Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Today in the UK is National Blog Day when people are invited to record their day for posterity - and the duller the better. Here's mine which I'll post at the British Library later today (just in case something unpredicted happens).

Got up 5.30, lamented the passing of the BBC Radio 4 British folksong theme which used to open the day and lift the spirits, did 300 kcals on the exercise bike, shower(s), breakfast, bus to Tottenham Court Road, walk to King's Cross, email while I walk and listen to Janacek's Lachian Dances. Write blog.

Meetings this morning with various Macmillan directors and a brilliant editor who has decided to move back into selling rights for another company. I think it's called an exit interview. Lunch in Islington with an old friend, Bob Gavron, who is or has been involved in all aspects of the book trade - printing (St Ives), publishing (Carcanet), retailing (Folio Society) and much else.

This afternoon a catch-up session with our personnel director and then a discussion with new joiners. I try to get to meet all new joiners in the UK to share with them some of our aims as an organisation. One of the main (and beneficial) changes of the last thirty years in publishing is that people have become more specialised and professional. The downside is that it's very hard for anyone to understand the full scope of the company which employs them. I'll try to redress the balance.

Finally a dinner with the past and current managing directors of the Macmillan English Campus to say thanks for what's been achieved so far and good luck for what will be achieved.

And so, in the words of A.A.Milne, to bed. I went to check that it was A.A.Milne and you may be interested to know that a Google search on that phrase throws up Hot hotels to take your lover.

#    |  Comments [4]  | 
10/17/2006 4:28:30 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
Dear Richard,

In view of your last entry in your blog, for that I personally find extraordinary that there is now a blog-day (I guess there must be a day for everything under the sky!!!), you may wish to read this analysis of why people blog: the solitary unburdening of one's hopes and fears (quote from the Article) .http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2006/10/17/bablog17.xml

Have a lovely day

Anne

10/18/2006 6:49:33 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
Surprised there have been no comments on your view that
"One of the main (and beneficial) changes of the last thirty years in publishing is that people have become more specialised and professional."

Would have expected a barrage of disagreement.

Anne
Bookworm on the Net
10/18/2006 7:44:35 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
Disagreement about what? That it's good to be professional or that publishers are more professional?! I assume you mean the latter and I know what you mean - there is still a great deal of amateurism but just compare eg distribution now and thirty years ago, or understanding of sales trends, or speed of production, or accuracy of bibliographic data. Sure there are slip-ups but overall I'm sure things are more professional than they were.
10/18/2006 4:08:32 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
It's not an annual blog day in the UK (so far as I understand it from reading the BBC piece) but rather a 'snapshot' of an ordinary day (or as near as possible) at the beginning of the 21st century.

So, more interesting than the blogging equivalent of National Wooden Spoon Day, or something like that.

There's more information if you follow the 'Related Internet Links' in the right-hand column of the BBC article page.