Are you considering applying for an internship with the Sigma Tau Delta Journals? Allow me to share my experience! I decided to apply because I thought being an editorial assistant for the Rectangle and the Review sounded like lots of fun, allowing me to indulge my passion for reading while assembling a publication that would be read internationally. Having worked for Texas Tech University Press as a copyediting intern, I knew I would enjoy getting to help select and edit essays, poetry, creative nonfiction, and fiction. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to do something I love and gain additional experience in the publishing industry.
I knew there was a lot of competition so I was surprised and thrilled when I received an email from the Managing Editor of Publications, Dr. Carie King, saying I was one of the finalists and she wanted to interview me. I was even more ecstatic when I was out on a walk a day after my interview and received a call from Dr. King informing me I was chosen as one of the four interns. Since I hope to work in the publishing industry one day, I knew the editing experience I would acquire would be a valuable asset. I felt blessed to have this opportunity and excited to be a part of assembling the special centennial issues.
So, what did the internship entail? The first stage involved reading over one hundred submissions. Using a rubric, I scored the essays and creative writing and provided commentary on the submissions’ strengths and areas that needed polishing. It was an honor getting to provide feedback detailing the reasons I thought certain pieces should be published. The amazing thing about the reviewing process is that there were other interns, Dr. King, and volunteer faculty reviewers who were also reading the same submissions I was, so one individual’s opinion would never prevent a piece from having a fair chance at being published. It was a team effort to ensure every submission had multiple people reading it and considering its possibilities.
After the submissions were reviewed by the editorial team and the faculty reviewers they dwindled to under fifty. It was now time to carefully edit the submissions, shaping and strengthening them so they could blossom into their full potential and meet the authors’ visions. Each genre provided the opportunity to learn different copyediting skills. The critical essays involved things like correcting in-text citations and works cited lists, teaching me the intricacies of MLA style. Reading the fiction and creative nonfiction was my favorite, but it was imperative to remain alert for grammatical and plot inconsistencies and not become too enraptured by the stories while editing.
Lastly, we created centennial sections for the journals. Throughout the reading experience, we kept a sharp watch for submissions that connected to the centennial theme to celebrate the society’s 100th anniversary. For the Review, each intern wrote an article about an award-winning Sigma Tau Delta alum. I got the opportunity to interview author Lee Conell who had a story published in the Rectangle back in 2010 and has since written two award-winning books. It is inspiring to see how far Sigma Tau Delta alumni like Ms. Conell have come since their publication in the journals.
I am incredibly grateful I was able to work alongside Dr. King and the other interns and be a part of creating these special issues of the journals as the society celebrates a century. I can truly say this internship has further fueled my desire to work in the publishing industry. For anyone hesitant about applying, I encourage you to send in a polished application because the only way you absolutely cannot get chosen is if you don’t even try. Good luck and cheers to Sigma Tau Delta’s next one hundred years!
Check out Baylie’s hard work by claiming your copy of the 2025 Sigma Tau Delta Centennial Journals!
Baylie Jett Mills
Sigma Tau Delta Journal Internship Recipient, 2024
Psi Delta Chapter, President
Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Sigma Tau Delta Journal Internship
A three-month internship opportunity is available with the Sigma Tau Delta Journals. This opportunity will provide as many as three Sigma Tau Delta student members (undergraduate or graduate) with editorial and publication experience. These interns will work with the Managing Editor from May 15 to August 15, averaging 10 hours per week. Internships are remote and therefore require reliable internet access. Each intern will be paid $300 per month.
Interns may not submit for publication in the journals on which they are working.
Job Summary
Under the Managing Editor’s direction interns:
- Read and evaluate submissions
- Edit accepted submissions for publication
- Communicate regularly via email and/or video conference with the Managing Editor
Skills and Abilities
Interns should have:
- Excellent written communication skills
- Ability to meet deadlines
- Strong work ethic
- Editorial experience
- Computer literacy
Eligibility
Applicants must be active student members of a Sigma Tau Delta chapter at the time of application and should be familiar with the most recent issues of the Sigma Tau Delta journals. Please submit questions about the journal internship to the Managing Editor at [email protected].
Application
Applications for summer 2025 will be accepted on the AwardSpring platform through February 3, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. CT.
Required Materials
- Well written cover letter to the Managing Editor of Publications
- Relevant resume/CV
- Short answer responses to application questions
Resources
Finding What’s Next: My Transformative Experience as a Sigma Tau Delta Journal Intern
The Summer I Became an Editorial Intern for the Sigma Tau Delta Journals
Formation and Cultivation: The Impact of the Sigma Tau Delta Journal Internship
Grammar and Lit. Theory in Praxis: A Sigma Tau Delta Journal Internship
Building Confidence and a Career in Publishing: Interning with Rectangle and Review
Once an Editor, Always an Editor: Thoughts from a Sigma Tau Delta Journal Intern
Sigma Tau Delta Journal Internship: Answering the Dreaded “What’s Next?”
Anxiety Relief from . . . an Internship?
7 Reasons You Should Apply for Sigma Tau Delta’s Journal Internship
Apply for a Sigma Tau Delta Journal Internship
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