Dylan Blyth: Work experience at Scottish Book Trust

Young writer Dylan Blyth recently completed a week of work experience with us. We asked him to tell us how he found his week in the Scottish Book Trust office.

“Slowly he walked down the street, looking to his left and to his right for it: that small alley he could recall from a half remembered dream. Something was waiting for him there: something important.

Then he spotted it: that familiar, small, dark cave. Cautiously entering, he began the downhill descent and was taken in a sudden surge of surprise when walls raised high above him and the ceiling disappeared, letting the sky flood light down onto him, brightening the alley, taking away the sinister feel that anyone could jump out from a corner and mug you at any time.

But the inner war was still being fought between nerves and excitement, and he had no idea who would win. But, with every step he took, back-up arrived to fight on the side of excitement, and this back-up was familiarity.

Images flashed across his mind, too fast to focus on. Memories flooded his brain like light had flooded the alley: a great atmosphere, nice, seemingly-normal people. But was that part of the hazy dream? Or part of the calling that had brought him here on this cold morning? Dylan did not know, but as he slowly and tentatively pressed the doorbell, he knew he was about to find out.”

 ***

For the past week, I have been on work experience at the Scottish Book Trust. I had expected what I was going to be doing to be amazing, however I was wrong: this is the best work placement I could have taken and I have had so much fun working here. It was even better than I had expected. Over my week here I have done many different varieties of job; transcribing, helping with arrangements for the Young Writers Conference, transcribing, writing information and tasks to be put on the Love to Write section of the Scottish Book Trust website and a whole lot more transcribing, as well as writing a book review for one of my favourite books: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

One of my main jobs, you may have noticed, was transcribing interviews with authors into text, so that people who are deaf can see what is being said. This job has spanned over two days, and an afternoon another day, but while it may sound boring, it was actually, surprisingly, fun. The pedal which allows control over the video while you type makes the job easier and faster: although I cannot imagine having to go any slower than I did.

The people here are great, with no exceptions whatsoever. I felt welcomed and part of the team straight away, and not like some teenager who had been brought along just to get on with work quietly, on his own, as I had thought could possibly happen. The atmosphere in the office is one I would love to get used to. But I would also love to get used to working here, as I think it would be a generally fantastic job, as promoting reading among children is an important job.

This week has not just given me a taste for tea, but also a taste for work, and especially, working at the Scottish Book Trust. I am glad my placement was accepted here: this week has been amazing!

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