Careers for Your Characters

Creating realistic, well-developed characters that readers can believe in is one of the biggest challenges authors face. Selecting a character's profession is an important part of this process. The profession implies a lot about the character and spares the reader a lot of pace-hindering narrative. A character's profession may be the catalyst for the story's plot. It allows the writer to texture the story with interesting insider details of the character's daily life. Also, a story's theme is often directly related to the protagonist's profession. This book makes it easier than ever by providing detailed descriptions for the 99 most written-about professions--everything from ad executives to waiters. Each entry consists of a written description and a breakdown of the fine details, including education, salary, jargon, hazards, rewards and a typical daily schedule. Packed with informative sidebars and call-outs, this reader-friendly, interactive reference enables writers of any skill level to create characters whose professional lives resonate with realistic details and insider insights.--Adapted from book cover and introduction.