By Kapua Iao
“Gratitude is a divine emotion: it fills the heart, but not to bursting; it warms it, but not to fever.”
from Shirley by Charlotte Brontë
One of the many ways Yellow Arrow Publishing encourages women writers and women in publishing is through inclusion within the organization itself. We welcome (and thrive with) our volunteers and interns, not only for our own benefit but to also (hopefully) provide a prospective future publisher with some necessary tools and knowledge about the publishing world. And even if a volunteer/intern does not plan to continue within the publishing world, the tools and knowledge of working in a women-led, collaborative organization. One that champions the different and the unique. One that looks for partners and allies rather than simple connections (see our growing list of partners here).
As Editor-in-Chief, it would be impossible to organize, create, and publish without the incredible help of our volunteer staff and interns. They provide the thought process behind each journal by picking each issue’s theme and reading/voting on each submitted piece. They then read through the chosen submissions and edit them carefully and thoughtfully, not to change the voice of the author but to ensure that the voice flourishes. They provide continuous feedback and proofread the final product before release. And the same goes for our published chapbooks; the process of forming something for publication is thoughtfully long but fulfilling, nonetheless.
We try to find each volunteer, each intern, space in our organization to grow and flourish in the area they are most interested in (and of course where we need the most help!). Past staff members have worked at our live events and at Yellow Arrow House. They hand bound our publications and put as much love and tenderness into each copy as we could hope. Now that we are a mostly virtual publishing company, they focus on editing as well as writing blogs and press releases. They create promotional material and images for our authors and explore or research for future marketing campaigns, events, and collaborations. And above all else, they support. Not only me but our authors as well. I am so thankful to have had them with me on this journey.
So let’s introduce the interns from the first half of 2022. Each has my appreciation.
Sydney Alexander
Currently dividing time between Ellicott City and Baltimore, both in Maryland
YA position: event planning & community engagement intern, May-Aug 2022
What do you do? I’m primarily responsible for Yellow Arrow’s community-engagement and outreach. This summer, I’m helping with social media to publicize events and opportunities. I will also be attending various virtual and in-person events to help represent and grow Yellow Arrow. Right now, I’m in the process of connecting with local libraries to promote Yellow Arrow’s writing workshops. I’m also working on setting up an interview for a blog post with owners of a local bookstore to ask them about how they engage with their communities. In all, I hope that all this will help Yellow Arrow grow its connections with the Baltimore community, and help with its mission of sharing women’s voices and stories.
Where do you go to school? I am a rising sophomore at Middlebury College and am scheduled to graduate in May 2025. I graduated from River Hill High School in Howard County, Maryland, in June 2021.
What are you currently working on? During the year, I’m a student at Middlebury College. However, this summer, I am taking Geography and GIS classes at University of Maryland, Baltimore County. I intend to double major in English and Geography, so I think that these classes in combination with my internship at Yellow Arrow are a perfect blend of my two interests. Aside from this, I am working on my own creative writing.
Sydney is a rising sophomore at Middlebury College in Vermont studying English and Geography. She grew up in Ellicott City, Maryland, but enjoys the fact that she has lived all over the United States, including states such as North Carolina, California, and Wisconsin. Her favorite genres to read and write are fantasy and literary fiction, and she has a soft spot for short stories. Sydney hopes to pursue a career that combines her dual interests in writing and publications with Geography. Her work has been published in Hunger Mountain Review. She is still unsure of what she want to do after she graduate. Sydney is considering graduate school, but it is hard to know so far out. All she knows is that she hope to find some way to combine her interests in english and geography.
Why did you choose an internship with Yellow Arrow?
Reading and creative writing have always been hobbies I did on my own. However, after joining several English and writing clubs in high school, I realized how rewarding it was to become involved with my surrounding literary community. I greatly enjoyed working on my high school’s literary magazine, bringing in other students as editors and contributors, as well as sharing and attending events through my school’s chapter of the National English Honor Society. In college, I wanted to find a way to continue doing similar work, and Yellow Arrow seemed like the perfect fit. Not only would I be able to work on a publication, I would have the opportunity to attend various local events and meet many new writers. As a new resident of the Baltimore area, my goal coming into the summer was to find a way to get to know the city. In particular, I really wanted to learn more about Baltimore’s literary scene. Yellow Arrow has been a great way to get involved.
You can find Sydney on Facebook and Instagram @rerururun.
Isabelle Anderson
Lives in Baltimore, Maryland
YA position: publications intern, January-May 2022
What did you do? As publications intern, I copyedited and proofread manuscripts of upcoming chapbooks, and created promotional material for many Yellow Arrow publications.
Where did you go to school? Washington College; I graduated in May.
What are you currently working on? This summer, I’m hoping to do a lot more reading and writing for fun as I look for jobs in publishing.
Isabelle is a poet and fiction writer from Baltimore, Maryland. Isabelle is a May 2022 graduate of Washington College, a former editor on the student publications Collegian and the Pegasus, and recipient of the 2022 Pfister Poetry Prize. She hopes to gain some publishing experience in the next two to three years after graduation, then pursue an MFA.
Why did you choose an internship with Yellow Arrow?
The press’ mission statement resonated with me. The opportunity to gain editorial experience while working toward the goal of uplifting women-identifying writers and editors was one I could not pass up.
You can find her on Twitter @ibaspel.
Veronica Salib
Lives in Rockville, Maryland
YA position: publishing intern, May-August 2022
What do you do? I am the publishing intern so I have a few different responsibilities. I create Canva graphics to promote journals and chapbooks. I also proofread different poems and assist in the creation of Her View Friday posts.
Where did you go to school? I went to undergrad at the University of Maryland in College Park and graduated in 2021. I also hope to return to school and receive a masters in publishing.
What are you currently working on? I currently also copyedit for an organization called Balance Now. I just began an editorial positon at Xtilligent Media and I am in the process of starting my graduate school applications.
Veronica is a recent graduate of the University of Maryland in College Park. She holds a bachelor of sciences in biology. Veronica is hoping to pursue a career in publishing and a masters of publishing over the next two years. She is an avid reader and writer who loves fiction, poetry, and essay style writing. Besides her publishing related hobbies, Veronica loves to paint, travel, and spend time with friends and family. Her current plans are to continue working and applying for master’s programs. She hopes to eventually work in trade publishing as an editor!
Why did you choose an internship with Yellow Arrow?
I chose Yellow Arrow because poetry has always been an important outlet for me. I used it to clear my head and sort my thoughts. Additionally, I loved how empowering the environment at Yellow Arrow is. There is no shortage of smart, inspirational women at this organization. From the very first phone call I had it was obvious that Yellow Arrow was an inclusive and welcoming environment.
Find her on Instagram @veronicaa_salib.
Piper Sartison
Lives in Chestertown, Maryland
YA position: marketing intern, February-May 2022
What did you do? I was a marketing intern for Yellow Arrow. I created promotional images with Canva, scheduled and created social media posts, worked with Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and proofread writing submissions.
Where do you go to school? I go to Washington College. I am a rising junior and I will graduate in the spring of 2024.
What are you currently working on? I write for the community and college newspaper of Chestertown (The Elm). I also do some writing on the side and hope to work with more organizations this summer.
Piper is a rising junior at Washington College. She is a competing member of the school’s tennis team, writes for The Elm, and is a major in English and a minor in journalism. Piper is from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and will be residing there for the summer, where she hopes to do some freelance writing. She would like to be a journalist and write books.
Why did you choose an internship with Yellow Arrow?
My professor recommended this internship for me. I was interested in the organization, as I found the motivations of Yellow Arrow to be captivating. I wanted to help give women writers a voice in this community.
*****
Thank you to everyone who supports these women and all writers who toil away day after day. Please show them some love in the comments below or on Yellow Arrow’s Facebook or Instagram. If interested in joining us as an editorial associate or intern, fill out an application at yellowarrowpublishing.com/internships.
Yellow Arrow recently revamped and restructured its Yellow Arrow Journal subscription plan to include two levels. Do you think you are an Avid Reader or a Literary Lover? Find out more about the discounts and goodies involved at yellowarrowpublishing.com/store/yellow-arrow-journal-subscription. Yellow Arrow Publishing is a nonprofit supporting women writers through publication and access to the literary arts.
You can support us as we AWAKEN in a variety of ways: purchase one of our publications from the Yellow Arrow bookstore, join our newsletter, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter or subscribe to our YouTube channel. Donations are appreciated via PayPal (staff@yellowarrowpublishing.com), Venmo (@yellowarrowpublishing), or US mail (PO Box 102, Glen Arm, MD 21057). More than anything, messages of support through any one of our channels are greatly appreciated.