Literary Awards Internship
PEN America, a nonprofit organization working at the intersection of literature and human rights, seeks interns to work on PEN America’s Literary Programs team on our Literary Awards Program.
Since 1963, the PEN America Literary Awards have honored many of the most outstanding voices in literature across diverse genres, including fiction, poetry, science writing, essays, sports writing, biography, children’s literature, and drama. With the help of our partners, PEN America confers over 20 distinct awards, fellowships, grants and prizes each year, awarding nearly $350,000 to writers and translators.
Interns receive mentoring and hands-on direction from multiple staff members, and have the opportunity to participate in skill-building workshops and discussions about professional development in the nonprofit and literary arts sectors. They will also gain behind-the-scenes insights and valuable exposure to major players and issues in the writing and publishing industries.
Literary Awards Interns will assist the program Director and Coordinator in preparing for our annual Awards Ceremony, particularly by assisting during the reading period with judge coordination, public announcements, collecting necessary data, and collaborating with our team to devise social media strategies with the end goal of bringing our event to fruition.
Interns who work on our Literary Awards Program will gain exposure to the country’s vibrant cultural landscape through program development and regular communication with PEN America’s literary affiliates. They will receive hands-on administrative experience and learn the operational details of executing a literary awards program, from book submissions to judge and industry communications to ceremony production. Additionally, interns are encouraged to attend and volunteer for PEN America’s public programs and events.
There will be opportunities throughout the internship to provide support on grant reporting and analysis as well, an invaluable skill in the nonprofit sector.
This internship will operate from our headquarters in New York City located at 120 Broadway, 26 FL North, New York, NY 10271 on a hybrid schedule during normal business hours from Monday - Friday 8am - 6pm. The intern will be working up to 20 hours/week over four months and will be paid $17/hour for hours worked. Internships are also eligible for college credit.
Applicants needing a fully virtual arrangement are also welcome to apply and should indicate this requirement in their application. Additionally, candidates who would be balancing the internship along with outside employment are also encouraged to apply and should indicate this in their application for special consideration regarding schedule flexibility.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Assist team with production of 2026 Literary Awards Program
- Devise systems for analyzing and archiving data around past award winners, ticket buyers, participant demographics, and events
- Provide essential administrative support. This includes assistance with filing documents digitally, maintaining spreadsheets, and updating copy for the website as needed.
- Assist with managing submissions by cross referencing internal records with entries
- Communicate with publisher representatives to resolve questions during the vetting and reading process
- Monitor the Awards email account and help respond to general queries
- Create templates, documents, and spreadsheets for judges during the Awards Program cycle, and gain understanding of the different elements conducive and necessary to successful program administration
- Contribute to the department’s online presence on social media, including drafting social media text and graphics for Facebook, Bluesky, Instagram, and LinkedIn
- Copyedit text for announcement of grant winners, longlist, and finalists and factcheck for eligibility criteria
- Interns may have the opportunity to interview writers as a part of the PEN Ten Interview Series
- The successful applicant may also have the opportunity to support other projects in the literary programs department on an ad hoc basis
DESIRED ATTRIBUTES
- Must be able to provide proof of authorization to work in the United States
- Capacity to maintain confidentiality and discretion
- Strong attention to detail, organization, and accuracy of research
- Efficacious communication skills across multiple platforms
- Ability to multitask and organize multiple projects at once
- A creative, open mind, eager to solve problems and discover new alternatives
- A curious and inquisitive person, interested in exploring the nuances of different literary genres and the intentions behind our awards suite
- Concrete experience in strategizing social media to promote events and outreach
- Meaningful exposure to the G Suite, especially Docs, Sheets, and Forms, though skill-building will be part of the program
- Passion for inspiring and building communities around a shared love of literature—and a conviction in fostering cross-cultural competence through books—are essential
- Bilingual writing and speaking abilities are a plus but not required
- Experience in graphic design and using content management systems (e.g., Canva, WordPress, Formsite, and Adobe Suite) preferred, but not required
- Experience with audio and video editing preferred, but not required
TO APPLY
Please submit a resume, cover letter, and unedited writing sample to Coordinator, Literary Awards, Valentine Sargent vsargent@pen.org. One PDF including the entire application is preferred. Please include the cycle you’re applying for, and your name as the subject of your email (for example, “Fall Literary Awards Internship – Jane Doe”). Only complete applications will be reviewed and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
PEN America does not discriminate in its selection practices, and in order to build the strongest possible team, actively seeks a diverse applicant pool.
No phone calls, please.
ABOUT PEN AMERICA:
PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible.