As most of you know, I'm taking a break from new shoe pictures this week to channel some of my creative energy into my writing. I'm still posting, and I'm still reading blogs, but I'm sparing myself from the task of searching out new pictures of shoes.
While I'm partially unplugging this week, I've decided to do something I was supposed to a while back. Kristen Torres-Toro has given me five words to blog about, so I thought I'd blog about one of the words each day.
Today's word (or phrase) is: First Job.
My first job was at Tippin's Pie Pantry as a cashier. I was fifteen years old and loved working with money as much as I loved writing (which would explain why I went on to major in accounting, a thought I'm seriously reconsidering right now). Anyway, you may think that the best part of this job was the free pie. Well, that was good, but the best part was the people watching opportunity. You see, Tippin's was also a restaurant, and the waiting area for diners was right in front of the cashier station. I remember making up stories about the people waiting to pass my time on the job. Of course, it might have been great fodder had I remembered anything when I got home. I didn't, but it sure made working there a lot more entertaining.
What about you? Have any of your jobs inspired stories?
Don't forget about Friday's interview with K.M. Weiland. There's also a giveaway involved.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
I'm Hanging Up My Shoes...Again! Day 2
As most of you know, I'm taking a break from new shoe pictures this week to channel some of my creative energy into my writing. I'm still posting, and I'm still reading blogs, but I'm sparing myself from the task of searching out new pictures of shoes.
While I'm partially unplugging this week, I've decided to do something I was supposed to a while back. Kristen Torres-Toro has given me five words to blog about, so I thought I'd blog about one of the words each day.
Today's word (or phrase) is: First Job.
My first job was at Tippin's Pie Pantry as a cashier. I was fifteen years old and loved working with money as much as I loved writing (which would explain why I went on to major in accounting, a thought I'm seriously reconsidering right now). Anyway, you may think that the best part of this job was the free pie. Well, that was good, but the best part was the people watching opportunity. You see, Tippin's was also a restaurant, and the waiting area for diners was right in front of the cashier station. I remember making up stories about the people waiting to pass my time on the job. Of course, it might have been great fodder had I remembered anything when I got home. I didn't, but it sure made working there a lot more entertaining.
What about you? Have any of your jobs inspired stories?
Don't forget about Friday's interview with K.M. Weiland. There's also a giveaway involved.
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34 comments:
Susan, my first job was less than glamorous! It was a summer intern job for youth hosted by the City where I lived.
My mother was adament about developing strong work ethic. Ugh.
I spent three month picking up trash in low income areas. Painting the Memorial cementary fence. It made me appreciate the value of my community. Even today, I do not litter.
Great getting to know you!
I have had a job that inspired a story. My boss was such a character that I had to make up what went on with her life after she left work. She is one of my favorite characters that I've written ... even though the job was a frustrating one.
One of my first jobs was at Dairy Queen (when I was in H.S). I got to take home the mistakes to my family! They loved me for it!
Technically, my first job was baby-sitting, followed by a month and a half of scrubbing toilets, working the concession stand and cafeteria at a churchy summer camp for $125.00 a week... all this has surely inspired my writing.
But, it was my first "real" job working at a movie theater that appears in my current wip. Ahh, the sights, sounds, and smells are fun to work with.
I worked at a Toy Store when I was 13 where Bill Murray used to come in and shop. lol. I remember when I first saw him I fell over. He lives near where I live in New York State. I was like "You...Your a Ghostbuster!!!" and he just smiled. But my retail adventures are definitely inspiration for some of the stories in my head. Watching people yeahh is great inspiration. =)
Good luck with the interview on Friday!!
Definitely. I worked at a dry cleaners and wrote a short story to get out all my angst. Detailing will definitely go in one in the future. And missions as well!!
I worked in a restaurant for a while. I loved the people watching aspect too. I also worked as a mail carrier when I was in college, taking mail to all the different buildings on campus--that was a fun job. I haven't ever written about them but maybe I will someday.
Mostly stories abotu NO job! LOL but I did get a story published about working as a Social Worker:)
My first job was as an interpreter for the INS (Immigration and Naturalization Services). Although I met plenty of interesting people, and saw some really bizarre things, I haven't written any stories about any of it. Maybe some day.
I think the most exciting thing that happened to me is that I was working at a fast food restaurant when a group of the Hell's Angels came in. They were very nice. Hum...that isn't as exciting as I thought.
I started out with the babysitting gigs, but my first job was working for my dad in his insurance office. I HATED it because I was stuck filing all the time. One of his friends offered me a job at their restaurant and I fell in love. I loved doing the little extras for my customers and soon had several regulars that tipped very well. The boss insisted I wait on his family whenever they came in because I entertained his kids. The main thing I loved was the interaction with so many different types of people.
First job was prepping a salad bar and waitressing at a hotel buffet. No stories resulted from that but I do have some memories.
That's such a great idea! I love people-watching and my first real job was working in a department store. I tell you, the types of people who came in there to shop were from all walks of life and were all kinds of interesting, annoying, hilarious, hi-jinky people. I'll definitely have to consider pulling inspiration from my memories of them someday! :)
My first job was delivering newspapers.
I can't say any of my jobs inspired stories. My first job, though, was a camp counselor at a day camp at a state park. The bus ride to the park in the morning was interesting, for sure. :)
I worked at a cinnamon bun booth at the Calgary Stampede (big rodeo). I couldn't stop putting my hands in my pockets, I was cold ,so they fired me because they thought I was stealing or it could have been the fact that I didn't know how to make coffee and pushed the water button twice.
My first job was a cashier/waitress for a small mom & pop Italian restaurant. I loved hearing them speak Italian. Such a romantic language. Even when they were saying bad things, it sounded nice! :) They could never get away with talking about me. Spanish is so close to their language that I basically understood what they were saying. My dream is to visit Italy!
Susan, how is it that we can be writers and still be so good with numbers? I was a banker and a sales executive for quite a few years. :)
My first "real" job was at the Gap. No inspiration, no thanks :)
My first job was as a cashier at a grocery store. That hasn't inspired any stories. But I have a ton of ideas bubbling from my social work experience. Especially my stint working at the mental hospital.
My first job was at Burger King but I hated that one. My second job was at the concessions stand at a movie theater. I do incorporate that into my YA novels very often.
My first job was in a burger joint and it was not so inspiring, but later when I worked at the coffee place... I got lots of ideas! I sort of miss that place. :o(
I think that your job sounds like one that would inspire creativity! Fun times! :o)
Hmmm...my first job was working as a summer playground supervisor for a bunch of 12-year-old boys who always wanted to play football.
I can't say it's inspired any stories for me yet, but it did inspire me to find my next job working indoors where there was air conditioning and no need to coat myself with bug spray on a daily basis.
I bet that job was great for creating characters! I've never had a job inspire a story and now I sit in an office so not a lot of inspiration here, except in the blogosphere.
much love
My degree is in teaching, but we moved around so much with the Navy that I never had my own elementary school classroom. I usually worked in preschools or day-cares, knowing I'd write for kids someday. The inspiration that lead me to teaching is related to the inspiration that lead me to my genre: kids rock. ;)
At 14 I was serving lunch and dinner to the residents of a nursing home. It was one of the toughest jobs I've ever had. But I needed money to pay for my drill-team uniform!
I miss Tippin's!
Past positions have helped fill details in for my writing, but I was just thinking about my first job and how well it would lead to a story. I dressed as Geoffrey Giraffe for Toys R Us! I may have to work a mascot job into something somewhere. Thanks for the idea!
Money involves math, and therefore is NOT my strong suit. But I can see how working in a diner would be fabulous for writing preparation! Ever seen the Jude Law/Nora Roberts movie My Blueberry Nights? Quaint little diner, lots of pie, and a parade of interesting people!
Oh, yes ... people-watching is definitely the best! Enjoyed this post.
Sort of. I was a camp counselor's helper and a lot of the kids I dealt with have ended up in some things that I've written.
Oh Tippins! Actually I worked at a pie restaurant in Utah one summer and I was LOVING those free pies. I have to confess I didn't do much people watching because I was too stressed out trying to bring them food. And breaks are good. I still can't believe that you tie every post in with shoes. I think I'd run out of ideas. Plus, I have like one pair of winter shoes and one pair of summer shoes. I'm shoe-boring.
None of my jobs directly influence my writing, but since I write history and teach history there's definitely some overlap. I was actually able to use a synopsis of my story to demonstrate part of a writing project once. The kids were interested in Hatshepsut so that was pretty cool!
My first job was at a health food store. I still use some of the things I learned there.
Sounds like a yummy job! I worked at a movie theatre, so I was able to see free movies, get free popcorn etc. I loved it.
Great question Susan!
When finished with my current WIP, I may just dig out the first book I tried to write. It was based on a girl that worked in a factory. I was working in a factory when I wrote it. Just a few chapters into it, my lack of confidence caused me to put it aside...
Does it really take that much time to find a picture of shoes? So that's what partially-unplugged means...
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