| Is anyone else languishing? Many of us have worked ourselves silly for the past two years, so it’s no surprise that summer has found me, at least, a little unmotivated. But, the second half of 2022 is looking good! My 2022 mantra has been to Do Big Things and I’m ready to finish up the year and share them with you! One thing I love about my job is the flexibility. Some months, I’m so busy I can’t see straight, and during others, I have a moment to step back, catch up, work forward and dream. How are you doing on your 2022 goals? Travel has restarted and it feels good. I have missed the hustle, new faces, new places, and even airports. Last quarter found me in Washington, DC, Los Angeles, Arkansas, Cincinnati, and Chicago. During Q2, some exciting projects landed on my desk. Check out the new Los Angeles launch of Australian rock star Gathar.com, a site that makes it easy to book incredible dinners from private chefs and caterers. I had a great time working on menus and recipes for them! The Australian Women’s Weekly cookbook series keeps going strong for our international DK team. In June, I moderated a Liberty Fund Virtual Reading Group on one of my favorite novels, Jane Eyre, along with Adam Smith’s Lectures on Rhetoric with an international group of scholars, Adam Smith fans, and readers. We spent 4 weeks examining Jane’s independence, the novel’s religious messages, and her journey paired with Smith’s thoughts on emotion, character, and propriety. Q3 means it’s time for the 2022 Wine Writer’s Symposium in August and some vacation and wine education in Bordeaux (and maybe a quick trip to Beaune). I am so happy to be back in to wine visits, tastings, and education. And of course, to eat and visit favorite sites in Paris. Here’s what I’m seeing out in the world: Take a vacation: Seems like everyone is taking one this summer. Say what you will about social media, I love to travel along with friends whether they’re in Utah, Italy, or France. No matter where you go, the important thing is that you carve out some time to let your subconscious rest and come up with new ideas. Once your brain can take a break, it can dream about the future. Focus on gentelligence: I recently had lunch with a colleague and we discussed challenges that workers of all ages have in relating to each other. While emotional IQ and relationship theory are important, leaders must have “gentelligence” or the ability to understand the motivational factors of different generations. As Boomers exit the workforce, we genx-ers feel like we’re holding things together, but we’re also the most likely to be able to intergenerationally adapt. Today’s employers and leaders have to understand that they’re working with a variety of ages, styles, and tech factors. Understanding gentelligence is the best way to start. I’ve been loving Gentelligence: The Revolutionary Approach to Leading an Intergenerational Workforce. Style Guides: I’m always surprised how few people understand – or use — style guides.Even if you’re a publishing professional, it’s worth taking a minute to review your favorite. It might be the Chicago Manual of Style which has everything you could ever want to know about how to prepare a manuscript or the AP Stylebook, which is more common for newspapers, some magazines, and websites. Academic style guides range from the APA to Scientific Style and Format (CSE). One of my private clients is finishing his thesis so I treated myself to a new copy of Turabian’s A Manual for Writers. These books can be updated frequently, so make sure you have the latest edition. Estate planning: Did you know your book rights can outlive you? They become part of your estate along with any royalties. Give some thought to who you want to manage those rights or benefit from royalty income and designate them in your estate plan. It’s especially important if you have unnamed co-authors or collaborators who aren’t on your book’s contact. (Same goes for unmarried partners.) Friends: I’ve been reading a lot lately about social resiliency and the importance of friends and neighbors. One recent study shows we lost a lot of touch with close friends during COVID. Another said that 27% of millennials say they have no close friends and 22% say they have none at all. That’s 47% of a generation without any significant personal connection! It’s hard work to make and keep friends, but it’s worth putting in the effort. As I’ve been reminded this year, friends – old and new – can be great sources of energy and inspiration. Read more from Axios. Mentoring Students: One of the most gratifying things I did this spring was talk to college graduates and intern seekers interested in publishing or communications jobs. I even spoke to a friend’s USC entrepreneurism class regarding their team publishing project. Students today are looking for ways to connect with experts who can give them advice whether they’re looking for an internship or sorting out their future major. Take the time to answer those calls and provide help where you can. My best advice for for breaking into publishing? Market yourself and what you know. Today’s graduates have a better intuitive understanding of online marketing, use of social media, and changing trends than many professionals. Let’s connect online: At my website: connectorcreator.com On Facebook: Renee Wilmeth On Instagram: @feedmedrinkme At LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/reneewilmeth I’m always excited to hear about new books and writing projects. Contact me about ghostwriting and development projects for later this year and early 2023. (As always, you can see my list of topic specialties and what i can do for you.) If we’ve worked together, referrals are great, too. Let’s keep connecting! Warm regards, Renee Wilmeth |
Summer 2022 — Publishing Insights and Inspiration
Connecting. Creating. 
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