When working on an assignment, I imagine that I’m writing for a particular friend or family member. Sometimes I picture us sitting in a coffee shop, a living room, bookstore, or on a swing set. For example, when I’d write a lengthy feature for Yoga Journal, I’d close my eyes and pretend I was slowly walking through a fancy spa with my mother. We’d be wearing white bathrobes and could hear chimes in the background. I’d ask myself: What’s the best way to explain cleaning-as-meditation to mom? What questions might come up for her? And how can I relate the idea to her life? The result is a strongly focused piece with a distinct voice. Whatever works, right?
Now as a freelancer, I’m also turning to my family for story ideas. I figure that if they’re curious about something, chances are there’s a larger audience that’s interested too. Here are a few of their submissions. And I’m always looking for more. What do you want to read?
Dad: I love American history and would like to read about the creation of the national parks.
Aunt Sheryl: What possesses people to save/collect/hoard oddities? Miles of string tied together, lockets of hair, beer cans, salt & pepper shakers – in fact, all sorts of kitsch items. Why did they choose a particular item to collect? For what purpose? Ma’haps monetary reward or fame for overall weirdness.
Aunt Sheryl: Accidental genius. Stories of people who invent/discover something in a totally serendipitous manner (e.g. 3M post-it notes, bleu cheese, penicillin).
Uncle Thom: Stories of political intrigue. Deal makers and what drives their success and/or failure. Issues relating to leadership – those that lead and those that follow and why?
Uncle Thom: Stories of personal courage. What drives some people with severe disabilities (birth defects, horrific accident victims, etc.) to overcome them while others with similar afflictions wallow in “why me?”) Not profiles-in-courage stuff – but common man stories. I recently saw a video on the Internet about a man who was born with severely underdeveloped arms who became a scratch golfer – in fact a better golfer than most able bodied folks.
