What's The Appeal?
The unusual occupation of a main
character normally plays a central role in developing conflict and plot. If
the hero is a tornado chaser, the heroine might enter his life as a social
worker concerned about the effects of his dangerous job on his child. If the
heroine is a landscape designer, the hero might very likely be Mr. Rich
Property Owner who can't believe any woman can do the job he requires.
Perhaps hero and heroine are competitors in the same field, or sometimes the
hero's work (soldier of fortune, secret agent, gambler) entangles the
heroine in entirely new adventures. Either way, this theme is about
becoming, or maintaining, a sense of self in a way of life that most others
don't understand and may have problems accepting.
Almost any occupation
would be unusual for heroines in historical romances—even that of a
chanteuse or actress, not to mention careers in fields such as photography
or medicine. Women rarely worked outside the home, and when they did, the
job was usually related to domestics or caretaking. Within their historical
context, the incredible female roles such as a sea-faring pirate or a
bareback rider in a Wild West show reveal to readers just how courageous,
independent and creative a woman can be.
In contemporaries, heroine's
employment options have come a long way, enhancing our female mirror images
into more complex, interesting characters. Heroines' occupations in
contemporary romance were once limited to nurse or airline
stewardess—and so were the views of what women could be. Now "women's
work" includes nearly every occupation, from Interstate trucker to airline
pilot, to magician or secret agent.
Additionally, unusual occupations in
contemporary romances closely follow our own pursuit of the American dream.
As a nation, our work ethic has always involved the search for daily meaning
as well as the necessity for daily bread. Work represents a big part of the
way we experience the world, ourselves and each other.
Regardless of
whether the original occupation belongs to the hero or heroine, romances
that encompass an unusual job or role allow the reader to escape into a
different world—to explore new territory, satisfy curiosity and fuel
creative imagination.
Authors' Thoughts...
Rachel Lee
For me as a reader, it's always a great kick to get
an inside look, however brief, at an occupation I'm not familiar with. It's
certainly great fun for me as a writer to explore these things and ask
people about their jobs. I recommend From a Distance by Emilie
Richards. There's no job more unusual than a space alien!
Jan Hudson
I adore people who are a bit different (well…a whole lot different).
Unusual occupations are natural setups for humor or adventure stories and
are inherently fascinating. Think of that unforgettable parrot hunter in the
movie "Romancing the Stone" or the 18th century female bodyguard in
Arnette Lamb's novel Beguiled, which I recommend.
Susan Wiggs
As a reader, I love to be transported into another
world, and one of the key elements is the chance to experience an exotic or
unorthodox occupation. Probably my all-time favorite example is the classic
Silver Splendor by Barbara Dawson Smith. The heroine is a
sculptress who lives and breathes her art—you really get an insider's
view of that world.
Boys and girls once played rich man, poor man, beggarman, thief from the
old fortune-telling rhyme to discover what occupation the future held.
Doctor, lawyer, merchant, chief, psychic, detective, millionaire's wife.
Occupation is about life. Paleontologist, stripper, actor, Bow Street
runner. How do people in unusual occupations fall in love? What are they
like? Choosing unusual ways for heroes and heroines to make a living allows
romance authors and readers to explore entertaining and challenging
worlds.
-Constance Martin
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