I am a U4 English Literature student with a minor in French. Unsurprisingly, I have been an avid reader since childhood, and from the start of my undergraduate career, I was intrigued by publishing. This interest became both personal—being a short story writer trying to find a home for my pieces—and academic. After all, one of my favourite classes at McGill has been ENGL 322 Literary Institutions with Professor Alexander Manshel. Most literature classes focus on the contents of texts themselves, but we instead took a close look at the sociological players who make literary production and reception possible, like literary agents, bookstores, literary prize committees, and, of course, publishers. However, I knew I was not the only person interested in publishing, making the field highly competitive. I never expected to get even a taste. So, when I learned that I had received an internship offer from Véhicule Press, I was delighted, though unsure of the specific tasks I would undertake. Now, looking back, I can say that this experience was admittedly challenging at times, but also highly rewarding. I will carry it with me throughout the last year of my degree and into my professional life.
Véhicule Press is an English-language publishing house in Montreal. They put out a variety of works, from fiction to poetry to social history. That said, they mainly publish Canadian authors and often highlight distinctly Canadian or Québécois subjects. This was fascinating to me since my Literary Institutions class focused on the American literary sphere. I was also drawn to Véhicule because of its identity as an independent press. Larger publishers like the Big Four and, increasingly, Amazon, may have more resources, but small presses play a unique role in the literary scene. They publish a different kind of book, be that a short story anthology responding to the realist paradigm or a collection of essays on anti-blackness in Canada. While less “marketable,” these works can serve essential purposes like strengthening communities, preserving local history, imagining more equitable futures, and more.
At VĂ©hicule, my main tasks were related to proofreading and editing. My biggest accomplishment was creating a newly revised edition of Exploring Old Quebec, a travel guide last updated in 2018. I fact-checked the book and updated information where necessary, researching tourist attractions that had changed their hours or visitor policies since the pandemic. I also found areas to improve the prose for clarity and flow. In all, I went through three drafts of the new edition. Beyond that, I proofread the poetry book Durable Goods and the jazz history book Black and Blue and keyboarded the poetry book Mountain Tea, since the press needed a digital file of the book before its re-release. I attended three book launches where I helped to sell books. Finally, I attended workshops that my coworkers led on bibliographical data and grant-writing.
The highlight of my experience was undoubtedly the book launches. I will never forget meeting Jaspreet Singh, who pens novels, poems, essays, and more. When he signed my copy of his memoir, I asked about how he balances writing with other commitments, and he was so kind and encouraging with his answer. That makes all the difference to an aspiring writer. Another highlight was working with understanding and dedicated coworkers: that lifted my spirits even though the bulk of my internship was remote.
Though I am not receiving academic credit for this internship, it was an invaluable step in my academic and professional journey. To start, it was my first formal editing position. I have long helped friends polish their writing, yet I often struggle with perfectionism and fixate on insignificant details. This summer, I learned how to prioritize tasks and let go of unproductive thoughts; I would return to any difficult problems later with a fresh perspective. This change in mindset simply came from editing a large volume of work, and it is fortunately transferable to other tasks. I was also able to attend weekly team meetings and deepen my understanding of how independent presses and, more broadly, small arts organizations work.
I am truly grateful to the AIO team and the Arts Undergraduate Society for awarding me the Arts Undergraduate Improvement Fund Internship Award. It covered my living expenses and allowed me to focus on VĂ©hicule work and enjoy the full benefits of this experience. Of course, I want to send my warmest thanks to my supervisor, Simon Dardick, for his constant support and generosity. And thank you to my formidable other coworkers at the press: Patrick Goddard, Jennifer Varkonyi, and Carmine Starnino.
