Is has been a long time, Gentle Reader, since I worked a cubicle job.
Yes I did. Once. A long time ago. I worked gaming Q&A for an education and entertainment company. Let me see, over 15 years or so. Then I returned to academia and never looked back. In case you think me a slacker I also worked as a manager in both retail and the food service industry. And yes, my first job was as a library page.
What? You doubted me?
Now where was I? Oh yes, cubicle.
Prudence Stuff in a Cubby
The thing is, once you’ve been out of it for a while, the whole concept of the cubby world seems alien and odd, but nothing is more so than the dreaded interview questions. So I thought I’d play a tortuous kind of game and give some to myself, now, over year into being officially my own boss as an LLC.
Here we go!
1. Miss Gail, What Do You Like Most About Working Here?
Well my boss is pretty relaxed, the place is always tidy, I can stop and eat whenever I want and the tea is endless. It can get a little lonely, but that is what Twitter is for. Ooops. I shouldn’t tell my boss how much time I spend on Twitter. She can get a bit mad about that.
2. How Do Your Customers Define Success?
Number of books per year and quality of said books. I think. They don’t seem to mind too much where or how they get those books so long as they get them with something approaching regularity.
3. What Would You Change Around Here If You Could?
I’d love to duplicate myself, I’d get so much more done.
Honestly? I’d really like to travel less and write more. I enjoy getting out and seeing people but the impact on my creativity is drastic. I’d also like to do 3 writing retreats a year. I’m so much more productive on those than I am at any other time.
4. How Does The Management Team Deal With Mistakes?
Usually she apologies as quickly as possible, confesses all and asks for forgiveness. (If said mistake is visible to the public, of course.) Otherwise she scrabbles like crazy to fix it before anyone notices. If it’s not her mistake, and she can’t fix it, but people keep telling her about it (happens a lot in publishing) she ignores it and the people.
5. What’s The Best Benefit You Offer?
Aside from the aforementioned unlimited tea? Nimbleness. It’s the single best thing about being my own boss and a hybrid author. My traditional publishers have been great, supportive and motivating, but with my indie projects I can turn on a dime and that is pretty great in this day and age. Of course, then if it doesn’t happen I have no one to blame but myself.
Speaking of which, better get back to work.
{Gail’s monthly read along for May 2017 is Radiance by Grace Draven.}
UP NEXT
Poison or Protect audiobook. ACX has delayed production for some unknown reason. Fighting with audible right now. Merph.
GAIL’S DAILY DOSE
Your Moment of Parasol . . .
1900 Fashion of My Fair Lady
Your Infusion of Cute . . .
Alexia Tote $11.85
Your Tisane of Smart . . .
A (Semi) Comprehensive Guide to LGBTQ+ Romance
Your Writerly Tinctures . . .
Yes, You Can Make a Living Writing Fiction
Book News:
Parasolverse Books In World Chronological Order (oldest setting at bottom)
Quote of the Day:
Oh my, yes!
I’m still stuck in an office cubicle as my Day Job. It’s a necessary evil, as it’s what keeps me in food and freelance editors until I can make enough off writing for it to become my main career.
Other than the steady, fortnightly paycheck, I don’t know if I’ll miss it once I transition to full-time author.
There are things I miss, I’m social (if not extroverted) so I do get a little lonely and stir crazy sometimes.
I love the picture of your books! I’m hoping to get all of your books in hard copy someday. I only have a couple so far, although I have electronic copies of everything, which is certainly convenient when I suddenly have a yen to reread one!
I had fun setting up that photo. I’ve actually left them stacked like that for my own quick reference guide.