Two creative writing students have experienced what it’s like to edit an edition of Island Magazine through an inaugural internship.
English and Writing majors Abby Otten and Meisha Simpson read through hundreds of submissions, compiling long and short-lists to assist Island’s fiction and non-fiction editors select pieces for edition 172.
Otten and Simpson are the first students to complete the new 65-hour internship, which doubles as a unit in their Bachelor of Arts, created by a partnership between Island and the University of Tasmania (UTAS).
Otten worked with Island’s fiction editor Kate Kruimink to read more than 200 submissions, before whittling them down to just four for publication.
“My favourite parts of the experience were getting to read such a wide array of pieces, finding new and emerging voices, and learning from Kate,” she says.
“Gaining an insight into the world of publishing has proven invaluable in my growth as a writer, particularly.
“Such an intimate look inside how a literary publication functions has really informed my approach to seeking publishing opportunities for myself in the future.”
Learning how a literary magazine is run
The students selected long-lists of 20 pieces, before narrowing those down to short-lists of five, justifying each choice to their editor and then providing editing notes for the selected authors.
Simpson worked with non-fiction editor Keely Jobe and says the internship enabled her to gain a deeper understanding of some of the practicalities of becoming a writer.
“Publications such as Island are a big deal for emerging writers like me,” Simpson says.
“Learning how a literary magazine is run, what the editors are looking for and how they make their selections was invaluable.
“I also gained professional editing experience which will help me as a writer, and also if I pursue editing and publishing in the future.”
Island and UTAS teamed up earlier in 2024 in a partnership aiming to boost opportunities for students and local creatives and co-locating the magazine on campus.
Fiction editor Kate Kruimink says she has gained a fresh perspective on her regular tasks after working with the interns.
“I hope the internship would help give an emerging writer a greater sense of confidence, of having a place in the literary world,” Kruimink says.
“I also think the exercise of reading other people’s work with an editorial mindset must necessarily help develop your own skill at editing and being edited.”
Non-fiction editor Keely Jobe says the internship taught students that editing is more than reading and fixing grammar.
“Working side-by-side with an editor lifts the veil on the literary landscape because the intern can see exactly what kind of work is being submitted and ultimately accepted,” she says.
“That kind of insight can be very advantageous for someone interested in a literary career.”
