Experience

Author

• United Kingdom
• Health, Wellness & Fitness

• Author

  • Jun 2019 - Present

  Debut short story collection, FRYING PLANTAIN, published with Astoria Imprint of House of Anansi Press in 2019. FRYING PLANTAIN won the 23rd annual Danuta Gleed Literary Award and won the 2020 Kobo Emerging Writer Prize in literary fiction. FRYING PLANTAIN was also longlisted for the 2019 Scotiabank Giller Prize, and it was shortlisted for the 2020 Trillium Book Award, the 2020 Toronto Book Award, the 2021 White Pine Award, and the 2020 Forest of Reading Evergreen Award presented by the Ontario Library Association. Reid-Benta also won the 2019 ByBlacks People's Choice Award for Best Author. Zalika Reid-Benta's second novel will be published by Penguin Canada in 2023. She has also published in The Humber Literary Review, FASHION Magazine, the Town Crier, Open Book, Apogee Journal and the TOK Anthology.



Diaspora Dialogues

• Canada
• Writing and Editing

• Program Manager

  • Jan 2016 - Present

  As the Program Manager, I am in charge of five mentorship programs run by Diaspora Dialogues, two of which are on a national scale and one of which is a Dramaturgy mentorship. In addition, I am responsible for organizing a series of bi-monthly professional development workshops called Lunch N' Learns, which deal with any aspect of writing and publishing. It is also my job to network with various publishers and agents and to connect them with the writers that pass through any one of our mentorship programs. As the coordinator of the OAC Recommender Grants, I also process and evaluate a significant number of grant applications and submissions to Diaspora Dialogues.



Western University

• Higher Education
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Writer In Residence

  • Sep 2021 - Mar 2022

  Holding weekly office hours to offer consultation and feedback to both experienced and novice creative writers from the University and the London community. Holding weekly office hours to offer consultation and feedback to both experienced and novice creative writers from the University and the London community.



Open Book

• United Kingdom
• Wellness and Fitness Services

• Writer In Residence

  • Jun 2019 - Jul 2019

  As a Writer In Residence, it was my role to post 8 original pieces on writing to the Open Book website throughout the month of June. As a Writer In Residence, it was my role to post 8 original pieces on writing to the Open Book website throughout the month of June.



DeFiore and Company

• Book and Periodical Publishing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Literary Intern

  • Feb 2013 - May 2013

  • Read manuscripts and queries and write reports on them. • Meet with agents to edit and discuss manuscripts and readers reports.• Answer phones and file papers and provide basic office support. • Be available for whatever duty an agent requires of you. • Read manuscripts and queries and write reports on them. • Meet with agents to edit and discuss manuscripts and readers reports.• Answer phones and file papers and provide basic office support. • Be available for whatever duty an agent requires of you.



Columbia Publishing Course

• United States
• Book and Periodical Publishing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Program Assistant

  • 2013 - 2013

  • Prepare for visiting speakers/lectures (i.e. greet speaker(s) in the lobby, offer speaker(s) water, set up AV equipment for presentations etc.)• Answer student inquiries and pick up/deliver student mail • Answer phones, photocopy, scan, file papers and provide basic office support. • Deal with caterers, set up rooms for functions • Edit, proofread, type up memos and emails and project outlines • Ensure the program runs smoothly on a basic, overall level • Prepare for visiting speakers/lectures (i.e. greet speaker(s) in the lobby, offer speaker(s) water, set up AV equipment for presentations etc.)• Answer student inquiries and pick up/deliver student mail • Answer phones, photocopy, scan, file papers and provide basic office support. • Deal with caterers, set up rooms for functions • Edit, proofread, type up memos and emails and project outlines • Ensure the program runs smoothly on a basic, overall level



Idiom English Undergraduate Academic Journal

• Editor in Chief

  • Apr 2011 - Apr 2012

  • Prepare, rewrite and edit copy to improve readability, or supervise others who do this work.• Verify facts, dates, and statistics, using standard reference sources. • Read copy or proof to detect and correct errors in spelling, punctuation, and syntax. • Read, evaluate and edit manuscripts or other materials submitted for publication andconfer with authors regarding changes in content, style or organization, or publication. • Oversee publication production, including artwork, layout, computer typesetting, andprinting, ensuring adherence to deadlines and budget requirements.



Young Voices Magazine

• Content Editor

  • Sep 2010 - Apr 2012

  • Develop story or content ideas, considering reader or audience appeal. • Review and approve proofs submitted by composing room prior to publicationproduction. • Make manuscript acceptance or revision recommendations to the publisher. • Confer with management and editorial staff members regarding placement andemphasis of developing news stories. • Develop story or content ideas, considering reader or audience appeal. • Review and approve proofs submitted by composing room prior to publicationproduction. • Make manuscript acceptance or revision recommendations to the publisher. • Confer with management and editorial staff members regarding placement andemphasis of developing news stories.