Guest Post: Finding Success at Summer Publishing Programs

A few days ago, we published a post on the phenomenon of summer publishing programs, with links to a number of the most prominent of them and to online discussions about whether or not they are worth the steep price tag.  

One of our alumni kindly agreed to share her experience in a guest post. Her bottom line? Yes, they’re worth it–if you’re committed to making the most of the experience. 

Continue reading “Guest Post: Finding Success at Summer Publishing Programs”

Alumni Profile: Beth Cohon, video editor for Teak

To learn about her career in video editing and her other experiences after graduation, I recently talked with U of I English alumna Beth Cohon. Be sure to check out the sample of her work, linked below! 39d3231

VO: When did you graduate from UIUC?

Beth:  I graduated in 2011, after my third year.

VO:  What was your reason for graduating early?

Beth:  I had a lot of AP credits before starting college. Then going into my junior year, I just realized that if I took something like 5 English courses each semester that I’d be able to graduate that year. However, looking back I sort of wish I had stayed all 4 years, because my last year was so fun. College is fun. I did take the next year to do a one-year MA, though, so I still got in my 4 years of school I guess.

VO:  What was your MA in?

Beth:  I got my MA in film studies, at King’s College London. In the UK most Masters courses are just one year full-time.

VO:  What do you do now?

Beth:  Now I work as a video editor at Teak, an agency/production company in San Francisco.

VO:  How long have you worked there? Continue reading “Alumni Profile: Beth Cohon, video editor for Teak”

Summer Publishing Programs: Worth It or Not?

The Dept. of English just got a solicitation from a new summer publishing program, this one at the University of Southern California and co-sponsored by the LA Review of Books:

We are excited to announce … a new summer publishing program that is designed to provide an immersive, five-week training for students interested in digital and print publishing. The new program, the Los Angeles Review of Books / USC Publishing Workshop, will have its inaugural session this summer beginning June 26.

The program will be hosted on the USC campus and is open to rising Juniors, Seniors, and postgraduates from any college or university, nationally and internationally, who are interested in a career in publishing.

The Los Angeles Review of Books / USC Publishing Workshop distinguishes itself from more traditional publishing courses by emphasizing real-world experience: students will create a print magazine or website, or develop a business plan for a new publishing enterprise ready either for direct funding or for research and development funding. Industry experts will advise students about every aspect of digital and print publishing, from editing to layout, coding to graphic design.

Sounds pretty good. But. The letter goes on to direct the reader to a website (www.thepublishingworkshop.com) for details. You have to click a tab within the website to get to the catch: the cost.  The program alone costs $5K; housing is an additional 1.8K – 2.2K. There are also details about the optional meal plan (only a few meals are included with tuition) and parking ($12/day — no weekly discount available).

That price tag is not unusual for summer publishing programs, which tend to be located in expensive urban centers where the active publishing professionals you want to learn from and network with already live. Here’s a list of some of the most well-known similar programs.  Some are graduate programs (which the USC/LARB program is not), but most offer shorter summer courses of study.

Are they worth it, for those in a position to pay that kind of money?

The question gets asked frequently, and the answer is by no means obvious.  Some point out that these programs involve paying for information and contact that one could obtain for free through assiduous networking, research, and informational interviewing.  Others suggest that the critical mass of knowledge, practice, and contacts that these programs bring together is well worth the return on investment.

Thinking about Your Future over Spring Break

Crystal_ball_by_Ron_BodohYour future after graduating with an English/CW major: you can’t foretell it, but you can take steps to shape it.  Spring break is a good time to take care of some of the career-planning details that get shoved aside during the semester.

First thing EVERYONE can do is put our upcoming career-planning events on their calendars. After that…

Graduating Seniors:

If you’re not headed to grad school and you haven’t yet gone to talk to Kirstin Wilcox, Director of Internships, about your job-search strategy, email her to set up an appointment!  Even if you’re terrified and have no resume, much less a plan, come see her anyway.  Doing something works better than doing nothing, and it’s a place to start.

Seniors/Juniors:

  • Create or tidy up your LinkedIn profile.  Employers will stalk you online, so give them something to find that shows off your strengths.  Be sure to upload a professionally appropriate photo and try to devise a headline that showcases your work experience or talents (NOT “Student at the University of Illinois”).
  • Line up your writing samples.  Many jobs that English/CW majors excel at require a writing sample.  What that means, specifically, varies from job to job.  Some employers just want to know that you can write a graceful sentence, some want evidence that you can write for a non-academic audience, yet others want to know that you can tell a story or craft believable dialogue.  Depending on what you’re applying for, consider using a short, well-argued academic paper, the strongest piece you’ve written for a CW class, links to online writing you’ve done, or pieces that you’ve created for an organization you’re part of (flyers, instructions, press releases, etc.
  • Try out some different formats for your resume.  Your resume should NOT be a static, one-size-fits-all document. Every opening you apply for should elicit a different resume, one that advertises the specific background and experience you have that qualifies you for the particular job.
  • Spend some time on I-Link and other jobs databases finding what’s out there.  Some others that English/CW majors find helpful are indeed.com, bookjobs.com, and idealist.org.

Freshman/Sophomores

  • Start networking. “Networking” is an intimidating concept, but it doesn’t have to be. Who do you know who would be willing to talk to you about what they do for a living and whether it might be something you want to do?  Start there!  Not sure how to contact someone you’d like to speak to?  Use our template to get started.
  • Get to know I-Link and start checking it regularly to learn more about the kinds of jobs you’d like to apply for. (Pro-tip: use the “Advanced Search” window in “I-Link Jobs,” but refrain from typing into the search bar; instead use the “Industry” and “Position type” pull-down menus to focus your search.
  • Look and apply for a summer internship.
  • Select a campus publication or an RSO to get involved in, preferably one that can give you leadership experience.
  • Plan to sign up for the Alumni Mentoring Network and find an alumni mentor when you get back to campus.