Internship Opportunities at MU

We are happy to offer many internship opportunities. Listed below are two kinds of internships, publishing internships sponsored by the English Department and on-campus library internships.

Publishing Internships

Persea Books

This internship with Persea Books requires a commitment of 10 hours per week, including one weekly class session that meets Friday afternoons (subject to change). 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)

Application process: Applications for spring semester will be due the preceding mid-October and for fall semester the preceding mid-February. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but applications received by the deadlines (mid-October and mid-February) will be prioritized. Submit a one-page cover letter (describing your interest in the position and relevant experience, if any) and a resume to the Assistant to the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Students selected for an internship will be notified by email near the start of early registration.

The Missouri Review

The Missouri Review is a leader in training students in both print and digital publishing through our long-standing, immersive internship. Our interns are a major part of producing one of the top 10 literary magazines in the U.S., with international submitters and readers, and play a role in shaping American literature. 

Students develop skills in reading, analysis, and pitching, and additional skills in their areas of interest through special project teams, including copyediting, book manuscript layout, web editing, audio and video editing, photography, social media strategy, business/advertising/marketing strategy, production management, donor stewardship, community building, event planning, and more. 

Interns are expected to be present in-office (or online by special arrangement) for 3 hours per week in addition to class time. Each student will read 20 creative writing submissions per week and pitch submissions in weekly genre meetings. They will also read a few additional submissions pitched by fellow interns and staff. 

MU undergraduate and graduate students in all disciplines are eligible for this internship. (3 credit hours; ENGL 4950/7950). The course may be repeated for credit. A permission code is required for enrollment.

Learn more about The Missouri Review internship program and fill out the interest form to request a permission code and be contacted by a member of the editorial staff.

Wigleaf: (very) short fiction

This internship provides students with hands-on experience in core operations of an award-winning online literary journal of international profile, Wigleaf: (very) short fiction. Students will read and record preliminary evaluation of submissions of flash and micro fiction (stories of fewer than 1000 words) through Submittable, the industry-standard management system. In regular staff meetings, usually held Mondays from 3:00 to 3:50, students will deliberate on submissions; as part of a small editorial team, you will also be exposed to (and potentially be given the chance to become involved in) communications with authors, the editing process, the proofing of html galleys, graphic-design planning/concept work, and the promotion of stories when they go live. Weekly time commitment, not including staff meeting: 2 ½  hours. (1 credit hour; English 4940)

To apply for the Wigleaf internship, email Scott Garson (garsons@missouri.edu). Describe potential qualifications as you see them, including enthusiasm as a reader and course work in Creative Writing.

Library Internships

Several stand-alone and combination internships exist within the following departments in the University Libraries: Digital Services Department: The intern will work on projects that will help develop skills in digitization work and develop an understanding of the value of digital material in the humanities. The MU Digital Library includes rare and special materials from the library collections that will promote research and teaching at MU and beyond. The intern will digitize material using our scanners, edit images, add the digitized images to our digital library, and write descriptions for the material. Communication & Development Department: The intern will primarily work for library Administration on projects relating to communications and development. Duties will include writing and editing press releases, solicitation letters, and content for promotional materials. The Special Collections and Rare Books Department holds rare and unique cultural heritage materials that document 4,000 years of world history. The intern will contribute to digital humanities projects using software such as Omeka, Neatline, and other digital imaging technologies. The intern will also assist librarians with provenance research, exhibitions, and social media outreach. Work will include writing descriptions of materials for exhibition and social media texts, as well as proofreading and testing published digital resources. (3 credit hours; English 4940)

To apply for the internship with University Libraries, please submit a brief resumé and statement of interest to Anne Barker (BarkerA@missouri.edu). Deadlines for applications are announced by the English department each semester, usually with due dates in late September for an internship in the spring semester and in mid-February for the fall semester.