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My first job was a typist, my
second a shorthand typist, my third a secretary, and my fourth and most
enjoyable a writer.
But even as a writer I’m still
interested in jobs. For the simple reason that each of my main characters work
and although I don’t need every single detail of what they do, I need to know
enough to make it look as though I do. I tend to cheat and make a lot of my
heroines secretaries and my heroes businessmen, but it isn’t always the case.
Here are a few of the jobs my
heroes and heroines have had:
Explorer
Stud Farmer
Banker
Hotelier
Beautician
Journalist
Hairdresser
Yachtsman
And naturally each of these jobs
have to be researched – some more than others. What do I know about sailing?
Nothing.
What do I know about breeding
horses? Nothing.
Nowadays most things can be
researched on the internet, but before this marvellous creation I either used
library books or managed to get an interview with someone in the ‘trade’.
For instance when I decided my
hero would be a stud farmer I searched until I found one not too many miles
away from where I lived and approached him about an interview – which he
willingly gave – though he did look uncomfortable when he told me his mares
were sent away for covering. In my ignorance, me being a townie, I asked him
what he meant by covering. Well, he didn’t actually blush but he didn’t look me
in the eye either before mumbling, “Er – mating.”
It’s funny what things stick in
your mind, isn’t it?
It makes me wonder whether it was
far more fun doing research this way.
Oh, I think it's much more fun doing it in person, even though it takes a lot of time and isn't always possible. You wouldn't get to see him blush otherwise! :-)
ReplyDeleteVery true, Jennifer. It was a unique moment.
DeleteI love doing the research on unfamiliar jobs and trades. Still, the conventional wisdom is 'write what you know.'
ReplyDeleteYes, Ana, research is fun, if time consuming. That's the one thing computers are good for as it sometimes does save a bit of time. But there's nothing better than going out there and talking to people.
ReplyDeleteIn my early books, the heroines (and sometimes the heroes) were teachers, because I did know about those. More recently, however, I've become far more adventurous, and had an archaeologist, a volcanologist, and a veterinary surgeon amongst other occupations - and I've really enjoyed doing the research. Mainly on the internet, I admit, although I did spend an interesting hour at a local veterinary surgery recently - as well as spending the whole of one Sunday afternoon watching You Tube videos of foals being born!
ReplyDeleteYes, You Tube, Paula. I watch it with my grandson sometimes but I've never used it for research.
DeleteI've used it a few times for researching places, but my main research tool for places is Google streetview - in fact I was 'driving' around Galway city about an hour ago!
DeleteThat's a great idea, Paula
DeleteThose are some unique jobs for your characters. The heroine in one of my WIPs is a journalist. The most research I ever had to do for a job for one of my characters was when I made one of my heroes a Secret Service Agent. I used books from the youth section in the library to do most of my research. Those books are great because the information is presented in simple language and there tend to be a lot of pictures!
ReplyDeleteDebra, a friend of mine who used to write some historical novels, said she always used books from the children's section of the library, because they gave far more information about clothes, furniture, food, etc. Not sure I'd find a children's book about my current hero though - an undercover Irish cop who's masquerading as a taxi driver!
DeleteI studied books from the children's section of the library when I was researching castles for my time travel. Those books have the best pictures and captions!
ReplyDeleteAh, now if you'd been in the UK, you could have visited any of the hundreds of castle (or at least the ruins in many cases!) that we have here! Anything you want to know about castles, just ask me, as a friend and I did a '15th century' tour about 15 years ago, and I've lost count of how many castles we visited. We once did a 'sponsored castle tour' and managed to visit 14 in a 12 hour trip!
DeleteI'm in!
ReplyDeleteI was just thinking of paying jobs I've had: nursing home worker, waitress (not bartender--I'd love to know how to make fancy drinks), sewing machine operator, school bus driver, professional gardener, bookkeeper, business owner, cow milker, mom, filing clerk, craft service, film production assistant, astrologer, gardening columnist.
Wow, and all I did was be a teacher for 25+ years! My experience of other jobs is very limited, whereas you have so many difference experiences to draw on.
DeleteWow from me too.....
Delete