Writers find story inspiration from news articles, true life events, family histories, or just our imagination. The often anthologized story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates was inspired by a news article about a killer. “The Garden Party” by Katherine Mansfield was inspired by Mansfield’s childhood home.
But sometimes, it’s easy to get stumped with our writing. Besides the deathly question ‘where can I find your writing?’ another common question is, ‘where do you get your ideas.’ Ideas are all around us. Part of being a writer is seeing stories around us. This prompt was inspired by an anecdote that I heard on the radio.
Short Story Prompt: Where Did That Come From?
You’ve bought a new coat and discover something in the pocket. Write a story about what you’ve found.