Jobs and Internships

Publicity and Events

Serve as publicist for 4-5 titles per season. Responsibilities will include:

• Media Outreach
  • Pitch Graywolf titles to members of the media (print, radio, online, television)
  • Write press releases and create galleys, build mailing lists
  • Organize author interviews and profiles
  • Coordinate local media coverage around author events
  • Communicate media coverage with authors, agents, and staff
• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Author Tours
  • Lead the planning and logistics for author tours as part of assigned publicity campaigns
  • Work with authors to plan touring cities and event schedule
  • Pitch Graywolf titles to event coordinators and respond to incoming event invitations
  • Oversee author participation in literary festivals as assigned
  • With other members of the team, ensure our events are promoted online
• Travel, Meetings, Conferences, and Events
  • Represent Graywolf at author events (typically nights / weekends)
  • Represent Graywolf at conferences, trade shows, and literary festivals as assigned (will require some domestic travel post-pandemic)
  • Represent Graywolf at board meetings and development events
• Social Media​​​​​​​
  • Work in partnership with others on the publicity team to maintain editorial calendar, content creation, and general response / management of Graywolf’s Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter accounts, under supervision of Publicity Director
• Misc
  • Take an active role collaborating with the marketing team and the rest of the staff on cross-department projects, task forces, signature events, and outreach and engagement initiatives
  • Design promotional items (tour graphics, bookmarks, postcards, etc.) as assigned

• At least two years of experience working as a book publicist with a publishing house
• Experience in author event programming
• Experience creating social media content for a company or business and working with social media in a professional capacity
• A commitment to increasing diversity in and access to literature
• An inclusive approach to publicity, and experience working creatively to engage a wide range of readers and communities, including those who are traditionally overlooked by the publishing industry
• Enthusiasm for and experience publicizing contemporary poetry and / or works in translation
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail and deadlines, and the ability to prioritize work
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively and flexibly with our staff of nineteen and as part of a team
• High level of comfort with Mac OS and Microsoft Office suite and other basic office technology
• High level of comfort with media databases such as Cision, Muckrack, etc.

• The ability to speak another language is an asset but is not required.
• Graphic design experience with Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, or Canva
• Previous experience with data entry, databases, and manipulating complex information

Must be able to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Required to move about in an office environment and sit for extended periods of time
• Frequent use of hands for data entry/keystrokes.

Please submit a resume and cover letter addressed to Claire Laine, Director of Publicity, and Marisa Atkinson, Director of Marketing and Engagement, via Submittable. Please provide links to the book publicity campaigns, author tours, or professional social media accounts you have worked on directly in the past three years. Please also note where you are currently living, and if you are looking for a remote position or would consider relocating.

Applications will be accepted through November 28, 2022, and interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. No phone calls please.

Graywolf Press is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity. We welcome and encourage applicants of all races, ethnicities, gender and sexual identities, and disability statuses. To request an accommodation in the hiring process, please email access@graywolfpress.org.

Tasks and duties will include:

• Reading, evaluating, and reporting on fiction, nonfiction, and poetry submissions
• Sending manuscript rejections, requests, and submission guidelines
• Soliciting endorsements and drafting copy for forthcoming books
• Reading print and online magazines to discover emerging writers
• Researching other publishers’ titles to find market comparisons for Graywolf books
• Researching and contacting new sales, media, and advertising outlets, including those that reach underrepresented communities
• Assisting with author events and tour publicity/promotion
• Research, fact checking, copy editing, and data entry as needed

Qualified candidates will have:

• Curiosity and passion for the publishing industry
• Knowledge of contemporary literature, including Graywolf titles
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, organizational skills
• Computer literacy and experience in Microsoft Office and database management
• Reliable internet access and their own computer and workspace
• Dependability, flexibility, and a positive attitude
• Undergraduate experience in English or a related field (preferred)
• Advanced reading knowledge of a foreign language (preferred)

The application will require the following as separate PDF, DOC, or DOCX files:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Overview and discussion of a contemporary book of poetry, fiction, or literary nonfiction, which incorporates at least two of the following items: assessment of the book’s aims and strengths, critique, personal response, and cultural or literary context. (One page maximum, single spaced.)

This fellowship is grounded in our belief that while diversity in the books and authors we publish is vital, it is equally important that the people publishing these books reflect that diversity. As a result, the Fellowship is intended to attract candidates who otherwise would not have access to publishing, and to therefore increase the diversity and inclusivity of the industry. Throughout the year, the fellow will receive active coaching and encouragement from the whole Graywolf team. Our hope is that this fellowship will serve as a doorway to a successful career in publishing or a related literary field.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the fellowship, which has been traditionally based in our Minneapolis office, will now be a remote opportunity. This is a part-time (24 hours per week), non-exempt ten-month position with a start date in February 2021. Compensation includes $25,000 (paid twice monthly as regular wages), paid time off, and health and dental insurance.

Key editorial responsibilities may include:

• Reading and writing reports on manuscripts under consideration.
• Working with our editors to provide feedback to authors on manuscripts that are in development.
• Soliciting endorsements and drafting catalog copy for forthcoming books.
• Reading print and online magazines to discover emerging writers.
• Researching other publishers’ titles to find market comparisons for Graywolf books.
• Attending literary events and reporting on new and interesting writers.

Key marketing responsibilities may include:

• Researching and contacting new sales, media, and advertising outlets, including those that reach diverse communities.
• Assisting with author events and tour publicity/promotion.
• Assisting with the development of backlist marketing.
• Assisting with creation, production, and distribution of seasonal Graywolf catalogs.
• Assisting with the Graywolf website, as needed.

• Strong interest in book publishing, contemporary literature, and the literary community.
• A commitment to increasing diversity in and access to literature, and experience working with diverse and minority communities.
• Prior experience that will help the candidate participate in the publishing process. Relevant experience is not exclusive to publishing or academia.
• Strong writing skills.
• Ability to work both independently and cooperatively with a small staff.
• Ability to take the initiative in proposing and identifying additional tasks and projects.
• Tell us if you have any special—non-required—additional skills, such as design experience or familiarity with databases and/or web sites.

• What if I am still in school (undergraduate or postgradutate)? Can I still apply for the fellowship?
  • The fellowship program is not intended for someone with a full-time student’s course load.
• Is the ideal candidate for the fellowship early in their career, or just finishing school?
  • The fellowship is open to a candidate at any stage of their career, and there are no set expectations regarding previous experience or education level.
• What are examples of the kinds of barriers mentioned in the position description?
  • Barriers to previous entry into the publishing industry as a whole could include race, ethnicity, sexual identity/orientation, socio-economic background, disability, education, and more. Without being prescriptive or prohibitive, the fellowship hopes to attract applicants who might have otherwise been overlooked by the publishing industry. 
• What does a fellow's typical day look like?
  • The fellow generally works three eight-hour shifts Tuesday–Thursday, and a typical day might include the following:
    • A meeting in which the Nonfiction Prize committee discusses possible finalist manuscripts from the pool of submissions
    • Publicity outreach to media contacts for an upcoming paperback release
    • Manuscript reading and reader reports
    • Coordinating design for a digital ad
    • Working with an editor on manuscript development
    • Researching emerging writers and publishing possibilities
• How do mentoring relationships work for the fellow? 
  • The fellow will work closely on projects and career development with two Graywolf staffers, one in marketing and one in editorial. But the fellow will have the chance to work with and learn from all staff members through informational interviews, all staff meetings, select projects, and informal conversations.
• Will the fellow eventually pick which team or area they’d like to focus on?
  • Initially the fellow’s workload will be distributed evenly across marketing and editorial departments, but there is always room to follow the fellow’s specific interests, and particularly in the second half of the fellowship there is the opportunity to refine the program’s focus in either the marketing or editorial departments.
• Does the fellowship help with career development and industry contacts?
  • Yes, there is an emphasis on exploring potential career paths and making connections in the industry, largely following the fellow’s lead depending on goals and interests.
• Is the fellowship open to applicants outside the United States?
  • Yes, but a US Tax ID is needed, and the fellow must be available from 9am to 5pm CST, Tuesdays through Thursdays.
• After completing the fellowship, will there be a spot to work full-time at Graywolf?
  • Positions at Graywolf come up only very intermittently, there is no guarantee or expectation that the fellow will transition into a permanent position after their program ends.
• Will I receive a critique of my application/cover letter?
  • Unfortunately, the volume of applications doesn’t allow for personal responses to all candidates.
• Will I hear back if not selected for an interview, and if so, when?
  • We will be moving through the application process as quickly as possible. Our hope is that we will make a final decision and notify all applicants before January 1, 2021.
• If I am accepted for the internship, does that take me out of the running for the fellowship?
  • It is best to mention any simultaneous applications in your cover letter, and if entering into the interview process for the internship, you can express any concerns about potential overlap at that time.