work with stillhouse press

At Stillhouse Press, aside from publishing great books, our primary aim is to provide educational opportunity for GMU graduate and undergraduate students through applied experience in the art of craft publishing. We seek students interested in learning about the full scope of operations within a nonprofit literary press, including professional experience in marketing and communications, publicity, acquisitions, operations, art and design, finance and others depending on need.

Stillhouse Press is a student-led press based in the MFA, MA, BFA and BA programs of the English Department at George Mason University and in the community of Fairfax, Virginia. As such, we are not currently open to queries about employment or internship opportunities from non-students or students not affiliated with George Mason University.

GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPS

Stillhouse Press maintains between four and six Graduate Professional Assistantship (GPA) positions each year, depending on need. GPAs staff the press, mentor interns and volunteers, and form the core editorial board, which makes decisions about the press’s editorial, marketing, design, and operations from year to year.

Offered to candidates in George Mason’s MFA program in creative writing upon acceptance, these assistantships offer students the opportunity to spend their time at Mason gaining professional and work experience in addition to their rigorous academic coursework. GPAs work 20 hours per week during the academic year, and positions include a full tuition waiver and stipend, as well as the option to enroll in free graduate health insurance.

Interested in our MFA program? Learn more about funding and assistantships. Applications for priority funding open every fall and close on January 15th. Apply HERE.

INTERNSHIPS

Stillhouse Press interns enjoy a flexible hybrid schedule, and a choice of time commitment and internship length. Internships are unpaid, but interns have the choice to receive academic course credit that most often can apply to major or minor requirements. Stillhouse Press internship supervisors are also happy to act as references and write letters of recommendation.

  1. For the duration of a full semester in the fall, spring, or summer (approximately sixteen weeks) with a time commitment of 10-15 hours per week.

  2. For the duration of two successive semesters or a full academic year, with a time commitment of 5-10 hours per week.

Interested students should send a cover letter and resume, along with the following information, to Professor Scott W. Berg (sberg1@gmu.edu):

  • Internship queries MUST include the following subject line: SHPInternship, your full name, and which session(s) you are applying for. Example: SHPInternship _ AnnieSmith_ Fall2025

  • George Mason students should include their class level (undergraduate or graduate), major/concentration, G#, and expected graduation date (ex: May 2026) in the body of their email.

  • Please specify your area of academic study, and why you are interested in working with the press.

  • Please also include a list of the section(s) you would be interested in working with, i.e. submissions, editorial, publicity, marketing, operations, etc. (See below for descriptions.) Some sections will be seeking multiple interns.

Applications for internships are accepted yearly during the following times:

- If applying for a FALL internship: June 15th - July 15th
- If applying for a SPRING internship: August 15th - November 9th, but please submit your application as soon as you know you’re interested
- If applying for a SUMMER internship: January 15th - February 15th

CURRENT INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Accepting applications for SPRING 2027

Intern * MARKETING and PUBLICITY * Spring 2027

Stillhouse Press seeks applicants with a love of reading and a passion for creative promotion to work with both the marketing and publicity teams to promote our titles and the mission of the press.

Tasks

—Brainstorm and assist with the creation of promotional campaigns.
—Assist with running Stillhouse Press social media; assist with updates, research and outreach to drive engagement across platforms.
—Assist with updating Stillhouse Press website.
—Assist with creating digital designs for the publicity and marketing teams, including graphics and printed materials for promotion.
—Attend the weekly full staff meeting and weekly publicity and marketing meeting.
—Assist with mailing of ARC (Advance Reader Copies) and publicity copies to reviewers and publications.

Qualifications

—Applicants should be detail-oriented and organized, communicate effectively, and have the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines at the same time.
—Proficiency in Canva or Adobe Suite (InDesign, Photoshop) a plus.
—Some knowledge of the online literary landscape and community a plus.

Intern * VIDEO MARKETING * Spring 2027

Stillhouse Press seeks applicants with a love for books, an interest in independent publishing, and a passion for video production/editing. Our venture into video is in its infancy, and we're seeking someone who's able to help us bring it to fruition for future projects and staff.

Tasks

—Research current trends in video marketing for small book presses
—Help develop a standard of regularly scheduled content for current and future staff to reference 
—Work with current technology and applications (video/audio equipment, Adobe Suite, etc.) to start a stockpile of content

Qualifications

—Applicants should be detail-oriented and organized, communicate effectively, and have the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines concurrently.
—Proficiency in Canva or Adobe Suite (Premiere Pro, After Effects, Audition) a plus.
—Knowledge of the online literary landscape and community a plus. 

Intern * COMMUNITY OUTREACH and BRAND STRATEGY

Stillhouse Press seeks applicants to help us build a stronger presence in the DMV literary community and elevate the press’s identity, online and in person. You’ll work directly with the Editorial Director to create a lasting system for building relationships with local publicists, booksellers, presses, and literary organizations, and you’ll have the opportunity to represent Stillhouse at events and in the community. 

Tasks 

—Help design and document a repeatable outreach system for building relationships across the DMV literary scene, including a contact database, outreach templates, and follow-up tracking
—Connect with local booksellers, publicists, presses, and literary organizations, in person and by email, to promote and advocate for Stillhouse and its authors 
—Attend local readings, bookstore events, and literary gatherings on behalf of the press 
—Research the local and national literary landscape and recommend ways to sharpen the press’s branding, voice, and identity
—Attend weekly staff meetings and 1-on-1 check-ins with the Editorial Director via Zoom 

Qualifications

—Open to all majors, but especially interested in majors from communications, marketing, English, or a related field
—Strong writing and interpersonal skills, and comfort introducing yourself and starting conversations with professionals
—Organized, able to work independently, and reliable with deadlines
—Microsoft Suite, Adobe Suite, Google Workplace, and/or Canva experience is a plus
—Able to travel within the DMV area for events (transportation not provided) 

Intern * SUBMISSIONS and ACQUISITIONS * Spring 2027

Stillhouse Press seeks applicants who have a love for reading and evaluating manuscripts for publication to work with the submissions and acquisitions team. 

Qualifications:

—Applicants should have great communication and teamwork skills, should be well organized and detail oriented, and should finish assignments in a timely manner.
—Applicants should have a passion for reading and reviewing manuscripts to ascertain their publishability. 

Tasks:

—Reading and reviewing manuscripts through Submittable, then meeting to discuss those manuscripts weekly.
—Attend weekly meetings to discuss manuscripts and other press related items/events.
—Assist in reader tracking, manuscript tracking, and overall manuscript selection from our current open call.


RELATED COURSEWORK

George Mason also offers courses in publishing, arts administration, editing, and design. Interested students should ask their advisor about the graduate certificate in publishing practice, the publishing minor (also called “dynamic publishing”), or the major in arts administration.