Angela Mergentime
MA English: Literature, 2nd year
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am especially interested in literary fiction, and I enjoy researching and writing about a variety of topics in literature. I’m currently working on researching modernity, trauma, and identity fragmentation in D’Arcy McNickle’s The Surrounded for my thesis project, but I have also done research in early modern literature among other things. I attended CSU as an undergraduate, receiving a B.A. in English Literature with minors in Business and Information Technology in 2013, and after I graduate I’m hoping to find editorial work in book publishing.
How did you find out about the internship at the CLP?
I found out about the internship at the CLP by searching online for internships related to literary publishing.
Why did you apply?
I applied so that I could gain experience in the publishing process, and learn what publications look for in fictions submissions.
What did you expect before you started?
When I first started I didn’t really know what to expect, but I knew that I would be reading fiction and contributing to the publishing decision process by filtering through fiction submissions for pieces that we might be interested in for the Colorado Review. I also knew that I would be providing feedback on the pieces I read, since I was an acquisitions intern for Dzanc Books the summer before I applied and had been doing similar work for them remotely.
How has it surprised you?
What surprised me was how much more I had to gain from the experience other than reading submissions. Although reading submissions is an integral part of what I do at CLP, and it will help me know what to expect in acquisitions, I have also been able to learn valuable copyediting and typesetting skills that I can apply in my editorial career. In addition, I learned how to use InDesign and Photoshop to design publications and book covers, which will be especially useful in book publishing.
What’s a typical shift like, a “day in the life of an intern”?
During a typical shift, I usually spend my time either reading fiction submissions and providing feedback for the Colorado Review or the Nelligan Prize for Short Fiction, copyediting pieces that we have chosen for publication, typesetting an edition of the Colorado Review, or following online tutorials about InDesign or Photoshop.
Where will we find you in five years?
With any luck, in five years you will find me working for a book publishing company as an acquisitions editor.
How do you think this internship will help you in the future?
This internship has helped me prepare for the future by providing me with the necessary editorial, acquisitions, and technical skills I need to succeed as an editor in book publishing.
What advice do you have for students who want to apply, do the internship?
The advice I have for students is to get involved sooner rather than later if they are interested in publishing. I didn’t know about the internship opportunity until my second year of the M.A. program, and I would have definitely applied during my first year if I had known it was available.
Favorite CLP memory?
My favorite CLP memory was when I finally saw a printed copy of the edition of the Colorado Review I had been typesetting. I had been struggling with some formatting issues during the process, and it was really rewarding to see how my work paid off and the whole publication came together as a finished product.
Considering doing an internship in the fall? As the spring semester winds down it can difficult to think about anything but finishing up course work, completing finals, and the promise of summer break. Even so, students may find themselves considering internships for the fall semester. The Center for Literary Publishing (CLP) Internship Program is one option for graduate students. CLP interns serve as first and second readers for the nearly nine thousand manuscripts of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction that Colorado Review receives every year. Interns also have opportunities to copyedit, proofread, and typeset; learn about book & magazine design, production, and management; gain proficiency in current industry software (InDesign, PhotoShop, Illustrator, FileMaker, WordPress, and Submittable); participate in social media campaigns; and assist in grantwriting.