Had a weird encounter at a comic shop last month that got me thinking

I was browsing back issues at this small shop in Portland and an older guy came up to me holding a graphic novel. He said "you look like someone who writes, here's a story prompt for you." He handed me this beat-up copy of The Arrival by Shaun Tan and just walked away. It got me thinking about how strange prompts can come from random places, not just online forums or writing books. Has anyone else gotten a good story idea from a total stranger in a weird way?

2 comments

2 Comments

jamiekim28d ago

Actually that graphic novel isn't called The Arrival by Shaun Tan... it's just The Arrival. Shaun Tan is the author/illustrator. Small thing but it's one of those books that sticks with you. I remember flipping through it at a library once and the whole thing is wordless, just these beautiful drawings about an immigrant in a strange land. Kinda fitting that a stranger gave it to you as a writing prompt since the story itself is told entirely through pictures with no text. Makes you wonder if that guy was trying to tell you something about finding stories in silent moments.

oscarmurray28d ago

yo yeah i totally get what you mean about that book sticking with you. i had a similar thing happen at a coffee shop a few years back where a random dude left a copy of "the little prince" on my table with a note that just said "you look like you need this." i was in a weird spot in life and that book hit different. sometimes the best writing prompts are the ones that come out of nowhere from strangers who dont even know your situation. its like they see something you dont and put it in your hands for a reason. the whole wordless thing with the arrival makes it even more personal cause your brain fills in the blanks.