Rose Heredia hosted our Instagram on Friday, March 24 for our #FellowFriday series. Below are a few questions that we asked Rose.
Latinx In Publishing (LxP): Why did you decide to apply to the Latinx in Publishing Fellowship program?
Rose Heredia (RH): I thought long about what I wanted to do in publishing and saw this opportunity pop up on my social media feed, especially since I was in the middle of editing an anthology. Even my friend sent me the opportunity! I almost didn't apply because of my imposter syndrome (would I get this? who do I think I am?!) but I ultimately put in effort to demonstrate my interest, which is words. I was enjoying working on this project and saw this as my future: helping folks mold their stories and keeping their voice intact.
LxP: What has this experience meant to you?
RH: It's been everything I've wanted and more. It's my foot in the door. It's demystifying the publishing industry by talking to folks in different departments. It's understanding the business side of publishing so when I'm ready to publish, I got some insider knowledge that I can share with newbie writers wanting to publish traditionally. It's seeing the path to working with words, which is what I've wanted to do since I was a young adult.
LxP: What advice would you give to anyone applying to the program?
RH: Application wise: include more than just liking words and books. Really identify why you want to be an editor and translate that on the page. Also, shoot your shot. What's the worst that can happen?
LxP: What's one of your favorite things you've learned during the fellowship?
RH: Being able to talk shop with someone in the industry (my mentor) in the same way I was able to do with my MFA cohort. I missed that tea/gossip/chisme/sh*t talking aspect about the publishing industry that I don't have with anyone locally. Like a colleague, equal, homie, bestie, friend.
Rose Heredia is Afro-Dominican born and bred from Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York, where she helps lawyers save the Earth. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of San Francisco and Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program in Writing. She is a VONA and Las Dos Brujas alumna. She is a Culture writer and editor for Epifania Magazine, Assistant Non-fiction Editor for VIDA Review and has been published by the Dominican Writers Association and HeadFake. Rose recently edited The Washington Memoir Project published by DWA Press. She has since moved back to her neighborhood after a decade living in California. You can follow Rose on Twitter and Instagram: @bkwriter4life.
