Jobs are as important for our characters as they are for real people. A character’s career might be their dream job or one they’ve chosen due to necessity. In your story, they might be trying to get that job or are already working in the field. Whatever the situation, as with any defining aspect for your character, you’ll need to do the proper research to be able to write that career knowledgeably.
Enter the Occupation Thesaurus. Here, you’ll find important background information on a variety of career options for your character. In addition to the basics, we’ll also be covering related info that relates to character arc and story planning, such as sources of conflict (internal and external) and how the job might impact basic human needs, thereby affecting the character’s goals.
We hope the sample list of ideas below will show you how to choose and use your character’s occupation to do more than simply reference a day job. For the full entry for this career and over 120 other ideas, check into our bestselling resource, The Occupation Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Jobs, Vocations, and Careers.
Glassblower
Overview: A glass-forming technique whereby the artist manipulates glass (either by blowing through a tube or relying on more advanced methods) into various forms, such as vases, dishware, jewelry, window panes, figurines, art, and other décor. Glassblowers can work in museums, universities, or …
Necessary Training: Classes can be taken at trade schools and some colleges, but an apprenticeship with a master…
Useful Skills, Talents, or Abilities: Promotion, breath control, manual dexterity, a high heat tolerance
Helpful Character Traits: Patient, alert, cooperative, creative, focused, industrious, passionate, persistent, whimsical, extravagant, fussy…
Sources of Friction: Friends and families who want one to pursue a more lucrative or mainstream career, Competitive or jealous rivals, Unfair teachers, Limited opportunities for training nearby. A physical disability…
People They Might Interact With: Other apprentices or students, a master glassblower or teacher, landlords, gallery owners and visitors…
How This Occupation Can Impact the Character’s Basic Needs:
- Physiological/Safety and Security: While it’s possible for a person to make a living at this occupation, it’s difficult. On average, artisanal glassblowers today make about $30,000 per year. As a result, they often endure many years of financial sacrifice…
- Love and Belonging: They also may forego relationships with others due to focusing on their career, which can create a void…
- Esteem and recognition: This need can take a hit when criticism comes along from professionals in the field, loved ones, or even…
- Self-Actualization: If the artist takes on a teaching or manufacturing job to cover the bills, he may find himself in a career that he doesn’t enjoy…
Common Work-Related Settings: art gallery, art studio, factory, museum, shopping mall, university quad
Twisting the Stereotype: The majority of glassblowers are men, so having a successful woman in this career would be a refreshing change. Because of the dangerous materials and amount of training required to do well in this area, glassblowers are typically adults. So creating the right circumstances for a teen or young adult to be involved in this trade could also add an interesting twist.
Visit the other Occupations in our collection HERE.
How will your character’s occupation help reveal their innermost layers?
Much of your character’s life will revolve around their work, and whether they love it or hate it, their job is a great way to show, not tell, their personality traits, skills, work ethic, worldview and beliefs, and more, so we should choose it with care.
To learn more, we recommend The Occupation Thesaurus book. Explore 120+ jobs to choose a profession for your character that showcases who they are, what they want, and what they believe in. Then learn how that career choice can characterize, drive the plot, infuse scenes with conflict, and get readers on the character’s side through the relatable pressures, responsibilities, and stakes inherent with work.
You can find this bestselling thesaurus writing guide in print, ebook, and PDF formats. To see what other authors think of the book, read its reviews at Goodreads.
Becca Puglisi is an international speaker, writing coach, and bestselling author of The Emotion Thesaurus and its sequels. Her books are available in five languages, are sourced by US universities, and are used by novelists, screenwriters, editors, and psychologists around the world. She is passionate about learning and sharing her knowledge with others through her Writers Helping Writers blog and via One Stop For Writers—a powerhouse online library created to help writers elevate their storytelling.
Thank you so much for this! I have a minor character in my series for Harlequin Special Edition and he makes glass blown wind chimes. I had thought at some point I would like for him to have his own story so this is perfect.
I just kept thinking how easy it is to develop a character when you know their passion and what they will sacrifice. I say easy but you know what I mean, nothing is easy in writing but sometimes a profession gives us leads to expand from.
I like this viewpoint, Barbara. The things a character are passionate about can tell us a lot about who they are, what they want, and how far they’re willing to go to get it. Great insight.
This is great. I just love this idea and addition to this source site.
I can’t believe your first entry in this new thesaurus is about my “next book’s” main character– a glassblower in the 1920’s (he’s my protagonists’ grandfather.) Love all you put in here. Historically, the glass industry used very young workers in glasshouses. Fascinating stuff–Lewis Hines documented a lot. Someday–maybe that will be a book too.
Awesome! I saw a glass blower working in Italy once and I’ve been fascinated with the process ever since 🙂
I agree, Becca. Glass is magical! In fact, I wrote an entire book on the art, history, and science of glass for kids. My publisher went out of business before it got published. I told myself that every novel I wrote would use some of the HUGE amount of research that I gleaned from that project.
I love how you are profiling unusual occupations. My character got a degree in sociology but can’t find a job. She ends up as a music therapist. It would be a great help if you could profile this career. Thanks!
This is great! My college (Centre College of KY) offers glass-blowing now as part of its Fine Arts Program. It’s taught by a guy who was in my graduating class (I won’t say when!) If it had been available when I was there, I definitely would have tried it.
BTW, there’s a wonderful book by Dick Francis, “Shattered”, that features a glassblower who gets caught up in a murder mystery. The dangers of blowing glass are many, as he pretty specifically points out. I highly recommend it (along with all his other novels).
Nice job!
wow, what an interesting occupation choice! 😀
I have seen glass blowers at mountain resorts too. It is fascinating to watch they work.
I’ll be a devoted follower to this series!
Dick Francis wrote a mystery in which a glass blower figured prominently into the plot. Interesting article.