Because WTAW Press receives a large volume of submissions, a committed corps of preliminary readers is essential to helping select manuscripts. First readers have the the responsibility of reading submitted material and providing thoughtful feedback as to the merit and potential of each submission assigned to them to review. WTAW Press strives to maintain a corps of readers with diverse experiences and backgrounds.

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For this position, we look for writers who care deeply about literature and books. We want experienced writers, editors, and those with a background or education in creative writing or literature. Writers who are serious about their own craft are great candidates, as are those who are interested in learning what goes into publishing a strong catalog of books.

 

Reliability and a commitment to reading for the entire submission period is essential.

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Other essential responsibilities of the role include:

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• Providing concise responses to assigned manuscripts according to the provided framework.

• Meeting weekly deadlines and clearly communicating with editorial staff when scheduling conflicts arise.

• Familiarity with the evolving WTAW Press catalog, and an interest in contemporary and enduring literature.

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This is a volunteer position that requires approximately ten hours per week. Readers work remotely on their own schedules to meet their deadlines each week.

 

WTAW Press conducts reviews in which reviewers and authors are kept anonymous. Multiple reviewers are assigned to each manuscript, so that each is read by at least three reviewers. Reviewers are anonymous to one another and unable to see one another's reviews.

To apply, please email a brief cover letter introducing yourself and speaking to your reasons for wanting the position. If you have links to online publications of your own creative writing and/or criticism, please include them, as well as your website and social media links, if any.

 

Fill in the application form below. Or contact wtaw @ wtawpress . org.

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Why Read for a Literary Publisher?

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The behind-the-scenes vantage point is a great learning opportunity. It’s eye-opening to see the variety and quantity of submissions. If you're a writer, reading these submissions can improve your understanding of how a publisher might read your own manuscripts. Reading what is not selected for publication will teach you a great deal. The more readily you learn to discriminate among the range of quality, you’ll come to to understand where authors miss the mark and what common missteps to avoid. You’ll discover what makes a manuscript stand out in terms of insight and intelligence, tone and style, voice, intriguing characters, skillful use of language, and forward momentum.

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You will gain valuable experience and fine tune skills useful for working in editing or publishing. 

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You will have the opportunity to help shape the future catalog of a small independent press. 

 

Whether or not you're a writer, or interested in editing or publishing, there’s a great deal to be gained from figuring out what personally makes your heart sing when differentiating among the very good to brilliant manuscripts.

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Thoughts from a preliminary reader

* You get to read some truly excellent and provocative work. While it makes it difficult to choose or turn down some manuscripts, it's always inspiring to read.

* Having the perspective of a reader informs my own writing process, what works, and what doesn't. I'm inspired by the good writing, and for the manuscripts that need more development, it makes me feel better about my own work. You start to see a lot of mistakes that newer writers make (i.e., not following submission directions, not having a clear narrative perspective, overwrought prose, lagging plot, etc.) and it helps me improve as a writer.

* The process became for me a comforting ritual. I'd set aside time each week to read the manuscripts that I considered personal development—just for reading, no distractions, to enjoy the writing I read, to learn how to become better at evaluating literature, and to try and become a better writer.

* Knowing I’m helping a small nonprofit press makes me feel like a valuable addition to the literary community, in a small but significant way.

* The sheer number of submissions made me feel hopeful about literature and the arts in general—so many people out there compelled to write, who see the value in literature and reading. It feels like a small revolution to be reading and writing and a part of this community.

 

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