My Experience at Working at Penguin Random House!

Hey guys,

So, if you follow me on social media, then you will know that I was working at Penguin Random House Publishing at the beginning of February, and it was honestly the most incredible two weeks! Before I started work experience here, I was very unsure about what I wanted to do with my life (I do English at uni, I literally could not have picked a broader subject), but left knowing exactly what I wanted to do with my life.

So yeah, was a pretty helpful and insightful experience! (I do apologise for the delay in this post, I've legit been away from my laptop for about two weeks now, hence the lack of posting, but I'M BAAAACK!)

So, I'll start with the application process. I saw work experience being advertised on the Penguin Random House Careers Twitter page, so thought that I'd apply, as it looked like a great way to get an insight into working at a publishers. However, as it was Penguin Random House, one of the biggest publishers in the world, I wasn't hopeful. I guess I just thought that there would be a hell of a lot more people with more experience than me who would get it.

However, Penguin actually place their work experience randomly, so everyone has a fair chance of getting work experience. I personally think this is fab, as I have only had one prior placement in marketing, and, as I am a student, I don't really have time to get work experience during term time, and I work through the holidays.

Within Penguin Random House, I applied to marketing and publicity, as it was something that I was always interested in, and after my work experience last summer, I knew that it was definitely something that I wanted to pursue.

A couple of weeks after completing my application, I found out that I had received a work experience placement at Michael Joseph in the marketing and publicity department. I genuinely could not believe it when I opened my email, but I was so unbelievably excited!

So, the only issue that I had was the fact that it was in London. And I live very far up north. And don't have any family or friends near London (well, who would be there during term time), so next was the issue of accommodation.

However, Penguin actually have an agreement with the Book Trade Charity, and have a bungalow in Hertfordshire for their work experience who don't live in London to stay. So yeah, I ended up staying here for the first week, and it was lovely! It was so easy to commute into London, and only took about 45 minutes to an hour to get to work every morning!

In the second week, I ended up staying in student accommodation, yet would not recommend this, as it was incredibly overpriced and was not worth the money at all! However, I do know that Penguin/publishers have a scheme called the Spare Room Project. This is where where people who work in publishing open their spare room to someone on work experience who isn't local.

In terms of the work I did there, I got to do a range of tasks, including sending out packages and writing letters to authors, celebrities and influencers (which was pretty damn cool!!). I also got to pitch my ideas, and also got an insight into PR and marketing campaigns, which was so interesting!

One of my tasks was to go and get some balloons from a shop on the Strand, and I soon came to realise that carrying 10 helium balloons when it's windy is never going to end well, and I sincerely apologise to the people who I hit in the face. Multiple times. Oops.

I also was very fortunate to attend a book launch for Elizabeth Enfield's new novel 'Ivy & Abe', and it was AMAZING! It was quite a small launch, with just friends, family and people from Penguin Random House, but I thought this made it quite special, as it was in a book shop just off Leicester Square, so made it seem more personal. It was definitely one of the highlights of my work experience! Plus, I got a signed copy of the novel, and I am so looking forward to reading it!

All the people on the work experience also got to meet with others from a range of departments, giving us even more insight into how things work in a publishing house. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming, and I couldn't have asked for a better place to get work experience!

I hope this was helpful, and gave a bit more of an insight into what it's like to get work experience at Penguin, and I can honestly say, no two days are the same, and it's definitely a great place to work if you're a book lover like me! Plus, you get to see books that haven't even been published yet, and you get FREE BOOKS! The absolute DREAM. I literally came home with about 20 books (my mum was well happy), and I am so excited to get through them all!

This work experience has also inspired me to start reviewing books on my blog, as it is always something that I have wanted to do, but never knew how to start! So be sure to look out for those!

Thanks for reading, and I'll see you all soon!

Much love,
Grace x

2018: The Year of Realising Stuff (and Feeling Better For It)

So, in the very wise words of Kylie Jenner, 2018 is the year of realising stuff. Well, with a couple of the facts changed. She said 2016 was the year of realising stuff, but hey, we're all different. 2018 is the year that I, Grace, am realising stuff. 

I genuinely don't know where I was going with that.

Basically, I just feel like I've grown up a hell of a lot in the past couple of months. Not a clue as to why, maybe it's because I am now 21(!!!) and have obviously developed a lot of wisdom in my old age. In the words of Joey Tribbiani, I am very wisdomous.

Lol, let's be honest, no I'm not. 

I still laugh at stupid things and sometimes give the worst advice (lol, soz to all my friends who I have been no help to). But I'm overcoming my mistakes and realising that actually, it doesn't matter, and I'm allowed to mess up or laugh at stupid things, which I guess is kinda mature, right? Plus, I am never gonna stop laughing at stupid things, but let's be honest, who would want to give up that trait? Weirdos, that's who.

I don't know, I think I have just realised that there is more to life than how people perceive me, which played a big part in how I acted. I was quite reserved as a teenager, just because I was scared about what people though of me, but I quickly learnt that it didn't matter, as if I spoke up I was annoying and if I was quiet then I was boring. There is just no pleasing some people. 

It has literally taken me 21 years to realise this. 21 years. For god's sake, Grace.

Instead of dwelling on things, such as how someone may have taken something I had said which was harmless, but could have been perceived as not, or worrying about how I look when I go to the shops, I have started thinking 'who am I trying to impress?'. I literally do not know the answer to this question. I mean, I wear make up for me, because I like experimenting with it, and I feel more confident with it on, because I no longer look/feel like a child that hasn't slept in 21 years.

It's just that, I have finally realised that who cares? Who literally gives a shit if I put mascara on and it went clumpy, or have my jeans accidentally tucked into my very colourful socks. Yes, it was an accident, but it was an excellent fashion statement.

I have been doing work experience in London for the past two weeks, and I genuinely feel like a different person because of it. I mean, I am in no way a confident person (anyone will tell you that), but I have just learnt to fake it 'til you make it. I am staying in London, by myself, travelling on the tube everyday, by myself, sitting in restaurants and eating, BY MYSELF. And I know this doesn't sound like much to some people, but to someone who has pretty bad social anxiety, this is a massive win for me. 

All because I don't actually care what people think of me anymore. And the people who do have an opinion and who are negative towards me when I have literally done nothing to offend them or anyone else, well they can just do one. I just don't care anymore. I'm gonna do what makes me happy, have fun, be kind and enjoy life, because what is the point of always being worried about other people?

As someone who has constantly been self conscious, I know that if you're reading this and you are how I used to be, then this may seem like something that will never happen. But I promise that it will, and always know that it genuinely doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, as long as you're being kind and you're happy, do whatever the hell you want. 

I always do the year method. If you're wondering what this is, it is well-known, and probably has a better name than the 'year method', but this is just what I call it because I can't remember what it's actually called...

So basically, think about what you're worried about and think, will this be an issue in a year? Or even a month? And the answer is almost always no. Plus, you're probably never gonna see these people again, so just do you!

Toxic people, be gone!! *insert that girl emoji with her arms crossed over her face*

Jesus, I guess my realising stuff hasn't stretched to how to describe emojis.

Thanks for reading my very rambly post, but I felt like I just needed to get this out, as I know younger Grace would have loved to have read something like this, as I genuinely did think I would always be that way. But hey, being 21 has changed me. I am a changed woman. I can now drink in the US. I mean, this isn't helpful at all, as I don't live there, but it's always nice to know.

Much love amigos, 

Grace x