Dryad Press (Dryad) is excited to announce the formal launch of a student internship programme first piloted in 2019. The initiative is a collaboration with Stellenbosch University’s (SU) English Department and offers a student from the department the opportunity to experience the multi-dimensional world of publishing, under the mentorship of Dryad’s founder, Michèle Betty.
Dryad was established in 2016 as an independent literary press dedicated to contemporary South African poetry. It has published both new and established poets, among them award-winners Beverly Rycroft, Sally Ann Murray and Tony Ullyatt. Publisher Michèle Betty is also the editor of New Contrast: South African Literary Journal. The internship is an initiative encouraged under Sally Ann Murray’s leadership as Chair of the SU English Department; going forward, colleagues in the department will oversee the selection process of the intern by shortlisting candidates (ideally postgraduates enrolled for English Honours or Masters). Dryad Press will interview potential interns, one of whom will be selected for the 24-week internship programme. Applicants require strong writing skills and administrative potential, and an interest in local literary culture.
For more information email us at business@dryadpress.co.za.
Dryad Press is an independent South African publisher that promotes and publishes South African poetry. At Dryad Press we publish poetry, which in the words of Roland Barthes searches for “the inalienable meaning of things”. Read more
Postnet Suite 281
Pvt Bag X16 Constantia
Cape Town 7848
Copyright 2024 | Website by Webfactory
Elle is in their first year of a Master’s program in English Studies at Stellenbosch University. Their research topic investigates representations of climate change and ecological catastrophe in video games. They are a recipient of the 2025 Turning the Tide Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Master’s Scholarship. They have a BSc in Computer Science and English Literature from UCT, and a BAHons in English Studies at Stellenbosch University. After completing their undergrad in 2020, they worked as a programmer and game developer in Cape Town, before returning to their studies in 2024. They plan to continue with both creative and academic writing after the completion of their Master’s.
Ashley Allard interned with Dryad Press for 6 months for the period July-Dec 2023. Ashley was completing her honours degree in English at Stellenbosch University. Her honours research topic explored the contemporary vision of the ‘ideal feminine’ through an analysis of Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s critically acclaimed show ‘Fleabag’. Ashley was the co-editor of a youth magazine named Moyé, which focusses on uplifting young South African creatives and their work and a journalist writing for the Stellenbosch News. She was the first runner-up for the Sol Plaatje European Union Poetry Award in 2022.
Cleo Biscombe interned with Dryad Press for 6 months for the period Jun-Nov 2022. Cleo was a postgraduate student from Stellenbosch University who completed her MA through the SU department of English Studies. Cleo’s MA submission consisted of original short stories that engage existing, as well as alternative approaches to articulating so-called “coloured” experiences in contemporary English literature. She will commence her PhD at SU in 2022/2023 academic year and will focus her writing and research on interrogating shame as a form of residual colonial violence experienced by “coloured female” figures in contemporary South African texts.
Sarah Uheida is a Libyan poet and essayist, living and working in Cape Town. She holds a BA Honours degree in English literature from Stellenbosch University (SU) and a Master of Arts in English Studies from SU in poetry. In 2021, Sarah was the recipient of the internationally renowned Miles Morland Foundation Writing Scholarship. She is also the recipient of the 2020 Dan Veach Prize for Young Poets, which adjudicates poetry from college age students across the United States and internationally. Sarah’s poetry and lyric essays have been widely anthologised both locally and abroad in journals such as Persea Books, New Contrast, Atlanta Review, HarperCollins, the other side of hope, The Shore, fresh.ink, Plume, Every Day Fiction, and elsewhere. She is a regular contributor at readings by poetry groups such as Off the Wall and The Red Wheelbarrow. Not This Tender is her debut collection
Caryn Leigh Oram was the recipient of the pilot internship in 2019. Caryn was an English Honours student at Stellenbosch University. Caryn says that her “time as an intern provided the opportunity to gain invaluable knowledge and experience in the literary industry. Under Michèle’s guidance, I was able to refine my industry skills, learn the publishing process and, of course, read exceptional poetry. The internship programme is a brilliant opportunity.”
