Even the Mundane Things Lead to Stories
Fiction writing allows us to take ideas from almost anything. Collide this with another idea and often you’ve got a story.
One of my upcoming novels had this genesis, with what a literary agent said to do in this business to succeed, crossed with the idea of a dark contract.
He said, “Learn the lingo.”
Using this innocuous statement, I thought of a radical, sinister idea or a “what if?”
That’s an awesome way to make a story, too. Simply asking, what if?
What if this literary agent was an agent of dark spirits, and his advice was a secret that only those “in the know” or “in the secret club” would understand?
This novel is about an author trying to break into the business, but he finds out there is a secret network of writers, actors, musicians, performers, and the like who all adhere to a code of material based upon the alignment of the stars in a wicked cult.
For example, in the year 2027, because Serpens is in alignment with Ophiuchus, these artists must use an Ouroboros in their stories, songs, or movies to let others know who is “in the club.” Only then will people know who’s sold their soul to dark forces or not, with the public not understanding a thing or their true intentions.
It’s a strange yet familiar concept, but it makes for a fun story idea, especially figuring out interesting ways to make the main character write his stories in that way.
The main character, Richard Frost, has been trying to break into the business for fifteen years with no such luck.
However, he meets a man named Mr. Holle, a man who promises to offer him the chance of a lifetime, guaranteeing a spot in the pantheon of famous writers if he promises to sign on the etched line and pay the ultimate price.
He gets the book deals but offers his daughter to Mr. Holle with a full realization that she can go neither to heaven, nor to hell. She will be forced to become immortal, serving the wicked cult for the rest of her days. On top of that, when Richard dies, he can’t go anywhere either.
Since he used Mr. Holle’s “services” he doesn’t have to go to hell but will cease to exist when he dies. He will have no heavenly reward, and his daughter will be stuck alive for eternity.
That’s not the entire plot, but I thought it would make for an interesting idea to explore.
The lesson here is, even the most normal things can lead to interesting story ideas.
Why are there children’s shoes randomly left on the side of the road?
Who takes these children? Are they even taken anywhere or do they disappear in the spot where they stood?
Why does my dog always sniff that one spot when I take him out? What lies beneath?
What would happen if I took the title of a news article and crossed it with another article to make a story idea?
There are mundane things, but they can turn into magical things with a little imagination.
