Written by Isabela Creighton, Marketing Intern
Hello, my name is Isabela, and I want to share some of my internship experiences with the Press. In middle school, my love of reading flourished, and then, my need to overanalyze these books. Throughout the years, I started reading various works of fiction and growing an appreciation not just for the writing itself but the bookmaking process. While paying careful attention to the binding, edges, covers, and more, I started collecting from various presses with unique editions, which led to my dream of working in the book publishing industry. I was always open about where I ended up working, but I knew I wanted to be a part of the process. Once I heard about a student internship opportunity at the Press, I knew I had my chance to experience the industry I had been building up in my head since middle school.
Marketing for any company or organization is vital, not just for the overall numbers, but to keep the spirit of any mission alive. The Press “encourages the pursuit of truth, meaning, and self-determination while promoting interaction and a sense of community.” Although I was a remote intern and virtually interacted with the Press team, I still felt part of a supportive community that encouraged creativity and ideas. During the weekly marketing meeting, there was always a discussion of what could be done to promote an author’s work and provide them access to the contacts and resources the Press has. These meetings also highlighted the multitude of little details to keep track of. For instance, did the Amazon content reflect the book visually in an engaging way? If it was lacking, then we needed to do something about it. Those meetings were about taking the initiative to determine where and what outreach efforts to put energy into.
As an intern, I had many assorted projects to complete. These included drafting emails and blog posts, creating and researching contact lists, and creating website headers and social media materials. This was what was most exciting; every week, I would check the Intern Log and see what I was assigned, and it was usually different from week to week, giving me room to get experience in various skills. Seeing any work I did published on the website or any other site was always fulfilling because the details matter. Ensuring that the color schemes matched the content, the font and sizes fit the branding guidelines, and that people engaged with the media was wonderful to experience. Although these details might be the most prevalent for the marketing department, specifically, it was also a joy to meet and interact with other departments and staff of the Press. One of my favorite aspects to learn about was metadata and ensuring that the content on the book page on the website was correctly formatted. Small things like this add to the overall vision and engage consumers with a high level of professionalism because everything is consistent and uniform.
All of the details, editing, proofreading, and revision, because every project needed to be double-checked, leads to the consumers appreciating the Press, supporting them, and recognizing the work they put into promoting their authors and keeping the love of reading alive. In the days of bookstore closures and decreased literacy, supporting presses is vital for exploration and knowledge. Although my chapter with the Press is ending, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time and learned many different facets of publishing. For those who do not know much about the industry and are interested in learning more, apply for an internship! Start your journey with the team; they will help you improve with their constructive feedback and help you build on skills you may need in the future. I would like to offer my heartfelt gratitude for the learning opportunity and for helping me wedge the door into the book publishing industry a little more open until I can fully enter it.
Isabela Creighton is an English MA graduate from Florida Gulf Coast University. She is a committees liaison for the Town of Miami Lakes, a grant writer for St. Thomas University, and a conference organizer for the Society for the Study of American Women Writers.
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