Have you ever looked at a daily household item, like say your vacuum cleaner or a hand towel or your wife’s designer jewelry, and wonder how it ended up in your house; and I mean your house in particular?
Every once in a while I hear stories about defective products that have recalls done on them; sometimes it’s something I own as well. At those times, I’ll look at my copy of that item and, if it’s breaking down as described, feel joy that the thing can be fixed without money out of my pocket.
Then there are times when mine is working just fine and I’ll wonder, “Why is mine fine? Why is mine not malfunctioning like so many others are said to be?”
These are odd questions, to be sure, and if you keep them to yourself, you’ll probably end up as that homeless person who smells bad and is seen on street corners warning of invisible invaders. However, if you can engage your imagination just a bit and funnel it into your writing, such flights of curiosity can lead to all sorts of story ideas.
Lean on your weird thoughts. They’re a key to the doorway of creativity.
