Literary/Publishing Internship

Are you 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 1M 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:

BA/BS in progress
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
Passion for literary culture, aesthetics, and online storytelling
Some experience with outreach, PR, or social media
Organized and detail-oriented
Self-starter attitude with creative flair
Familiarity with Substack, Instagram, and podcast ecosystems
Google Workspace experience
Sense of humor

Responsibilities:

Research literary fiction publishing and literary agent market
Engage in outreach to various literary agents to query authors for upcoming novel
Draft guest posts for Substack publication
Pitch podcasts and media outlets for interview and feature opportunities
Manage and respond to email inquiries, including readers, podcast hosts, and potential collaborators
Maintain a running list of brand, newsletter, or platform collaboration opportunities
Research and pitch brand partnerships that align with Pens and Poison’s aesthetic
Help brainstorm and draft social media content (e.g., carousel ideas, reel outlines, captions)
Track growth analytics across Substack and Instagram to inform strategy
Build and maintain a content calendar for posts, newsletters, and campaigns
Coordinate cross-promotions with aligned creators and Substack writers

This is a commission-based internship. We will offer compensation upon completion of agent contract and/or poetry publication. Flexible hours. 100% remote. Expected 10-15 hours of work per week.

In addition to applying on LinkedIn, interested applicants MUST:

Send an email to liza@pensandpoison.com with the subject line [Pens and Poison Internship] and include:

A short note about who you are and why you're interested
Links to any relevant work or social accounts
A favorite recent piece from Pens and Poison
Writing sample

Pens and Poison

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