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So I'm at that awful point in life where I've graduated college, painfully unemployed and no real direction in life. Trying to get it together currently. Computers, code, software, apps, web, anything like that I can do, and the idea that that skill base is marketable to any industry keeps popping into my head (probably wrong about that but it's everywhere). I don't think it is a big leap to say the publishing world is turning more digital with all the online literary journals and publishing outlets (like Anderbo or Guernica, etc.), eBooks and what have you. Down the line I see myself putting out some of my own work and just really want to be around the business and learn about it, see if I can make a living writing but I don't have the volume of work to make bread from it. So I wanted to ask people around the publishing scene if there is actually an interest for people like me in the industry, whats out there, and how can I find my way to it? I haven't got a clue and just really need some thing I can work towards, where can I start?

EDIT: I do suppose that is a little vague, sorry my brain is a bit out of sorts lately and I'm trying to fix that.

  • Are there technical jobs in-house at small/indie publishing houses? (the indie/start-ups in the programming world, like this and this, basically live on the web and update/redesign their content pretty much every other week... and its probably a poor assumption to think everywhere would do that sort of thing, but with online publications it seemed a possibility... maybe a prayer?)
  • Would they be interested in programming on a resume... or did I pigeon-hole myself to a cubicle?
  • Where can I find what publishing houses are out there and hiring / located?
  • What roles exactly are performed at a publishing (small or large) house in creating a book / literary journal? What job could I look to get at one? (I don't believe I have the qualifications to be a fulltime editor but, like I said, going off of the programming world all the responsibilities are picked at and shared by pretty much everyone in a small startup and I would like to help put together a full product rather than filling a single role repetitively)
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closed as not a real question by Monica Cellio Jun 12 '13 at 16:18

It's difficult to tell what is being asked here. This question is ambiguous, vague, incomplete, overly broad, or rhetorical and cannot be reasonably answered in its current form. For help clarifying this question so that it can be reopened, visit the help center.If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.

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Can you be a little more specific about what your question is? Stack Exchange sites work a little differently than discussion forums, and questions need to be a little more targeted. This page may help. – Neil Fein Jun 12 '13 at 5:18
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You need to rewrite the question: What degree you have, what interests you have, what sort of job you want. That's it. as it is, I can't make head or tails of your question – Shantnu Tiwari Jun 12 '13 at 9:23
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Hi Jeremy. It's not clear what you are asking. Personal advice isn't a good fit on Stack Exchange; questions about the market in writing fields are on-topic but I can't tell what your question here is. I'm closing this so you can edit it to be more clear; closing is temporary, to prevent people from answering the wrong question, and when you've edited you can flag for review. Please see tour for more information on this site's scope. Thanks. – Monica Cellio Jun 12 '13 at 16:18
    
The more I try to use these sites the more they disappoint me, it seems the only answers that can come from SE are applicable only to homework questions – Jeremy Jun 12 '13 at 18:54
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@Jeremy I want you to think carefully what you are asking. This and other sites in this group provide a wealth of information / advice that is not possible elsewhere (at least in my world). Tap into this resource with specific questions. You will find many people who would be willing to share their knowledge and experience with you. – Javeer Baker Jun 12 '13 at 23:00

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