Meet The Interns: Christine Schmidt

Christine Schmidt will complete her Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature, Writing & Film in December of this year, and plans to apply for graduate school to focus on liberal studies with an emphasis in creative nonfiction. She is co-founder and managing director of scribes at ASU, a creative writing club at Arizona State University, as well as a contributing writer for an online publisher. Currently, she is working on a collection of personal essays, and gaining a better working knowledge of social networking media, including blogging.

Superstition Review: What is your position with Superstition Review and what are your responsibilities?

Christine Schmidt: My position with Superstition Review is Nonfiction Editor. My responsibilities in this role are to work with my counterpart, and managing editor, to identify and solicit 20 high-profile authors to submit works of creative nonfiction, view and assess submissions, collectively decide what work should be published, correspond with authors, and gather bios and photographs.

SR: Why did you decide to get involved with Superstition Review?

CS: The reason I became involved with Superstition Review was for hands-on experience in a publishing capacity. Because my future career goals revolve around writing, publishing, and editing, this seemed the ideal internship.

SR: Besides interning for Superstition Review, how do you spend your time?

CS: I spend my time juggling 15 credits, a freelance writing job, and I’m hoping to get involved this semester with the Writing Center on the Polytechnic Campus where I’d like to tutor other students with their writing.

SR: What other position(s) for Superstition Review would you like to try out?

CS: If I were to be offered a third internship on SR (last semester I interned as Interview Coordinator), another position I’d love to try out would be blogger. This summer, I created a simple blog and have been learning how to stick to a regular schedule of writing and posting, as well as adding widgets and other features to dress up the pages.

SR: Describe one of your favorite literary works.

CS: One of my favorite literary works is a novel I recently read by Joyce Maynard entitled Labor Day, a fictional piece about a mother and son who are profoundly changed when a strange man appears in their lives. Her ability to flesh out her characters until the reader feels a part of the story is one of the qualities that keeps me coming back for more of her work.

SR: What are you currently reading?

CS: Currently, I am reading Joyce Maynard’s Internal Combustion, a nonfiction account of a dysfunctional family in Detroit and a terrible tragedy that ensues.

SR: Creatively, what are you currently working on?

CS: Creatively, I’m currently working on a collection of essays revolving around growing up with non-traditional (i.e., older) parents, as well as essays that further explore how these earlier life experiences have colored my role as an adult, including the mother-daughter relationship that has been passed down to my own family and is evolving into a unique–and sometimes crazy, sometimes lovely–dynamic.

SR: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

In 10 years, I see myself enjoying the fruit of my education and passion for the art of the written word by writing, as well as working in some type of publishing/editing capacity.

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11 thoughts on “Meet The Interns: Christine Schmidt

  • October 25, 2010 at 11:56 am
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    I’d love to read your collection of essays once you have them completed. That’s a great goal you are working towards and the final product will feel amazing. I have a few of the same goals, wanting to be involved in the editing and publishing world and I think this internship is a great lead way into that world.

  • October 25, 2010 at 12:53 pm
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    @Katie, I am hoping to experience that aspect of editing and publication as well. It’s always productive to have goals laid out so that one can progress down that long road effectively.

  • October 25, 2010 at 1:14 pm
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    That’s so neat that you made a blog! I’d really like to see it if you post the link. I’m making a blog for one of my classes using WordPress, and it’s so intimidating! I’m always nervous around new technology:]

  • October 26, 2010 at 7:29 pm
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    Hi Christine,

    After reading your interview, I was really impressed with your direct, no-nonsense style of writing. It was very straightforward and this can only indicate your experieince in writing non-fiction. I really enjoyed your interview and am going to research a little of Joyce Maynard’s work!

    -Maria

  • October 26, 2010 at 8:03 pm
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    I have always wanted to sit down and write something worthwhile about growing up. My favorite stories are the real ones about coming of age and how everyone thinks their family is wierd/different/embarassing and in the end, beloved. Way to go on your essays!

  • October 26, 2010 at 9:22 pm
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    Your collection of essays sound like it will be a great read! Are you considering submitting to literary journals to get objective feedback?

  • October 27, 2010 at 9:07 am
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    @Rebecca, That’s so true about nonfiction stories…The weird or embarassing families are often the most interesting for the readers.

  • October 27, 2010 at 9:44 am
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    Chris, it’s great working with you again this semester. The drive and professionalism that you display in your work with SR seems to also be abundantly present in your personal endeavors. Best of luck with your essay collection and graduate school!

  • October 27, 2010 at 10:12 am
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    I agree with everyone who has posted. I’m particularly interested in how family dynamics define and how we hold onto these past experiences. It sounds like a very interesting topic for a piece.

  • November 3, 2010 at 2:35 am
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    Christine,
    I remember the last time we talked you spoke some about your mother-daughter relationship. I’ve always been interested in the way that people mirror the relationship they had with their parents in the relationship they have with their children. Sometimes it is exactly the same, sometimes it is the complete opposite. Which do you think it is for you?
    -Sarah

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