EXERCISE: Plot Complications, again?

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

Original Posting 11 November 2007

Since I know the nanowrimowers are running, how about this?

One of your characters needs something, (and maybe has a secret in their past?) so they . . .

Pick one of the following and stretch! (there are six, if you want to use a random choice)

1. Go into a Goodwill (or other recycle shop of your choice) and, while looking, stumble across the used records - which prompts some memories and reflections.

2. Wander through a hardware store, looking at the odds and ends there - which also prompts some memories and reflections.

3. Goes into a sporting goods store, and while searching for what they need, notice the fishing supplies - prompting a moment of memory and reflection.

4. Walks into a toy store, and sees the Barbie dolls there, which (you guessed it!) reminds them of some memories, which they reflect on.

5. Goes into a grocery store, where they find Moxey for sale in the soft drinks, reminding them of that time when . . . (if you don't know what Moxey is, substitute a soft drink or other item of your choice).

6. Visits a five and dime (dollar store, some kind of small goods store of your choice) where they find the children's items, and that reminds them of . . .

Okay? Make us really see that store, with the various goods on display, the odors and sounds and people. And show us the initial response to stumbling over that old memory through the items in the story, and the thoughts that follow.

Simple, right? Have one character take a left turn through a store, in the process finding a missing piece of themselves.

And write!