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Finding the right internship is not as tricky as it seems.

By Amelia Anderson

Although internships are like taking on a part-time job while students are finishing their education, they are actually very beneficial to future goals. Internships will not only give you experience in the field you are interested in pursuing, but they usually act as some form of school credit, can potentially open a possible permanent position within that same company in the future, and some will actually offer a small payment or stipend. All in all, internships are great ways to get you on the right career path. Even if you find that you no longer hold interest in your field, then the internship has served the purpose of showing you whether you would feel compatible with that career or not. Whether you are in high school or college, here are some tips on finding the internship that will be beneficial for you.

Ask Your Teachers

Teachers are a great source of information when it comes to your school and whatever jobs might be available in it. Chances are, at least one of your teachers will know of an internship at the school, which will make it easy for you to get to your job and classes on time. And, since your teachers have gotten to know you pretty well over the course of months or years, they are inclined to have your best interests in mind with your future plans. If you are interested in becoming an editor, ask your writing teacher if he or she knows of any internships that are related to the editing field. In my own experience, I had a teacher who referred me to taking an internship in a Writing Center because I was interested in becoming a writer.

Browse Online

There are plenty of job-listings that actually list available internships, as well. Just punch in the word “internship” into your search engine and plenty of helpful sites will pop up. Websites like http://www.craigslist.org, www.internships.com, and http://college.monster.com are great resources for finding internships for a specific field. Be sure that you are dealing with a legitimate company for your internship, though. Some internships are offered that do not provide school credit or any compensation, which is not a productive use of your time. Get another individual’s opinion, like one of your professor’s, to see whether or not the internship you have found online will benefit your career goals.

Check the School’s Career Center

Schools are meant to help people earn a better career, so college campuses provide a career center for their students as an extra step in those future plans. Career centers will not only help you find an internship that is suitable for you, but they will also help you prepare a resume and possible even provide some coaching and tips for your interviews. Yes, even an internship requires an interview. Internships not only provide experience, but they help prepare students to deal with the pressures of a regular job, which also requires an interview and resume.

Ask Friend and Family

There is no shame in asking the people who are closest to you for help in finding an internship. These days, jobs can be hard to come by, and internships are not an exception to this. It is very common for people to network, using the people they are close with as resources for inside information on job and intern openings. If you know someone who is working in a field that is related to your own future goals, then ask that friend or family member about any internship openings. If that person can recommend you to his or her boss, then you are already ahead of the game by having a personal reference within the company.

Check the Newspaper’s Classifieds

It may seem old fashioned to some people, but leafing through a newspaper can be useful in finding an internship. It not only lists available jobs, but it lists available internships, too. Although most people prefer to search for their information online, sometimes when the cyber world of searching lets people down, it is helpful to use a different resource and open up the black and white pages of the classified section of the newspaper. If you ever feel stumped with your searches, try a different source. There is always more than one.

By Julia H. Jackson

You’ve just written an award-winning, life-changing short story. At least, you’re pretty sure you have, but you haven’t shared it yet, so you can’t be quite sure when the awards start rolling in, or when your life starts changing.  You want to share what you’ve written, and maybe get some feedback, but the idea of sending your little manuscript to the big wide publishing world is a little like feeding a minnow to a shark. Just what does it mean to submit one’s work? Today, we’re offering 5 Tips for Submitting Your Work because we’d love to see your name in print just as you would.

1. Do Your Research

Choose your contests and intended publications carefully. If you are submitting to a publication, reflect on its title, major themes, and choice of work. Dog Fancy magazine probably wouldn’t want your 20-page vampire story, nor would The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction go for your Shakespearean sonnet. Magazines and journals rely on subscribers, and it is always a good idea to give them the impression that you’ve taken the time to read an issue or two. What kinds of pieces do they normally publish? Do any themes emerge? Do they publish poetry, fiction, nonfiction, art?

2. Follow the Directions

At the risk of sounding like your English teacher, following directions is always key for any writer. Many publications receive a disproportionate amount of submissions compared to the time they have to read, so editors might set aside a list of submission guidelines. These guidelines serve not only to weed out the incomplete submissions, but also to streamline the selection process. Pay attention to details such as word and page count, typeface and size, genre preference, deadlines, number of submissions, and method of submission. Although digital submissions are increasingly common, there are still some publications or contests that may require paper submissions sent via snail-mail.

Here’s an example of submission guidelines, taken from The Atlantic Monthly’s annual student writing contest:

“SUBMISSIONS should not exceed three poems or 7,500 words of prose. No entrant may send more than one submission per category, and entries must be postmarked by December 1, 2009.

MANUSCRIPTS should be typewritten (one side only, please) double-spaced, and accompanied by a cover sheet with the following information: title, category, word count, author’s name, address, phone number, e-mail address (if available), and academic institution. Of this information, only the title should appear on the manuscript itself.”

3. Don’t Submit Your First Draft

Remember that award-winning, life-changing short story? Remember how it started? Part of being a writer is finding your own writing process. Regardless if you’re the next Ernest Hemingway or Jhumpa Lahiri, your work can always benefit from a little feedback. Before sending your story off, share it with a trusted friend, teacher, or classmate. Double check to see that the piece you have meets the contest’s criteria, and that its topic or themes are relevant. Take pride in your hard work, and eventually others will too.

4. Cast a Wide Net

There is definitely an element of luck that goes into the world of publishing. But one trait all writers must posess is an almost die-hard persistence. Set realistic expectations, and try not to limit your options. Want to submit to The New Yorker? Great, but don’t forget the plethora of smaller, independent publications that might be searching for a new voice.

5. Try, Try Again

In an interview with Poets and Writer’s Magazine, poet and frequent contest-winner Gregory Loselle commented that rejection is tough, sometimes a real dedication to the piece at hand pays off: “Another positive experience I’ve had more than once this year is that two poems which had consistently not won awards—after many, many tries—and which I was thinking of ‘retiring’ from submission, turned out to be prize winners. I would suppose that it’s just a question of the work finding its destined reader—and of not giving up hope.”

Loselle brings up an important idea: audience. Remember that many times, the best writing is not written for an intended person or publication, but for the sake of storytelling itself. Take your rejections and acceptances with a grain of salt, and try to get something from the experience either way.

Whatever happens, don’t be afraid to take a chance.  In the words of Sylvia Plath,“And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.”

Have you been published before? Want to share some advice? Keep us posted! Let us know when we can read your award-winning, life-changing short story.

By Julia H. Jackson

You keep a notebook in your back pocket. Or maybe you are an obsessive blogger. Every time your teacher offers the option of a creative imitation instead of an academic composition, you leap at the chance to make something your own. You file your stories, poems, doodles, plays, and journals on your computer, but the moment someone walks into the room, you cover the screen. You are a young writer, or maybe a secret writer, and there’s something you should know: the best way to develop your literary skills is to share your work with the world.

Intimidated? Bewildered? Not sure where to start? The publishing world can be daunting, but the important thing to remember is that there is no one way to write, nor is there one magic way to get published. There are as many more publishing companies, literary magazines, writing contests, scholarships, and workshops as there are kinds of writers. We at Eduify aim to simplify this new world with the Young Writers Series. We’ll start today by organizing writing contests by genre and style.

Teen Writing Contests

There are some benefits to adolescence. Teen writing contests usually offer opportunities for junior high and high school students to submit their work to magazines and other publications. Many teen writing organizations, such as Teen Ink, offer print magazines, interactive websites, and even book publishing opportunities for young writers. Because many of the writing contests are limited by age (13-19, usually), the probability of your work being chosen is greater than if you submitted your first short story, to, say, The New Yorker. Additionally, many teen-oriented publications offer opportunities to intern, which is a great opportunity for anyone interested in learning more about the writing world.

Teen Voices;  The Claremont Review

Writing Networking Sites

Although writing itself may be a solitary task, the emergence of writing communities worldwide encourages interaction between writers, often leading to collaboration on projects. Not only that, but many sites offer regular writing contests and links to resources for young writers. Sometimes the dialogue that a piece inspires is as valuable as the piece itself. Many sites for writers also have free online newsletters, where subscribers can receive regular updates about upcoming contests and events.

SMITH Mag; The Rumpus; Glimmer Train; Writer’s Digest; WritersCafe.org;  The Next Big Writer

Literary Magazines

Just what is a literary magazine? In basic terms, a literary magazine is a publication (print or online) that accepts submissions of literary work in various forms. The definition itself is often left to the publication’s editors; each magazine has its own style, genre preference, and intended audience. There are poetry journals, fiction and nonfiction publications, multi-genre anthologies, and everything in between. Literary magazines are often the most plentiful (check out the alphabetized list at Poets&Writers and you’ll be astounded at how many just begin with the letter “A”), but sometimes the trickiest to submit your work to. It is always a good idea to familiarize yourself with recent issues of any magazines you might consider, because many magazines receive so many submissions that they will only consider work that closely follows their specific guidelines. All the same, literary magazines are a great way to multiply your options.

McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern; Rattle (poetry); New Letters (poetry, fiction, nonfiction, book reviews, interviews); 

Fourteen Hills: The SFSU Review (poetry, fiction)

Flatmancrooked (poetry, fiction, essay, audio, art)

So there you have it: three different avenues to pursue your next move as a not-so-secret writer. Not finding what you’re looking for? This is just the tip of the iceberg. Your next job will be to float your work. And just how do you do that? Stay tuned for our next Young Writers post!

By Amelia Anderson

New backpacks, clothes, folders, pencils, classes, and of course new books are typically bought at the beginning of classes. Although the expenses can add up, some of the most trying things to buy have got to be the books. Maybe you can reuse an old backpack, maybe you don’t necessarily need a new wardrobe for school, and you may very likely have spare pens, pencils, and binders for the new school year. But, new books are something that has to be bought. Depending on the types of classes you are taking, books can be very expensive for students and can easily put a hole in a person’s budget. However, there are ways to make buying new books for the semester a lot more economical.

Order Textbooks Online

It is usually more convenient to buy textbooks through the school you are attending, however that is typically the most expensive way to buy books for school. There are many websites online that sell textbooks for a much cheaper price. Just make sure that you buy your books a week or two in advance, so you have your books in time for school. Popular websites like cheapesttextbooks.com, half.ebay.com/ , textbooks.com/, and even http://www.barnesandnoble.com/textbooks/index.asp are great resources for inexpensive text books. If you can’t find what you want at these sites, research more to find others and compare prices – there are plenty to choose from.

Read Online

There are many novels that are available to read online, without having to spend a dime. Textbooks are probably not accessible, but classic novels are often found. As long as you do not have sensitive eyes to reading for an extensive period on a computer screen, then reading online is a great way to save a little money. I read the entire text of Uncle Tom’s Cabin online, which was required for one of my literature classes. Since the book didn’t need to be brought into class, there was no problem just reading the book online.

Buy Used Books

Both textbooks and novels can be a lot cheaper when they are bought used. And, since most students do not keep their school books after they have finished their class, there is no point in buying a book in pristine condition that you have no intention of holding onto anyway. Novels can be found for half price at used book stores, and used textbooks that are available at the local bookstores can be ¼ the price of a brand new textbook.

Rent Textbooks

It may be the newest form of getting textbooks for school – Renting! Yes, there is actually a website that offers students to rent texts. You can rent and even sell textbooks to make money at http://www.chegg.com/. Renting books is even cheaper than buying used books, and with the speed this new option is taking in popularity, I am certain that there will be more online sites available for renting books in the near future.

Borrow Textbooks from the Library

It is one of the oldest tricks, but it really does work. Borrow books from the library. School libraries are supposed to carry the textbooks that are required for your school’s classes, so just borrowing those books instead buying them is way cheaper. I recommend double checking to be certain that the library does carry the textbook you need and to check the policies for borrowing a textbook (some libraries are stricter with the length of time you can keep a textbook out of the library). If everything seems to work in your favor, borrowing textbooks from the library is a free option instead of having to buy a book that may cost anywhere from $50 to $100.

By Amelia Anderson

There is no avoiding the anxiety that comes with the start of a new school year. Students cannot help worrying whether they will like their teachers or whether they can handle the new homework. It is the unknown that can be so frightening, and being unprepared only heightens that feeling. However, if you have an idea of what to expect from your classes and can get yourself ready for them, you will not feel so overwhelmed and nervous at the beginning of class. Here are some ways to prepare yourself for your new classes even before they begin.

Buy Your Books Ahead of Time

Most teachers make the book lists for their classes available to the students in advance. It is a good idea to buy all the books you can before classes start, so you can be prepared for class. So many students make the mistake of buying their books the day after classes start, but this often leads to problems. Long lines at the bookstores are a nuisance and books are easily sold out. Having a delay in getting your books can make you fall behind with your homework early in the semester, and turning in homework late is a bad way to start your classes.

Read Some of Your Homework Before Class Starts

Reading the introduction or skimming some of the homework in your new textbook is a good way to see what is coming in the next few months. Instead of wondering whether your homework is going to be difficult, take a look and see what your book has to offer, so you can mentally prepare yourself for upcoming homework. Don’t get so ambitious that you actually do the homework, but familiarize yourself a little bit with what you will be studying. Getting too far ahead probably isn’t a good idea since you may see some material that is confusing, which could just make you that much more nervous in the first place. The idea is to make yourself aware of what you can expect, so there are no real surprises when you start your classes.

Practice Skills You May Have Forgotten

Subjects that require practice like math and grammar rules may be difficult to remember when you come back from a long break. If you feel you are getting a little rusty with your algebraic formulas, or are having trouble remembering punctuation rules, it may help to do some light studying before the new classes begin.  Skim through an old grammar book, or find some math sheets online that you can practice a little bit with. Getting some practice will not only jog your memory, but it will help you feel prepared for the upcoming school year.

Skim Through Last Year’s Grades

Take a quick look at the kind of work you turned in last year. What kinds of grades did you get? Were you happy with them? What did you do well? What did you do badly? Keep these past grades in mind as reminders of what good habits you should keep up with the New Year, and what bad habits you should be fixing this coming year. If you slacked off or turned in-work that was incomplete, these old assignments should be a wake up to make better practices for the upcoming school year.

Have Your Backpack Ready

It may seem minor, but having your backpack organized and set with your binder, books, pens, and pencils will make you feel prepared for the first day of school. Throwing all of your things in your bag at the last minute can make a student feel anxious and unprepared. If you are rushed into putting things together, you are likely to forget something important, or leave yourself with the fear of forgetting something. In short, if your backpack is prepared early, you will feel less anxious and more prepared for class.