By Kapua Iao
“Gratitude is a divine emotion: it fills the heart, but not to bursting; it warms it, but not to fever.”
from Shirley by Charlotte Brontë
One of the many ways Yellow Arrow Publishing encourages women writers and women in publishing is through inclusion within the organization itself. We welcome (and thrive with) our volunteers and interns, not only for our own benefit but to also (hopefully) provide a prospective future publisher with some necessary tools and knowledge about the publishing world. And even if a volunteer/intern does not plan to continue within the publishing world, the tools and knowledge of working in a women-led, collaborative organization. One that champions the different and the unique. One that looks for partners and allies rather than simple connections (see our growing list of partners here).
As Editor-in-Chief, it would be impossible to organize, create, and publish without the incredible help of our volunteer staff and interns. They provide the thought process behind each journal by picking each issue’s theme and reading/voting on each submitted piece. They then read through the chosen submissions and edit them carefully and thoughtfully, not to change the voice of the author but to ensure that the voice flourishes. They provide continuous feedback and proofread the final product before release. And the same goes for our published chapbooks; the process of forming something for publication is thoughtfully long but fulfilling, nonetheless.
We try to find each volunteer, each intern, space in our organization to grow and flourish in the area they are most interested in (and of course where we need the most help!). Past staff members have worked at our live events and at Yellow Arrow House. They hand bound our publications and put as much love and tenderness into each copy as we could hope. Now that we are a mostly virtual publishing company, they focus on copyediting and proofreading as well as writing blogs and press releases. They create promotional material and images for our authors and create marketing campaigns. They help at live and virtual events and readings. And above all else, they support. Not only me but our authors as well. I am so thankful to have had them with me on this journey.
So let’s introduce the summer 2023 interns. Each has my appreciation.
Cecelia (Cece) Caldwell
From Pittsfield, Massachusetts
What do you do? I do all sorts of things. Often, I work with the submissions we receive. I format, proofread, and copyedit chapbooks and short pieces. Additionally, I help work on social media campaigns, blog posts, and chapbook promotions.
Where do you go to school? I go to Middlebury College, a small liberal arts college in Vermont. I’m a rising junior!
What are you currently working on? I’m back home in Massachusetts for the summer and am enjoying spending time with my family. Aside from interning with Yellow Arrow, I’m working at a gift shop at a local historical museum, tending to my garden, and planning my upcoming semester abroad in Spain.
Cecelia Caldwell (she/her) is a rising junior at Middlebury College majoring in English and minoring in anthropology and Spanish. An avid reader and lover of words, Cecelia is passionate about publishing, editing, storytelling, literacy, and the diversification of all of these fields. In her free time, Cecelia enjoys writing satire, working out, cooking, and tending to her garden. She lives in western Massachusetts with her mom and two dogs, Ollie and Ernie. Find her on Instagram @ceceliacaldwelll.
Why did you choose an internship with Yellow Arrow?
I knew that I wanted to work in the publishing/editing industry to some extent, as those are the areas I’m interested in exploring after I graduate. After lots of searching, I came across Yellow Arrow, which fulfilled both my desire to gain practical experience in a field I loved, and my desire to work with an organization whose mission I supported. To be able to support a small, independent house dedicated to uplifting the voices of women is something truly special.
Vickie Tu
Lives in Silver Spring, Maryland
What do you do? I assist Yellow Arrow with various editorial, marketing, and publishing responsibilities. I serve as a reader and proofreader of manuscripts and produce social media content for publishing events and promotions. I also compose book reviews and author interviews for the Yellow Arrow blog and create monthly newsletters.
Where do you go to school? I go to University of Maryland, College Park and plan to graduate Spring 2024.
What are you currently working on? Outside of Yellow Arrow, I work two part time jobs and attend school. Additionally, I am working on creating my own literary blog and website where I can share my adoration for literature with fellow bookworms.
Vickie Tu is a rising senior at University of Maryland, College Park, studying English with a minor in Classics. She was born and raised in Silver Spring, Maryland, and plans to move to New York City after graduation to start her career in the publishing industry. When she is not reading or working in her campus’ bookstore, she enjoys attending hockey games for her favorite team the Washington Capitals. You can find her on Instagram @vickie.tuuu.
After graduating, she plan on finding entry level jobs in publishing and working her way up to be an editor or literary agent.
Why did you choose a second internship with Yellow Arrow?
I chose an internship with Yellow Arrow because the morals and values that the company upholds are very similar to mine and the publications interested me. Yellow Arrow presented itself to be a strong company that aims to empower and inspire women identifying creators and that was something that intrigued me the most. Additionally, I was particularly fond of the publications that Yellow Arrow produced and it was a genre that I desired more knowledge and experience in.
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Thank you to everyone who supports these women and all writers who toil away day after day. Please show them some love in the comments below or on Yellow Arrow’s Facebook or Instagram. If interested in joining us as an editorial associate or intern, fill out an application at yellowarrowpublishing.com/internships.
Yellow Arrow Publishing is a nonprofit supporting women writers through publication and access to the literary arts. You can support us as we SPARK and sparkle this year: purchase one of our publications from the Yellow Arrow bookstore, join our newsletter, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter or subscribe to our YouTube channel. Donations are appreciated via PayPal (staff@yellowarrowpublishing.com), Venmo (@yellowarrowpublishing), or US mail (PO Box 65185, Baltimore, Maryland 21209). More than anything, messages of support through any one of our channels are greatly appreciated.