Honors Essay Guidelines - Undergraduate Program - English Department - College of Arts and Science

The Undergraduate Program
The English Major
Minor Options:
The English Minor
The Writing Minor

Scholarships and Prizes
for English majors
for all majors

Courses/Journals
Lower-Division Literature Courses
Honors Sequence
Honors Essay Abstracts
Internships in Publishing, Fall 2009

Artifacts: An Online Journal
of Undergraduate Writing

Epic - An Undergraduate Literary Journal

Resources
English@MU Student Organization
MU Admissions
Arts & Science Advising Center
MU Student Resources

English Publishing Internships

We are happy to offer a growing number of publishing internships, including a new opportunity with Unbridled Books. Please read the four descriptions below carefully; both the formats of the internships and the application processes vary.

Note: Graduate students selected for any of these internships must commit to two semesters in order to count three hours toward the completion of their program.

Dedicated to publishing high-quality works that are moving, beautiful, and surprising, the name was chosen to designate a publishing venture that is both energetic and independent.

The student will gain practical knowledge of many aspects of the publishing business. He or she will be expected to screen and track manuscript submissions, assist in the daily operations of a publishing office, and assist in a variety of projects as needed, including mailings and other contacts with authors, literary agents, publishing professionals, booksellers, marketing/publicity, and sales representatives. The scope and nature of assignments will depend on the skills and interests of the student as well as the particular needs of the office at any given time. But some skill level in reading and evaluating manuscript submissions is important. The ideal student would have some history of publishing in, or previous experience working with, literary magazines. The student would be expected to commit 10 hours a week to the internship duties, off-campus. Some rate of hourly pay is possible. This publisher's most recent catalog is available for brief perusal at the main desk in Tate 107. (3 credit hours; English 4950/7950)

The University of Missouri Press is located at 2910 LeMone Blvd., here in Columbia. Because nearly all publishers prefer to hire staff who have had previous publishing experience, this internship offers students interested in a career in publishing a chance to gain that experience while still in school. Interns will assist the editors at the Press with the actual work of the editorial department. This will include checking various stages of manuscript and proof; helping with the copyediting of indexes and other discrete parts of books, such as footnotes and bibliographies; proofreading; trafficking of manuscripts edited by freelancer; and various other tasks. The interns will be expected to work 10 hours a week within the business hours of the Press (8-5, Monday through Friday) but will be given no take-home work. They will be given time within the hours they are at the Press to become familiar with The Chicago Manual of Style (the standard manual of book publishing) and other copyediting texts as well as to study the editorial department procedures manual, which will put all of the various tasks in the chronological order in which a manuscript progresses through the department to become a book. Interns will also have the opportunity to learn about the overall organization of a publisher, and what the staff of the other departments--acquisitions, production, marketing, and business--do as part of the entire operation. (3 credit hours; English 4950/7950)

This internship with Persea Books requires a commitment of 10 hours per week, including one weekly class session that meets Wednesday afternoons. Enrollment is limited to twelve students, and the course is open to both undergraduate and graduate students.

This course is a practicum in small press publishing, with an emphasis on poetry publishing. Students will be exposed to (and do real-world work on behalf of) many aspects of the poetry series of Persea Books, a small, venerable publishing house. These aspects may include reading submissions, writing reader reports and press releases, doing photo research for book covers, proofing book galleys, interviewing authors, assisting with author tours and promotion, and co-administering poetry contests. Interested students will also have the opportunity to gain a familiarity with some practical (and resume-building) facets of book publishing (e.g. book contracts, copyright application, subsidiary rights). (3 credit hours; English 4950/7950)

Due dates for applications will be posted. Typically, applications for spring semester will be due the preceding mid-September and for fall semester the preceding mid-February. Submit a one-page cover letter (describing your interest in the position and relevant experience, if any) and a resume to Dr. Dana Kinnison, English Projects Coordinator, 107 Tate Hall. You may also submit these materials electronically to KinnisonD@missouri.edu. Students selected for an internship will be notified by email near the start of early registration.

This course is designed to give students some idea of what it takes to publish a literary magazine. That means, not only the editorial side of the business, but the production and marketing side as well. Unlike most courses, what you do here makes a difference. We are putting out a real magazine with deadlines, a magazine for which people pay, and for which we are dependent on for our continued existence.

Over the last couple of years, we've paid increasing attention to our website. This is an area where our interns can make a significant contribution in terms of content. Projects over the semester may include students producing audio and video podcasts-these could be interviews, aspects of the internship program, or other topics. Additionally, students will be expected to contribute blogs on a regular basis to the website.

We're also involved in the production of our audiobook-converting each issue into digital audio. Scheduling voice talent, working the sound board, and editing is involved in this ongoing project. There are also marketing plans to develop and execute.

Finally, reading manuscripts remains the core of the internship. You'll be expected to read 20 to 30 manuscripts a week, pitch the best stories or poetry at the weekly genre meetings, and be a second or third reader on manuscripts pitched by fellow interns and staff. (3 credit hours; English 4950/7950)

For more information on applying for the internship with The Missouri Review, students can contact Richard Sowienski (sowienskir@missouri.edu) or Evelyn Rogers (rogerses@missouri.edu) to arrange for an interview, which includes reading a number of manuscripts.