Odd Jobs

The seeds of a story can be found in anything that piques readers’ interest.

What about a character who has an odd or unusual job?

• A flight attendant on Air Force One
• A maid or chef at the White House
• Tooth Fairy
• Buffy: Vampire Slayer
• Kindergarten Cop
• The Whipping Boy

Perhaps your character has a job that’s unusual for them:

• A grandma who’s a private detective
• A murder investigator who can’t stand blood or germs (Monk)
• An unlikely superhero (Superman, Spiderman, Batman…any of them, really)
• An advice columnist whose own life is a mess
• A deaf musician (think: Beethoven)
• A handicapped athlete

Exercise:

• People make their livings in many unusual ways! Start a file of odd or unusual occupations.
• Brainstorm about people who are an odd fit for the job they do. What story ideas do you find there?
• What would be YOUR perfect dream job?