After I interviewed for the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Publishing Internship, I felt great. Not because I thought I had it in the bag or knew that my experience would land me the job, but because the interviewers said they saw how serious I was about a career in publishing by the steps I’ve taken so far.
Like many others who dream of working with books, I had been applying to publishing internships for years with no luck. It felt like a win for someone in the publishing industry to acknowledge my passion and hard work. So yes, whether I had received the internship or not, after that interview, I felt really good. After I found out that I did get the internship, I felt even better.
My first week at NCTE was both nerve wracking and exciting. I was immediately told what my tasks would be, and I was ready to get started. My only problem was I had never done a lot of the stuff they were describing.
Did I know what Adobe Acrobat was? Yes. Did I know how to use it? No, not really. The same could be said for almost every other platform I was supposed to work on.
I am so thankful for how much I did not know going into this internship because it only made my experience more enriching.
A lot of the work I did consisted of proofreading books, organizing files, tracking permissions, and uploading books to Lightning Source to be printed on demand.
Every Tuesday I attended the permissions and acquisitions meeting, where the production team spoke about the different books currently in production and where they were in the editorial process while also evaluating proposals for potential books. The team always made me feel like I was a part of the conversation and took the time to explain things to me.
I had frequent meetings with NCTE’s editorial assistant Emmy Gilbert. Aside from the hard skills I was learning from her, Emmy also had an abundance of advice. She told me what she wished someone had told her before entering grad school, which is helpful to me, seeing as I will begin my MFA at Emerson College next Spring. We also spoke in depth about where to submit my own writing and how to break into the publishing industry.
I only wish I had more time at NCTE. I met so many amazing people from different teams, learned so much, and gained a confidence in myself that I didn’t have before—a confidence I will need for the next steps I take in my career.
I have saved almost every penny I made during my six weeks working at NCTE and my Sigma Tau Delta award, which is going toward the first semester of my MFA. Before I head off to Emerson, I will be attending the Columbia Publishing Course in Oxford, UK.
I truly believe my first publishing experience being with NCTE was the best possible outcome, and I am excited to take all the skills I’ve learned with me wherever I’m headed next.
Takier George
NCTE Publishing Internship Recipient, 2024
Theta Theta Chapter
Howard University, DC
NCTE Communications Internship
Sigma Tau Delta encourages undergraduate student members with an interest in communications, marketing, journalism, or education to apply for this paid internship opportunity with the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).
The six-week internship spans from early July through mid-August and will require 15 hours of work per week. The intern will contribute to various aspects of NCTE’s communications program, including creating and publishing content for social media, email newsletters and messages, and NCTE.org.
The intern will also liaise with key staff members from other departments to build collaboration skills and learn about day-to-day operations. NCTE is a fully remote organization, so the intern must have access to a computer, video camera, and reliable internet.
Stipends from Sigma Tau Delta and NCTE
- Sigma Tau Delta will award the NCTE intern a $300 stipend.
- NCTE will provide the intern with a $1,000 stipend.
The intern will also receive a one-year complimentary NCTE membership after successful completion of the program, as well as a certificate of participation.
Internship Experience
The intern will report to NCTE’s Director of Communications and will receive coaching on writing and creating engaging digital content. Work hours will be flexible and adaptable to the intern’s schedule. NCTE uses Microsoft Teams for meetings and communicating during the work day.
Application Dates and Notification
Applications will be accepted through AwardSpring through April 7, 2025. The internship will be awarded by June 2. Questions regarding the online submission process should be addressed to sigmatdapply@niu.edu.
Past NCTE Internship Recipients
So Much More than a Summer: An NCTE Internship
“What’d I Miss?” Returning for an NCTE Internship in the States
The Quarter Life Crisis and My Internship with NCTE
Unconventional and Invaluable: My Time as the NCTE Communications Intern
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