A broken elevator in my apartment building gave me a new story idea

Last Tuesday, the elevator in my building in Spokane was down for repairs. I had to take the stairs from the 8th floor. On the third trip down, I noticed a small, faded sticker on the wall of the 5th-floor landing. It was for a plumbing company that went out of business in 1998. I started thinking about who put it there and why. That sticker became a person in my head, a guy named Leo who worked for that company. Now I'm writing a prompt about finding a piece of old, everyday graffiti that opens a door to a different time. What's the most random object that has sparked a story idea for you?

2 comments

2 Comments

abby_henderson1d ago

I mean, I read this article once about a writer who got a whole book idea from a single button she found in a parking lot. It's wild how the smallest, most random thing can just click like that. Your sticker story totally makes sense to me.

palmer.zara1d ago

Ever find a weird object and just stare at it, making up a story? I once found a broken key in a library book and wrote a whole scene about the person who lost it. That kind of small, physical detail can really unlock a character.