How to Find a Publishing Internship

I’ve done three publishing internships and sometimes I get asked how I found those internships and opportunities. Let me just say that if you’re interested in publishing or if you simply like books and want to do something interesting with them, internships are wonderful learning experiences. You don’t have to know a lot about publishing or want to be in publishing forever. And if you love books but hate dealing with the fussiness of grammar, don’t worry; there are other things you can do.

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A few things to know:

• Many publishing houses have internships not only in editing, but also several other areas including: graphic/web design, marketing, social media, printing, publicity, and copyright law.
• Most of the publishing industry (in the US) is on the east coast, primarily New York and Boston. Others are definitely out there, but you have to look harder. So be prepared: If you land an internship in NY, you will be expected to go to New York—on your own dime.
• Most internships are unpaid, but will count for course credit. This is great if you’re in college. If you’re not in college, it’s still excellent experience, looks great on your resume, and you will receive a nice reference letter. Occasionally internships will reimburse travel expenses within the city where the internship is. (For example, when I interned in London, I paid for my flight there but I was reimbursed for part of my fare for the London Underground.)
• It’s ok to be picky. There are hundreds of publishing houses out there and most of them focus on specific genres. Go after the genres you enjoy.
• Large vs. small publishing houses: My internships have been at small publishing houses, and I’ve loved it. One benefit is working closely with the higher-ups and learning directly from them. You develop a relationship with that person, who might agree to be a reference for you, which could come in handy later. It’s all about networking. Another benefit is more responsibility. You will probably get a more personalized learning experience and be allowed to take on more than might be allowed at larger companies. *Don’t forget, though: You’re not just unpaid labor. This is a learning experience and they should be teaching you and treating you fairly.

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How to find a publishing internship:

1. I would start with Bookjobs.com – that’s how I found my internship at Anthem Press in London, UK. This site will show you specific openings for interns at companies. But this is by no means a complete list of all the internships out there.
2. If you’re concerned about location, Google search publishing companies in your area. Still, Google will not find all of them.
3. Google search publishing companies in the genre you’re interested in. Try “literary fiction publishing companies” or “cookbook publishers” or “travel writing publishing”.
4. Open your favorite books—the kinds of books you’d want to work on—and look at the publisher’s information on the copyright page. Then look up the publisher’s website and find their careers/employment/internship page.
5. Get the 2020 Writer’s Market. This book is not just for writers. The best part of this book is that it has a VERY extensive list of publishers and the genres they publish. If a few interest you, find their websites.
6. When you get to a publisher’s website, find their Employment or Careers page. Most internship information will be there along with normal job openings. It should give you information on how to apply. You may be asked to interview. Especially those interested in editing and design, be prepared to take a test. Whatever the guidelines for applying are, FOLLOW THEM EXACTLY. If it says email your resume, do it. If it says make sure your resume is submitted as a Word doc, not a pdf, do it.
7. If no information about internships is listed on the website and you are REALLY interested in interning for that publisher, try emailing or calling to inquire. There’s no harm in asking. Otherwise, there are other companies out there. If internships aren’t listed on the website, they might not be a high priority for that publisher and therefore probably wouldn’t be a good learning experience for you.
8. Keep looking. I regularly find out about publishing companies I’ve never heard of, and I always find the company’s website so I can learn about them.

I hope that this information helps if you’re interested in publishing. Good luck!

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Want to know more about my experience? I suggest starting with My Publishing Journey, or check out all of my posts on publishing.