One thing about teaching is the enjoyment I get from watching my students take what they learn and use it. I have to admit, I love the feeling of giving them something that will help them land a job and succeed at it.

That’s why I love teaching editing. I tell my students that if they can master the skills I try to teach them, they’ll have a foot in the door for working in publishing.

So I love it when summer comes and my students are interning somewhere. For instance, Nathan tweeted this last week:

I just sent out my first rejection letter. Not sure how I feel about that. #editorslife #internship

— Nathan Sturgis (@NathanSturgis1) May 28, 2013

It isn’t easy, Nathan, but it’s a great lesson.

Speaking of great lessons, I guess he learned this one yesterday:

If a mistake happens in a professional setting, blame the intern. Especially if it’s the intern’s fault. #internship #whoops #sorry

— Nathan Sturgis (@NathanSturgis1) June 4, 2013

It may have been because of this . . .

Note to self: unless you WANT to print out an entire book manuscript, don’t touch the print icon in MS Word. Ever! #internship #thatwasclose — Nathan Sturgis (@NathanSturgis1) June 5, 2013

Then there are the shoutouts that let me know that what I’m teaching does matter and is helping them in their professional lives:

Glad @lindaedits taught me proofreading marks. Needed that knowledge as I corrected copy usingedits from my supervisors. #internship

— Nathan Sturgis (@NathanSturgis1) June 6, 2013

My manager today said editors who don’t know style tagging will be behind the times. Thanks @lindaedits for teaching it! #editorintraining

— Alex Mellen (@AMellenWrites) June 5, 2013

Yep, working with style tags is vital. I tell my students that learning this will give them a huge advantage and so much value to their supervisors. My students learn how to work with the technical side in order to prep a manuscript for typesetting and for e-booking.

And according to Alex, I guess I was right!

Alex is also getting some terrific hands-on editor-style training:

Got my first two book proposals to look at this week! #editorintraining

— Alex Mellen (@AMellenWrites) June 5, 2013

I’m so thrilled that the publishing houses where these students are interning are giving them more responsibility than just sorting, filing, or making coffee. They’re getting real world experience, they get to see the publishing process up close, they get to get their hands dirty (well, in Nathan’s case, perhaps learning how to stop the printer in the middle of a several hundred page manuscript).

As someone who, in the business side of my life, has worked with interns, I know it can feel a little overwhelming trying to train another person and keep him or her busy on top of your own work. But also as someone who teaches in the college classroom and attempts to prepare my students for those internships (and indeed find them), I thank you from the bottom of my heart. What you’re giving to these students–your knowledge, your expertise, your skills–is invaluable.