How One Writer’s Instagram Scored Her a Book Deal

Alicia Cook was one of the very first people we interviewed for Dear English Major, and less than one year later, she's got herself a book deal! Entranced—her book of poetry—will be available for purchase on February 17th, 2015 by Underwater Mountains and will be carried by 13 retailers (including Barnes & Noble) in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia. 

Alicia was kind enough to take the time to tell us all about her upcoming release, what led to it, and more:

Entranced features four different covers, all designed by Alicia. 

Thank you for taking the time to share your upcoming poetry book with us. Why don't you just start out by telling us a bit about your book Entranced.

Alicia Cook: Thank you for even wanting to hear about it! It's very surreal. If you told me less than two years ago when I started sharing my writing publicly that I would have a book deal today and be a contributing writer with two major online blogs, I wouldn't believe it. It has always been a dream of mine, but I thought it was more of a pipe dream. I have been writing creatively since I was eight years old and I studied English in college, so it's a dream come true.

I recently signed a book deal with Underwater Mountains Publishing, an independent publisher based out of Los Angeles. They are a force of nature. They took on a lot of “Instagram writers" and have really been amazing during this whole process. Entranced is a book of poetry comprised of 100 never-before-seen poems as well as a bunch of my favorite pieces that I have already shared on Instagram.

I named it Entranced because the definition of the word is "fill someone with wonder and delight, holding their entire attention." And I really hope my words hold that power… to captivate someone, to SPEAK to someone. I don't want someone to read my book, and just put it down after without taking at least one special thing away with them. The best part of my day is when a complete stranger messages me and "thanks me" for writing something that they "needed" to read at that very moment to help them through whatever they are going through. That means the world to me.

What inspired you to begin sharing your work on Instagram?

Alicia: In 2012 after Hurricane Sandy, I wrote "An Open Letter to the Shore Kids" that went viral. At the bottom of the article, I just happened to include my email and Instagram name, @thealiciacook. Next thing I knew, I had strangers from all over the country emailing me to share their shore memories and following me on Instagram. The piece had resonated with them. I responded to every single email and comment I received on the piece.

One of the people who emailed me was a hip chick from Oregon (Hi Lindsey!). For some reason, I took to her and she really pushed me, whether she knows it or not, to begin sharing my work more regularly… and the rest is history! This boost in readership and confidence has led to other writing opportunities like contributing to Elite Daily and Thought Catalog, as well as my upcoming book.

How did your book deal come about?

Alicia: Basically, Underwater Mountains started signing deals with some popular Instagram writers. One of those writers suggested they check me out. After I heard from them, I formally submitted my work for their review, and I got a call later that day that they were interested.

What tips do you have for other writers who want to share their work on Instagram or other social media platforms?

Alicia: Social media is a powerful tool. I only have Instagram, so I don't want to speak to sharing work on other social media platforms. But when it comes to sharing creativity, be it writing, drawing, singing, calligraphy—you name it—my advice is just to be yourself, be sincere. Do not just try to replicate what "worked" for other artists out there on social media, because it won't work for you, and no one likes a rip-off. Bring something to this creative community that is different, and you will stand out.

Once you start gaining momentum, try to respond directly and personally to every person who may reach out to you. It becomes time consuming, but that interaction and human connection is my favorite part of all this. Stay true to your own voice while still being supportive of other's work as well. Hashtag appropriately. And for God's sake NEVER, EVER steal someone else's creative property.

What has the pre-publishing process been like?

Alicia: I am actually in the pre-publishing phase still! It's been exciting, but also nerve-wracking. I know that when my deadline comes I will need 100+ poems that I am actually PROUD of and stand behind. And I am a perfectionist at times. Every day I re-write the poems, even if it is just changing a word or two. I am having fun titling them. My publishing company has given me freedom to express myself, which I am grateful for. The editors are top notch. I even drew/painted all four of my book covers myself!

What's the plan once your book is published? What will you do to promote it? Will you go on tour?

Alicia: I won't be going on tour. But through Instagram I plan on letting people who might be in the area know when I am going to go to a store and geek out over seeing my book on a shelf. I have some ideas up my sleeve about how to make this even more fun.

Also, most of the other writers signed to Underwater are supportive of one another. We write together, we share one another's work. So their "readers" will occasionally see my name or work on their pages as well, which is awesome. The publisher is the reason the book is even getting put anywhere, physical or online, so I am grateful for whatever they decide to do to push my book as well. Right now I am on their website and Instagram. We will see what the future holds come February 17th!

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Alicia: The more I "get to know" other writers on social media, the more I realize that some of the people closest to them—friends, family—do not even know they write! The realization that not everyone has a support system for their passion around them made me take a step back and realize I was taking my family and friend's support of my writing for granted.

My parents never once told me I couldn't achieve my ultimate goal of sharing my words. They bought me my typewriter when I was ten. They supported me when I decided to major in English in college. They never once discouraged me. My mom still prints out all my blog articles and basically forces the neighbors to read them as she stands right next to them. My dad doesn't always "get it" but he gets that other people do. My sister, Kellie, and best friend, Renee, are two of my biggest fans. I could never imagine hiding such a huge part of my being—my existence—from the people I love the most. What I am trying to say here is that the more I travel down this road, the more grateful I am for my family and friends and their unwavering support.

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Michael Restiano: Content Strategist & Freelance Writer

Name: Michael Restiano

Age: 22

College & Majors/Minors: Tufts University & University of Oxford, English

Current Location: New York, New York

Current Form of Employment: Content Strategist & Freelance Writer

Where do you work and what is your current position?

I currently work as a content strategist at SapientNitro, a global digital advertising agency. My job here at SapientNitro is to help brands get the right content (that being anything from web copy, to images, to long-form articles—like the thing you’re reading right now!) to the right audience member at the right time. Doing that work requires an equal mix of strategic planning and creative thinking—it’s a great exercise in using both halves of my brain!

When I’m not in the office, I’m working on my writing career. I currently freelance for two blogs: the Huffington Post and the SALT Blog, and I also have one short story and one short memoir in the works.

Tell us about how you found your first job, and how you found your current job (if different).

One of my acquaintances from Tufts in the year above me found a job at SapientNitro when she graduated. The company was looking to hire more entry-level folks right around when I had graduated, so my friend sent an email out to a marketing professor we had both had during our time at Tufts advertising the positions. Luckily, this professor keeps distribution lists for all of his past classes, so that email ended up reaching me.

I applied for one of the jobs, went through the process, and the rest is history! I have a friend, a lot of effort, and a ton of sheer luck to thank for how I ended up at my current position.

I think luck had a major role to play in my freelance gigs, too! I had been a content intern at SALT (which is actually a product created by American Student Assistance to help recent grads and college students with personal finance and student loan repayment) the summer after my sophomore year in college. They liked me so much they decided to let me keep writing for them on an independent contractor deal.

My senior year in college, I attended a marketing conference where Arianna Huffington was the keynote speaker. She shared some of her thoughts around the importance of sleep in a professional’s life. I agreed with most of her arguments, but had a few contending points. She had given the audience her email at the end of the presentation, and encouraged us to write to her with our thoughts. I did exactly that, never thinking she’d actually read the message. When I saw the response in my inbox, I remember nearly spilling my tea all over my laptop. That message ended up becoming my first Huffpost blog, “The Sleepless Generation.”

What was another writing-related job that was important in your career?

I had two writing heavy internships that I think heavily influenced where I am now.

The first was a part-time summer internship (my first one, in fact) at my college’s Advancement Communications office. My job there was to create digital stories and content based on current campus happenings that would appeal to Tufts graduates. It was my first lesson in how to write for a specific audience, and I also saw first-hand how technology has made marketing and editorial fuse more closely together than ever before. After that summer, I knew that I wanted to pursue marketing as a career path.

My content internship at SALT further solidified that notion. This time, I was tasked with writing personal finance stories (“creating content,” in marketing lingo) that would resonate with millennial college students and recent graduates. SALT was a unique challenge for me because I had to figure out how to make a typically “unsexy” topic appealing. During my time there, I learned that there’s a good story behind almost EVERYTHING—you might just have to look harder for it with some subjects.

What did you do in college to prepare for your post-grad life?

First off, on a strictly practical level, I interned A LOT. I’d say that by the time I graduated, I had done around 7 or 8 marketing internships. These experiences gave me the skills I needed to make the jump from student to young-professional, and made my senior-year job-search much easier.

On a more abstract level, I think one of the most important tendencies I had in college was that I constantly sought opportunities and experiences outside of my comfort zone. I think a lot of people close themselves off to new opportunities because they get comfy—they get caught up in their day-to-day, and can’t imagine what their lives would be like if their routine completely changed. Everybody ultimately wants comfort and stability (English major response coming at ya right here) in their lives, but the downside to being stable is that you never grow. Everything just stays the same, for better or worse.

When you’re a young person, you should not be getting “stuck” in anything—you simply do not know enough about the world or yourself yet. So when that opportunity to do something completely out there/not like you/ really random comes along, you take it. The space just outside your comfort zone is where you learn and grow the most.

For me, that opportunity was spending my entire junior-year abroad at the University of Oxford. Most of my friends were doing semester programs in more exotic locations, so initially I struggled with just following the crowd and doing the same. I decided to do something different, and looking back, I consider it to be the best decision I’ve made in my life thus far. I learned so much about myself, socially, academically, and professionally, that my life changed so much for the better.

What is your advice for students and graduates with an English degree?

Intern your tiny liberal arts butt off. There’s definite value in an English or other liberal arts degree: it gives you the intellectual foundation you need to be a great critical thinker, analyst, and writer in a way that no business degree ever can.

But frankly, it’s not enough to get you hired at your dream job, assuming your dream job is anything even remotely corporate.

Employers hire based on skills, not potential to gain skills. You can only get those skills from pre-professional experiences like internships. Experience is the currency of any position, and in this job market, you need quite a bit of it even to just get your foot in the door.

I believe in this so much, that I’m willing to make a bet with you.

If you do an internship directly relevant to your desired career every summer after your freshman, sophomore, and junior years of college, you will not have a hard time finding a job after your senior year. If I’m wrong, feel free to send me hate mail at Mresti02@gmail.com

Outside of that, my advice would be don’t fear the unknown and remember to enjoy yourself! You only get to experience your 20s once, so make sure that you leave some time outside of work to do what you love and to see the people you care about.

Follow Michael on Twitter and connect with him on LinkedIn.

Rebecca Andruszka: Director of Development & Communications

Name: Rebecca Andruszka

Age: 35

College & Majors/Minors: Eugene Lang College (New School for Social Research): English BA, 2001; Hunter College (City University of New York): English MA, 2007

Current Location: Denver, CO

Current Form of Employment: Director of Development & Communications, Denver Urban Gardens

Where do you work and what is your current position?

I just started working at Denver Urban Gardens as their chief fundraiser and media guru. My job is a mix of writing strategy (grants, solicitation letters, press releases, Facebook posts), and meeting people. 

Tell us about how you found your first job, and how you found your current job (if different). 

I got my first non-profit job thanks to volunteering. I was in a boring admin job for several years while I put myself through grad school and as I was finishing my thesis (well, THOUGHT I was finishing my thesis), I was looking for a more fulfilling job. Because I had volunteered at a few related organizations and could drop names of some people my future boss knew, I was hired to manage their small office. 

What was another job that was important in your career?

All of my jobs taught me various lessons, but I think my experience in food service really helped me figure out how to work. You don’t rest when you are doing a restaurant job. If there are no customers, you do dishes. If there are no dishes, you dust liquor bottles, etc. I also really learned the importance of customer service and creating a positive vibe. That has helped me immeasurably as a fundraiser (and I always like to hire my fellow former-waiters and bartenders).

What did you do in college to prepare for your post-grad life? 

Honestly, I didn’t do a thing! I was going to undergrad during the Internet boom and it seemed entirely likely that I could get hired at a completely ridiculous company with no skills. But the boom went bust my senior year and I was completely behind. I was too cool to go to the university seminar on writing cover letters, so I was banging out three-sentence emails and attaching my resume and wondering why no one was calling me. I didn’t learn how to properly apply to a job until I had three years of temping under my belt.

What is your advice for students and graduates with an English degree?

Unless you are going into something really specialized (like publishing or academia), your future boss doesn’t really care that you have an English degree. They care that you have A degree and that you hopefully have some related work/internship experience. The benefit of an English degree is that it is really easy to spin in different ways for the business world—it shows that you have superior communication skills and that is really important in most entry-level jobs.

Check out Rebecca's professional website, her writing on themuse.com and professional.com. Connect with Rebecca on LinkedIn, and follow her on Twitter!

Sydney Turnquist: Social Media Coordinator

Name: Sydney Turnquist

Age: 23

College & Majors/Minors: College of Charleston. Major in Communication, Minor in Anthropology

Current Location: Charleston, SC

Current Form of Employment: Social Media Coordinator

Where do you work and what is your current position?

I work for matchstick social as the Media Coordinator. I am in charge of the advertising on social media platforms, particularly Facebook. I do a lot of work behind-the-scenes analyzing data, researching key targeting groups, creating ads, etc. Check out this article on Sydney for more info about what she does!

Tell us about how you found your first job, and how you found your current job (if different).

College of Charleston has a great online service where you can find jobs that are posted by people in the community. I found two internships through that service, as well as my current position.

What did you do in college to prepare for your post-grad life?

Asked a ton of questions and got to know my professors. They can help you more than just on tests and homework. They are a great reference for networking.

What is your advice for students and graduates with an English degree?

• Don't give up because you think there aren't any jobs out there. There are! You just have to find them. Having an English degree can be applied in so many different ways, not just writing-related positions.
• If your resume is written poorly, potential employers will think you have poor writing skills. Make sure your resume reflects your writing style.
• Don't think that your employer won't stalk you on social media, because they will. Don't post pictures/comments/statues that you wouldn't share with your grandma. That's a good rule of thumb.

Check out a Company Highlight on Sydney, connect with her on LinkedIn, and take a look at her personal company, Three White Horses. 

A 7-Step Guide to Your Final Semester as an English Major

Winter break is over, and the final countdown is here. By now, you’re probably used to being peppered with questions from just about everyone: “What are you going to do when you graduate?” “What on earth will you do with an English major?” “So you want to be a teacher?”

Depending on your career aspirations, everyone’s post-grad game plan is going to look a little different. But let’s say you’re going to graduate this upcoming spring and head into the job-search trenches to start pounding the pavement. Where do you even start?!

Don’t wait until after you graduate to set things in motion! Hopefully you’ve already started figuring out how you’ll stand out in the job market, but there’s a lot you can do NOW and over your last semester to make a huge difference in your immediate post-grad success, employment prospects and stress levels.

Here are a few key points to guide you through your final semester of college:

1. Create a resume, or put the final touches on an existing one. 

Take stock of what you’ve done over the last four years of college, from extracurriculars and jobs, to scholarships and awards. While you’ll surely revise, edit and tailor your resume to each job you apply for, getting yourself lookin’ good on paper is a great (and manageable) place to start. 

2. Research internships and jobs.

It’s easier said than done, but sometimes you have to jump in head first. What if you don’t even know what kind of a career you’re interested in?

A practical place to get started is searching for positions that are open in the city you'll be living in after graduation. We recommend checking out job search sites like Indeed.com, SimplyHired.com, LinkedIn, and a job board your college may offer. Start with a general search for what you’re interested in: “writer,” “content manager,” “social media,” “publishing,” etc. Click on some jobs you may not have considered before (or even knew existed) and read their descriptions—some are sure to sound terrible, and some will sound awesome and inspire you to start writing a cover letter.

We also recommend taking some time to explore Dear English Major. Read about the real experiences of your fellow English majors and go out on a limb and reach out to a few of them!

3. Make sure you have compiled a portfolio of your work. 

If the job you’re applying for involves writing, usually employers will want you to submit a few writing samples along with your resume and cover letter. It can be a pain to have to dig around for a new writing sample every time you apply somewhere, so keep a folder on your desktop filled with go-to samples of your best work. Even better, showcase some of it in an online portfolio that you can direct people to when applicable. (Here’s 13 things to keep in mind as you build your professional website and online portfolio.)

4. Spruce up your online presence. 

In addition to possibly creating a professional website that features an online portfolio, you’ll want to make sure that you have an up-to-date LinkedIn profile. Have a fellow English major proofread it, and make sure you have a professional photo uploaded! Don’t have a clear, recent photo of yourself? Then it’s time to get one! First impressions last.

Now is also a good time to clean up anything online that you wouldn’t want a potential employer to see, whether it’s questionable content on Facebook or deleting an old blog.

5. Visit your school’s career center.  

If you’ve never visited your college’s career center, then there is no time like the present! Share what careers interest you, ask for recommendations, and have someone look over your resume and cover letter. See if they can help you reach out to any alumni or other connections in the community. It’s what they’re there for!

6. Reach out to alumni. 

Your school may have a career center or a helpful section of their website that will help you contact alumni who might have job leads, advice, and insight into any given field. You’re probably sick about hearing how you’re supposed to network, network, network, but it’s true! 

Tip: If someone refers you to their employer and you end up getting hired because of it, your connection might be offered a bonus! You could actually help someone make some extra dough, so it may certainly be worth their time to help you if you look like a promising candidate.
 

7. And finally… apply to internships and jobs!

Don’t let designing your website or obsessing over perfecting your resume distract you from your real goal: gainful employment! Select a few job postings that look promising and go for it. Keep track of what you apply to in a spreadsheet, and be sure to take the time to tailor your resume and cover letter to each opportunity. (Check out our free guide on how to tailor your resume!)

It can take weeks and even months to hear back from jobs you apply for, and sometimes you won’t hear back at all. And while sometimes employers need someone on the job ASAP, the interviewing process can also be a long ordeal of phone and in-person interviews. (Wow, that was depressing.) But it will be so worth it once you land the job, and you’ll be thankful that you took the initiative to prepare for your post-grad life ahead of time!

Ready to dive in? From Graduation to Career Ready in 21 Days: A Guide for English Majors shows you exactly how to successfully navigate the job search process in 21 days.

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Lucas M. Peters: Freelance Writer & Lecturer

Name: Lucas M. Peters

Age: 36

College & Majors/Minors: UW ('03, BA, English Lit), Central Washington University ('07, MA, English Lit), Goddard College ('14, MFA, Creative Writing - Novel)

Current Location: Morocco

Current Form of Employment: Freelance Writer and Lecturer

Where do you work and what is your current position?

I teach World Literature, Moroccan Literature and English Composition at Al Akhawayn University (AUI) in Ifrane, Morocco. It's a small university (college, really, but they call themselves a university) of about 2,000 students. I've also been doing quite a bit of freelancing travel writing and just a couple of months ago signed a contract with Avalon Publishing to write their guidebook for Morocco under their "Moon" brand. The book will be titled "Moon Morocco" and should be out in the fall of 2015. Which means that my mornings, weekends and vacations are spent either writing or traveling around to weird little corners of Morocco. This weekend, I'll be in Larache, a little-visited fishing village where the notorious French writer, Jean Genet, is buried.

Tell us about how you found your first job, and how you found your current job (if different).

My first job was selling comic books and sport cards at a little kiosk in the middle of Southcenter Mall. I was 13 at the time. It was pretty great. When there weren't any customers, I could read the latest comics. I was really into Image at the time and tore through Spawn, Gen-13, Pitt and a bunch of their other titles.

I guess my first "real" job was in 2007. I just graduated from CWU with my MA and was tired of waiting tables and bar tending (something I had been doing for the better part of a decade to pay the rent). I scoured Craigslist, applying to jobs in Seattle, NYC, SF, Boston and a bunch of other places. I ended up interviewing with Business Wire in San Francisco for a position as an editor. On my application, I lied and said that I already lived in San Francisco. At the time, I had about $200 in my bank account. I used it to fly down for the interview and slept on my cousin's couch and kept my fingers crossed. They called me back, I interviewed again, and they offered me a job.

I loved SF, but I hated the fact that I only had three weeks of vacation a year, only three weeks to really get out of the city and explore. I have an insatiable travel bug and after two years of humdrum cubicle life at Business Wire, I was like, "Man... I gotta get outta here." I started looking around for teaching jobs thinking I might land a job at a Community College somewhere in California but what I got was a series of rejections. The only sort of full-time teaching work I found were in places in the middle of nowhere, like the Aleutian Islands or North Dakota. I figured that if I was going to have to move to teach, I might as well make it interesting. I started casting a wider net, looking at Southeast Asia, Europe, et cetera. I ended up getting a couple of offers and took the teaching job here in Morocco. It seemed like the most interesting place to live, the food was supposed to be really good and, to be frank, it was really close to Europe.

What was another writing-related job that was important in your career?

A couple of years ago, some friends of mine who run a tour company for Morocco (Journey Beyond Travel) were looking for someone to write brief city guides for their clients. They asked me if I was interested. I said yes. It didn't pay much, but it was the first "real" sort of travel writing that I did. This ended up opening up a few more doors. It's largely because of this that I got the job with Avalon to write the guidebook for Morocco.

What did you do in college to prepare for your post-grad life?

I started at the UW in 1996 and I was a really bad student as an undergraduate, especially my first year or two. I rarely went to classes. I even skipped a midterm for Italian. I was too busy trying to figure out how to balance working and the social life with school. It wasn't until I figured out how to study, how to show up to class, how to really take advantage of being a student that I started to have some measure of success. In 2001, I signed up for a study abroad trip to London. This was the first time I had been out of the U.S. and it was eye-opening. I remember enjoying the classes. We went to see performances by the Royal Shakespeare Company and had a class that met at a different corner of London every week and we toured some specific part of the city. However, it wasn't the classes so much as what I was learning about myself. Being away from everything you know does that. There was a sense of independence, a sense of solitude, a sense of being lost, and a sense of discovery that was all wrapped up in the seven months or so I spent there. More than anything, this was the thing that probably has prepared me the most for post-grad life, though to be fair, I did have four different majors (Business, Music, Art and finally, English) and the ability to float from major to major aided this discovery process.

What is your advice for students and graduates with an English degree?

In this economy, you can't be afraid to move. I know too many people that have wrapped their minds around living in one place and they end up struggling. They compromise career goals and take some other types of jobs just so they can continue living in a place that is comfortable, with their family or friends or whatever.

My advice is to get out of the comfort zone and start looking not so much as where you want to live, but what you want to do. In the end, I feel this is the thing that makes people happier. If you can do the thing that you love... that's the secret.

Visit Lucas M. Peters on his website & follow him on Twitter.

Melissa Hattab: Social Media Coordinator

Name: Melissa Hattab

Age: 22

College & Majors/Minors: English Literature / Political Science & Women’s Studies

Current Location: New York, NY

Current Form of Employment: Social Media Coordinator at Stage17 Productions

Where do you work and what is your current position?

I work at Stage17, which is a digital platform that bridges the gap between traditional theatre and new media. We curate and create scripted and unscripted, fiction and non-fiction content as well as digital capture of live theatrical performances. We often collaborate with the Broadway community, giving them unique opportunities as artists. The staff is also all Broadway lovers – a lot of them have even performed on Broadway! 

I’m the Social Media Coordinator, so I manage all of Stage17’s social media platforms. Since we are a start-up company, I get to do a lot more than just social media. It is an all hands on deck operation, so I get to do really cool things like go on shoots, meet Broadway stars, and even go to fashion week!

Tell us about how you found your first job, and how you found your current job (if different).

I found my job through careersushi.com. I started actively pursuing the job search second semester senior year. I saw Stage17’s offer and it looked like a place that was a perfect fit for me! I have always been a fan of theatre and the arts, so a job working right in the heart of it definitely seemed up my alley. I was extremely lucky to have something lined up when I graduated college. But, it wasn’t easy. There’s a lot of rejection in the job search. You just have to be diligent and incredibly dedicated. You can’t be willing to accept defeat. Don’t take no for an answer.

What was another writing-related job that was important in your career?

Most of the writing I’ve done has been for side projects to still feel connected to my artistic side. Any time I see something that is asking for submissions, whether it is a website or a blog or an online magazine, I make sure to submit something. I feel like with school, work, and everything in life, sometimes writing gets pushed to the back burner. While writing for professional reasons is great, sometimes you have to remember that writing for you and for pleasure is also really important.

What did you do in college to prepare for your post-grad life?

I think the best experience I had to prepare me for the “real world” was interning at the Golf Channel. I interned for about six months my last semester in college, and it helped me feel confident in the work place and in my skill sets. It was my first experience working in a big office setting and really feeling like a part of the team. I also was able to utilize my writing skills through blog posts and marketing campaigns. I’m so glad I was given the opportunity to work there because without it I would’ve been terrified to start my first real post collegiate job! Internships throughout college are so important.

What is your advice for students and graduates with an English degree?

I remember saying to my friend, “I’m a Journalism major out of practicality. In a perfect world, I’d be an English Literature major.” It may sound cliché, but don’t ever let someone tell you that an English degree is impractical or a waste of money. If you want to major in it – do it! That was the best advice I ever got when I was debating actually taking the plunge and changing my major to English. If English is something you love and you’re passionate about, it is worth it to study it. Everyone needs someone who can write! Just be diligent with your school work and do your assigned reading! Don’t get discouraged. It may seem like job prospects are bleak, but I know plenty of people with English degrees with great jobs. Being able to write and communicate effectively is so important, especially in our world today when so many people are used to using emoticons and abbreviations to express themselves. You should be proud to have a degree in something that is both useful and artistic.

Check out Melissa Hattab's profile on Elite Daily, follow her on Instagram, and connect with her on LinkedIn. 

Nathaniel Tower: Internet Marketing Specialist

Name: Nathaniel Tower

Age: 32

College & Majors/Minors: Washington University in St. Louis; Majors in English Literature and Secondary Education; Minor in Writing

Current Location: Minneapolis

Current Form of Employment: Full-time Internet Marketing Specialist

Where do you work and what is your current position?

I'm currently an internet marketing specialist at a web design agency called First Scribe. We're a small agency with about 25 employees. I manage the accounts of 15 or so clients, which involves SEO, email marketing, content marketing, reporting, and more. The position requires a balance of verbal and written communication skills. As with any job involving clients, customer service is the key ingredient to success. All the technical skills in the world won't help if you can't adequately communicate with the client. I'm also now in charge of the company's blog, which is one of my favorite parts of the job.

Tell us about how you found your first job, and how you found your current job (if different).

When I graduated from college, I landed a high school teaching job in St. Charles, MO. Even though I went to college with the intent of becoming a teacher, getting a teaching job was no easy feat. I mailed an application packet (resume, transcripts, cover letter, portfolio samples, letters of recommendation) to just about every school district I could think of in the St. Louis metro area. That's right, mailed. As in stuffed papers in big envelopes, licked them shut, and slapped postage on them. No one accepted electronic applications then, so I spent a fortune on stamps. I had plenty of interviews, but it seemed almost impossible to find employment. Everyone wanted experience, but how do you get experience unless someone will hire you when you don't have experience?

When an opening at the school where I student taught popped up, I thought for sure I was going to get the job. The principal even told me I was guaranteed to get the opening unless someone with "ten years of teaching experience and a PhD" came along. When I got the phone call telling me they were hiring someone else, the conversation went something like this:

Me: So how much experience does he have?

Him: Two years.

Me: So he must have a PhD, right?

Him: No, just a Bachelor's.

Ouch. I had been bamboozled. But the principal promised he would help me get a job. A few weeks later, I called him and said I was applying for a job in another school district. Turned out he knew the associate principal there. Turned out the associate principal went to the same college as me. Are you surprised to hear I got the job?

I held that teaching job for 9 years before my wife and I decided we needed a change of scenery. So we quit our jobs and packed up and moved to Minneapolis. Because of some roadblocks with the Minnesota Department of Education, I decided to end my teaching career and look for a new career. I applied for everything that had writing in the title. It eventually paid off, and here we are.

What was another writing-related job that was important in your career?

In 2008, I founded a literary magazine called Bartleby Snopes. We publish 8 pieces of fiction per week, along with two print best-of issues. We also publish tiny books called flash novels. It's not a "job" in the money-making sense, but it has plenty of reward. It's made me a better writer and a better editor. I'm also much more organized and much better at marketing. I'm sure it played at least a small role in landing my current job.

What did you do in college to prepare for your post-grad life?

Not as much as I should have, that's for sure. I spent the first year of college skipping classes and thinking I was too smart for everything. Then I started to get serious, which meant going to class and writing all my papers at the last minute. I never spent a minute at the university's career center, and I only spoke to my advisor during the required bi-yearly sessions. The one thing I did right was get a summer job as a "teacher" in a summer school program. I had the attitude that I knew what I wanted to do and that it wouldn't be that hard to get a job. And now I'm doing something I never imagined I would do, something that barely even existed when I was in college.

What is your advice for students and graduates with an English degree?

1. Don't listen to anyone who tells you an English degree is useless. The world we live in struggles with communication. An English degree has a lot of value because it tells the world you can communicate. There are many job opportunities that require some amount of writing.
2. Value your talents. There are a million freelancing opportunities that pay practically nothing. Don't accept jobs that don't pay you what you're worth.
3. Be willing to explore new opportunities. Don't assume an English major has to be a novelist, journalist, or teacher. Every business needs to have something written. An English major can write anything. Believe it or not, the biggest obstacle to launching a website isn't approving the designs. It's finding a person to write all the content.

Check out Nathaniel Tower's writing (and juggling!) blog at nathanieltower.com, visit his Amazon author page, connect with him on LinkedIn and follower him on Twitter!