Community Editor Apprenticeship

Saint Paul Almanac’s Community Editor Apprenticeship Project is the only project in Minnesota that is designed to teach an equity-focused, democratic editorial process. Our editorial process offers an opportunity for apprentices to acquire professional editing skills by learning to read and edit manuscripts selected for publication in the Saint Paul Almanac (SPA) anthology.

SPA’s community editor apprentices come from wide-ranging backgrounds, spanning age, ethnicity, language, gender identity, and socio-economic status. Our editorial process offers experiential learning to apprentices who want to learn editing and to those who want to pursue a publishing career. Several community editor apprentices have gained entry-level positions in publishing houses after participating in our project.

During six meetings comprised of three-hour sessions, community editor apprentices will:

1. Practice editing skills learnt from professional editors
2. Determine high literary artistic caliber using criteria emphasizing quality and inclusivity
3. Discern an authentic voice
4. Build a manuscript involving a dynamic group process
5. Develop professional confidence
6. Pick up information about the publishing industry from Arcata Press and other local Twin Cities publishers

Application Timeline

Applications open on February 17 and close on March 17, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.

Community Editor Apprentices have a love for reading and writing and aspire to become an editor. They have taken at least one writing course, either creative and/or expository. Individuals ages 16 and older are welcome to participate.

Thank you for your application! We will contact you after we review the applications for the 2023 session to inform you of your status.

Application Process

Those who are selected to go to the next stage of the application process will undergo a short interview.

Each selected community editor apprentice will earn $600 and a certificate of satisfactory completion at the end of the project for their active involvement in the group editorial process. Active involvement entails attending all sessions (but you may miss one, if necessary); completing editing assignments in between sessions; and engaging in group activities.

Community editor apprentices are expected to have a mobile device that they can bring to each session and will enable them to access the submissions and complete the editing assignments via Submittable. Laptops and tablets work best, providing full access to the Submittable site and to the submissions.

Manuscript Review and Publication

The spring 2023 community editor apprentices will review poetry and prose submitted to Saint Paul Almanac’s 2023 spring “Courage” writing contest and will use the group editorial process to select pieces for an upcoming publication to be determined.

Application Form