Schema Magazine

Attention book lovers!

Do you have a voracious appetite for novels? Have you nearly come to blows with your friends and family over some new book that everyone's been talking about? Why not make a (volunteer) career out of it? Why not become a literary critic for Schema Magazine?

In case you're new to Schema, we are a Vancouver-based online magazine that aims to reflect, explore, showcase, and give voice to the most interculturally-minded generation in Canadian history. Established in 2003 as the definitive platform for "ethnic cool," Schema offers a blend of local and international pop-culture, identity politics, and current affairs from the perspective of immigrant, Canadian-born, mixed-race, transnational and culturally-blended Canadians who might just self-identify as "Cultural Navigators." Schema reaches readers across Canada, the U.S., and around the world, connecting those who embrace the rich complexity of cultural identity and see themselves as being "more than ethnic."

Responsibilities:
Under the supervision of the literary editor, you and a team of your fellow literary tastemakers will take turns writing book reviews (500 words max.) for two different literary sections throughout the calendar year. You'll be expected to write 2 to 6 "Books to Buy" reviews (new releases) and 1 to 3 "Books to Borrow" reviews (library picks) per year. For the "Books to Buy" section, you'll be given at least two weeks to read and review a single new publication. For the "Books to Borrow" section, you'll be given at least a month to read and write a single review of three to five classic/top books under a certain theme/genre (e.g. African/Caribbean historical fiction, Aboriginal poetry, Asian Canadian literature, genocide novels, spoken word poetry, gay and lesbian romance, ethnic sci-fi, travelogues, memoirs, graphic novels, etc.). You'll also have a chance to work closely with your literary editor to choose your own "Books to Borrow" theme and show off your taste in books!

Qualifications:

Please send your cover letter and resume, along with an original review (400-500 words) of a recently published book to books@schemamag.ca by February 15 2012. And if you really want to knock our socks off in your cover letter, pitch us a list of 3 to 5 books for a "Books to Borrow" theme/genre of your choice. If you think you know books, we can't wait to hear from you!

Please note that successful applicants will undergo a probationary period (i.e. write two solid reviews) before they are considered to be regular Schema contributors.