what's a good job for someone who isn't great at anything?

I think the temping thing is something that I can definitely do, and it's actually something that I've thought of in the past. I'll keep it in mind come spring. @emilyw-- As silly as it sounds, I decided I wanted to be a fashion publicist after working as a sales associate in a store. That'll be a funny story to tell people if I decide to follow this path. @Ideefixe-- I actually created a blog but never made any posts. I just don't know what to write about! There are already so many blogs on shopping on a budget, shopping for certain sizes, in certain areas, styles, etc. that I'm at a loss for something new and unusual! There are even blogs on nail polish! But you are right, I need to think of something and start writing. @Admiral Haddock-- thanks for some insight! It's always good to hear from people who have worked in the industry. And yes, I am in NYC so location is not an issue! Would it be okay if I MeMailed you in the future about any PR-related questions? Thanks everyone for your advice! 'Tis appreciated.

So many great answers! Thanks all!

What's a good job for someone that really isn't that good at anything? This is not the attitude of a publicist (at least, not the one they let anyone see). Publicists have to sell other things/ideas/people, and in order to do that, they also have to sell themselves. The skills you describe match a lot of PR people I know, but you have to overcome or at least hide insecurities, lack of confidence, and, arguably, modesty.

While obviously mla citations are not required outside of academia, copywriting will require you to shape your writing according to someone else's needs and requirements. You sound quite fed up with that kind of thing... Assuming that it is the fiddliness and not the act of citing that bothers you! If you want a job where your creativity is valued independently of the needs of the market/your tutors you might want something else? It's a bit hard to say without knowing what you really don't like about academic writing. Unless you actually really particularly dislike mla!

I don't think you're going to have to do the boring academic writing outside of academia, so don't worry about that one. When people say that you have your entire life to figure out work, that's because one way or another you'll end up job hopping. Odds are pretty high you'll end up temping or being an assistant or some such out of college if you're lucky (or moving home with no job if you aren't), so at that point "get a job, any job" is going to be your priority. I think what you may need to do is a 2-point plan: get internship/job experience, as much as you can in anything, now. And research how one gets into the fashion industry.

You know what? I think the "find what you like to do" myth is BS. People like to do what they're good at. It's that simple. Kids that are good at basketball like to play basketball; kids that suck at it would rather do something else. Shitty plumbers hate their jobs. A master plumber will talk your ear off all day about pipes and whatnot. The trick is, liking your job is the effect not the cause, of being good. So all you have to do is find something you don't HATE. Do it at the entry level for a while, but instead of just doing it as a job, do it to be the best damn whatever in the history of whatever-ing. You'll start to like it. As you do it, you'll become interested in maybe an offshoot or specialty of whatever it is. Now you're in a position of having a good reputation and a foot in the door (already working in the field) to move into that. Also be the best at that. As a specific suggestion it sounds like you haven't in your wildest dreams considered, and since you're good at organizing things, maybe you would like being a project supervisor or general contractor of some sort, coordinating all the trade people to work together to get something made. Although hard hats aren't exactly fabulously fashionable, you wouldn't wear a suit to work ;)

You could write press releases for small businesses. http://ask.metafilter.com/163675/Whats-the-most-effective-way-to-generate-press-for-my-gym Is there a business you like ? Why wouldn't they like a free press release ? Starting a conversation here is good. Start talking with people in businesses you are interested in.

Take a job teaching English in Korea. Hours are good, cost of living is low, anyone with a passport from an English speaking country, a 4-year degree, and a face can get a decent job here. Seoul and Daegu have extremely vibrant fashion industries, you'd probably want to explore what's around those places. Seoul is also really trying to amp up its image as http://www.icsid.org/events/events/calendar331.htm and fashion, and is in fact, where much of Asia now looks to see http://www.feetmanseoul.com/. While teaching English does not require much travel, Korea is a great jumping off point to explore eastern Asia. Beijing, Shanghai and Tokyo (and even Vladivostok, if you're curious) are under two hours from Seoul.

I really dislike writing-- or at least college-level writing. I just don't get how to write properly, like MLA format and citations and all that and when I try to learn (usually because a paper is due) it feels like torture. I imagine formatting and citations would be quite important to a publicist. I, by contrast, assumed the opposite. So let us assume nothing. Investigate and find out for sure. @Ideefixe-- I actually created a blog but never made any posts. I just don't know what to write about! There are already so many blogs on shopping on a budget, shopping for certain sizes, in certain areas, styles, etc. that I'm at a loss for something new and unusual! There are even blogs on nail polish! But you are right, I need to think of something and start writing. Are any of the other blogs new and unusual? Novelty is clearly not a prerequisite. Same as genre fiction. It ain't the material, it's how you put it out there. So you start by sounding derivative, in time, things occur to you that are less so, perhaps even new and unusual. And if the first one fails, start another. Then another. What distinguishes the successes is as much animal energy, a refusal to be denied, as mere talent. (Long post from someone who "really dislikes writing." I think you are lying!)