Mystery Shopping to Make Me a Better Writer

Yes, that’s what I said. I am mystery shopping as a way to make me a better writer. (Because having two paying jobs isn’t enough to keep me insanely overloaded that I am doing some mystery shopping as well.) Shhh! Don’t blow my cover.

The irony is that I HATE to shop and I am not always the most observant gal on the block. Only recently did I realize that 99.9% of the female population plucks their eyebrows. I’m serious. I didn’t even notice my front teeth are slightly at a tilt until my mother mentioned it to me–last year.

So why the heck am I mystery shopping? Well, I can’t resist a challenge. I am always looking for new adventures. Plus, I am such a reluctant shopper and get so easily turned off shopping, stores, over-eager/apathetic employees and the way they make me feel that I ROCK at getting that whole shopping experience vibe thing companies are looking for in their mystery shoppers.

But what it all really comes down to is that I am intuitive and I don’t always see those details. Yet, every time I have a mystery shopping job, I am given a little lesson in observation before I go out. I am given a list of things to look for. And so, when I am out, it is like I am flexing that muscle and collecting sensory details that I normally overlook.

And guess where I am putting all those little observed details like gum wrappers on the floor, eye rolls, and homemade retail signs? That’s right, I’m putting them in my writer’s arsenal.