Image by Stefanie Fiore for Canadianartschool.ca
Interested in developing a career—whether part-time or full-time—in art writing, editing or publishing? Take heed of these tips to test out the possibility and develop your skills while still in school.
Contribute to student-run publications
Many professional writers and journalists got their start by contributing to student-run publications, from weekly campus newspapers to monthly humour magazines to year-end exhibition catalogues and journals. Get in touch with the publications on your campus to volunteer for writing, editing, proofreading or other tasks.
Apply for student internships at professional art magazines
Many professional art magazines have student internship programs. They’re a great way to get behind-the-scenes experience at a working art publication and to figure out whether publishing is a good fit in the future for you. Check the websites of your favourite art magazines, or call them directly, to find out more.
Consider a publishing-specific continuing-education course
Various universities and colleges offer continuing-education courses in writing, editing and publishing. If your regular courseload allows, enrolling in one of these courses or workshops—which can run anywhere from a single afternoon to a 12-week term, and are also sometimes taught online—can be a terrific way to learn more about what it’s really like to work in publishing and hone skills in that area.
Look into student memberships for writing and editing associations
The Professional Writers’ Association of Canada and the Editors’ Association of Canada both offer discounted student memberships. Once joined, members have access to a large network of publishing professionals, as well as valuable skills-development workshops. (Even attending one of these workshops as a non-member can be a good way to see if association membership is for you. Check the PWAC and EAC websites for more details.)
When in doubt, try self-publishing
If you feel driven to write and to share your writing with others, starting a blog can be a free, easy way to put your opinions out into the public sphere. It’s also a good way to test how often you’re actually inspired to write—is it daily, weekly, monthly or quarterly? And if you do build up a portfolio of strong writing on a blog or website, it can end up being a helpful reference link to send along when you actually do start pitching editors.
