inpariswithyou

I should also point out that I considered looking into GLBT studies in particular, since that's really where my research interests lie, but I didn't find very many programs at all, and those I did seemed focused more towards counseling/etc. and I'm interested more in the research aspect.

I thought about doing a master's in English first, but it seems like most of the places I'd like to go do a joint MA/PhD program rather than a separate MA... so I wasn't sure about that. It is a pretty bleak outlook for me, I'm afraid. I tried a few years back, after I finished my MLIS, and I only got one or two acceptances, with no funding, to "alternative" programs, so I opted not to go. I can't shake that urge to get it, though, and I'm afraid if I don't at least try, I'll never get rid of it!

Some background: I'm an early-thirties guy with a B.A. in English (2005), half a master's in English (2006), and an MLIS (2008). I did quite well in school -- 3.89 GPA for undergrad, 4.00 for the MLIS. Currently, I'm working as a web developer full-time and as a part-time instructor (in the comp/sci department) at a local community college. The thing is, though, that my real passion is literature, and I've tried to let go of the idea of getting a Ph.D. in English literature, but it's not working. I want to do it. I decided today that I'm going to do it -- or at least try. I'm intending to apply this fall to several English lit programs -- Ohio State, CMU, Pitt, maybe PSU. And I'm basically freaking out. I have published a little -- nothing critical, just creative, a few short stories, a poem, and a forthcoming novel in May -- and as I said I do teach, but I haven't been in academia for almost a decade! Where do I get recommendations? I cant possibly ask professors I haven't seen in ten years, and even if I could, how useful would they be? I took a few community college courses, and I have supervisors at both jobs who could write, but... will those computer-science-related recs have a positive effect on an English program application? And what about a writing sample? Do I use one of my critical essays from my undergrad/half a masters in English? I would of course revise it, if not completely rewrite it, but still... very old. Or do I try to write something new, with no academic advising, no real resources, etc.? (I live in a very small town -- the local college doesn't even subscribe to the OED!) I know people leave academia and go back to it all the time -- they must, right?!? -- and yet I feel incredibly lost and clueless. Advice? Words of encouragement? Thoughts