Overview

Rooted Literary Magazine publishes Short Fiction, Flash Fiction, Poetry, Nonfiction, Art, Music, Animation, and Film across our Monthly Features and biannual print anthologies. We seek dedicated interns who want hands-on experience in literary publishing, editorial workflows, and digital production. Interns will gain direct training in reading submissions, evaluating creative work, participating in editorial discussions, and supporting special projects within the magazine. This internship is open to applicants worldwide. As apart our commitment to amplifying Southern voices in publishing, we strongly encourage candidates from the Southern United States to apply.

Our internship program is open during the Fall (August-December) and Spring (Jan-May). Rooted Literary Magazine does not grant academic credit directly; the student’s college does. We happily complete all required paperwork, evaluations, and time logs.

We will begin accepting applications for the Fall 2026 session in May 2026. 

All submissions are received and managed through Submittable, and interns are trained in our full review workflow, editorial standards, and communication expectations.

Interns must be able to work reliably during Central Time (CT) hours for check-ins, meetings, and time-sensitive review periods.

Submission Volume & Time Commitment

• Submissions are assigned in batches of 10 per week
  
• Estimated workload: 5–10 hours per week, depending on season and intern pace
  

Intern Responsibilities

1. Submission Reading & Evaluation

Interns read assigned submissions and provide a brief, structured review. Training is provided on:

• Editorial tone
  
• Review quality
  
• Genre-specific expectations

2. Communication & Deadlines

• Complete assigned readings by their due dates
  
• Attend monthly check-ins (CT hours)
  
• Respond promptly to editorial questions or clarifications
  
• Notify supervisor of any scheduling issues ahead of deadlines
• Provide weekly reports to supervisor of tasks

3. Optional Special Teams

Interns may choose to join one or more additional teams:

• Editorial Critiques
  
  • Provide detailed author feedback using our critique training
    
  • 2-week turnaround per critique
    
• Social Media Team
  
  • Assist with graphics, copywriting, and video posts
    
• Book Review Team
  
  • Request ARC copies from authors
    
  • Read selected books and write trained reviews
    

Participation in these is not required but is valuable for students seeking broader publishing experience.

Skills Interns Gain

• Editorial evaluation and critical analysis
  
• Literary magazine workflow and production
  
• Professional communication in editorial environments
  
• Digital publishing tools (Submittable, shared drives, etc.)
  
• Experience with thematic issue planning
  
• Review writing & critique structure
  
• Providing timely feedback to authors in a sensitive manner
• Communicate with a range of stakeholders
• Optional: social media production, graphic design, book reviewing, critique writing

Supervision & Academic Credit

Interns report to the Managing Editor or Editor-in-Chief, depending on workflow. Supervisors will provide:

• Initial training
  
• Weekly guidance and availability via email
  
• Written evaluations (midterm & final, if required)
  
• Verification of hours and duties for academic credit
  

Eligibility

• +18 Publishing hopefuls and writers
• Strong interest in literature, editing, or creative arts
  
• Ability to work 5–10 hours/week
  
• Commitment to deadlines