The internet is a source of endless writing prompts which is constantly in flux. Searching is a little bit like panning for gold because you get a lot of silt but occasionally among your results, you’ll find a nugget of inspiration, and every day you’ll get something different.
I like the internet because it’s generally accessible. You don’t need to be physically fit enough to climb a mountain to write about the view (there’s google Earth), you don’t need to spend a lot of money in a café for the privilege of people-watching all afternoon (there are webcams), and you can even do a few things that border on magic, like look back in time.
This writing exercise is about the community you live in. Online you’ll be able to find lots of classified adverts posted by people selling things in your community. If you’re not familiar with these kinds of sites, you’ll find literally everything from second hand cast-iron bathtubs to unwanted wedding dresses, musical instruments, toys, telescopes, and anything and all else you can possibly think of. Sites you can look on include Facebook marketplace, Preloved and Gumtree, but there are lots of others too.
Usually, people will see something they like, send a message, and go round to the seller’s house to pick it up. The object being sold then goes on a kind of journey through the community. It creates a story as it moves from one owner to the next, briefly linking the lives of two complete strangers who may have nothing in common besides this object.
- Look for something being sold today in your local area. Find something a bit unusual that suggests a backstory.
- Imagine the person selling the object. How would they describe it? Why did they have it and why are they selling it?
- Imagine where they live.
- Who is going to buy the object, and why? This could be you, or another character you make up.
- Write the story of the object. When the object exchanges to the new owner, you might need to change point of view.
- What do the buyer and seller have in common? What is different about them? What is their interaction like?
You don’t have to actually buy or sell anything to do this writing exercise, but you can if you want to!
Don’t forget to write the date of your story at the top.
Eleanor Thom