Hi, I’m Sawda. This month I have been working at Mushens Entertainment as a Literary Intern. If you’ve ever wondered what a Literary Intern does, get comfy and start reading!

My day usually begins with reading book submissions that are sent to the team. As Juliet, Liza and Silé just recently opened for submissions it has been a very busy month! As I read the submissions, I write notes on the plot, structure, characters and my overall thoughts. I compile these together into a report which I then discuss with the agents to get their thoughts on what worked or didn’t work for them. I really enjoy reading the variety of fiction and non-fiction submissions, evaluating them, and learning the key elements that each agent looks for in their submissions. I also read client manuscripts and discuss the proposed editorial changes with the primary agent.

It’s an exciting day at Mushens Entertainment, as three of their books have been selected as Waterstones Paperbacks of the Year 2021. Here I am creating a highlight post celebrating this achievement for the agency’s social media platforms. All in Team Mushens colours of course!

We had an author visit us in the office today and we had such a lovely conversation all about books, translation and languages: I’ve learned a lot about the process a book goes through to be submitted and sold in international markets, as well as in the UK. Throughout my internship I have met several Team Mushens authors as well as representatives from publishing houses and co-agents which has been a great way for me to learn about the Publishing industry from an insider’s perspective.

Unboxing the final copies of books before publication is always fun. Here I am setting up for a photo to then share the book’s release date and information on Instagram.

The team run seminars in which I pick the topic and get to learn about all aspects of agenting. It’s one of my favourite parts of the Internship as I gain an in-depth insight into the publication process, selling foreign rights, contracts, and book fairs. The team also help me with job applications which is so useful.

A book proof has just arrived – Theatre of Marvels by Lianne Dillsworth – and the cover is coincidentally very on brand for Team Mushens and their love for leopards. I’ve set up the books with a few props and lighting to add to the stunning cover and created a fun reel. The novel is out in April 2022 and it’s set in and around a Victorian theatre which meant I could be very creative with the way I staged the book. Check out the final video.  

So that’s a glimpse into the day of a Literary Intern at Mushens Entertainment. It’s a varied and exciting job and I have loved working with the incredible team this month and learning about the world of Agenting. Thank you Team Mushens!