There’s a specific kind of joy and fulfillment that comes from working with writers, helping them shape and polish their drafts into final products they can be proud of. This is one of the reasons why I’m eager to enter the publishing industry, and my internships have helped me become confident in that decision.
Specifically, Sigma Tau Delta’s Journal Internship with the Rectangle and the Review was a foundational opportunity, giving me a glimpse into the kind of editorial work I could do in the future. I’ve been a part of Insanity’s Horse, Drew University‘s art and literature magazine since my freshman year and where I’m currently the Editor-in-Chief.
Yet, the internship with Sigma Tau Delta’s two journals provided me the opportunity to continue the work I’ve done with Insanity’s Horse on a much larger scale. The Rectangle and the Review are publications that allow writers to share their creativity, and their submissions come from all over the country.
As one of the three interns, I read pieces from perspectives I’d never considered. There were short stories, poems, essays, and creative nonfiction pieces that centered around ideas of loss, identity, and relationships. When it was time to edit, instead of reading the submissions to determine their potential, I was now reading them with a critical eye on how to improve them. Were there sections where the language was confusing, or the ideas seemed to spin in circles? If a sentence or a paragraph worked well, how did the language achieve that effect so I could suggest edits on weaker passages?
Overall, I was conscious of how I could help strengthen the accepted pieces without imposing my own voice or style, which made editing each story, poem, or essay akin to solving a puzzle—but a puzzle that wasn’t limited to only one right answer. And what I truly enjoyed as a part of these journals was supporting the writers, letting them know that what they have to say matters and their voices carry weight.
I was also fortunate to have worked closely with Dr. Carie King, the journals’ Managing Editor, and the two other interns, Ollie Otty and Sunny Williams. Since this internship was remote, we communicated across time zones and collaborated using Microsoft Teams and emails—but this distance didn’t interfere with our teamwork. From our first meeting, Carie welcomed our questions, invited us to voice our opinions, and encouraged us to trust our experience and intuitions as editors. Throughout the internship, we met frequently to discuss every stage of the editorial process. We talked about our favorite submissions and how best to leave productive comments and edits. Ollie and Sunny each brought a different perspective to those conversations, and their energy made this internship a wonderful experience.
Since working with Sigma Tau Delta’s journals was a paid opportunity, I had the ability to register the internship for credit at Drew University during the summer semester. By saving some of the stipends, I can also travel to the Sigma Tau Delta 2023 Convention in Denver, CO—where I’m excited to meet the editorial team in person. We’ll present on a panel about this internship and encourage other Sigma Tau Delta members to apply.
Looking back, I’m honored to have met Carie, Ollie, and Sunny, and I can’t wait to see where the invaluable editorial experience I’ve gained from this internship will take me as I strive to enter the publishing industry!
The 2023 Sigma Tau Delta Journals will be available soon for you to enjoy all of Emma’s hard work. In the meantime, claim your copy of the 2022 Sigma Tau Delta Journals!
Emma-Li Downer
Sigma Tau Delta Journal Internship Recipient, 2022
Alpha Pi Omega Chapter
Drew University, Madison, NJ
Sigma Tau Delta Journal Internship
A paid, remote, three-month internship opportunity is available with the Sigma Tau Delta Journals. This opportunity will provide a minimum of two Sigma Tau Delta student members (undergraduate or graduate) with editorial and publication experience. These interns will work with the Managing Editor on the publications, from May 15 until August 15, averaging 10 hours per week. The interns may complete this internship from any location, so long as they have reliable internet access. Each intern will be paid $300 per month for three months.
Job Summary
Under the Managing Editor’s direction interns will:
- Read and evaluate submissions
- Edit accepted submissions for publication
- Communicate regularly via email and/or video conference with the Managing Editor
Skills and Abilities
- Excellent written communication skills
- Ability to meet deadlines
- Strong work ethic
- Editorial experience
- Computer literacy
Requirements
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.
Application
Applications for summer 2023 will be accepted on the AwardSpring platform through February 6, 2023.
Required Materials
- Well written cover letter to the Managing Editor of Publications
- Relevant resume/CV
- Short answer responses to application questions
Resources
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
More from Footnotes: January 24, 2023
African American Read-In
Outstanding Literary Arts Journal Award Winners
Sigma Tau Delta Members Awarded NEH Grants
2023 Convention Update
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