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Kieron Donovan (Class of 2010)
Kieron Donovan navigates the waters at Anvil Press My internship at Vancouver publishing house Anvil Press was an eye-opening experience. Not only did I learn how a small independent publisher operates, I also gained a fair amount of knowledge about office politics. For example, I quickly learned how delicate is the balance between what you know and what you're supposed to know in a professional setting. I found out early that learning on the run is a fundamental talent that you need as you navigate the waters of a small independent publishing house. If you are quick and flexible, you will learn to function and survive in the first couple of weeks of your internship. If, for whatever reason, you don't show the speed needed right from the start, then you could be in trouble.From what I have heard from other interns in Print Futures, the steep learning curve was common in most of internships. It also occurs to me now that these high expectations are quite widespread in most professional situations. It is something we all have to deal with.
My time at Anvil also showed me that the publishing industry is just one aspect of what I want to do in my career. Don't get me wrong, I have always loved books and have the utmost respect for those who run small independent publishing houses. It's just that I feel a need to experience other communication-related work. The more I get into Print Futures, the more I have come to realize that my true talent lies in the composition side of what we do. I think a part of what this program serves is identifying a student's strengths and weaknesses. My strength lies in writing. I am relieved that I have finally come to this conclusion. I can now focus on a career that will complement my abilities. The freelance option is one avenue I have not explored yet. In this atmosphere I could freely write and produce work on contract. This option would allow me the flexibility to find the kind of work I want to do in an unstructured setting. Of course, starting out as a freelancer is a difficult road to take, and I may find it impossible to proceed. So, I am leaving my options open. If I am lucky enough to find a job that suits my needs when I finish school, then I will follow that route. After all, you've got to go with the flow.
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Posted April 2010
