Community Editor Apprenticeship

Saint Paul Almanac’s Community Editor Apprenticeship Project is the only project in Minnesota that is designed to teach an equity-focused, democratic editorial process. Our editorial process offers an opportunity for apprentices to acquire professional editing skills by learning to evaluate submissions and to edit manuscripts selected for publication in the Saint Paul Almanac (SPA) anthology. SPA’s community editor apprentices come from wide-ranging backgrounds, spanning age, ethnicity, language, gender identity, and socio-economic status. Our editorial process offers experiential learning to apprentices who want to learn editing and want to pursue a publishing career.  After participating in our project, several community editor apprentices gained entry-level positions and served as fellows in Twin Cities’ publishing houses.

• You have a love for reading and writing and aspire to become an editor.
• You have taken at least one writing course, either creative and/or expository.
• You are 16 or older.
• You agree to attend the eight in-person sessions. If necessary, you may be absent only one time.
• You agree to be on time for each session.
• You agree to read the submissions assigned each week before attending the sessions and to actively participate in the sessions. You must bring a laptop computer to each session to refer to the submissions during the sessions.
• You also agree to work with writers on revising their work after the eight-week sessions and to communicate with the executive editor along the way.

Apprentice Project Timeline

Eight in-person sessions will occur on Saturdays, September 26 – November 14, 2026, 1-4 p.m.

Location of Apprenticeship

Court International Building/EquaSpace
2550 University Avenue W, Suite 200N
St. Paul, MN 55114
Map & Directions

Manuscript Review

Community editor apprentices are expected to bring a laptop to each in-person session that will enable them to access the submissions during the group sessions and complete the editing assignments at home via Submittable. Using a laptop provides full access to the Submittable site and to the submissions.

During eight meetings comprised of three-hour sessions, 1-4 p.m., community editor apprentices will:

• Practice editing skills learned from professional editors.
• Determine high literary artistic caliber using criteria emphasizing quality and inclusivity.
• Discern an authentic voice.
• Build a manuscript involving a dynamic group process.
• Develop professional confidence.

During each group session, the Fall 2026 community editor apprentices will review the submitted poetry and prose and will use the group editorial process to select pieces for the 2027 SPA Volume 15. We will also enjoy snacks and beverages.

After the eight-week sessions are completed, the apprentices will communicate editing suggestions via email or phone calls to writers whose work is selected for the anthology. This writer-apprentice communication will be completed by January 31, 2027. During this process, the apprentices and the executive editor will also communicate with each other about the editing process.

Successful Completion of the Apprenticeship

Each selected community editor apprentice will earn $1,000.00 and a certificate of satisfactory completion at the end of the project for their active involvement in the group editorial process. Active involvement entails attending all sessions on time*, but you may miss only one, if necessary; completing editing assignments in between sessions; and engaging in group activities.

*Apprentices are expected to attend each session on time. If you must be late, you will be granted a 15-minute grace period. If you come later than 15 minutes, you will be considered absent. You are permitted only one absence. Also, please be aware that the doors to the classroom building will be locked at 2:00 p.m. to the public, so you will not be able to enter after that point. If you are selected to participate, be certain that you will be able to commit fully to the apprenticeship to ensure successful completion.

Community Editor Apprenticeship Application Timeline

Applications open on August 13 and close on September 10, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

Application Status

Thank you for your application! We will contact you soon to inform you of your status.

Those who are selected to go to the next stage of the application process will undergo a short telephone interview. Please anticipate the phone call and be prepared to discuss your application.

Application Form