Yellow Arrow Publishing Blog
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 current 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 spring 2025 interns. Each has our appreciation.
Arrieonna Derricoatte, Program Management Intern
Lives in Columbus, Ohio
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 by the end of the internship, two blog posts.
Where do you go to school? I got to Ohio State University. I graduate in May this year.
What are you currently working on? I am currently in my last semester of undergrad and am a community engagement arts administrator at Urban Arts Space. I am editing and planning the launch of their first community journal. I have also begun to work on my own independent research using docupoetics as an archival tool.
Arrieonna Derricoatte (she/her) is currently a senior at Ohio State University. She is an English major with a concentration in writing, rhetoric, and literacy with minors in human rights and professional writing. She is passionate about reading and community-building around arts, education, and policy. Arrieonna is also a student art administrator and writing intern at Urban Arts Space. She plans to pursue a Master’s in Public Administration upon graduation. After school, she hopes to further her career in nonprofit work and community programming while seeking a career in publishing. She can be found on Instagram @arrieonnaderricoatte.
She plans to attend graduate school next fall to pursue a masters in public affair.
What is your favorite course at school? Why did you choose to take it?
My favorite course this semester is Black women: culture and politics. I chose to take this course because I wanted to know more about the genealogy of Black feminism and where it appears in literature, media, and politics.
Have you read anything this year that has stuck with you?
Long After We Are Gone by Terah Shelton Harris is about healing intergenerational trauma through a Black family in the South after their land is seized by private investors. I’m invested in not only affordable housing but land restoration and equitable home/land ownership for marginalized communities.
Why did you choose an internship with Yellow Arrow?
I chose this internship with Yellow Arrow because I not only wanted experience in the publishing industry but because I am deeply invested in lifting up the voices and history of marginalized peoples especially women of color.
How are things going so far?
I am enjoying my internship so far. I have learned about the publication from submissions to release. I have also been a part of programming like fundraising and workshop curriculum and marketing.
Jacqueline Goldman, Publications Intern
Lives in Baltimore, Maryland
What do you do? Several things! I draft and publish the .W.o.W. and Her View Friday blogs on the website and social media, reviewed submissions for Yellow Arrow Journal, write blogs, research for Yellow Arrow mentions, edit, and much, much more.
Where do you go to school? Loyola University Maryland. I will graduate May 2026.
What are you currently working on? Currently I’m submitting applications for internships over the summer, fingers crossed! I’m also planning to go to a renaissance faire this Sunday [now, a few Sundays ago!] so I’m prepping for that.
Jacqueline Goldman (she/her) is an aspiring publishing professional pursuing a degree in communications and media with a specialization in journalism and a minor in writing and business journalism at Loyola University Maryland. With experience as Publication Intern for Yellow Arrow Publishing, Managing Editor-in-Chief for The Greyhound, Nonfiction Editor at Corridors Literary Magazine, and an acquisitions editor at Apprentice House Press, she enjoys shaping compelling narratives and pushing the envelope.
She would love to work toward becoming an acquisitions editor at a publishing company.
What is your favorite course at school? Why did you choose to take it?
My favorite course was a manuscript development and evaluation course in the communication and media department. I took it because I’ve always loved reviewing other individuals work. After taking the course, I realized I wanted to go into the publishing industry.
Have you read anything this year that has stuck with you?
“Counting Dogwood Flowers” by Lish Ciambrone from Yellow Arrow Journal kitalo (Vol. IX, No. 2) touched me since my dog passed away recently. Seeing her read it in person was even more striking.
Why did you choose to do an internship with Yellow Arrow?
One of my professor’s in the writing department suggested that I apply for Yellow Arrow as I was looking to gain more hands-on experience in the publishing industry. Yellow Arrow stuck out because of its goal of uplifting women’s voices, which aligns with my personal values.
How are things going so far?
I think things are going well so far! . . . So much information to take in at once, it was a lot! But as I received feedback and tasks became more repetitive I found them coming to me more naturally.
Gabby Granillo, Author Support Intern (6 months)
From Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, but lives in Baltimore, Maryland
What do you do? I work closely with the chapbook authors and other published authors to develop a network and foundation for future interns. I pride myself on building relationships with past and present authors and fostering a comfortable environment for the creative minds of our company. I am working on developing blog posts, social media graphics, and planning events, such as poetry readings, to celebrate the successes and contributions of our authors to the literary world. It is a pleasure to be a member of such an invaluable team and get to know all the different moving parts that make Yellow Arrow a wonderful place to work.
Where do you go to school? I attend Loyola University Maryland, and I will graduate in the spring of 2026. I am an English and writing major with minors in environmental studies and art.
What are you currently working on? I am currently working on creative nonfiction short essays that will be used in my writing portfolio for graduate school. I love art as a creative medium outside of writing and work on collages from vintage magazines and printouts in my free time. I go for a lot of walks about Baltimore and am a huge foodie. My favorite thing to do is cook dinner and create new recipes.
Gabrielle Granillo is studying English and writing at Loyola University Maryland, minoring in environmental science and art. Raised in Arizona, with much of her family still on the west coast, she now lives in central Massachusetts, her home for the past 12 years. She aims to live in northern Europe after graduation and receive a master’s degree in photojournalism. Gabby spends her days reading Irish novels, practicing street photography, and trying out new recipes. Her three favorite things are hot tea, antiquing, and road trips. She looks forward to making valuable contributions to the Yellow Arrow team, as a woman-identifying writer herself, looking to explore further editorial practices and enhance her voice using inspiration of her fellow staff members. Find her on Instagram and LinkedIn @gabriellegranillo.
In the fall of 2025, she will be living in Copenhagen, Denmark, and attending DIS Study Abroad as a study abroad student through Loyola Maryland. She will be studying photojournalism, creative writing, and environmental science while in Europe.
What is your favorite course at school? Why did you choose to take it?
My favorite course is a seminar on James Joyce. I am currently taking it for degree credit toward my major. It has enhanced my ability to do close readings, and I find the class to be joyful, entertaining, and enlightening. It has changed my perception of the English language and the different ways to interpret how authors choose to convey a message or theme.
Have you read anything this year that has stuck with you?
I read Breakdown by Cathy Sweeney, and it was one of my favorite novels I have read. I have a preference for Irish literature and Irish authors. There is something about their writing styles and scenes that is so intriguing. I felt that the novel was enjoyable for the sake of it being an easy read but packed full of gendered philosophy, and it challenges what it means to be a woman and a mother in a world so set out to determine our identities for us.
Why did you choose to do an internship with Yellow Arrow?
I was inspired by the idea of being a support system for other individuals in the writing community. This opportunity presented itself unexpectedly, as Annie Marhefka (Executive Director) came to visit one of my seminars and pitched Yellow Arrow’s mission to the students. I felt moved by the work she was developing and desired to be a member of her team. Yellow Arrow proved to be unlike any other internships I looked into, and the platform they provide for female-identifying authors to express themselves is vital to the publishing community.
How are things going so far?
Things are going very well. It is important work that Yellow Arrow does, and I feel challenged. I am learning a lot about event planning and professional communication. I am working with a diverse group of individuals, and the tasks being asked of us interns are not busy work. Each task is meticulously crafted and I find myself brainstorming things for my position outside of the job description. I feel motivated to work toward the goals with my team and look forward to meeting with them each week. It is a treat to work with such like-minded and devoted individuals.
*****
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 social media. If interested in joining us as an intern, you can learn more 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 BLAZE a path for 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 or Instagram 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.