In mid-July, we had the opportunity to speak with Zach Linge, editor of the Southeast Review. Linge provided insight on what the Southeast Review (SER) is and how student interns can expect to gain valuable experiences if they choose to apprentice there. Linge explained that the Southeast Review is a national literary journal and 501(c)(3) nonprofit edited by the graduate students of Florida State University’s Department of English. “SER publishes a biannual issue both in print and online, composed of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction, with two visual artists featured in each issue,” Linge said. “SER publishes both the aforementioned genres as well as interviews, book reviews, and cross-genre work online throughout the year.” There are annual contests in which students can submit their art, fiction, nonfiction, and poetry-based creations. Linge said that recent judges of these works include Pulitzer Prize winners Gilbert King and Robert Olen Butler for nonfiction and fiction respectively, and Ruth Lilly Fellow Kaveh Akbar for poetry.
The internship is a solid fit for those students interested in a field concerning literary journal publication. Linge went into great detail when explaining the expectations of a student intern at SER, highlighting what kind of information and experience they will acquire along the way. According to Linge, student interns will learn how “critically evaluate others’ language and their own, how to promote others’ work while considering composition fundamentals, how to develop and maintain a journal’s brand and identity, and how to use research toward the development of forward-facing copy for use in both promotional and salable contents.” Linge said that the SER internship empowers its interns to enter the publishing industry with a vast takeaway of knowledge and accomplishments.
Some of the basic expectations of a student intern at SER include meeting with the Editor-in-Chief for two hours weekly, scheduling meetings amongst themselves, and conducting a total of twelve hours of work each week -- time spent in meetings is included. Interns will also engage in Independent work, Linge said. They specify this as “researching ultra-contemporary literary magazines—looking especially for fiction, nonfiction, and poetry—selecting work from this to promote on social media, drafting captions and graphics for social media, developing creative writing prompts and materials for our Writer’s Regimen, and fulfilling other tasks as seen fit.” SER interns even get the chance to work directly with the section editors in one of their primary creative genres, fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. “They review work that has been submitted to our journal for publication, learn how to evaluate it, and take part in table reads with senior editors, discussing which works to accept for publication,” Linge said. They also added that one of their favorite parts of working with interns is giving them the chance to decide on and develop an independent project. Linge said that previous interns have hosted open-mic nights, raised funds, and much more.
SER looks for potential interns with “a genuine eagerness to learn.” Linge explicitly stated that this is one of the topmost qualities that SER values in its student interns.
Professionalism comes next, with an appreciated knowledge in literature, editing, writing, and so forth. A student intern at SER does not need experience in publishing, though they are expected to be responsible, self-motivated, and interested in what SER does. Potential SER interns should brace for certain challenges, though hurdling over them is completely doable. Interns can expect to engage in plenty of reading, as well as developing lots of content. “We treat that content like a block of marble, chiseling away until what’s left is a work of art,” Linge said. “So, that means interns should expect to receive critical feedback on their writing, and they should wish to grow from it.”
When asked about the exact experience a student intern might leave SER with, Linge was honest and to the point. “Let me be straightforward: this internship is not for everyone,” they said. “It takes work, real work. The application pool is fiercely competitive. People fight for this internship because there is so much learning that takes place, because it’s prestigious, and because our interns secure incredible positions after working with us. Name a topic in contemporary literary publication; we’ll cover it.” Students can even take their experience working with SER and apply it to their future careers. Linge said that previous interns have nabbed positions with literary publishers, such as HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster, directly out of their internships with SER. “Some have entered directly into the fields of journalism and television,” Linge said. “Others have gone on to pursue graduate degrees in English, Creative Writing, Publishing, Editing, and Media. Many of our interns entered literary publications as artists themselves during or after their time with us. Any angle an intern wants to take to learn about publishing—as creatives, critics, editors, interviewers, essayists, et cetera—is or can be addressed in our internship.”
It is undeniable that a student intern at SER is given the incredible chance to learn and expand upon their interests, namely if those interests lie in the field of publishing. SER devotes a passionate focus on their student interns, ensuring that their experiences are great ones that will help them in the future. Linge elaborated on what SER looks for in their interns in order to give a better idea to those interested in how to secure this kind of internship position. “I’ve conducted interviews with some pretty amazing undergraduates. What’s been the most fun is having conversations with people who researched our journal, who have favorite writers, who have a clear reason why they’re interested in the internship, and who are ready to name and discuss a few of their favorite pieces of writing.”
Like any on-campus literary magazine, the SER encourages students within any major to submit pieces for publication. The thing that sets SER apart is their devotion to making sure that interns don’t just work with but grow with the magazine. If interested, you can follow SER on all major platforms.