“No, my English major doesn’t mean I want to teach high school.”

The title of this post is what I want to say when people inquire as to my major and I tell them, “Literary Studies and Creative Writing,” and they look puzzled and ask, "So...you want to teach?" The problem is that when I reply with a "no," they then ask, “Well, what do you want to do?” I don’t have an answer to that, so I usually just tell them that I didn’t mean any disrespect towards the teaching profession. I was pushed in my current direction by some talented and dedicated high school teachers, and I remember the patience they displayed, and I just don’t have it.

I’m not sure yet, though, what I will be doing with my degree. I’ve accepted that I’m not going to make a living off my poetry, but I’m still holding out hope that I can find a literary career that will be both lucrative and intellectually stimulating and be a positive influence in the world (yes, I am a bleeding heart). The quest to find such careers is what this blog will chronicle--examining the many jobs in which a savvy English major might actually get to use their knowledge of plot structure and Toni Morrison’s influences. Some of the options to be examined are literary agent, journalist, professor, or publisher.

Publishing is the option I myself am about to explore. I’ve accepted an internship on the West Coast with a small company that publishes both a magazine and books and runs a writer’s workshop. This magazine is one of my favorites, so I’m lucky to be able to work with them. Aside from satiating my teeny-bopper adoration, this internship will also help me decide whether or not I would enjoy a career in publishing. If I do decide to pursue a job in this field, this position will afford me invaluable networking opportunities.

Here’s hoping it all goes well. No matter the outcome, I promise to be a faithful scribe.