Authored by Autumn Cleymans, UNG Press Intern
Time has flown since the start of the semester, and it’s hard to believe it’s almost the end of my time at the UNG Press! It seems like only yesterday I was signing on to the first Teams meeting with curiosity and a little bit of nervousness.
It would be simple to say I’ve always been interested in publishing, but the industry actually caught my attention when I started researching creative writing grad programs. A lot of programs discussed their connections with the industry and the opportunities their students have had during the program or gone on to pursue after graduation. That led me down a rabbit hole of information, but what became obvious was how large and varied the ecosystem of publishers has become. No single press or publishing house is exactly like another.
For that reason, I feel lucky that I got to learn more about the UNG Press before my internship experience even started. Thanks to a research methods course in the spring, I had the opportunity to interview Ariana Adams, who was the assistant managing editor and internship coordinator at the time. I’d already had my eye on the internship program, but through our conversation, I learned about the Press’s focus on Open Educational Resources and accessible education, as well as how involved interns get to be in different stages of the publishing process. That solidified my interest in the Press specifically; the notion of truly participating and contributing to the team excited me, and so did the values that my work would support.
During this internship, my understanding of editing evolved from the foundations formed in previous courses and other prior experience. I learned how to apply detailed rules and conventions across an entire manuscript to strengthen it as much as possible, all while preserving each author’s voice. I’ve been interested in editing for a while, from reviewing classmates’ essays to working on my high school’s Yearbook staff, and I want to explore that in a professional capacity after I graduate this December.
Publishing isn’t solely about editing, though, and as Ms. Adams suggested, I had the chance to participate in many other ways. I learned that I enjoy the social media side of things, which made up a big part of my intern responsibilities. I found it a good exercise to consider the audience for each post and adjust my approach as necessary, and it was especially rewarding to see my technique improve as I took in feedback. I also worked on long-term projects, such as writing reader reports for book proposals submitted to the Press and developing a style sheet (a document that records names, terms, and spelling choices) for an unpublished manuscript. Between those varied opportunities and the additional editing experience, I have a much more well-rounded view of the roles that a person can play in the publishing industry, and I’ve become more comfortable stepping into each of them.
Finally, as a writer who’s been submitting to literary journals, it was meaningful to participate in behind-the-scenes talks, understanding how a team decides what to accept and decline. It helps to see firsthand how much care and consideration goes into the process, and that it’s not just a matter of being a good or bad writer; sometimes a piece simply isn’t a good fit. In that sense, my time with the Press has humanized the industry a little. It’s one thing to watch the machine move from the outside, and another to see all the people who are passionate and hard at work to keep things operating smoothly.
Aside from the lessons I’ve learned on a personal level, I think the Press’s impact is deeply felt by the authors it uplifts and the community it serves. I appreciate the personal touch with which the Press supports its authors, and it’s been incredible to see the love and care that goes into each manuscript. The Press is also making tangible positive change in the region with its OER initiatives for university students in Georgia, a mission that I’ve only come to admire more and more. It has been a great honor to be part of this amazing team even just for one semester, and I can’t wait to see how the Press continues to expand and evolve in the years to come.
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