Each semester (and summer!), Nimrod‘s interns make things run more smoothly and efficiently in the office—we couldn’t do our work without them. With this blog series, “Meet the Interns,” we’ll introduce you to the hardworking interns who often are behind the scenes, keeping up with daily tasks, sending mail, reading manuscripts . . . and much, much more.

This week’s featured intern: Anna Johns

Nimrod: Tell us a little about yourself.

Anna: I am a freshman who is undeclared for a major, which hints at my biggest talent: being indecisive. Learning will always be my biggest passion, and I am often overwhelmed by what knowledge could be at my disposal. There is a world I want to know so much more about, but finding precisely what I would specialize in is a daunting task. My mother is a high school English teacher, which caused my great love affair with literature. I have grown up analyzing and listening to classic novels, and my affection for fiction has never dwindled; in fact, my time at TU has only made it develop more.

Nimrod: What made you interested in working with Nimrod?

Anna: It goes without saying, but English is so important. I have always deeply admired the way authors can transfer indescribable emotions—loss, ecstasy, etc.—into something almost tangible, something I can feel. That’s what appealed to me with the Nimrod internship. I can use my passion for English in a productive manner (instead of procrastinating when it comes to reading a stack of novels at home), and I have the ability to see how a literary journal works and the intricacies of publishing.

Nimrod: What’s your major/what are you thinking about majoring in? Why are/were you drawn to that major?

Anna: I am undeclared, unfortunately. However, I am deeply considering English as a major; I thoroughly enjoy writing and its process—even though my writer’s block often leaves me in a cold sweat or playing some bird dating game simulator just because. The world of English is so vast in what one can do with it, and while the major intimidates me, it also inspires me.

Nimrod: Who are a few of your favorite authors?

Anna: Oh, boy. I love Chuck Palahniuk as an author. He plays with fractured narratives and huge twists in plot, and he really drags you along “for the ride,” so to speak. In one of my favorite books, Invisible Monsters, the name of the protagonist is unknown until the end of the novel. Palahniuk builds a mystery surrounding the characters and their motives, and his sense of humor as he creates these characters is admirable.

I also love the works of David Levithan, who writes LGBTQ+ young adult fiction. I love the characterization he uses because he makes the characters feel real, which is so, so important. He shows the reader how members of that community feel and how they love, and I cannot recommend him enough.

For more classic literature, I love Ernest Hemingway and Jane Austen. Their work inspires me to no end; their greatest abilities are describing emotion and absorbing the reader into their plots and surrounding society. Hemingway is, sure, rougher around the edges and almost callous, whereas Austen is gentler and more emotional; however, the contrast is what really sells the eras of fiction in which they write. They are worth reading at least once in your life.

What are you most looking forward to learning or experiencing with Nimrod this semester?

Anna: I was looking most forward to learning how professional editing works and seeing the writing process from inside the lens of a literary journal. It gives me insight as a potential submitter of creative works into how it would work in a career field. My most exciting experience thus far was when I was assigned some works of fiction to review for publication, and I am so glad I have had the opportunity to do what I love and talk about what I love (much to the dismay of everyone around me).