As many of you know, I work for a greeting card company in
order to buy my groceries. There are some perks to this job—food being the big
one. And sometimes people ask me for advice on which card would be best for
their specific need. Some of my best story lines have evolved from these
conversations.
Normally, I don’t mind the work, except at this time of the
year. Valentine’s Day is known in the industry as a “Last Minute Holiday.” So,
it’s not until the very last few days that the cards begin to sell. And then,
after carefully straightening and spacing out the Valentine’s for the week
prior to the Big Day, we have to show up at our stores the day after (or in
this case, weekend) to destroy any leftover cards.
My monthly critique group meets one Saturday a
month—yesterday. On the very day my romance writers group meets, I had to skip
it because I was busy ripping up or pouring dye on hundreds of beautiful
Valentines. As I worked, I thought of all the romance these cards were to incite,
and possible plots for my upcoming novels. Pretty pink roses, pink and red
ribbons, commemorative bookmarks, heart-shaped stickers, and red and black
masculine cards all bit the dust at my hands. The irony of the situation was
not lost on me.
What job have you had that prompted stories for you? 
I always wondered what happened to the cards afterward. I understand how it would prompt thoughts for a writer. Every job I've had has left me with memories and stories, funny and not.
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