When a Columbia MFA student took on fiction editorial duties for The Adirondack Review during her summer break to fill a need in 2002, editor Colleen Marie Ryor decided to create internships at the magazine for eligible students around the country. The first internship position opened during the winter of 2003, with an undergraduate from University at Buffalo earning three academic credits towards her English Literature degree for her work at the Review. TAR has worked with interns from the State University of New York, the University of Wisconsin, Kenyon College, Sarah Lawrence College, and Central Michigan University.
TAR is currently offering three to four unpaid college internships in the form of editorial assistant positions for interested students. Graduate students are also welcome to apply.
The Adirondack Review is looking for flexible, mature students who are capable of working independently. Computer literacy is a must, as is Internet access. Since The Adirondack Review is exclusively an on-line publication at this time, most work can be completed by computer, telephone, or conventional (snail) mail, enabling students to remain on campus during the internship. The internship consists of two parts: the individual focus of the internship and the editorial aspect.
Who is eligible to apply?
Applicants with an ideal background will be well acquainted with modern and contemporary poetry and fiction, show an eagerness to work independently for a literary publication, and have exceptional research and communication skills. Knowledge of French or German is not required, but helpful.
All students in the liberal arts and sciences are eligible to apply; however, students majoring in English, American Studies, Comparative Literature, Film Studies, Art, French, or German will likely be given preference. Reading knowledge of foreign language(s) is a plus. We may also consider a student majoring in arts administration or non-profit management who could contribute to the Review.
A written essay and two letters of reference are required in order to be considered.
Hours: Flexible. All internships are part-time. Students will be expected to work between eight and twenty-four hours per week from their home or school computer. Students may also be required to do library and/or Internet research from time to time. Contact with Adirondack Review editors several times per week is mandatory.
Duration: One to two semesters
Internship Possibilities: TAR editors work with interns to help match their talents and interests to the needs of the magazine. For example, a current intern is studying abroad in Germany and will be writing research articles on German writers for TAR, working in conjunction with his professors at the University of Wisconsin and the editorial staff. Another intern is studying writing and literature and would like to gain experience in literary criticism and writing for professional publication. Working for The Adirondack Review will give her the opportunity to work in both areas. Editors at The Adirondack Review encourage each student to be creative when determining the individual focus of an internship at TAR.
Duties: In addition to the individual focus of the internship, all interns will serve as editorial assistants and will be expected to read fiction submissions on a weekly basis, while logging manuscript records as needed. They will also evaluate and comment on accordingly each piece read and reviewed, and send these comments to the editors. Regular on-line meetings with other editors will be required. In addition, interns may be asked to assist in responding to manuscripts, completing library and/or Internet research, and handling subscriptions/mailing lists, and/or publicity.
Payment: None. The Adirondack Review, like the vast majority of literary publications in the United States, is a labor of love. We seek to provide eligible students an opportunity to work for a growing literary magazine in order to gain the experience in publishing that is often hard to come by. Working from home or school is an added bonus: there is no need to relocate. Interns will likely be able to garner praise in the form of employment recommendations upon completion of their internships, and will also have gained something meaningful to add to their résumés.
What are the deadlines for applying for an internship?
Applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. If interested in your application, The Adirondack Review will contact you via e-mail or telephone to arrange an interview, also to be conducted via e-mail or telephone.
