During the 2020 Spring Semester, I interned at SparkPoint Studio in the publishing department. I graduated from Grand Canyon University with a BA in Professional Writing and a minor in marketing. I have always enjoyed reading and writing and wanted a career that involved them both. So it was natural to intern at a publishing company and learn more about the industry.

While some internships make you do menial tasks and only allow a small glimpse at the company, my time at SparkPoint was anything but. I was able to dive deep into the inner workings of a publishing company and experience the editorial process.

What I Did

My days were spent helping the editorial team with the SparkPress blog. I pitched blog post ideas and wrote my own. My favorite blog post I wrote was Who is Your Book Boyfriend Based on Your College Major. I loved being able to tap into my creativity and my passion for writing.

I also did other publishing-related jobs. From adding data into the system to working on spreadsheets, I was able to fully immerse myself in the publishing industry. I worked on sending out postcards for marketing, packaging up books for promotion, and even make cute Valentine’s Day-related book gifts. I loved how there was always something to do—I was never left twiddling my thumbs.

My Favorite Part

I loved every part of my internship, but my favorite part was the people that make up SparkPoint Studio. Everyone is so genuine and truly love their work. They are more than willing to teach you what they know and answer any questions.

It was fun to get to know everyone and interact and collaborate with the different departments. The other interns were also great. It was cool to work with others who had aspirations in different areas.

Key Things to Bring to Your Internship

It is always good to come prepared for any internship. Some great things to have ready in your bag include:

  • A planner
  • A notebook
  • A good pen
  • Laptop and charger
  • Water
  • Snacks

You may not need everything depending on the internship, but they are good things to have overall when you first start one. And, of course, you can never have too many snacks.

Advice for Future Interns

Some bits of advice for future interns include:

Stay Organized: When you have deadlines on a daily basis and multiple things to do, it is good to maintain organization and keep track of everything. I had a planner so I would always know when something was due and what I had to work on that day.

Show Up Early: Try to get to work a few minutes before your designated time. It will let you settle in when you first get to the office and get situated. It also helps in case traffic is a little heavy or there is an accident on the road so then you aren’t late.

Dress Nice: I was always taught to dress every day like you were going to see someone important. I always tried to make it a priority to dress nicely and professionally in case anyone major came into the office. It is also important to look nice. Clothes make a person and you never know when you may need to look dressed up.

My time at SparkPress was very memorable and I learned skills that I will no doubt take with me to my future job.