Field Work Term Spotlight: Edison Hicks
Edison Hicks '26 studies Literature, Drama, and Music at Bennington. For their summer 2025 Field Work Term, Hicks interned at Green Writers Press.
How does your Field Work Term relate to your studies at Bennington?
At Green Writer's Press, I evaluate poetry on Submittable—which I have done before with Bennington Review. Green Writers Press looks to publish full-length poetry books, so I have to give each submission more time and energy (compared to a packet of three to five poems).
When I find a poem or submission that elicits some kind of emotion, be it intrigue or disappointment, knowing the why behind it allows me to understand poetry both as a craft to analyze and as a creative pursuit. In this sense, I can use editorial work to flesh out my perspectives and philosophies about poetry as a whole, all the while using my position to bring interesting poetry forward.
What does a typical day at your FWT site look like?
A normal day for me consists of exploring Submittable for my next submission to read, as well as keeping up a log of my editorial feedback. Every intern at GWP has a “Special Project,” which entails some extra level of work beyond reading submissions. For me, this means cataloguing every single submission into one spreadsheet document alongside intern feedback in order to expedite the process of writing rejection letters.
What has surprised you most about your Field Work Term position?
Despite the fact that this FWT is remote, I'm impressed with how much there is to do and how much feedback I've been receiving. I feel assured that I'm accomplishing important work, and I know that I have support in this endeavor.
What do you hope to do for your next Field Work Term?
I would like to continue to engage with the editorial world, or potentially do something completely different and work with a local theater.