gibson.oliver•2mo agoMost Upvoted

I was stuck on a story until I saw a specific sign in a diner

I was at the Blue Plate Diner in Missoula last month, trying to figure out a character's motivation. The sign above the coffee machine just said 'We can fix bad coffee, but we can't fix a bad attitude.' It made me think about writing flaws that are actually just symptoms of a deeper problem with the character. Now I start every new character by asking what their 'bad attitude' is before I worry about their dialogue or actions. Has anyone else had a random line from real life unlock a whole story for them?

3 comments

3 Comments

margaret_singh12mo ago

That's a great way to find the core of a character. It makes the surface details feel more real because they come from a genuine place. My best ideas usually come from overheard conversations in line at the grocery store.

nathan_webb2mo ago

My buddy Dave heard a breakup at a laundromat.

taylor.phoenix2mo ago

Laundromat breakups are a whole different level of raw material.