I’ve decided on a career shift. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English and professional writing, but have quickly learned that the job market in my hometown for a writer is slim and definitely not lucrative.

So while my wife is working at a local university, I’m taking the opportunity to go back to college and receive a certificate in accounting. I’d like to eventually move into financial planning, but realize the risks in that job market are much greater. So I want to stay with something a little more stable.

I’m only slightly acquainted with accounting and financing, but am eager to dive into my studies and learn the field. I’ve spent the last five years on the other side of the fence with the longhaired hippie poets talking about love and questioning reality, so this shift is a large one in many aspects. I doubt I’ll lose my hippie monikers, but I’m determined to thrive in the business world.

My short-term goal is to find a steady, lucrative job. If I can find a job in which I merge my writing with finance, that would be ideal. But the reality, I believe, is I’ll have to start from the ground up and crunch numbers for a year or two just to earn my stripes. Then I can branch out.

I’m looking for advice from any angle I can get it. I want to read some books over the summer to help break me into the economics world and to help me focus my studies on what I specifically want to specialize in.

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.