Tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Graeme, and I’m doing an internship at Margaret River Press during the first half of 2018. I’m in the last semester (I hope) of a Master of Arts degree, majoring in creative writing. I started reading when I was about six years old (Roald Dahl’s The Magic Finger), and writing shortly afterwards. My grandfather was a published author who wrote in his spare time, so perhaps the bug is inherited. I sought out an internship at Margaret River Press because I liked the specialised, stylish quality of the publishing, and I hoped to get some knowledge of the process which takes an author’s raw submission into print.
What are you studying at university and what’s next?
I’m finishing my Master of Arts with a major in creative writing. In the future, I may apply for a PhD in a similar field.
Do you have a favourite book or favourite author?
Not really. When I was a child, I loved Roald Dahl, and when I got older I read his adult fiction too. Among Australian writers, I like Elizabeth Jolley the most. Otherwise, I read anybody who is original and interesting — John Fowles, Donna Tartt, Gore Vidal, etc.
What did a typical day involve as an intern at Margaret River Press?
As of writing, I have been at Margaret River Press for only two weeks, but a typical day is very productive and varied. It may involve reading and commenting on authors’ manuscripts (in confidence, of course), helping to generate publicity for books by using social media or other tools, reviewing documents and newsletters before they go out, drafting guidelines for the design of book covers, updating registers and catalogues (such as the National Library of Australia Catalogue or Thorpe-Bowker register), going to meetings of the editorial board, researching grants and copyright rules, and preparing for events run by Margaret River Press or the Centre for Stories which operates alongside the Press. As you can see, very diverse!
Is there a particular area of publishing you’re looking to head into or another type of work?
I’m more interested in the writing side of things than publishing, but I’m very happy to have been given the opportunity to see the hard work which goes into producing and advertising books. I’m sure the experience will serve me well in the future.
