going to include chats about general items, what’s happening at Carina, marketing tips and training, and more.
On that note, you know what I’ll be working on this week (submissions! copy editors!) and I’ll do a submission update later this week. In the meantime, I’ll be doing all that huddled here inside and trying to avoid looking out my window. Here in my part of Maryland, we got about 16 inches of snow. In addition to the ten we already had. More than we normally get in 3 or 4 years of winter. I’m going to sit inside and pretend it’s summer. Who’s with me?
Tags: Behind the Scenes, editorial, employment, submissions
Yikes, that’s a lot of snow!
I know some people in Montgomery county have been without power for a couple of days now–stay warm!
Thanks for for the submission update, Angela!
We are getting snow here in Cincinnai again tonight and thru Wednesday. We don’t have as much as Maryland though. I’m with you about staying inside and pretending it’s summer.
Thanks for keeping us posted. Here in rural NM, we got about a foot which has since melted to 6 inches, but it’s snowing again. No complaints as we NEED the moisture and snow is a good way to do it. The amount of snow you have is unheard of around here since a couple of inches usually closes our schools. NM drivers aren’t used to driving in the white stuff. LOL
Oh, Donna, it’s unheard of around here as well. It’s historic snowfalls. We also close for just a few inches. Last week, there was no school Monday/Tuesday, two hour delays Wed/Thurs and early closing on Friday. This week, we look to be repeating a very similar pattern.
Thank you so much for posting and keeping us all informed on what’s going on behind the scenes at Carina Press. Whew, busy, busy but definitely smiling at the progression.
Thanks again to you, and to everyone who is working so hard to help bring many authors dreams come true.
And everyone here, stay safe and warm.
Thanks for the update, Angela. Here in southern Virginia, we lucked out– the warm ocean air kept most of the precipitation rain, so we just got a couple of inches of snow, and it didn’t stick to the roads. We did get eight or nine inches the weekend before, though!
Ellen! You pop up at the most random times, lol. I’m so glad to see you commenting. I hope you’ll email me and tell me how you’re doing, I think about you from time to time and look for updates, but haven’t seen anything!
Hi, Angela! I have the rest of that manuscript almost finished, I’m making myself crazy with this one, I want it to be very GOOD!! Thanks for your patience….
Happy Monday to everyone!
Hugs….
Oh, I’m not being random, Angela; I’m back in the saddle and about to submit something to you. So I really do appreciate the update on how you guys are doing!
Angela, Can copy editor applicants expect to hear something either way? (In other words, get one of those doggone rejection letters if we don’t make the cut?)
Yay, Ellen, I’m so glad you’re writing again!
Denyse, I’ll look forward to it.
Bettye, yes, everyone will get a response.
When you say submission update, what does that mean exactly? Acquisitions update? I enjoyed the acquisition posts, getting more of a feel for what you’ll be offering, and I’d be interested in hearing more.
And 16 inches of snow? Holy Cow. I lived in DC for four years and I can count on two fingers the number of times we got snow that actually stuck to the ground.
I’m with you Angela, it’s snowing outside my window right now. Again.
Thanks for the update on submissions. I’m amazed you’re still getting through them as quickly as you are.
Dakota, I’ll be doing a mix of acquisitions updates, which will be easier now that the contracts are done and winging their way to authors, and submissions updates, letting authors know where we’re at in the process, how many we’ve seen/rejected, etc.
Hi Angela,
We are expecting a big snow storm up where I live on wed. Dang means I can’t go to work if it snows too bad and my daughter has the day off from school. Oh well guess I’ll have to write all day, instead of all night….
I do have a question about submissions though, You mentioned that November books are still being reviewed, does that mean you have not gotten to any December or January Submissions?
Thanks for the all the helpfull updates..
Nope, there are a lot of December and January books that have been read/are being read. In fact, I think most of December’s submissions are out with editors for review. It just means that some November books are still being read because they’re getting a closer look.
Thanks Angela,
Guess I’ll keep my Fingers crossed, I’m almost done with another book, this one I’m having reviewed by the new critique group I signed up with, I want it to be super polished before I send it in to Carina.
thanks for the info.
Thanks for the update, Angela! Stay warm!
I sympathize with the snow — here in eastern Kentucky, we’ve had more snow in the last two weeks than the last five years!
But … it’s a great excuse for me to stay in and write. And take a look at a fantasy I’ll be submitting soon.
I’ve lost my three bananas, all but one rosemary, some citrus, and a few other plants this winter, but at least I can get to the grocery store without driving on ice. You’re wise to stay home as much as you can in this weather. Good luck plowing through the accumulations.
Last year, I had access to my rosemary all year round and it was very healthy. This year, I’m a little worried about it surviving and it probably won’t, since it’s buried in the snow. I love that rosemary plant!
I’m jealous of your citrus plants!
As always I enjoy feeling part of the Carina community through your post and I appreciate the updates about then November submissions
We got 26 inches in my part of Maryland during the last bout – we’re scheduled for another 8-16 today.
My husband doesn’t read my erotic fiction, but as my official plot sounding board, he knows all about it. When I saw the weather report and said “I can take eight inches, but not a fraction more,” he was quiet for a very long time.
Yeah. We’ve been snowed in for awhile.
Kathleen, Thanks for the laugh. Enjoy your eight inches…