Careers
Literary Internship @ Pens and Poison
Interested in literature? As a literary intern with Pens and Poison, you will have the opportunity to work alongside an emerging author and learn the ins and outs of establishing an authorial presence in the 21st century.
About Pens and Poison
Pens and Poison is the unique literary project of author and poet Liza Libes that aims to promote literary education and foster appreciation for the written word. Through engaging videos, articles, and podcasts, Pens and Poison has reached over 500k literary lovers across the world and continues to draw in new literary lovers on a daily basis. The Pens and Poison project features a dedicated Instagram page for short-form videos, a YouTube channel for long-form videos, a Spotify podcast for insightful discussion, a Substack publication, and an emerging literary journal.
Length:
3 Months (Flexible Start Date, Possible Extension)
Who You Would Be Working For:
Liza Libes is a professional writer based in New York City and Chicago. You can check out her story and work at www.lizalibes.com. As Liza grows her literary career, she is looking for a literary intern to help her juggle the publishing industry, as well as establish a strong social media presence with an engaged following.
You can check out more of our work at https://www.pensandpoison.org/.
Qualifications:
High School or College Student
Excellent writing and communications skills
Enthusiastic, energetic, and outgoing
Ability to connect with agents and journals around the world
Ability to write compelling emails and posts
Ability to interact with social media platforms (Instagram, YouTube, X)
Active community member
No prior social media or marketing experience necessary
Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office and Google Drive
Responsibilities:
Research literary fiction publishing and literary agent market
Engage in outreach to various literary agents to query authors for upcoming novel
Manage and brainstorm content for various social media accounts (X, Instagram, YouTube) to promote the literary tradition
Draft guest posts for Substack publication
Collaborate with manager to provide feedback on and revise poetry, novels, and other writing
Attend weekly check-ins with manager
This is a commission-based internship. We will offer compensation upon completion of agent contract and/or poetry publication. Flexible hours. 100% remote. Expected 5-10 hours of work per week. All interested applicants can send a resume and writing sample to liza@pensandpoison.com.
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Head Poetry Editor @ Pens and Poison Magazine
Have you always wanted to be part of a lit mag? Here’s your opportunity to join the leadership team and editorial board of Pens and Poison Magazine! As our Head Poetry Editor, you will have the opportunity to work alongside an emerging writer Liza Libes and her team as you learn the ins and outs of the publishing industry!
About Pens and Poison Magazine:
Pens and Poison is a new type of literary magazine that does not constrain your writing by theme, group, or identity. We’re just interested in good writing that captures a genuine facet of the human experience.
Qualifications:
B.A. in English, Creative Writing, Journalism or related field
3+ years of editorial experience
Robust knowledge of the English literary and poetic tradition
Excellent writing and communications skills
Enthusiastic, energetic, and outgoing
Ability to interact with the Pens and Poison editorial board
Ability to write compelling emails
Active community member
Basic knowledge of Google Drive
Responsibilities:
Review incoming poetry submissions to Pens and Poison Mag
Collaborate with writers to revise and edit poems for publication-ready state
Attend monthly board meetings to discuss incoming submissions
Oversee magazine creation from inception through publication stage
This is a volunteer position. Flexible hours. 100% remote. Expected 5-10 hours of work per week. All interested applicants can send a resume and cover letter to editor@pensandpoison.com.