Outreach Fellowship: Editorial Trainee

Sourcebooks Outreach Fellowship Editorial Trainees will have the opportunity to be part of a unique, fully remote, stipend-paid training program designed to provide a broad overview of the day-to-day work of an acquisitions editor.

About the program

Broken down into three parts, the training program combines key editorial skills with valuable hands-on experience, guiding trainees through the editorial process while also giving them the opportunity to add a live project to their resume as they work directly with our Editorial Team.

The Editorial Training Program runs from September 28th, 2026 to December 11th, 2026, with a break the week of November 23rd, 2026 for the Thanksgiving holiday. This is a 10-week remote, temporary program designed to provide a comprehensive introduction to the editorial process.

• 6 weeks in a Sandbox environment exploring all aspects of editorial work
• 2 weeks of developmental editing mentorship
• 2 weeks focused on professional development

Participants will receive a $1,000 stipend, paid upon successful completion of the program. You must reside in the United States to participate in the program.

Schedule

• 15-20 hours per week, including:
• Four scheduled online hours: Monday 9am-12pm CST and Friday mornings 9am-10am CST
• 10-15 flexible offline hours

Requirements

• Previous publishing experience is not required
• Demonstrated knowledge of books and the overall book community is a strong plus
• Active in the book community and familiar with concepts of genre, recent competitive works, marketing vs. book jacket copy, etc.
• Demonstrable project management and creative skills gained from previous employment, community engagement, or general life experience

Application details

Interested candidates should submit their resume along with a cover letter addressing:

• Why you are interested in the Sourcebooks Outreach Fellowship: Editorial Training Program
• Why increasing accessibility in the publishing industry is important to you

Application deadline: August 14th, 2026 by 6:00 PM CST. There are 4 openings available.

About Sourcebooks

At Sourcebooks, "books change lives" is more than just our mission—it’s the reason we do what we do every day. Just ask the 500 million+ readers we've reached so far. We put authors at the heart of everything we do, blending creativity with deep insights and data to break new ground. Our innovative approach has earned us recognition as Newsweek’s #2 Most Loved Workplace, a Best Workplace by Inc., and an innovation leader by Fast Company twice. Publishers Weekly named us “by far the most successful self-made publisher operating in the 21st century,” and in 2025 we received the Book Industry Study Group’s highest honor for “redefining what it means to be a book publisher in the 21st century.”

Sourcebooks values the array of talents and perspectives that a diverse workforce brings. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status.