an eye-opener

The first few days on a new job are always a bit disorienting and tiring, so I have had no real time or energy to spend on my novel. What I have made time to do instead of write is read. It takes that much less brain power to read what someone else has written, and it's quite enjoyable.

I chose some books in my own genre, or nearly my genre, and I've managed to finish several books over the last couple weeks. And I have to say, I got a little worried.

When you write paranormal there's going to be some overlap with other stories - even in the world of the weird there are some accepted 'truths' about supernatural beings. Sure, the fun is in breaking the rules, making the characters stand out and do surprising things. But if you want them to be real and believable, there has to be at least one or two things that resonate with a reader so they feel connected to the particular supe you write. Vampires need to consume blood in some form, werewolves are bound to lose control once in a while. Those are just facts everyone knows about those characters, a touchstone to their worlds that you can then expand upon and recreate. As long as there's something, even one thing, to make them seem, well, themselves.

What has me freaked out is that these books that I've just now read have circumstances that I thought were unique to my mind, my views, my perception of what certain beings could do. Things that I thought would make my characters stand out...someone else had the same thought. And published it. Bummer. Or not, really.

Taking this time out to read, not write, has not only opened my eyes, it's inspired me. When I read someone else's description of a particularly painful consequence that is nearly the same painful consequence I dreamed up, a sudden shift happens, and I see my scene in a whole new way. A new painful consequence comes to mind. A new use of the same old power - or a better power altogether - reveals itself to me.

At first I felt kind of bad. Like, maybe I'm not very original or creative. But you know what? A famous published author had the same creative idea I had. How bad can that be? There is very little new under the sun, after all. I don't have to abandon my whole plot and characters. I simply have to find a way to write it, to get the point across, that is different. Something that makes someone sit up and say, "I wasn't expecting THAT!" Doing so is getting my mind churning again, making the entire novel look fresh.

I will read a few more books, then get back to work. It's inspiring me, it's opening my eyes. And dang, reading is just plain fun, isn't it?

a useful reality show

With all the shows on television right now for the talented, the rich & famous, the just plain obnoxious; how about a show that's a little more useful right now? How about a job interview competition?

I'm thinking each week could feature a different job and a new cast of applicants. We'd get that quick 'face flash' of each applicant briefly describing their qualifications, then in they go. We'd get to watch all the job interviews, and at the end, the applicants would be gathered into a single room. The person or persons conducting the interview then give their critique, just like they do on Project Runway or The Voice.

We'd get to see what they liked during the interview, what really impressed, and what totally didn't work - at what point did someone blow their chance? Critiques could include commentary on suitability of dress for the job and how the applicant's demeanor and body language affected the outcome. All that goes into the overall impression they left on the employer; it would be nice to know if someone's nervous smile projected a sense of humility and cooperation or if it was perceived as a lack of self-confidence.

A show like this would be educational and useful for the masses out there looking for employment in a dwindling pool of available jobs. I'd like to see interviews for admin assistants, for computer & technology related jobs, for cable TV installers and cooks. How do you choose the best person to be a supermarket cashier, an instructional assistant in a college, or customer service representative? What is it you're really looking for? Which answer about working as a team or conflict resolution was the deal-breaker in an otherwise wonderful interview?

It wouldn't even cost that much to make the show, since the only prize they'd need to offer is that the winning interviewee gets the job. Sure, a million dollars would be cool, but I guess the ability to continue supporting oneself in the current economy would be enough reward. And every week there would be a winner, upping the 'feel-good' factor.

As someone who gets a lot of interviews but not a lot of offers, I'd love to see a show like this. So c'mon reality tv makers - get out there and make something that IS real, and help us out!