Each month, we will interview one employee to get their opinions on the publishing industry, hear what it’s like to work at Technica, and learn a little bit about them. This month we are interviewing Drew Martin, an Orange County, NC native who returned home to work as an Associate Editor for Technica.
This is your first publishing job. What have you learned since working at Technica?
I would say that regardless of what industry you’re working in, there are layers and layers of stuff going on that you have no idea about. And this job has kind of opened my eyes to that. Especially in publishing, it’s an industry that’s changing so much and everyone has had to adjust and adapt.
What is your favorite thing about working at Technica?
I would say the size of the company. Like any business the goal is to grow, but I feel like Jack and Arlene have done a really good job of expanding without changing the structure and culture of the company too much. Obviously there are some things that have to change, but I never feel like I walk into an office building and there are twenty faceless people I don’t know or interact with. And I think that’s important, especially with what we do since so much of it is remote. Because we support people remotely, it helps having a small local group that we interact with regularly. It’s a good group of people to work with. That, and I think also how approachable people are here. I feel like people interact with me on an equal footing. Jack and Arlene are good about that too. There’s a lot of mutual respect, and I think that plays into the size of the company as well.
What would your dream concert be if you could see anyone, alive or dead?
If I could see anyone regardless of whether they are alive or not, I would definitely see one of Frank Zappa’s live touring bands from the mid-‘70s. That was one of the best touring collections of musicians you could listen to, and some of his best music. But I have also seen my favorite show I ever could have seen, which was Sunn0))) in Washington, D.C. earlier this year. So I don’t really feel like I’m missing out.
What does your perfect day look like?
I would say a day in which I get to do all the things I like to do in my free time. If I have enough time to make good, healthy food, some good coffee, maybe go fishing with some friends, go on a motorcycle ride in the country. Leisure time to do with as you please is a luxury. A solo backpacking trip over a weekend is always nice, as well.
What do you like doing when you aren’t at work?
I’m a pretty active person. I definitely go running a lot, I go fishing a lot, I listen to a lot of music with my friends, I play some music with my friends. I go on motorcycle rides. I also like doing things around the house, working on my motorcycle, organizing all my fishing gear, stuff like that. It gives me peace of mind to organize things.
What advice would you give to an author preparing to submit to a journal for the first time?
There are so many things you could say, but I think the best all-around advice would be to read the author guidelines, for every journal, because every journal has some and they’re going to answer almost every question you have, and probably help you catch any formatting issues you’re going to have to fix later. It’s a good idea for everyone involved in the process.
