ATLANTA- The English department took seven undergraduate students to New York City last spring break for a domestic field school featuring the publishing industry under the supervision of Megan Sexton. The trip lasted four days and was packed with trips to visit publishers and literary agents, among other activities.
Megan Sexton, who received her Ph.D. in creative writing from Georgia State, is the co-editor for the Georgia State literary magazine Five Points.
The students visited publishing companies including Little Brown and HarperCollins. They met with literary agents, publishers and other professionals who gave them a look at the different possibilities available in the field.
Raven Neely, a student who went on the trip and is now working as an editorial assistant at August House Publishers, said that she received “a greater perspective on myself and what I want for my future.”
Between trips to the publishing offices, they also visited the archives in the New York publishing library and toured the historic National Arts Club. Sexton mentions her best memory of the trip is a literary reading at the Half King, a local hangout spot.
The small amount of students made the trip more intimate.
“Seven students is the perfect number. It was almost like a family vacation. It felt very personable,” said Sexton.
The department of English plans to repeat the trip, but hopes to add a Broadway show to the next agenda.