For any questions regarding our positions, please contact Dr. Erin Elizabeth Smith at erin@sundresspublications.com.
Reader Board, Sundress Publications
Deadline: March 31, 2026
Sundress Publications is an entirely volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit publishing collective founded in 2000 that hosts a variety of online journals and publishes chapbooks, full-length collections, and literary anthologies in both print and digital formats. Sundress also publishes the annual Best of the Net Anthology, celebrating the best work published online and is host to the first-ever virtual reading series, Poets in Pajamas.
We are looking for members for our Reader Board. These volunteer readers’ responsibilities would primarily include reading manuscripts for contests and open reading periods, but they may also review residency and workshop applications, read for anthology projects, and/or serve as readers for Best of the Net.
Required qualifications include:
- Knowledge of contemporary literature
- Strong written communication skills
- Exemplary literary citizenship
This is a one-year appointment with the possibility of promotion and/or renewal.
Applicants are welcome to telecommunicate and therefore are not restricted to living in any particular location. We are especially interested in applications from writers of color, transgender and nonbinary writers, and disabled writers.
Sundress Publications is staffed entirely by passionate volunteers, so this position, as with all positions at the press, is unpaid.
To apply, please complete our application form. Applications are due by March 31, 2026.
Writer in Residence, Sundress Academy for the Arts
Deadline: April 20, 2026
The Sundress Academy for the Arts at Firefly Farms, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is looking for a Writer in Residence to run from August 16, 2026 to January 2, 2027 and consist of approximately 10-20 hours of work per week. Residents will live on ground at Firefly Farms, sharing our two-bedroom farmhouse with a rotating roster of short-term residents.
The Sundress Academy for the Arts (SAFTA) is an entirely volunteer-run organization that hosts residencies, workshops. and retreats centered on the literary arts. The Writer in Residence’s responsibilities include daily maintenance of the farm including feeding and caring for farm animals (including dogs, sheep, and chickens); cleaning and maintaining the farmhouse weekly; greeting and educating residents on their responsibilities; answering resident questions; picking up groceries; helping to run any on-site events; and assisting with farm projects that may include light gardening, property maintenance, etc.
Qualifications include:
- Outgoing and social personality
- Passion for the outdoors and animals
- Strong organizational and communication skills
- Ability to self-start on projects
- Experience with farming and/or residency programs a plus
While this position is unpaid, it includes room and board for the four months of residence. The Writer in Residence must also provide their own transportation. Please note that pets are not allowed.
To apply, please send a resume, contact information for two references, and a cover letter detailing your interest in the position to the Executive Director, Erin Elizabeth Smith at erin@sundresspublications.com. Applications are due April 20, 2026.
Editorial Intern, Sundress Academy for the Arts
Deadline: June 1, 2026
The Sundress Academy for the Arts at Firefly Farms, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is seeking editorial interns. The position’s responsibilities include the preparation of documents necessary to run an independent writer’s residency, as well as online participation in literary events including readings and workshops. This part-time internship would consist of approximately 5-10 hours of work per week and run from July 1st, 2026 to December 31st, 2026. All applicants must be local to the greater Knoxville, TN area for the majority of the internship period.
The Sundress Academy for the Arts (SAFTA) is an entirely volunteer-run organization that hosts residencies, workshops, and retreats centered on creative writing in all genres. Located on a 45-acre farm twenty minutes from downtown Knoxville, SAFTA’s mission is to give writers of all levels a chance to workshop with nationally renowned professionals in their field as well as uninterrupted time to focus on their creative work.
The editorial intern’s responsibilities will include writing press releases, composing blogs, creating promotional graphics, proofreading, working with social media (Facebook, WordPress, etc.), collating editorial and residency data, research, and more. The intern will also be needed to help facilitate Zoom readings and workshops.
Preferred qualifications include:
- A keen eye for proof-reading
- Strong written communication skills
- Experience with WordPress, Zoom, Google Sheets, and Canva
- Knowledge of contemporary literature a plus
While this is an unpaid internship, all interns will gain real-world experience in working with online event planning, nonprofit management, running a residency, communications, and more while creating a portfolio of work for future employment opportunities. Interns will get to work alongside members of both the local and national literary community through SAFTA workshops and readings, which interns are able to attend for free during their tenure with the organization.
To apply, please send a resume and a brief cover letter detailing your interest in the position to the Staff Director, Rachel Mekdeci, at saftastaffdirector@gmail.com. Applications are due by June 1st, 2026.