From a young age, I've been deeply passionate about reading and writing, believing in the sanctity of the written word and the magic it holds. This
Sariah Hossain attending a Vehicule Press book launch at Librairie Drawn & Quarterly in the Plateau.
passion naturally led me to dream of working in the publishing industry. My field of study aligns with this passion, and I’ve always been drawn to the meticulous process of editing and the creative energy of literature. I was eager to take on this internship at Vehicule Press to gain hands-on experience in the publishing industry. My learning objectives included developing my proofreading and copyediting skills, understanding the nuances of the publishing process, and gaining insight into how a small press operates. Vehicule Press, as an independent Canadian publisher, focuses on publishing a diverse range of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction works that reflect the cultural richness of Canada, particularly Quebec. Their mission is to bring high-quality literary works to the public, championing both established and emerging voices.
During my internship, my primary responsibilities involved proofreading and copyediting manuscripts that Vehicule Press will be publishing in the coming months. These included both poetry and prose works. I felt incredibly fortunate to be trusted with such critical tasks, and I approached each project with the utmost care and dedication. I was actively involved in the entire editorial process, which included attending weekly team-wide meetings, providing feedback on manuscripts, and assisting in the preparation of texts for publication. I collaborated with the wider editorial team, which was an incredible perk of working at a smaller press as I was able to form connections with and learn directly from everybody involved with Vehicule. It was also particularly gratifying to see my work tangibly impact operations across the press.
As the press’ founder and my supervisor Simon Dardick often told me, being an intern at Vehicule is special because with such a small team, everyone’s contributions become incredibly significant.
Two Vehicule Press titles whose dual launch Sariah attended above.
Aside from working with manuscripts, I also played a role in fact-checking and ensuring consistency in style and formatting across various publications. I helped with administrative tasks, such as organizing files and coordinating with authors, which gave me a comprehensive understanding of the operational aspects of running a press. I was fortunate to have no particularly demoralizing challenges, though adjusting to working remotely was a significant shift from my usual routine during the school year. However, I embraced this change by creating an effective work-from-home setup and exploring Montreal to find new workspaces, such as cafes and libraries. These adjustments allowed me to maintain productivity and stay engaged with my tasks. I also continually found motivation in my internship tasks by reminding myself that the work I was doing was exactly what I’d dreamed about doing since I was young, and I am so lucky to be working in a field I find such genuine joy in. The funding I received for this internship was instrumental in supporting my living expenses, allowing me to focus fully on my work at Vehicule Press. I am deeply grateful to the donor who made this possible and would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Toten Family for their generosity.
