I need some help planning a move in about five or six months. The situation is that I am applying to graduate programs at ten universities by the first of the year. In the event that I am not accepted to any of the schools, I need a backup plan.
I am currently living with my parents making a pittance as a substitute teacher in rural Michigan. Besides having a crappy job, my parents are excruciatingly irritating. I need out. I want to move to one of the northern coastal cities (preferably in the Northwest), but I wouldn't know where to begin. My only real experience is in academics--having degrees in English and Telecommunications (as in video production)--and, of course, as a substitute teacher, which should be approximately one school year by the time I get all my rejections and/or acceptances.
What I would like to know is where I can find the best job opportunities for me to keep going as a writer. That is, pathways that can lead me to paying internships, writing/editing related positions, etc. I would like to move to Seattle, if possible, but the majority of book publishing and related careers seem to all be in the New York or Boston areas. What is essential, though, is a university nearby that I can still take graduate courses as a "lifelong student"--as they like to put it--and, either within the college or within the accessible area, some sort of writing conference I can join.
I realize the most obvious suggestion is to examine the job hunting sites, but they don't list most of the jobs available in an area, and are very scarce in the non-technical, non-entry level jobs. Do I take the plunge and find another crappy job before moving? Or do I move with cash-on-hand and work as a substitute wherever I land until I find something better?
I am currently living with my parents making a pittance as a substitute teacher in rural Michigan. Besides having a crappy job, my parents are excruciatingly irritating. I need out. I want to move to one of the northern coastal cities (preferably in the Northwest), but I wouldn't know where to begin. My only real experience is in academics--having degrees in English and Telecommunications (as in video production)--and, of course, as a substitute teacher, which should be approximately one school year by the time I get all my rejections and/or acceptances.
What I would like to know is where I can find the best job opportunities for me to keep going as a writer. That is, pathways that can lead me to paying internships, writing/editing related positions, etc. I would like to move to Seattle, if possible, but the majority of book publishing and related careers seem to all be in the New York or Boston areas. What is essential, though, is a university nearby that I can still take graduate courses as a "lifelong student"--as they like to put it--and, either within the college or within the accessible area, some sort of writing conference I can join.
I realize the most obvious suggestion is to examine the job hunting sites, but they don't list most of the jobs available in an area, and are very scarce in the non-technical, non-entry level jobs. Do I take the plunge and find another crappy job before moving? Or do I move with cash-on-hand and work as a substitute wherever I land until I find something better?
