I like to go looking for ideas for stories in a variety of different places. I read a large number of blogs, follow the Huffington Post, read the BBC and Christian Science Monitor news sites, and read a variety of different magazines. Today I stumbled across two “found” story starts that I think might have some promise. Here are the two found story starts:
1. From the preview from an article on New Scientist:
If there is no life on other planets, let’s send it there..
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EARTH’S first interstellar expedition seems to be a disaster. During the long journey most of the passengers die from radiation sickness. When at last the spacecraft arrives, it crash-lands on the surface of a bleak and barren world. The capsule splits open and the alien air finishes off many of the remaining explorers. Over the ensuing days, some of the few survivors succumb to the extreme temperatures, while others die after drinking from pools of acid.
But one stalwart survives. Soon there is even better news: our explorer divides into two clones. Earth life reproduces for the first time under the light of an alien star. Its offspring mutate and begin to adapt to their new home, eventually spreading across the planet and evolving into new forms …
Here is the link to the original article on the New Scientist which is titled “To Boldly Sow: Seeding the Galaxy With Earthly Life” by Stephen Battersby: http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20927981.800-to-boldly-sow-seeding-the-galaxy-with-earthly-life.html
2. From the BBC Science page:
Monkeys trained to play computer games have helped to show that it is not just humans that feel self-doubt and uncertainty, a study says.
US-based scientists found that macaques will “pass” rather than risk choosing the wrong answer in a brainteaser task.
Awareness of our own thinking was believed to be a uniquely human trait.
The article titled “Monkeys ‘Display Self-Doubt’ Like Humans” by Victoria Gill can be found at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_9401000/9401945.stm
3. Lastly, Some More Writing Prompts from Writer’s Digest:
You wake up in jail and have no memory of how you got there. As you pace around the cell, you find five items in your pocket from the night before. As you look at each piece, the night slowly comes back to you. Write about your night, why you have these five items and how you ended up in jail.
You’ve just had one of the most grueling days of your life when you stumble upon a wishing well. While you don’t typically believe in such things, you need a pick-me-up. So you toss a penny down the well and make a wish. Lo and behold, it comes true.
The link to Writer’s Digest list of writing prompts is: http://www.writersdigest.com/WritingPrompts/?p_nStart=121