Monday, October 24, 2011

Is "Dream Job" an Oxymoron? by Diane Kelly



Okay, as I write this blog on Saturday, Oct. 22nd, I’m sitting outside A Real Bookstore in Fairview, Texas with my buddy Angela after attending a booksigning for fellow Killer Fiction author Christie Craig and my DARA chapter-mate Liz Lipperman. Angela and I are both on our computers. She’s been working on her latest story, while I’ve been trying to think up an interesting topic for this blog. (Had a sangria with lunch. Bad idea. It put my brain to sleep.) Then, lo and behold, Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing in the Dark” came on over the speakers. When he got to the line “I’m sick of sitting ‘round here trying to write this book,” I had to laugh at the irony of that line being sung over the heads of two writers hard at work.

Will I ever get "sick of sitting 'round here trying to write this book?" NEVER!!! It's so much fun to create characters and stories. I have more ideas in my head than I’ll ever be able to get down on paper. I wish there was some way to stick a USB cable in my ear and directly download the stories from my brain to a computer file.

It’s a blessing not only to have work that feels much more like play, but also to be paid to do it. I wish everyone could find a job they love this much.

The new reality shows based on occupations are intriguing. Hell’s Kitchen. Pawn Stars. Ice Road Truckers. The Biggest Catch. Dog the Bounty Hunter. Through these shows, we get to see the inside secrets of all types of jobs. All of them are far more interesting than they might seem at first blush.

Are you working your dream job? If not, what would your dream job be? What about the job appeals to you? Post a comment and you might win a copy of Death, Taxes and a French Manicure. The winner will be chosen at random and posted around 9:00 pm central time. For more chances to win a book plus a $10 Barnes & Noble e-giftcard, visit the blog at my author website, www.dianekelly.com, from now through Oct. 31st.

Thanks for visiting us here at Killer Fiction!

14 comments:

Refhater said...

It's not my dream job I do have a full time job with benefits at the local hospital, so I'm happy. They're hard to come by these days.

My dream job would be to be a stock photographer. To be the person who took the pictures that come in frames, pictures used in various adds, etc.. I love photography and wish I could do that everyday and get paid for it.

krisgils33 said...

I don't know if it's my dream job, but it's definitely cool. I work for the government on international environmental maritime policy. I've traveled all over the globe for meetings and visited lots of places I never would have even thought about going. I've been working in various aspects of the environmental field for 25 years and I'm definitely not qualified to do anything else!!

Diane Kelly said...

Refhater - sounds like you're a creative type, too! I'm always amazed by visual artists like you -it's like you see the world in a different, more perceptive way. My daughter is an artist and I'm constantly intrigued by the things she notices that go right by me. She's made me so much more aware of the visual things in our world. I hope you'll get to work at your dream job someday!

Krisgils33 - traveling the world sounds like fun! You have a very interesting niche - I bet you've been to all kinds of great beaches.

Thanks for stopping by! For more chances to win prizes, stop by the blog at my author site, www.dianekelly.com!

Robin Kaye said...

I'm living the dream...or that's what I keep telling myself. I love getting into my story, my characters heads, closing off the rest of the world and living in my own imagination and just writing. I don't like it when I have to step out of it, do the work of being an author, the business end, running the kids back and forth, fixing dinner and then trying to jump back into the story. It's jarring and I'm not good at it. Still, even with all the juggling I do, I wouldn't trade it for the world. When the writing is going well, when I'm immersed in the words and on a roll, it's a total rush.

Diane Kelly said...

I so relate!!! A good writing day is a special kind of drug-free high. : )

catslady said...

I really wanted to do something with the arts but my parents insisted I get a real job so I can't say I've lived my dream but I did raise two wonderful girls and one had the same dream I had and is doing what she wants in that field :)

Suzan Harden said...

No, I don't think 'dream job' is an oxymoron. The real trick is shutting out all those well meaning voices that crush your dream.

I'm writing about vampires and witches and zombies. People are buying my books. I'm very happy.

Brandy said...

I'm living my dream job. All I ever wanted to be when I was young was a Mom. I'm old-fashioned, I guess. However, when they're grown and don't need me (*sadsigh*) anymore I'd like to do something with my hobby of nature/animal photography.

Mo said...

I didn't have a dream job in mind just the need for a paycheck when I was hired 35 years ago by the company that still employs me. I was so lucky to fall into a field that has challenged me and kept me happy all this time. I started out learning how to manage the finances and schedule on special projects, moved on managing them myself, now on to teaching others.

Kristi said...

My job is far from my dream job. I process parking tickets kind of like on Parking Wars.

I really want to open a bookstore/cafe. But where I live indie bookstores don't do too well.

Kristi

Diane Kelly said...

Catslady - It's never too late to ignore your parents! : ) Motherhood is a wonderful job, too, and how great that your artistic talents were passed down to your daughter and that you've encouraged her!

Suzan - so happy for you! I'm going to have to look up your books!

Brandy - Animal/nature photography sounds great! I always wanted to be a mom, too. A bit sad that I'm in the final stretch - my kids are a junior and senior in high school.

Mo - Sounds like you work for a great company and have moved up the ladder over the years. Congrats!

Kristi - A bookstore/cafe sounds like fun! Keep dreaming and maybe it will happen someday! I'm not sure where you live, but years ago I lived in San Jose and I remember how hard it was to find parking when we went to San Francisco. Everyone double parked. I bet the parking ticket office there is incredibly busy!

Diane Kelly said...

Random.org picked #5 and the 5th person to post was Suzan! You win! Please email me at diane@dianekelly.com with your snail mail address so I can mail you your prizes. Thanks so much to all of you for visiting us at Killer Fiction!

Unknown said...

For me as long as i earn money that's already my dream job.
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