The job market is tight, we know. Luckily, the Mall of America has announced the best writing gig ever: spend 4 days trapped in the country’s largest mall, writing “on-the-fly” impressions about the place and the people.
In an announcement of the “Writer-In-Residence” position, the Mall of America says it’s offering an opportunity for one talented writer to finally make a difference and capture how the mall has evolved over a quarter century.
“In 2017, Mall of America celebrates its 25th birthday. As part of this special celebration, we think it’s crucial to capture how much we’ve evolved over the course of the last 25 years. Rather than do it ourselves, we’re giving that job to a gifted writer,” the job ad reads.
Opened in 1992, the Mall of America is the largest mall in the U.S. in terms of enclosed space (in terms of retail space, it is actually surpassed by the King of Prussia Mall in Pennsylvania). The Mall of America is a major international tourist destination with shoppers flying directly into Minnesota from outside the country just to shop and enjoy its many inside amusements.
With so much at stake, the “writer in residence” is an enlightened way to mark the mall’s quadranscentennial.
“The Writer-in-Residence Contest will give a special scribe the chance to spend five days deeply immersed in the Mall atmosphere while writing on-the-fly impressions in their own words,” the mall says. “The contest winner will stay in an attached hotel for four nights, receive a $400 gift card to buy food and drinks and collect a generous honorarium for the sweat and tears they’ll put into their prose.”
The more detailed rules of the gig also suggest the “writer-in-residence” will be “encouraged to take breaks from writing to explore the Mall, post on social media, eat and find inspiration.”
As of this writing, many in the literary community were not biting.
Day 6: Cinnabon for breakfast again. Hot Topic is in flames. I see giant spiders everywhere. https://t.co/lSwKEIXyzD
— Julian Smith (@Julianwrites) February 20, 2017
I live very near the Mall of America, and I am quite sure no human can survive "five days deeply immersed in the Mall atmosphere"
— Nathan Goldman (@nathangoldman) February 20, 2017
Being a writer-in-residence at the Mall of America doesn't sound hellish at all.https://t.co/9jboE1k0ig pic.twitter.com/fmFVrstNTy
— Lisa Baumert (@lisasuebaumert) February 20, 2017
