Obsidian Skull Press: Remote Work, Volunteer, Internship Policy & DEI Pledge

1. Purpose and Scope

This policy outlines the guidelines and expectations for all remote employees, contract creators, academic interns, and volunteer workers at Obsidian Skull Press. Our goal is to maintain a collaborative, agile, and secure working environment that supports creative freedom and professional development while meeting our publishing milestones.

2. Core Hours, Availability, and Time Tracking

While remote work offers incredible flexibility, cross-functional collaboration (such as editorial reviews, marketing syncs, and design critiques) requires alignment.

• Core Collaboration Hours: All team members, including interns and volunteers, are expected to be reachable for collaboration between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM CST on their scheduled days.

• Internship & Volunteer Hours: Interns and volunteers will establish a set schedule of weekly hours with the Editor-in-Chief to ensure workloads balance with academic or personal commitments.

• Time Tracking: If your program requires academic credit verification, hours must be logged weekly in our designated tracking portal and signed off by your mentor.

• Communication Channels: Discord/Slack is our primary hub for daily check-ins. Email is reserved for formal external communications, manuscript handoffs, and official university internship documentation.

3. Mentorship and Collaboration

Independent publishing thrives on community and mentorship. We view internships and volunteer roles as educational partnerships.

• Daily Status Updates: Team members must post a brief summary of their daily priorities or learning goals in the designated team channel by 10:00 AM on active days.

• Educational Syncs: Interns will participate in regular one-on-one mentorship meetings to review portfolio progress, discuss publishing workflows, and receive feedback on assignments.

• Meeting Attendance: Attendance is mandatory for scheduled virtual syncs relevant to your department (e.g., editorial boards, marketing strategy sessions, or cover design pitches).

4. Production, Deliverables, and Portfolios

Because we pride ourselves on agility and speed-to-market, keeping a tight production pipeline is critical.

• Project Tracking: All manuscript statuses, design assets, and marketing deliverables must be kept up-to-date in our project management tool.

• Proactive Communication: If an editorial, formatting, or design milestone is at risk of slipping, notify your supervisor or mentor at least 48 hours prior to the deadline so launch timelines can be adjusted.

• Portfolio Use: We highly encourage interns and volunteers to build their professional portfolios. You may showcase design elements, marketing graphics, or editing samples only after the corresponding book has been officially published, or with explicit written permission from the Editor-in-Chief. Digital badges or portfolio certifications will be awarded upon successful completion of internship programs.

5. Security, Confidentiality, and Intellectual Property

Protecting our authors’ intellectual property and unreleased manuscripts is paramount. This section applies strictly to all staff, volunteers, and interns.

• Data Security: Team members must use secure, password-protected Wi-Fi networks. Public Wi-Fi should only be used with an approved VPN.

• Manuscript Confidentiality: Unreleased manuscripts, arcs, drafts, and cover concepts are strictly confidential. Sharing internal files, download links, or sneak peeks outside the designated company channels—including with classmates, professors, or on personal social media—is strictly prohibited.

• Asset Storage: All active manuscript files, vector assets, and promotional graphics must be backed up weekly to the shared company cloud drive.

6. Equipment and Workspace

• Environment: Team members are responsible for maintaining a professional, quiet workspace free from major distractions, particularly during video calls, author consultations, or live video events (such as Author Q&As).

• Technical Requirements: It is the team member's responsibility to ensure a reliable internet connection capable of handling large file transfers (such as high-resolution print-ready PDFs, manuscripts, and graphics packages).

Acknowledgment: Working, interning, or volunteering at Obsidian Skull Press requires a high degree of self-management, mutual trust, and a shared passion for bringing incredible niche fiction to life. By adhering to these guidelines, we ensure our authors receive top-tier care while fostering a supportive learning environment for the next generation of publishing professionals.

Obsidian Skull Press DEI Pledge:

Obsidian Skull Press builds an inclusive culture by centering marginalized voices and embedding equity into its publishing mission and community practices. The press actively seeks and prioritizes work from Latinx, Indigenous, LGBTQIA+, Two-Spirit, and other underrepresented creators, using dark and speculative fiction as a vehicle to address cultural, social, and systemic issues often excluded from mainstream publishing.

Inclusivity extends beyond submissions into community engagement and advocacy. Obsidian Skull Press publicly supports social justice causes such as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people (MMIWG2S+), using its platform to raise awareness, honor lived experiences, and encourage solidarity and education.

The organization fosters a supportive environment grounded in creative empowerment, authentic storytelling, and collaboration, emphasizing representation, mentorship, and belonging across its artistic and literary spaces. By amplifying diverse narratives and aligning its values with transparency, integrity, and advocacy, Obsidian Skull Press supports contributors and collaborators from different backgrounds while nurturing meaningful cultural dialogue.