Dynamic people in dynamic situations lead to dynamic stories.

At the end of a long week, throwing all of your miscellaneous leftovers into an omelet is an excellent way to make a quick and delicious meal. That same basic strategy is a proven method for creating an interesting story. Whether it’s a waiting room, a long train ride, or a broken elevator, putting an unlikely mix of people together in a dynamic environment is an excellent way to construct a creative work. A delightful, early example of this narrative device is found in The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, written sometime in the late 1300s. The clever setup for this book is a long, religious pilgrimage from London to Canterbury. As the diverse group travels together, they decide to hold a storytelling contest to pass the time, with the winner promised a free meal at a well-known tavern. The group includes people from all walks of life, high and low, male and female. It’s such an interesting book precisely because of the unlikely mix of people in it and how they interact with each other.

To use this narrative technique, simply choose a situation or location that could plausibly bring together people who might not normally spend time together⏤people of different ages, occupations, faiths, and/or social class. How each person acts or reacts to the situation at hand and to the other characters in it becomes the story in and of itself. Stories like this write themselves if you let each character speak and act as they actually would in the situation. Below are some example situations that might bring together an unusual mix of people:

Waiting

  • At the Department of Motor Vehicles with only one counter open
  • In the emergency room at midnight on St. Patrick’s Day
  • In line before doors open at a big box store during holiday season
  • In a holding cell prior to an early-morning court appearance
  • In line to vote in a close and controversial election

Stuck or Stranded

  • On a broken elevator in the tallest skyscraper in downtown
  • On a Greyhound bus with a dead engine
  • On the side of the road at the scene of a 32-car pileup
  • At a foreign port after missing the last boat
  • At an airport after all flights are canceled

Traveling

  • On a cross-country train ride in a European country
  • On an overnight, overseas flight to Japan
  • On a 12-hour bus trip across the continental U.S.
  • On an extended hike over the Appalachian trail
  • On a meandering river cruise

Working Together

  • At a volunteer event
  • As part of a search party
  • At a political rally or protest
  • At a fundraiser
  • At a campaign event

Copyright 2023 Kesel Wilson (entirely, 100% human-created)

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