HEARTS OF THUNDER
A Publication of Rooster & Moon Publishing

AN INVITATION TO BUILD

Hearts of Thunder is seeking qualified volunteers for a range of editorial, design, and operational positions as we enter our next phase of growth.

Hearts of Thunder is not a hobby. It is a publication with a mission, a philosophy, and a growing readership that comes to these pages because they have spent their lives being told that what is most essential about them is a liability. We exist to correct that. Every editorial decision we make, every word we publish, every design choice we commit to is in service of that correction.

We are a volunteer-driven publication at this stage of our development, and we are transparent about that. What we offer in return is not a salary. It is something rarer: the opportunity to be present at the beginning of something that intends to matter. To contribute meaningfully to a publication that is building its editorial identity with intention and care. To develop genuine professional skills within a structure that takes the work seriously, because the work is serious.

We are not looking for people at the apex of their careers. We are looking for people at the beginning of something — individuals with a real foundation of skill, a genuine alignment with this publication’s values, and the professional humility to understand that they are stepping into a vision already in motion. The learning curve here is real. The work is rigorous. The standards are high.

If that description makes you lean forward rather than back, read on.

EDITORIAL

Associate Editor

Works directly with the Editor-in-Chief and Executive Editor on the development of feature content, essay acquisitions, and issue architecture. The Associate Editor brings a working knowledge of long-form nonfiction, a precise editorial eye, and the judgment to distinguish between a piece that needs development and a piece that is not ready. Experience with submission management and writer correspondence is valued. This is a foundational role within our editorial structure.

Copy Editor

Responsible for the grammatical, stylistic, and factual integrity of all content prior to layout. The Copy Editor works to a professional standard without imposing voice where voice does not belong. Familiarity with The Chicago Manual of Style is expected. Precision is non-negotiable. A sensitivity to the distinction between correction and imposition is essential in a publication whose contributors often write from lived experience.

Poetry Editor

Curates and develops the poetry submissions that appear in Hearts of Thunder. The Poetry Editor brings a genuine literary background in poetry — not merely an appreciation for it — and the editorial discernment to identify work that earns its line breaks, that operates at the intersection of beauty and truth, and that belongs in a publication read by people who feel language deeply. This is a specialized role requiring specific expertise.

Reader Submissions Coordinator

Manages the intake, acknowledgment, and tracking of all reader submissions across essay, poetry, and personal narrative categories. This role requires exceptional organizational skill, professional correspondence ability, and the interpersonal sensitivity to communicate with writers — many of whom are sharing vulnerable work — with both clarity and care. Experience with submission management systems is a plus.

Letters Editor

Curates reader correspondence for publication, working with the Editor-in-Chief to select letters that advance the publication’s ongoing conversation with its community. The Letters Editor understands that reader mail, at its best, is content — and treats it accordingly.

DESIGN & PRODUCTION

Layout & Design Associate

Works under the direction of the Assistant Editor of Layout & Design to execute the visual architecture of each issue. Proficiency in Adobe InDesign is required. An understanding of typography as a communicative act — not merely a decorative one — is essential. Candidates should be familiar with the principles of editorial design and bring a portfolio demonstrating clean, intentional work. This is not a role for someone learning the software.

Photo Editor

Manages the acquisition, rights clearance, and editorial placement of photographic content across each issue. The Photo Editor understands that an image in a publication like this one is never decorative — it is argumentative. It makes a claim. The ideal candidate brings experience in image research, a strong visual sensibility, and a working knowledge of licensing and rights.

Sensitivity Reader

Reviews content prior to publication through the specific lens of high sensitivity, lived HSP experience, and the communities this publication serves. The Sensitivity Reader is not a copy editor and is not responsible for style or grammar. They are responsible for ensuring that the publication’s content reflects the depth of understanding and respect that its readers deserve and have come to expect.

OUTREACH & GROWTH

Social Media Coordinator

Manages the editorial voice of Hearts of Thunder across social platforms with the same care and intentionality applied to the publication itself. The Social Media Coordinator understands that the magazine’s digital presence is an extension of its editorial identity — not a separate register. Experience with content scheduling, platform-specific formatting, and community engagement is expected. The ability to write in a voice that is warm, intelligent, and never performative is essential.

Grant Writer

Researches and develops grant applications in support of Hearts of Thunder’s operational and editorial growth. Experience with arts, humanities, or nonprofit grant writing is required. Familiarity with NEA grant structures, state arts council funding, and fiscal sponsorship models is strongly valued. This is a high-impact role with direct bearing on the publication’s long-term sustainability.

Community Partnerships Coordinator

Develops and maintains relationships with organizations, institutions, and communities whose values align with the mission of Hearts of Thunder. This includes HSP communities, mental health advocacy organizations, creative writing programs, and independent bookstores and reading communities. The ideal candidate is a natural connector with professional relationship-building experience and a genuine commitment to the publication’s mission.

HOW TO APPLY

To express interest in any of the positions described above, please write to the editorial team at Hearts of Thunder. Your correspondence should include the following:

1.  The specific position for which you are expressing interest.

2.  A brief professional statement — no more than three paragraphs — describing your relevant background and what draws you to this publication specifically.

3.  Two samples of relevant work, or a portfolio link where applicable.

4.  Your availability and time zone.

We read every submission. We respond to every serious inquiry. We do not move quickly, because we do not believe that speed serves this work. We move carefully, because careful is what this publication is.

Hearts of Thunder is published by Rooster & Moon Publishing, a division of Barking Dog Media USA LLC, Minot, North Dakota.

Elegance without arrogance. Beauty without judgement. Sensitivity without censure.