Broad Ripple Review: Volunteer: Join Our Editorial Team Gold Star Program Gold Star Free

Broad Ripple Review is currently open to applications for several volunteer roles: Managing Editor, Copy Editors, and Prose Readers.

Please clearly identify in your cover letter which role you are interested in. Please attach a document that briefly responds to the questions under the appropriate role.

We kindly ask that you do not apply if you currently have work under review. Please also understand that if you accept a role with our team, you will not be eligible to submit work to us. Please only apply to one role at a time.

MANAGING EDITOR

Broad Ripple Review is currently accepting applications for a volunteer Managing Editor.

About the Role:

The Managing Editor helps keep the day-to-day editorial operations of Broad Ripple Review organized, sustainable, and moving forward. Working closely with the Editor-in-Chief and section editors, the Managing Editor coordinates the practical side of the editorial process, including submission tracking, assignments, deadlines, communication, and follow-up. The Managing Editor will report directly to the Editor in Chief. This role will have direct oversight of the publication's Editorial Assistants.

The Managing Editor is not responsible for setting the journal’s overall editorial vision or making final decisions about what we publish. Instead, this role ensures that the editorial team has the structure and support it needs to do that work effectively. The ideal candidate is someone who enjoys creating systems, keeping track of details, anticipating problems, and helping a collaborative team work well together.

This role requires a greater time commitment than our other volunteer editorial positions. We are committed to making that commitment sustainable and do not expect the Managing Editor to be constantly available. We are looking for someone who can take on an ongoing role, communicate clearly about their capacity, and reliably follow through on the responsibilities of the position.

Qualities We Are Looking For:

• Experience working in literary publishing, editing, project management, administration, or a related field
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to coordinate multiple deadlines, assignments, and moving pieces autonomously
• Strong written communication and follow-through
• Comfort working with a remote, asynchronous team
• Ability to develop and maintain practical systems and workflows
• Ability to identify problems early and communicate them clearly
• Reliability and consistency
• A collaborative approach and genuine interest in supporting the editorial team

This is a volunteer position. All work is remote and primarily asynchronous. The Managing Editor will work closely with the Editor-in-Chief and section editors and will have a broad view of the journal’s editorial operations.

To Apply, Please Include:

• A note about your interest in the Managing Editor role
• A summary of relevant editorial, publishing, administrative, project management, writing, teaching, or academic experience, including any MA or MFA training
• A description of a project or process you have coordinated, including what you were responsible for
• A short discussion of how you stay organized when managing multiple deadlines or priorities
• A short list of literary journals you read regularly or admire
• Any experience working with a remote or collaborative team
• A brief description of the weekly time commitment you would realistically be able to make to the journal
• Any additional information you believe would be relevant to the role

Broad Ripple Review is currently accepting applications for volunteer Copy Editors. These individuals will report to the Chief Copy Editor.

About the Role:

Copy Editors help prepare accepted work for publication by identifying errors, inconsistencies, and unclear or potentially distracting language while preserving the writer’s voice and intentional stylistic choices.

This role requires a careful and attentive reader. Literary writing often makes deliberate choices that depart from conventional grammar or usage, and our Copy Editors need to understand the difference between an error and an intentional choice. The goal is not to impose a uniform style on our writers, but to ensure that each piece is as polished, precise, and internally consistent as possible.

Copy Editors work primarily at the sentence level and are not responsible for substantive editorial decisions or determining which work is accepted for publication. They should, however, be comfortable flagging questions or concerns for the appropriate editor when something requires a larger editorial conversation.

Qualities We Are Looking For:

• Demonstrated experience copy editing, proofreading, or editing literary or professional writing
• Excellent command of grammar, punctuation, spelling, and usage
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Strong sensitivity to sentence-level rhythm, voice, and style
• Familiarity with established style guides and the ability to apply style consistently
• Ability to distinguish errors from intentional stylistic choices
• Respect for individual writers’ voices and editorial boundaries
• Strong communication and editorial judgment
• Reliability and ability to complete assignments carefully and on time
• Comfort working collaboratively with editors while maintaining appropriate editorial boundaries

This is a volunteer position. All copy editing is remote and asynchronous. We are committed to making the work sustainable, and copy editors will generally work on individual assignments rather than maintaining the ongoing responsibilities associated with section editors.

To Apply, Please Include:

• A brief note about your interest in the role
• A summary of relevant experience, including copy editing, proofreading, editing, writing, teaching, publishing, or academic training such as an MA or MFA
• A description of the style guides or editing systems you are familiar with
• A short discussion of how you approach editing while preserving a writer’s voice
• A short list of literary journals you read regularly or admire
• Any relevant training or professional experience
• Any additional information that would help us understand your approach to copy editing

PROSE AND POETRY READERS

Broad Ripple Review accepts applications for readers on an ongoing basis. Please note that due to the volume of applications we receive, we will only reach out when we have current capacity and believe there may be a good mutual fit.

About the Role:

Readers will help us evaluate both short fiction and creative nonfiction with an eye for language, structure, and emotional resonance. This role is best suited for those who are comfortable evaluating work with an editorial lens, moving beyond personal preference to assess craft, structure, and aesthetic fit.

• Demonstrated experience reading or editing literary work (journal reading, editorial roles, workshops, or equivalent)

• Strong sensitivity to sentence-level craft, structure, and thematic depth

• Ability to articulate clear, thoughtful feedback that is both concise and sufficiently developed to support editorial decisions

• Familiarity with contemporary literary journals and where Broad Ripple Review sits within that landscape

• Alignment with our aesthetic, particularly work that prioritizes precision, interiority, and emotional resonance without sentimentality

• Professionalism in communication, including care for writers, respect for the editorial process, and the ability to complete assignments in a timely and reliable manner
  

This is a volunteer position. All reading is remote and asynchronous. We aim to foster a respectful, collaborative editorial environment, and as the publication grows, there may be opportunities for readers to move into editorial roles.

We do read all year long, but readers are encouraged to take breaks from assignments as needed throughout the year.

• A brief note about your interest in the role, including which genre you feel most comfortable evaluating (poetry, fiction or creative nonfiction)

• A summary of relevant experience (reading, editing, writing, teaching, or academic training such as MA or MFA programs)

• A favorite short story or essay and a few sentences on why it resonates with you

• A short list of literary journals you read regularly or admire

• Any interest in future editorial roles