HuntingInMaine Posted November 29, 2004 Report Share Posted November 29, 2004 I am still in college too, but I say do what you love and the money will eventually follow. I think you could get started by writing articles on your own and submitting them for publication. You don't need any connections to do this and if the first magazine doesn't like your stuff, send it to another one! Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted November 29, 2004 Report Share Posted November 29, 2004 Re: your profession? And help w/ a college kid i'm a teacher don't really know, but i'd say guys like Petzal, Zumbo, et al, are a rare breed. if you think about it, there just aren't too many of them around. you better be pretty good at what you do to break into the big market like Field and Stream and what not. not saying you can't do it, but i'm betting it's going to be a long haul and a lot of work, but if you truly have the desire, sure, why not? go for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palssonater Posted November 29, 2004 Report Share Posted November 29, 2004 Re: your profession? And help w/ a college kid I just finished college and I am now a Power System Protection Engineering Tech for the local power company. Heckuva job and pays great. Life finally starts. I struggled through college and was always thinking of switching majors. I am glad that I stuck with with it now. I still want to take up writing though. I was always going to be a journalist or writer. Unfortunately I had one bad teacher that basically turned me off of the english language for about 3 years. He was very biased in marking. He only wanted stories about Icelandic heritage(he was an icelander) and if you wrote about anything else you would get a maximum B. He was very opionated, but would not debate points. Just because I wanted to work for Hydro at the time I was not "allowed" to participate in discussions concerning land erosion(due to hydro playing with water tables). Students in my sisters grade reported him. When confronted by the board, he fell ill with a nervous breakdown. His easy way out... I don't mean to be so negative with teachers and I hope Tominator doesn't take any offense to this post. I know he knows that there is a time when teachers should no longer teach. I've had great teachers over the years, many of which I have hunted with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted November 29, 2004 Report Share Posted November 29, 2004 Re: your profession? And help w/ a college kid Sent you a PM, john sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archerjg Posted November 30, 2004 Report Share Posted November 30, 2004 Re: your profession? And help w/ a college kid I have a degree in Information Systems Management. I work on computers all day. The pay is good and the job is fun. Archerjg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntinsonovagun Posted November 30, 2004 Report Share Posted November 30, 2004 Re: your profession? And help w/ a college kid Why did you back out of PT?? That is what I am considering. Good luck.....I hate the game of choosing....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogdoc Posted November 30, 2004 Report Share Posted November 30, 2004 Re: your profession? And help w/ a college kid john---if you want to be a writer then follow your dreams. I would strongly advise to have a back up plan. A lot of the writers are free lancers. You can always have another career and write on the side then if that opens up follow it. good luck todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elkoholic Posted November 30, 2004 Report Share Posted November 30, 2004 Re: your profession? And help w/ a college kid Many people going to college have no idea what they want to be, and, what they think they would like to be, often turns out not to be what they thought it was once they get out in the real world. As for the writing field, I am sure it is not as glorious as it appears, what with deadlines and such. Unless you are lucky (if you are, buy a lottery ticket) you will have to pay your dues and, like most writers, live rather frugally at first. If you do not like working with people, something along the lines of physical therapy is not for you, for you will be working with (manipulating if you will) people who do not practice good hygiene, people who are in pain (you will cause them more pain), people who will not follow your instructions, and just plain ornery people. This does not include insurance billing or any of the other "fun" stuff. On the other hand it could be very rewarding. My advise to anyone looking for a career is quite simple, try to experience as many jobs (volunteer if need be) as possible to determine what you do NOT want to be. My profession as a pharmacist is becoming more and more frustrating as more time is required for insurance and other non-pharmacy related issues. With the exception of dealing with the drug seekers and other clueless people, I love the pharmacist part of it. Good luck on your decision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted November 30, 2004 Report Share Posted November 30, 2004 Re: your profession? And help w/ a college kid [ QUOTE ] I don't mean to be so negative with teachers and I hope Tominator doesn't take any offense to this post. I know he knows that there is a time when teachers should no longer teach. I've had great teachers over the years, many of which I have hunted with. [/ QUOTE ] heck no, no offense. like anything else, there's certainly bad apples everywhere. there's at least 2 teachers in our building that have no business teaching, and i'd personally never let one of my children take a class with those "teachers," but that's another thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sasksheds Posted November 30, 2004 Report Share Posted November 30, 2004 Re: your profession? And help w/ a college kid Steam Engineer,I run the boilers,air conditioning,fans & all the pumps & motors that go with them @ a local highschool here in Saskatoon.Good job security,benefits etc... The pay could always be better.I could work up north in the mines & make alot more but I would be gone for @ least 2 weeks @ a time.Right now my shift is 7am-3pm everyday with sat & sun off.I hunt everyday after work or am shed hunting.Good luck with your choice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horst Posted November 30, 2004 Report Share Posted November 30, 2004 Re: your profession? And help w/ a college kid Construction, dont do it Pays good but Im finding out it takes a toll on you, Im only 31 and can feel my knees going to, well you know.Run saws and equipment long enough you generally wind up with a finger or two that dont work right like my thumb{cant bend the top knuckle, hurts badly when it gets cold out}My back goes out regularly, you gotta work when its 110 degrees or -20, but it does give me a lotta free time to hunt I also thought about writing, but realisticly being an outdoors writer is a limited field, theres just not that many magazines and such devoted to the outdoors and theyre full of top notch writers already.Not saying you couldnt do it, I had kids and got married pretty young and with a family its just something I didnt feel I could realisticly persue.That was just my situation, I dont know yours. My wife went to college the first time for office work, after 2 years of that she realzed there werent that many actual office jobs around and there was a ton of people more qualified than her to do them{more experienced}.This time she got smart, checked into nursing which she wanted to do to start with, and found out theres almost a shortage of them.Guesse what Im saying is, whatever you decide, make sure ther will be jobs available in that line of work when your done with school or be willing to go where there are jobs. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted November 30, 2004 Report Share Posted November 30, 2004 Re: your profession? And help w/ a college kid Network Administrator - Writing is great if you have the talent, but its not for everyone. Have you ever had to deal with writer's block while facing a deadline? When you write, is it really original or does it tend to sound like someone else? My suggestion is to have something else at the beginning that will help pay the bills, and gradually work into writing full time. A good place to start might be with a small local newspaper writing a once or twice a week outdoors column. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted November 30, 2004 Report Share Posted November 30, 2004 Re: your profession? And help w/ a college kid I'm a High School Band Director. I'm really lucky, because I do something I enjoy everyday for money. Not many people can say that. Find something else that you like to do that can "pay the bills" then do some writing and submit it. I've got a friend who is an English Prof. at a community college and writes articles for several large newspapers. If you get your foot in the door somewhere you can make good money writing. In the mean time you've got to eat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swamphunter Posted November 30, 2004 Report Share Posted November 30, 2004 Re: your profession? And help w/ a college kid Police Officer - 15 years Full time. Gettin' tired... hope to be a full time moderator here someday!! hint hint... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puffy Posted November 30, 2004 Report Share Posted November 30, 2004 Re: your profession? And help w/ a college kid I think writing is a great field but like the others have said, it's a field that takes time to develope. I've wriiten a few articles for local news papers and thats a good place to test your abilities. If people like what your writing about, the paper will ask you to contribute more often. Good test market. Although I like writing, I rely on a part time job as well as running my own business to pay the bills. I do sandblasted and etched glass and mirror artwork and enjoy it , but you still get blocks like a writer and suffer the consequences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billygoat Posted November 30, 2004 Report Share Posted November 30, 2004 Re: your profession? And help w/ a college kid Went to college for Music Performance, changed in my second year of college to Music Education, hated it (Sorry John), with a degree in Education... I spent the next six years managing beef cattle operations and showing cattle... went back to school three years ago for my degree in Nursing... am now a registered Nurse (and spend more time in the woods than ever) the pay's not bad either... Oh yeah, you get to give some fun drugs and watch people get stupid (it's better than being in a bar and you don't have the smoke lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted November 30, 2004 Report Share Posted November 30, 2004 Re: your profession? And help w/ a college kid Where did you go to school? What did (do) you play/sing? BTW I've heard most serious performance people don't like to teach. I wasn't that great, but love to teach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted December 1, 2004 Report Share Posted December 1, 2004 Re: your profession? And help w/ a college kid Retail Management The pay isn't great but it pays the bills and I'm home at night with the wife... I have a degree in Interior-Exterior Design but unfortunately there's not much of a need for it here in Vermont. All I can say is follow your heart and grab for the brass ring and good luck.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted December 1, 2004 Report Share Posted December 1, 2004 Re: your profession? And help w/ a college kid hey! ya i am still in college too, i am going through to be an automotive technician. i think if you really want to follow your career dreams, you can and will do it, that is what i did, the DAY i could get my apprenticeship, i did, my 16th birthday, which means that i will be an apprentice for 2 years this saturday! (dec 4) . somebody has got to do it, and you could be one of those well known writers bud! do what ya love to do... thats all i can say! GOOD LUCK!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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