Gratitude is a Divine Emotion: Yellow Arrow Interns
“Gratitude is a divine emotion: it fills the heart, but not to bursting; it warms it, but not to fever.”
from Shirley by Charlotte Brontë
One of the many ways Yellow Arrow Publishing encourages women writers and women in publishing is through inclusion within the organization itself. We welcome (and thrive with) our volunteers and interns, not only for our own benefit but to also (hopefully) provide a prospective future publisher with some necessary tools and knowledge about the publishing world. And even if a volunteer/intern does not plan to continue within the publishing world, the tools and knowledge of working in a women-led, collaborative organization. One that champions the different and the unique. One that looks for partners and allies rather than simple connections (see our growing list of partners here).
We try to find each volunteer, each intern, space in our organization to grow and flourish in the area they are most interested in (and of course where we need the most help!). Past staff members have worked at our live events and at Yellow Arrow House. They hand bound our publications and put as much love and tenderness into each copy as we could hope. Today they focus on the ins and outs of releasing a publication, running a publishing company, and our community-driven projects. Tasks can range from editing to formatting, marketing, and putting together events and workshops. Above all else, our interns support and champion staff/board, authors, workshop attendees, and themselves. We are so thankful to have had them with us on this journey.
So let’s introduce the fall 2024 interns. Each has our appreciation.
Alexa Lesniak
Program Management Intern
From Media, Pennsylvania but currently living in College Park, Maryland
What do you do? My main role at Yellow Arrow is to help support workshops and events through social media posts by creating graphics in Canva to promote different activities. I also write the monthly newsletter and will get to write two blog posts.
Where do you go to school? I am currently an English major at the University of Maryland, College Park, and I will graduate this upcoming May!
What are you currently working on? Currently, I have been focused on learning how to cook. While many stores have gluten-free frozen options, I have been trying to create my own with whole foods. So far this journey has been very frustrating but very rewarding.
Alexa Lesniak (she/her) is a current senior at the University of Maryland, College Park. She is an English major with a concentration in media studies and minors in creative writing and professional writing. Alexa is very passionate about the craft of poetry and how it can portray nature. She recently has discovered a love of journaling and scrapbooking. After she graduates, Alexa hopes to pursue a career in publishing. She can be found on Instagram @alexalesniak.
Once she graduates, she plans on pursuing a career in publishing. She would love to help craft the next generation of great literature. Before that though, she plans to travel the U.S. and visit all of the national parks.
Why did you choose an internship with Yellow Arrow?
I chose an internship with Yellow Arrow because of the organization’s mission and workplace culture. It has been amazing to help highlight women writers and learn more about events being held locally in Baltimore. I have already met so many amazing people and have been introduced to such wonderful written work.
How are things going so far?
So far, things have been going well. I have learned so much about how Yellow Arrow functions and just how many people play a role in the organization’s success. I also have gained many design and writing skills through my weekly tasks.
Elizabeth Ottenritter
Publications Intern
Lives in Baltimore, Maryland
What do you do? Assist with Yellow Arrow’s publications program on a variety of projects, and act as an editorial associate as needed, working directly with the Editor-in-Chief.
Where do you go to school? Loyola University Maryland. I am a senior and will graduate in May of 2025.
What are you currently working on? As of right now, I am working on applying to graduate programs. I am writing a lot of poetry and prose for my courses as well. I am also a DJ at my university’s radio station, WLOY, so I go live and play music once a week.
Elizabeth Ottenritter (she/her) is a senior at Loyola University Maryland, where she studies writing. She is passionate about reading, crafting poetry, contributing to Loyola’s literary art magazine, Corridors, and traveling worldwide. Upon graduation, Elizabeth hopes to continue her love of learning and language in a graduate program.
She hopes to be accepted into a graduate program for an MFA in either creative writing or poetry. After school, she would like to begin a career in editing or publications, alongside publishing her own writing one day.
Why did you choose to do an internship with Yellow Arrow?
Yellow Arrow has an incredible reputation of publishing and encouraging women-identifying voices, with their numerous chapbook publications, workshops, and journal issues. I truly resonated with allowing writers to be heard exactly as they are, focusing on the heart of the work above anything else. I was also moved by the upcoming (at the time) Yellow Arrow Journal issue kitalo. I felt a strong connection to the premise of grief and gratitude coming together to create something beautiful.
How are things going so far?
Great! I get to do what I love, surrounded by talented and passionate professionals. I get to read the work of others, copyedit publications, and write to amplify Yellow Arrow on social media. I’m learning a lot in such a short period of time, and I know this experience will stay with me.
*****
Thank you to everyone who supports these women and all writers who toil away day after day. Please show them some love in the comments below or on Yellow Arrow’s Facebook or Instagram. If interested in joining us as an editorial associate or intern, fill out an application at yellowarrowpublishing.com/internships.
Yellow Arrow Publishing is a nonprofit supporting women-identifying writers through publication and access to the literary arts. You can support us as we AMPLIFY women-identifying creatives this year by purchasing one of our publications or a workshop from the Yellow Arrow bookstore, for yourself or as a gift, joining our newsletter, following us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, or subscribing to our YouTube channel. Donations are appreciated via PayPal (staff@yellowarrowpublishing.com), Venmo (@yellowarrowpublishing), or US mail (PO Box 65185, Baltimore, Maryland 21209). More than anything, messages of support through any one of our channels are greatly appreciated.