Art of Writing provides UC Berkeley undergraduates with paid literary internship opportunities (writing, editing, social media, etc.) with partner organizations.
This Spring 2026 and Summer 2026 semesters, Bay Area Book Festival will host an Art of Writing intern. This hybrid (both remote and in-person) internship comes with a $2,500 stipend provided by Art of Writing.
The hired intern must keep a monthly informal written log of activities and reflections, shared with Art of Writing, in order to receive their stipend. Art of Writing may also conduct an informal Zoom debrief of the experience at the end of the internship.
The application is now open, and closes on March 9, 2026.
About this internship–
Site Supervisor:
J. K. Fowler, Executive Director of Bay Area Book Festival, Owner of Nomadic Bookshop, and Publisher at Nomadic Press
Mission of Organization:
The Bay Area Book Festival, Nomadic Press, and Nomadic Bookshop together form an interconnected literary ecosystem dedicated to cultivating vibrant public engagement with books, writers, and ideas across the Bay Area and beyond. Building on years of community-centered programming, independent publishing, and bookstore curation, this ecosystem supports writers at every stage, from manuscript to launch event to ongoing readership.
Bay Area Book Festival is a large-scale annual literary festival and year-round presenter that brings together authors, readers, publishers, and community partners to celebrate literature in public space. Nomadic Press is a small, independent publisher committed to championing underrepresented voices through books, chapbooks, and literary events—it is restarting operations in 2026. Nomadic Bookshop is a curated neighborhood bookstore and community hub in Uptown Oakland that highlights small presses, radical and social justice literature, and contemporary work across genres.
Together, these entities model a holistic, community-driven vision of literary culture that spans festivals, bookshops, and publishing.
Job Responsibilities:
The Bay Area Books Ecosystem Intern gains real-world, hands-on work experience across a major literary festival, an independent press, and a neighborhood bookshop, learning how books move from idea to publication to readers in community. The internship is designed to train students for careers in literary arts administration, publishing, bookselling, events and festival production, community engagement, and literary marketing and communications.
Working closely with J. K. Fowler and collaborating staff, the Intern will support day-to-day operations and special projects across Bay Area Book Festival, Nomadic Press, and Nomadic Bookshop. The Intern will assist with tasks such as preparing and updating title information, helping track and promote Nomadic Press titles, supporting in-store displays and inventory-related tasks at Nomadic Bookshop, and contributing to festival- and event-related communications.
The position will include a mix of editorial-adjacent work (for example, light copyediting for web and marketing materials), social media and newsletter support, and on-the-ground or remote event support depending on the festival and bookshop calendar.
Intern responsibilities may include: drafting and scheduling social media posts across organizations; helping create and update Canva graphics for events, campaigns, and featured titles; assisting with email newsletter copy and basic list organization; researching authors, presses, and community partners for potential collaboration; supporting planning and logistics for literary events and festival programs; helping to prepare and organize books, signage, and materials for in-store and off-site events; and contributing ideas for in-store displays, themed selections, and cross-promotion between the festival, press, and bookshop. The Intern will be invited into conversations about mission, curation, and community impact, gaining a holistic view of how literary organizations sustain themselves while serving a broad public.
The Intern will be assigned a primary staff mentor (J. K. Fowler) who will supervise and guide their work, including entry and exit conversations to gauge the student’s goals and reflect on how the internship supported them. Depending on workload and calendar, the Intern may also interface with additional team members at Bay Area Book Festival, Nomadic Press, and Nomadic Bookshop for specific projects (for example, working with events staff on festival logistics or with bookshop staff on merchandising and point-of-sale assets).
Required Skills
- Strong interest in literature, publishing, bookselling, and literary festivals, with enthusiasm for community-centered arts organizations.
- Must be motivated, organized, and proactive, with strong written and oral communication skills.
- Comfort working across multiple projects and entities, with the ability to track details and follow through on deadlines.
- Familiarity with or interest in learning tools such as Canva, Mailchimp or similar email platforms, Eventbrite, and basic spreadsheet software; experience with social media platforms (Instagram in particular) is a plus.
- Must be currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree at UC Berkeley.
Work Schedule:
The Intern is expected to commit to approximately 10–15 hours per week. The position is about 80% remote and 20% in person; the in-person portion will be at the Oakland bookstore and at the downtown Berkeley festival during the weekend of May 29-31.
Work schedule and location can be flexible to accommodate the Intern’s coursework and other obligations, with a mix of remote tasks (such as digital communications, research, and light admin) and in-person work at Nomadic Bookshop or Bay Area Book Festival–related locations when mutually feasible. Remote interns are expected to be reachable and responsive via email (and, if used by the team, Slack or similar platforms) during their designated work hours. The Intern will be required to participate in relevant remote or in-person events and programs as they arise over the course of the semester.
Application Process:
This internship is designed to support undergraduate students who may not otherwise have access to such opportunities. Thus, we are prioritizing students with financial need and early career candidates for this program. Financial need is now measured at UC Berkeley using the Student Aid Index. See your Financial Aid & Scholarships Profile under My Finances in Cal Central to check your Student Aid Index.
To apply, complete this linked application form by midnight on March 9, 2026.
If you have any questions, please contact Jane Liaw at janeliaw@berkeley.edu.