Gratitude is a Divine Emotion: Yellow Arrow Interns
“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 current list of partners here).
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. Today they focus on the ins and outs of releasing a publication, running a publishing company, and our community-driven projects. Tasks can range from editing to formatting, marketing, and putting together events and workshops. Above all else, our interns support and champion staff/board, authors, workshop attendees, and themselves. We are so thankful to have had them with us on this journey.
So let’s introduce the fall 2025 interns. Each has our appreciation.
Hannah Bishoff, Publications Intern
Lives in Baltimore, Maryland
What do you do? At Yellow Arrow, I have been working on copyediting for the most recent chapbooks and journal. I make a lot of promo images for these, and work to update blog posts and some social media. It has also been fun getting pieces ready for awards.
Where do you go to school? I am currently in my last year at Towson University as an English major. I will be graduating in Spring 2026.
What are you currently working on? Outside of Yellow Arrow, I am mostly just working on finishing my BA at Towson.
Hannah Bishoff is a senior English major at Towson University with a minor in business, communications, and the liberal arts. On the weekends, she works at a coffee shop in Towson and when not in class she enjoys reading, drawing, shopping, and watching TV. Find her on Instagram @hannaheb.
In the (near) future, she hopes to continue working in publishing, if all goes well.
What is your favorite course at school? Why did you choose to take it?
One of my favorite courses was called 18th-Century British Literature. It is not exactly my favorite because of the content, as I really only took this class because of the required literature courses for my major. I liked this class a lot as it was an intimate experience with my professor (only about seven-ish other students), who was very knowledgeable and extremely motivating. He had us write a 20-page literary research paper, which I ended up really enjoying strangely enough. This was also his last course before retiring, which I appreciated being able to take part in.
Have you read anything this year that has stuck with you?
For another one of my courses, my professor had us read three books by Annie Ernaux, a French author known for her memoirs. The one that stuck with me is called Happening, in which she, in detail, goes over her success at attempting to get an abortion in the early ‘60s. She emphasizes that she did not write this for political reasons, but to simply give her own account to help other women who have had, or may in the future have, a similar experience.
Why did you choose an internship with Yellow Arrow?
I chose Yellow Arrow because I wanted to learn more about working with a publishing company but also because I wholly identify with the mission of uplifting women’s real, raw voice. I also had a bit of experience working with a nonprofit for school and wanted to continue.
How are things going so far?
Things are going great! I especially love reading and experiencing all the publications.
Avery Wood, Program Management Intern
Lives in Raleigh, North Carolina
What do you do? I’m tasked/have been tasked with helping social media design and scheduling, writing two blog posts, helping write and publish the monthly newspaper, copyediting/proofreading, and helping with new asynchronous workshop design promotion. And of course, any upcoming tasks as well!
Where do you go to school? I attend North Carolina State University (NCSU) with plans to graduate in May of 2026.
What are you currently working on? Right now, credit-wise, I’ve basically finished my English degree and am primarily focused on getting my business degree now, so a big focus is on academics. I’m also the leader and facilitator of my book club, and I try to write a little daily. I cook, read, attend my school’s sports events, and travel when I have the free time.
Avery Wood (she/her) is a rising senior at North Carolina State University (NCSU), pursuing a BA in English with a focus on creative writing and a BS in business administration. Born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina, Avery’s love for literature began with her work as lead editor for her high school literary magazine and continues to be a central part of her life through her involvement with her college’s literary journals. Following graduation, she intends to bring her passion for business and creative writing to the publishing industry. When she isn’t reading, Avery enjoys traveling, a strong coffee, cooking, and intense card games with her family. She is thrilled to be a part of this wonderful team, making a difference and amplifying female voices.
She hopes to get another internship this summer in New York within the publishing industry and hopes that leads to a job post-undergrad. She also plans to publish some of her writing works and establish herself as a writer one day.
What is your favorite course at school? Why did you choose to take it?
I enjoy learning as a whole, so it’s always difficult to pick a favorite course. When I studied abroad in Italy I took some amazing courses: Food and Religion, Pairing Wine and Food (a cooking class), Italian Cinema and Literature, Florentine Literature. And at NCSU I took fascinating classes like Medieval Monsters, Language and Gender, Screenwriting, Heaven/Hell and the Afterlife, and Contemporary Moral Issues. We’re offered a lot of amazing options for an English degree so I chose from my interests in medieval literature, gender studies, religious literature, film and screenwriting, and food and international culture.
Have you read anything this year that has stuck with you?
I’m a big science fiction and fantasy (SFF) lover, so one of my favorite books this year was The Will of the Many by James Islington. But I also love self-help narratives and keeping up with current favorites in that realm, so things like Atomic Habits by James Clear. I also met and interviewed Carin Seigfried about her book The Insider’s Guide to a Career in Book Publishing over the summer which was a very insightful experience. And finally, a piece of feminist lit that absolutely has stuck with me this year is Jacqueline Harpman’s I Who Have Never Known Men. I’m hoping to read 60 books in 2025, and I’ve read 49 so far.
Why did you choose to do an internship with Yellow Arrow?
I’m hoping to enter into the literary publishing realm post-undergrad but before then, while still in college, I’m simply hoping to gain as much experience in and knowledge of the industry as I can. An internship, and specifically with a small publishing company, seemed like the perfect place to gain some real, hands-on experience. That, coupled with Yellow Arrow’s specific mission to support women writers, seemed like a wonderful place for me to land. Supporting women writers is something I’m genuinely passionate about and a big reason why I want to go into publishing in the first place; we need to hear more female voices now more than ever! I was also curious about the operations of nonprofits.
How are things going so far?
I think things are going well so far. I feel like I’ve started to gain some confidence in my role, though I’m still unsure sometimes and often ask many, many questions. I’m trying to be as helpful a resource as I can without much knowledge on the various Yellow Arrow mechanisms. But as I continue to familiarize myself with Yellow Arrow policies and procedures, the more helpful I hope/plan to be. I’m always open to feedback, too!
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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 social media. If interested in joining us as an intern, you can learn more at yellowarrowpublishing.com/internships.
Yellow Arrow Publishing is a nonprofit supporting women-identifying writers through publication and access to the literary arts. You can support us as we BLAZE a path for women-identifying creatives this year by purchasing one of our publications or a workshop from the Yellow Arrow bookstore, for yourself or as a gift, joining our newsletter, following us on Facebook or Instagram or subscribing 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.