In the course of my latest novel (Graveyard, for those who know me), my MC gets a job working in a governor's office during election season. Trouble is, I've never worked in politics, so I have no idea what kind of work she might be doing. Is there anyone with any knowledge of this field that would be willing to answer my questions, either here or by email?
Some details:
-it's a secondary world setting, with technology aproximately equivalent to the 1970's and 80's (aka no computers)
-it's a one-party system, so there are two candidates from the same party to 'choose' between
-media is government-controlled
-the job the MC gets is kind of a make-work job, because the governor hired her as a favor to her mother, and the MC has no previous experience in politics
It's a very small part of the novel, but I just want to add some realism.
Thanks so much!
I've never worked in an office, but I've done some volunteer beat stuff around election time. For the volunteers, there's lots of door-to-door stuff, leaflets, phone calls, putting up signs, handing out flyers and stickers, etc. So behind the scenes you'd need someone to coordinate said supplies, volunteers and/or phone calling (which all seems pretty grunt-work to me).
Most political campaigns, as noted, just need grunt work. However with your two-candidates-in-the-same-party system, I'm not sure how things would differ, especially if you have state-controlled media - is the state trying to create an illusion of choice for the public, or what? Does the state favour one candidate over another (usually, in one-party systems, that tends to be the case, openly or not). Without knowing more about your social system I am trying to work out just how the election you're talking about would actually work and why there would even BE campaigning (campaigns cost money and a one-party system without opposition wouldn't need to divert money to campaigns, nor does it seem likely thata one-party system would allow prospective candidates to spend/use their own, or publicly raised, resources, on campaigning).
But it's my bad for not being clear enough about that. So other technology was more like the 70's and 80's, but in my world, there are no computers, cell phones, blackberries, or other wireless technology.I'll have to think about how much campaigning there would be. I suppose it's lame that I'm only thinking about this at this point, but come to think of it, the public doesn't have any say in who gets elected. It depends entirely on a Council of religious figures.
On the other hand, the current governor is unusual in that she actually cares what her constituents think. So maybe I'll use the phone call and door to door area after all. The Council might frown on it, but the governor would ignore them.
Any other thoughts? Maybe less about campaigns, and more about what a governor's staff might do?
Just thinking aloud about this is helping me greatly, so thank you!
[This message has been edited by BoredCrow (edited June 01, 2009).]
Thinking more about it, you could also have your girl stuffing envelopes or compiling informational packets. I can't think of anything more mind-numbingly boring that still has to get done...
I hope this helps.
Organizing, alphabetizing, filing - reports, books, assingments
Copying, either handwritten or if there are copy machines
Getting coffee, or food
Sharpening pencils, getting office supplies, delivering office supplies
Stuffing envelopes with pay stubs, reports, assignments
Delivering memos, messages, running errands
Getting the mail, sorting the mail, hand delivering the mail, sending mail
Answering the phone, taking messages, keeping track of appointments
Custodial work, emptying trashbins, cleaning the eating area
Satate - I think Celeste would not deal well with having to get coffee for everyone XD. But she would have to deal with the mail. Thanks for the ideas!
And thanks again to everyone; I think I've got what I was looking for.