Jobs and Internships
We are no longer accepting applications for the Senior Acquiring Editor position. We hope to fill the position and notify all applicants by February 2021.
Applications for our Winter/Spring 2021 editorial internship are now closed.
The application period for the annual Citizen Literary Fellowship is now closed. Upcoming term of the program will be February 2021 through November 2021. We hope to fill the position and notify all applicants by January 15, 2021.
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Internships
Our application period for the Winter/Spring 2021 internship is now closed.
This internship is intended to provide intensive educational experience in the workings of a literary nonprofit publishing house, but will be conducted mainly within the Editorial department. Some time will be spent on projects from the Marketing and Publicity or Development departments of Graywolf as well.
Over the course of the program, interns will have an opportunity to learn more about the publishing industry as a whole through focused conversations with staff members about the departments they work in and their careers. In addition to these informational interviews, interns will be invited to attend key all-staff and department specific meetings. Interns are also encouraged to take advantage of any opportunities to ask questions and learn more about areas of publishing that are of particular interest to them.
Interns will receive minimum wage ($15 per hour), paid twice monthly as regular wages. They will also receive a free copy of each Graywolf book published during the session. The internship schedule is a flexible ten hours per week for a period of twelve weeks; total compensation is based on time worked and would equate to $1,800 for this period. We expect interns to set aside up to three office hours each week for check-ins, meetings, and informational interviews. Office hours to be determined based on availability between 10:00am and 5:00pm CT, Mondays through Thursdays, and 10:00am and 3:00pm CT Fridays.
While we understand that applicants will have simultaneous commitments such as school and employment, we will not consider applicants who will be enrolled in another book publishing internship, or who will otherwise be employed by another book publisher at any point during Graywolf’s winter/spring 2021 internship. We do not discourage you from applying for multiple publishing positions at once, but we ask that you withdraw your application from Submittable as soon as you accept a position elsewhere. This restriction does not apply to those working in journal and magazine publishers.
Tasks and Duties
Interns will complete the following tasks and duties remotely. Applicants must have access to a workspace with personal computer and high-speed internet for video conferencing and email.
Tasks and duties will include:
- Reading, evaluating, and reporting on fiction, nonfiction, and poetry submissions
- Sending manuscript rejections, requests, and submission guidelines
- Seeking out promising new authors by reading print and online journals, blogs, etc.
- Other projects as needed, including research, fact checking, and more
Qualifications
Because of extensive interest in the internships, the acceptance process will be highly selective. Ideal candidates will be self-motivated, detail-oriented, energetic, and eager to seek out and support new and original literary voices. Preference will be given to applicants in at least the third or fourth year of an undergraduate degree or who have equivalent experience. International applicants are welcome, though interns must have a US Tax ID.
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
- Dependability, flexibility, a positive attitude, commitment to professionalism
- Undergraduate experience in English or a related field (preferred)
- Advanced reading knowledge of a foreign language (preferred)
Citizen Literary Fellowship
The Citizen Literary 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. 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.
It is a part-time (24 hours per week), non-exempt, ten-month position starting in February 2021. Compensation includes $25,000 (paid twice monthly as regular wages), paid time off, and health and dental insurance.
The 2021 Citizen Literary Fellowship will extend from February through November 2021, and the fellow will work remotely. The application period is now closed. We hope to fill the position and notify all applicants by Friday January 15.
Opportunity Summary
The Citizen Literary Fellowship is a paid, comprehensive ten-month fellowship designed to support a person who is interested in learning more about the publishing industry through an introductory, hands-on experience. Through substantial project-based work in the editorial and marketing/publicity departments, the fellow will gain a broad base in publishing and be prepared to launch or further a career in the field. We are flexible regarding the educational background of the candidate, but this position is not intended for those attending school full time.
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 Responsibilities
The fellow will work closely with senior staff in both the editorial and the marketing/publicity departments as they follow new and forthcoming books through every stage of the publication cycle. In addition to attending virtual events and participating in remote meetings as a member of the staff, the fellow will also have an active role in Graywolf’s outreach efforts. When appropriate, we will tailor activities to align with a fellow’s particular interests and skills.
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.
Preferred Attributes and Experience
We are looking for a motivated, creative, and enthusiastic candidate with the following attributes:
- 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
[ more + ]- 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
- The fellow generally works three eight-hour shifts Tuesday–Thursday, and a typical day might include the following:
- 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.