R2: THE RICE REVIEW

APPLICATION FOR EDITORIAL POSITIONS 2012-2013

DUE VIA EMAIL By

Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at 5 PM

Please email to . Any questions should be addressed to John Vogelgesang at . Good luck!

Note: If you will be abroad either semester, you are also eligible for some positions – but please indicate this on your application.

Name: GPA, Major(s):

College: Expected date of graduation (month, year):

Year: Will you be studying abroad? If yes, when:

Please list all previous workshop experience and/or creative writing courses taken:

Please list the positions in which you are interested. Job descriptions are listed below for your reference. You may apply for more than one position:

Please submit responses your responses only, not the application form itself.

Elements of the Application:

  1. General Questions
  2. Position-specific Questions
  3. Personal Writing Sample
  4. Short (1-2 paragraph) critique.

JOB DESCRIPTIONS:

Note: If you want to apply for a position but do not meet the requirements, you may still apply; however, please explain why you would still be qualified despite not meeting the requirements.

Editor-in-Chief

This position sometimes overlaps with that of the managing editor, and the editor-in-chief works closely with both the managing editor and the faculty advisor. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: delegating tasks to the masthead and facilitating in the execution of these tasks, designing and implementing the production calendar, planning and running meetings, facilitating staff solidarity, communicating with the faculty advisor, thinking critically about the mission and future of the magazine, managing the budget, preparing for The Big Read and coordinating the piece selection process, dealing with the printer, copyediting the magazine, and revising the application for staff positions. The editor-in-chief must be able to delegate tasks in a manner that takes advantage of the staff’s current skills and helps the newer members build up skills to become stronger members of the staff. Familiarity with R2 is required and former team management experience is strongly suggested. Previous workshop experience is required. This position requires a large time commitment throughout the year.

Managing Editor

The managing editor works closely with the editor-in-chief to delegate and oversee staff tasks, design and implement the production calendar, manage the budget, prepare for The Big Read, plan and run meetings, coordinate layout, communicate with the faculty advisor, think critically about the mission and future of the magazine, and copyedit. The managing editor also keeps minutes during meetings, coordinates and edits the interview section of the magazine, and manages the R2 email account. Familiarity with R2 and former team management experience are strongly suggested. Previous workshop experience is required. The managing editor stands in for the editor-in-chief when the editor-in-chief is unavailable. This position requires a large time commitment throughout the year.

Art Editor

The art editor works closely with the layout staff and cover art winner to design and produce the physical magazine. In addition, the arts editor will attend all staff meetings, attend sponsored readings when possible, and assist with any other R2 business. Familiarity with InDesign and Photoshop is strongly suggested.

Socials Chair

The Social Chair organizes R2 events such as the Open Mic Night, the Launch Party, the Turnover Retreat, and R2 reading series. The social chair facilitates staff solidarity and community by planning and running the magazine's social events such as Open Mic Night, the Launch Party, the Turnover Retreat, and the reading series (one per semester). Duties of this position may include buying the food and drinks for the event, reserving appropriate venues and speaker equipments, getting permissions for alcohol liscensing, organizing set-up and clean-ups of events, and communicating with venues and businesspeople in the Houston community. This position requires a moderate time commitment; tasks typically rely on the assistance of multiple members of staff (Editors-at-Large, etc.)

Creative Nonfiction Editor

Reads and judges all creative nonfiction submissions prior to The Big Read, manages his or her readers during The Big Read, oversees the decision of which pieces will be published, workshops with authors to edit pieces for publication, and copyedits all nonfiction pieces. In addition, the creative nonfiction editor will attend all staff meetings, assist in publicizing R2 events and deadlines, attend sponsored readings when possible, and assist with any other R2 business. Previous workshop experience is required. This position requires a large time commitment from the beginning of December to the end of February.

Fiction Editor

Reads and judges all fiction submissions prior to The Big Read, manages his or her readers during The Big Read, oversees the decision of which stories will be published, workshops with authors to edit pieces for publication, and copyedits all stories. In addition, the fiction editor will attend all staff meetings, assist in publicizing R2 events and deadlines, attend sponsored readings when possible, and assist with any other R2 business. Previous workshop experience is required. This position requires a large time commitment from the beginning of December to the end of February.

Poetry Editor

Reads and judges all poetry submissions prior to The Big Read, manages his or her readers during The Big Read, oversees the decision of which poems will be published, workshops with authors to edit pieces for publication, and copyedits all poems. In addition, the poetry editor will attend all staff meetings, assist in publicizing R2 events and deadlines, attend sponsored readings when possible, and be ready to assist with any other R2 business. Previous workshop experience is required. This position requires a large time commitment from the beginning of December to the end of February.

Layout Editor

The layout editor oversees the production of the physical magazine and is responsible for the final proof that is sent to the printer. The layout editor manages and delegates tasks to the layout staff, including the arts editor and the associate layout editors. The layout editor looks at past magazines to select fonts, spacing, gradients, opacity, etc. The layout editor communicates with printers about pricing and logistics, compiles all the pieces of the magazine, prints proofs for copyediting, and inputs changes and corrections after copyediting. In addition, the layout editor will attend all staff meetings, attend sponsored readings when possible, and be ready to assist with any other R2 business. Familiarity with Photoshop and Indesign are required. This position requires a large time commitment (many hours in front of a computer alone) in the months of February and March.

Publicity Manager

The publicity manager thinks creatively and critically about new ways to promote R2, promotes all R2 events, and designs all publicity materials for R2--especially fliers, posters, and banners. The publicity manager advertises events through listserv emails, newspaper ads, Facebook, and class announcements. The publicity manager brings copies of publicity materials to meetings and coordinates distribution of publicity materials both on and off campus, consistently sweeping the campus to ensure R2 presence. The publicity manager oversees magazine distribution post-Launch Party. The publicity manager must attend all staff meetings, attend sponsored readings when possible, and assist in other R2 business when needed. This position requires a large time commitment in bursts throughout both semesters, especially in the fall semester.

Associate Editor

Associate editors are associated specifically with either the creative nonfiction, fiction, or poetry section. They will assist in management of the section during the Big Read and attend workshops held by section editors with contributors during the editing process. Associate editors are expected to offer critical and constructive opinions of pieces during the selection process. In addition, associate editors attend all staff meetings, serve as readers during the Big Read, assist in publicizing R2 events and deadlines, attend sponsored readings when possible, and assist other staff whenever and however possible. Previous workshop experience is strongly suggested but not required. This position is appropriate for individuals interested in applying to be section editors in the future. Expect a heavier time commitment from December to the end of February and regular attendance at all normal meetings.

Web Editor

The web editor is responsible for maintaining the web site, including keeping it up-to-date with events and deadlines, putting up previous issues, and generally serving as a technological consultant for the magazine.

GENERAL QUESTIONS FOR ALL APPLICANTS

All applicants must answer the General Questions below. Then answer the questions that are specific to each of the positions in which you are interested.

  1. Why do you want to join the R2 staff?
  1. Being a member of R2 requires a great deal of time, even if one is only working on the magazine for one semester. Describe the other clubs/activities in which you are involved and the leadership roles you will be taking on in the 2011-12 school year. Give approximate time commitments per week. How much of a priority would R2 be?
  1. Have you been involved with R2 before? If so, in what capacity?
  1. What do you like best about R2? What would you change about R2?
  1. What skills would you bring to R2? What do you hope to learn from R2?
  1. Name a piece of writing that has affected you greatly in the last year, and explain why:

POSITION-SPECIFIC QUESTIONS

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

1. Why are you right for this position, and why is it right for you?

2. Describe the ideal working relationship you would have with your staff, especially with the managing editor, faculty advisor, and English Department administration. What steps will you take to establish this relationship?

3. Discuss one thing that any previous EIC has done well that you would continue doing, and discuss one thing that a previous EIC did that you would have done differently.

4. Discuss your vision for the future of the magazine.

5. Briefly describe a difficult situation you have confronted while working in a student organization, and how you overcame this challenge.

6. Please critique one of the pieces found at the end of this application in 1-2 paragraphs. Consider style, content, and any other factors you find relevant. Type your response. Indicate whether or not you would print this story in R2: The Rice Review.

MANAGING EDITOR:

1. Why are you right for this position, and why is it right for you?

2. Describe the ideal working relationship you would have with your staff, especially with the EIC and faculty advisor.

3. Discuss one thing that any previous ME has done well that you would continue doing, and discuss one thing that a previous ME did that you would have done differently.

4. Discuss your vision for the future of the magazine.

5. Please critique one of the pieces found at the end of this application in 1-2 paragraphs. Consider style, content, and any other factors you find relevant. Type your response. Indicate whether or not you would print this story in R2: The Rice Review.

ART EDITOR:

1. Why are you right for this position, and why is it right for you?

2. Describe your previous technical and design experience (e.g. programs you are familiar with, previous layout experience).

3. Describe your ideal working relationship with the layout editor and the rest of the layout staff.

4. Please give us an example of an image that you believe would make a good cover for a literary magazine. You can borrow the image from the internet or an amateur artist or design it yourself (please give credit to the artist). Please attach a copy of the image (in color if necessary), with a description of why it would make a compelling candidate for cover art. No originals, please.

CREATIVE NONFICTION EDITOR:

1. Why are you right for this position, and why is it right for you?

2. Describe a constructive workshop with a contributor.

3. Describe your ideal working relationship with your associate editors.

4. Please critique the prose piece found at the end of this application in 1-2 paragraphs. Consider style, content, and any other factors you find relevant. Type your response. Indicate whether or not you would print this piece in R2: The Rice Review.

FICTION EDITOR:

1. Why are you right for this position, and why is it right for you?

2. Describe a constructive workshop with a contributor.

3. Describe the ideal working relationship with your associate editors.

4. Please critique the prose piece found at the end of this application in 1-2 paragraphs. Consider style, content, and any other factors you find relevant. Type your response. Indicate whether or not you would print this story in R2: The Rice Review.

LAYOUT EDITOR

1. Why are you right for this position, and why is it right for you?

2. Please describe your technical and design background (e.g. programs you are familiar with, previous layout experience).

3. Please examine this year’s issue of R2 (available in the English Dept. office) and tell us what you like about the magazine layout and what changes you would like to make in the layout of the magazine.

4. What is your favorite font and why?

5. Describe the ideal working relationship with your layout staff.

POETRY EDITOR

1. Why are you right for this position, and why is it right for you?

2. Describe a constructive workshop with a contributor.

3. Describe the ideal working relationship with your associate editors.

4. Please critique the poem found at the end of this application in 1-2 paragraphs. Consider style, content, and any other factors you find relevant. Type your response. Indicate whether or not you would print this poem in R2: The Rice Review.

PUBLICITY MANAGER

1. Why are you right for this position, and why is it right for you?

2. Please describe your previous experience working in publicity/advertising.

3. Flyer distribution is a perpetual R2 problem. Describe how you will manage the distribution of publicity materials without ending up doing everything yourself.

4. Please design a mock flyer for an R2 Open-Mic night and attach it to the back of this application.

SOCIALS CHAIR

1. Why are you right for this position, and why is it right for you?

2. Describe your previous event-planning experience.

3. Evaluate past campus events you have attended that might be comparable to an R2 event. Discuss one event that you considered a success, and one event that you would have managed differently.