Emily Harrison - Intern

A Little Bit About Me

My educational background includes an honors degree in high school, which consisted of additional honors courses, AP courses, and elective courses. I also am a third year in college at Hawaii Pacific University. My major is marine biology, but my minor is editing and publishing. I have written for the school newspaper (Kalamalama news), and I have been the managing editor for the school’s academic journal (that consists of academic articles from students) I am currently volunteering with that same journal (I was only allowed a certain number of credits before I couldn’t register with that course anymore.) I have gotten a 99 or higher in all my writing courses (both creative and academic).

I started college wanting to pursue a marine biology pathway, but as I got exposed to more and more opportunities to write freely and edit and build up my skills in the writing community, I fell in love with it. The courses I have taken previously led to me adopting a minor in editing and publishing.

I was looking online for an editing and publishing internship, and I stumbled upon an advertisement for Alpha Book Publisher. I immediately read through the qualification, the opportunities, and expectations of me. I knew I would be applying that day, and I did.

My expectations are to grow my education on the editing and publishing community. I have very little experience of what happens beyond polishing the piece and I think that’s very important for me to know. I also have limited experience editing for creative pieces. I hope to grow that skill as well.

On a broader scale, I am very passionate about fiction books. Specifically dystopian, romance, thriller, and fantasy genres. I do occasionally indulge in nonfiction, but it has to have a devastating story line to keep me interested.

The personal novel I am writing would also fit into these categories, so I do think my passion towards the subjects, and my own experience with the genres will be able to help aid to my contribution. I do have a good knowledge on these subjects, and I will very gladly learn more about the subject and gain any experience I can with editing and publishing in these genres.

I hope to become a published author in the publishing industry. But I also hope to help other aspiring authors complete their works by editing and publishing their pieces so they can be as successful as possible.

I am a very dedicated person, with that, a very persistent person. Persistence, as I have learned, will always pay. I handle criticism well, and no matter how it’s given to me, I can take something from it and better myself or my work. I’ve never in my career or academic career been told I was an under achiever or that I did not learn well. I know that, once in this industry, I will be helping a substantial amount to both my higher ups and those authors who want to publish their pieces. I am quick with my editing, but not sloppy.

Yes, as I have stated previously, my editing and publishing experiences, thus far, have been within courses offered through my school’s programs. They are still professional publishing networks, but they are tied to my academic path.

-       I have also written a write up on a conference held by the academic journal, this was also published through HPU.

-       On the writing experience, I have written many pieces before. I have taken a creative writing course, which my pieces always got a 100% on. But I also have two pieces (a short excerpt, fictional piece, and a poem) being published in the school’s magazine (wanderlust). It is a school affiliated magazine, but I have not yet worked for wanderlust.

-       These have influenced my passions and aspiration by giving me a taste of the literature world and leaving me wanting much more than they were able to provide. It opened up my eyes to see the life I’ve been craving yet not pursuing. So, instead of giving up my major completely, especially with how hard I’ve worked in the field, I added a minor in editing and publishing. This minor is quite rare, and it is not the same as a writing or and English minor. Both of those are majors I hope to pursue along the way, but for now, getting my foot in the door is the best leverage I have.

I have two pieces a fictional piece and a poem, being published in the school’s magazine (wanderlust).

-       I have tutored for many years, and I am now certified to tutor in any subject (HPU has to offer) in writing.

-       I have written a write up for an academic conference and it has been published.

-       I have worked on academic and creative piece and have edited them and aided in their publishing.

-       I have written weekly, from the start of the year, a post for the school’s newspaper, each week discussing a different topic whether that be a blog, review, or personal statements.