Book Read Free

Creating Characters

Page 25

by Lauther, Howard


  What follows is only a partial list of jobs that you may wish to review before assigning a character a line of work. The jobs are divided into major categories. (One of those categories is crime; it's not the kind of work one would find advertised in the help-wanted pages, but it still represents a means by which some characters acquire money.)

  AGRICULTURE

  beekeeper

  cattle rancher

  cowboy

  crop duster

  dairyman

  farmer

  farmhand

  field worker

  migrant worker

  pig farmer

  plantation owner

  rancher

  sharecropper

  sheep rancher

  shepherd

  tobacco farmer

  wheat farmer

  ANIMALS

  blacksmith

  broncobuster

  cat breeder

  dog breeder

  dog trainer

  elephant trainer

  game warden

  horse breeder

  horse trader

  horse trainer

  hunter

  kennel owner

  pet groomer

  veterinarian

  BEAUTY/FASHION

  barber

  beautician

  coiffeur-coiffeuse

  cosmetician

  diet workshop counselor

  dress designer

  facial massager

  fashion buyer

  hairdresser

  hatmaker

  manicurist

  masseur/masseuse

  model

  pedicurist

  perfumer

  tanning bed operator

  wigmaker

  BUSINESS

  accountant

  accounts payable clerk

  accounts receivable

  clerk

  activity manager

  administrative aide

  auditor

  bank examiner

  bank manager

  bank teller

  banker

  benefits manager

  billing clerk

  bookkeeper

  branch manager

  broker

  buyer

  claims adjuster

  client service rep

  comptroller (controller)

  contractor

  copier operator

  credit analyst

  credit manager

  customer support rep.

  document manager

  economist

  exporter

  factory owner

  financial analyst

  financial planner

  financier

  importer

  industrialist

  internal auditor

  investment advisor

  loan officer

  mailroom clerk

  market research analyst

  office manager

  payroll manager

  pension administrator

  personnel assistant

  personnel manager

  president

  promotions coordinator

  public relations rep

  receptionist

  records administrator

  regional administrator

  regional manager

  researcher

  sales manager

  sales rep

  secretary

  stockbroker

  switchboard operator

  systems administrator

  tax accountant

  trader

  typist

  underwriter

  vice president

  warranty supervisor

  wholesaler

  workers' compensation rep

  CRAFTS AND TRADES

  appliance repairman

  auto repairman

  baker

  barrelmaker

  basketmaker

  beermaker

  beltmaker

  boatwright

  bookbinder

  bootblack

  bootmaker

  bottlemaker

  brewmaster

  bricklayer

  brickmaker

  bronzesmith

  broommaker

  builder

  bulldozer operator

  butcher

  cabinetmaker

  cable installer

  calligrapher

  candlemaker

  candymaker

  carpenter

  carpet cleaner

  carpet layer

  chainmaker

  chimney sweep

  cigarmaker

  clock repairman

  clocksmith

  clothworker

  coal miner

  cobbler

  coffin-maker

  computer repairman

  cooper

  copier repairman

  coppersmith

  crane operator

  demolitionist

  diemaker

  dishwasher repairman

  ditchdigger

  dollmaker

  draftsman

  dressmaker

  driveway sealer

  drywall hanger

  electrician

  engraver

  furnace repairman

  garbage collector

  gardener

  gas fitter

  general contractor

  glass blower

  glassmaker

  glazier

  goldsmith

  gunsmith

  handyman

  house painter

  ironsmith

  ironworker

  janitor

  junkman

  laborer

  landscaper

  lathe operator

  leathermaker

  lineman

  locksmith

  lumberjack

  machinist

  maintenance man

  mapmaker

  mason

  mechanic

  metalworker

  miller

  milliner

  millwright

  paper hanger

  paving contractor

  plasterer

  plumber

  printer

  puttier

  remodeler

  roofer

  rope maker

  saddle maker

  sausage maker

  seamstress

  shoe repairman

  shoemaker

  silversmith

  spinner

  spot welder

  steam fitter

  steelworker

  steeplejack

  stonemason

  tailor

  tanner

  tattoo artist

  telephone repairman

  television repairman

  tentmaker

  tinker

  tinsmith

  truck driver

  typesetter

  upholsterer

  watch repairman

  watchmaker

  waterproofer

  weaver

  welder

  wine maker

  woodworker

  wrecker

  CREATIVE ARTS

  architect

  Biographer

  book editor

  book publisher

  caricaturist

  cartoonist

  carver

  choreographer

  composer

  copywriter

  engraver

  etcher

  graphic designer

  historian

  ice sculptor

  illustrator

  interior designer

  novelist

  painter

  photographer

  playwright

  poet

  screenwriter

  sculptor

  short-story writer

  sign painter

  speechwriter

  CRIME
<
br />   bank robber bookie

  bootlegger

  burglar

  con artist

  counterfeiter

  drug dealer

  embezzler

  extortionist fence

  forger highwayman

  hijacker

  holdup man

  housebreaker

  kidnapper

  loan shark

  money launderer

  moonshiner

  numbers runner

  pickpocket pimp

  pirate

  prostitute

  purse snatcher

  racketeer

  rapist

  safecracker

  smuggler

  thief

  DEATH

  cemetery lot salesman

  coroner

  cremator

  death notice writer

  embalmer

  executioner

  funeral director

  gravedigger

  hangman

  hearse driver

  medical examiner

  mortician

  pathologist

  EDUCATION

  assistant dean

  career counselor

  civics teacher

  college president

  dean

  dorm supervisor

  English teacher

  foreign language teacher

  geometry teacher

  headmaster

  history teacher

  librarian

  lunchroom cook

  math teacher

  music teacher

  phys. ed. instructor

  professor

  school principal

  ENTERTAINMENT

  acrobat

  actor

  announcer

  ballet dancer

  band leader

  banjo player

  barker

  bassoonist

  blues singer

  booking agent

  broadcaster

  cameraman

  casting director

  cellist

  choirmaster

  chorus boy/girl

  clarinetist

  clown

  comedian

  concertinist

  conductor

  contortionist

  costume designer

  country singer

  cyclist

  director (film or stage)

  disk jockey

  drummer emcee

  female impersonator

  fiddler

  film editor

  folk singer

  gag writer

  game show host

  go-go girl

  guitarist

  harmonica player

  hypnotist jazz singer

  juggler

  lion tamer

  magician

  mime

  oboist

  opera singer

  organist

  pianist

  pop singer

  press agent

  producer

  program director

  rock singer

  saxophonist

  screenwriter

  set designer

  showgirl

  sound man

  sound-effects man

  stage manager

  stiltwalker

  stripper

  talent agent

  talk-show host

  tap dancer

  theater owner

  theatrical agent

  tightrope walker

  trapeze

  artist

  trombonist

  trumpeter

  vaudevillian

  ventriloquist

  violinist

  xylophonist

  GOVERNMENT

  ambassador

  assemblyman

  attache

  attorney-general

  campaign manager

  censor

  census taker

  chancellor

  charge d'affaires

  chief of staff

  CIA agent

  city councilman

  city manager

  consul

  councilman

  emissary

  emperor

  envoy

  FBI agent

  floor leader

  governor

  intelligence officer

  mayor

  minister

  party whip

  poll taker

  postal inspector

  postmaster general

  premier

  president

  prime minister propagandist

  sec. of agriculture

  sec. of commerce

  sec. of defense

  sec. of education

  sec. of interior

  sec. of labor

  sec. of treasury

  secret agent

  state legislator

  tax assessor

  tax collector translator

  U.N. ambassador

  U.S. representative

  U.S. senator

  vice president

  vice chairman

  vice consul

  vice governor

  HOTEL, RESTAURANT AND CLUB

  banquet manager

  bartender

  bellhop

  bouncer busboy

  carhop

  cashier

  chambermaid

  charwoman chef

  cook

  cook's helper

  counter person

  country club manager

  dining room supervisor

  dishwasher

  doorman

  elevator operator

  food server

  front-desk clerk

  gift shop clerk

  golf pro

  headwaiter

  host/hostess

  hotel manager l

  andscaper

  maitre d'

  motel owner

  porter

  restaurant manager

  valet

  waiter/waitress

  JOURNALISM

  book reviewer

  columnist

  copy reader

  drama critic

  editor

  food columnist

  foreign correspondent

  ghost writer

  gossip columnist

  investigative reporter

  magazine publisher

  movie critic

  news anchor

  news reporter

  newspaper publisher

  pamphlet publisher

  proofreader

  science writer

  society columnist

  sportswriter

  TV critic

  typesetter

  war correspondent

  LAW

  bailiff

  bankruptcy attorney

  bondsman

  business attorney

  constable

  court reporter

  criminal attorney

  divorce attorney

  jailer

  judge

  law clerk

  malpractice attorney

  paralegal

  parole officer

  patent attorney

  patrolman

  personal injury attorney

  deputy

  detective

  district attorney

  divorce attorney

  jailer

  judge

  law clerk

  malpractice attorney

  paralegal

  parole officer

  patent attorney

  patrolman

  personal injury attorney

  police commissioner

  police dispatcher

  prison guard

  probation officer

  prosecutor

  public defender

  sheriff

  tax attorney

  warden

  MANUFACTURING

  assemb
ly-line worker

  binder

  dispatcher

  dock worker

  expeditor

  foreman

  forklift operator

  foundryman

  inspector

  inventory clerk

  janitor

  job coordinator

  machinist

  mechanic

  metalworker

  night watchman

  operations manager

  order filler

  packer

  plant manager

  process clerk

  production control

  production manager

  quality control inspector

  raw materials mgr.

  receiving clerk

  riveter

  security guard

  shipping clerk

  supervisor

  timekeeper

  tool and die maker

  transportation manager

  truck driver

  warehouse supervisor

  warehouseman

  watchman

  welder

  MARITIME

  bargeman

  boatswain

  boatwright

  buccaneer

  cabin boy

  captain

  commissary

  deck hand

  deep-sea diver

  dock worker

  ferryman

  fisherman

  gondolier

  helmsman

  longshoreman

  mess steward

  navigator

  pilot

  roustabout

  sailor

  shipmaster

  steward

  whaler

  MEDICAL/HEALING

  abortionist

  ambulance driver

  anesthetist

  audiologist

  biologist

  cardiologist

  child psychiatrist

  chiropodist

  chiropractor

  dental assistant

  dental hygienist

  dental surgeon

  dentist

  dietician

  dermatologist

  diagnostic technician

  doctor

  druggist

  ear-nose-throat specialist

  faith healer

  geriatric specialist

  gerontologist

  gynecologist

  homeopath

  hospital director

  hygienist

  immunologist

  laboratory manager

  medical transcriptionist

  midwife

  neurologist

  nurse's aide

  nursing director

  nutritionist obstetrician

  occupational therapist

  oculist

  optician

  optometrist

  orderly

  orthodontist

  osteopath

  outpatient supervisor

 

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