Urvi Agrawal interned at SUP in the second semester of 2024.
What have you been working on at SUP?
I spent this semester engaged in a variety tasks at SUP. I have had the chance to proofread some books we launched this year and some upcoming ones as well. I also created social media posts, wrote alt text for images in ebooks, attended book events and worked on design.
What has been the best part of the role? How about the most challenging?
Being a part of this wonderful team has been the best part of this role. The team is welcoming, friendly and so good at what they do – there is so much to learn from them!
For my last few weeks, I got the opportunity to work on designing a book cover for an upcoming book. It has been new and challenging, putting together mood boards and finding graphics to make succinct and appealing designs. It is, however, very fun and exciting to experiment with design concepts.
Has anything surprised you about SUP/scholarly publishing?
The variety of topics covered by SUP’s books was surprising to me. It was interesting to see how the series are planned with care and intention, and that they have a widespread audience around the world.
What skills have you used most during your internship?
I have used mostly editing, proofreading and writing skills. I have also found myself using and developing Adobe InDesign skills through the social media and design tasks during the internship.
What was your dream job when you were 12? What is your dream job now?
Ever the book nerd, I believe my dream job was to be an author at 12. Funnily enough, I went through computer science, business and management consulting, and yet ended up back in the writing world. My ideal dream scenario is one in which I am a published writer.
You have to take a week-long road trip with a fictional or historical character. Who do you choose and why?
This is such a tough question, but I think I will have to ultimately pick Six-Thirty, Elizabeth and Calvin’s pet Goldendoodle from Lessons in Chemistry (the dog’s name comes from the exact time Elizabeth finds him in the book). He is extremely smart and loveable. With a good playlist and Six-Thirty as companions, I can’t imagine I would need anything else.
What are you planning to do next?
I have a final semester remaining for my program in which I intend to pursue my capstone project. I am also a part of the USYD Anthology’s editorial team and we’re preparing for its launch soon. (Make sure to check them out!) Additionally, developing my website and expanding my writing portfolio are ongoing projects that I hopefully make progress in during the holidays.
Urvi is from Kathmandu, Nepal. She completed her BBA from Emory University in the US, after which she worked as a business analyst. She is currently pursuing her Master of Creative Writing degree at the University of Sydney.