Are You Searching for Story Ideas?

Here’s an idea with numerous twists to lubricate your inspiration engine.

It’s the fourth in a series of story prompts: not just a couple of sentences but a comprehensive outline you could use for subplots or entire novels.

If you create a story or poem based on something you read in this post, I’d love to hear from you in the comments area or via the contact form at the top of this page.

Terrorist or Practical Joker?

A disgruntled consumer-goods warehouse worker has either evil intent or a warped sense of humor. Our protagonist hates shiftwork, but that’s all the company will offer until a lengthy probationary period is over.

We Start With the Initial Paragraphs of a Short Story or Novel

What Does Our Protagonist Do Next?

Possibilities:

1. Grabs a tape dispenser and

• coats the handle with a sticky or poisonous substance
• glues or tapes the moving parts so that the dispenser is inoperable
• drenches the tape and dispenser with fart spray
• tapes several warehouse robots together
• tapes several stacks of corrugated boxes together

2. Climbs into a forklift and

• launches a one-person demolition spree, spearing products and then chortling as shelves crash to the floor
• drives the forklift out of the warehouse, yelling, “I quit,” while making obscene gestures at everyone along the way
• slashes whatever can be slashed with a utility knife
• texts an obscene I quit message to the lead hand and warehouse manager

3. Sets a fire and

• sniggers as the fire suppression system destroys stock
• stokes the fire with packing paper and bubblewrap, then is overcome by fumes and smoke
• races to the exit and tries to get away without being blamed for the inferno
• becomes a serial arsonist who targets large corporations that provide poor employee benefits

What Happens Next?

• Does our protagonist evade or delay consequences? Consequences would differ, depending on whether the event is a prank or a malicious act.
• Could you turn this into science fiction? fantasy? romantic comedy? Every genre offers a multitude of backstories and consequences.

Please Don’t Do This

If you decide to create a dream sequence, ensure from the first words that everyone knows it’s a dream. There’s almost nothing more annoying to a reader than being caught up in a scene — only to discover that it’s just a figment of the character’s imagination.

Gender

Gender is open-ended.

• Would a character’s sex make a difference?
• If so, how?