Volunteer Editor for Queer Publication

About Fruitslice

Fruitslice is a Queer literary and arts nonprofit organization made up entirely of volunteers.

Four times a year, we publish themed issues in both print and digital formats made up entirely of Queer artists, writers, and creators. Our issues feature a wide range of printable work, including essays, poetry, visual art, comics, puzzles, and experimental forms.

Fruitslice platforms Queer and marginalized voices in an effort to distribute, archive, and democratize access to Queer art and ideas.

To learn more about our work, visit our website at www.thefruitslice.com or find us on instagram at @thefruitslice.

About the Role

We are looking to welcome several new volunteer editors to our team! <3

Fruitslice operates remotely and largely asynchronously through platforms like slack, submittable, airtable, and google workspace.

Editors choose their own hours, availability, and workload, ensuring they hit a minimum amount of editorial work during each issue cycle. For most Editors, this means editing at least one piece per issue or assisting with several smaller proofreading or production tasks. There is editorial work available throughout most of the year, with our busiest months typically falling in January, April, July, and October.

We encourage Editors to take breaks between publishing cycles and whenever needed. We are not interested in creating a culture where volunteers feel pressured to overextend themselves. Burnout is a killer of the movement, and we want Editors to communicate often and honestly about their capacity.

Because our staff turnover is relatively low, we are especially interested in Editors who hope to remain with Fruitslice for at least six months and ideally longer.

Editorial Responsibilities

Depending on your experience, interests, and availability, assignments may include:

• Proofreading and copyediting
• Correcting grammar, punctuation, spelling, and formatting
• Reformatting drafts and preparing work for publication
• Applying AP style and Fruitslice’s modified AP house style
• Cross-referencing edited drafts against final layouts
• Helping shape the structure, clarity, or direction of a piece
• Communicating and collaborating directly with authors and contributors
• Offering thoughtful feedback that strengthens a writer’s work while preserving their voice
• Participating in occasional all-hands editorial efforts during especially busy periods

Editors are not expected to memorize every style rule. You will always have access to our house style guide and other reference documents, which can be searched on a case-by-case basis.

How Assignments Work

Editors complete an onboarding form describing their experience, strengths, areas for growth, editorial interests, and content preferences. This helps us direct assignments toward people who are genuinely interested in and well suited to specific content.

Assignments are sent directly through slack DM. Before accepting, Editors can review the scope of the work, content, and deadline. You are never required to accept an assignment.

Editors will not be asked to complete an assignment with less than 48 hours’ turnaround time.

We use a “taxi light” availability system. Editors update their slack status to indicate whether they are available to take on additional work. We ask that statuses remain as current as possible, including (and especially!) when someone expects to be unavailable for an extended period.

Volunteers are also required to complete a brief biweekly check-in form so that the team has a clear understanding of everyone’s availability, workload, and support needs.

Support and Collaboration

Editors do not work in isolation.

Each issue is overseen by Senior Editors who provide feedback, guidance, and support throughout the editorial process. They are available to answer questions, discuss concerns, help think through revisions, or offer another perspective on a piece.

Our slack workspace also includes editorial channels where team members can ask questions, workshop unusual style guide scenarios, request a second set of eyes, or discuss broader editorial decisions.

Beyond production work, Fruitslice is a community of Queer writers, artists, editors, innovators and creatives. Our slack includes social channels where volunteers can share memes, celebrate life events, exchange opportunities, ask for job leads, and connect outside of individual assignments.

Editors frequently form creative relationships through Fruitslice and sometimes go on to collaborate with one another on projects beyond the publication.

What You’ll Gain

Through this role, volunteer editors have the opportunity to:

• Strengthen their proofreading, copyediting, and developmental editing skills
• Build experience working with AP style and a publication-specific house style
• Gain familiarity with remote editorial and publishing workflows
• Work with an abundance of Queer writing and art
• Collaborate with a creative Queer community
• Help shape the direction and quality of each issue
• Support the preservation and distribution of Queer art and ideas
• Build meaningful creative and professional relationships
• Contribute ideas and suggestions that directly influence the publication

Who We’re Looking For

The strongest candidates will:

• Believe in Fruitslice’s mission and feel genuinely inspired by the work
• Have experience with writing, editing, publishing, or a related field
• Have a sharp eye for grammar, language, consistency, and detail
• Be comfortable completing tedious or highly detailed tasks, including cross-referencing layouts and final drafts
• Communicate clearly, consistently, and reliably
• Manage their own deadlines and workload
• Be self-motivated and comfortable working in a remote, asynchronous environment
• Be collaborative, curious, and eager to learn
• Know when to ask questions or request support
• Be honest about their availability and unwilling to overextend themselves
• Be interested in remaining involved for at least six months

Experience with slack, airtable, submittable, google workspace, or similar platforms is helpful but not required.

We are especially excited to hear from Editors who care about:

• Queer art, literature, and music
• Independent publishing
• Queer zine history
• Experimental or unconventional creative work
• Collaborative, community-focused publishing

Priority will be given to Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, and other Editors of Color, as well as people from historically marginalized communities.

Our Approach to Volunteer Work

We recognize that unpaid creative work can be exploitative, particularly for people whose labor has historically been undervalued.

Our goal is to create a collaborative environment where volunteers feel supported, respected, and creatively energized by the work. Editors should have meaningful control over their availability and workload and should feel comfortable declining assignments, asking for assistance, and taking breaks.

This role is best suited for someone who sees Fruitslice as both a résumé-building opportunity and a chance to contribute time and talent to a shared mission.