At an estate sale, you climb the narrow ladder to the attic. There you are destined to find myriad strange things to start a story! Rummage around to see what you’ve found…
Finding something strange is good for story.
Let’s face it, the world is full of strange stuff, strange places, and strange people. If you’re looking for story ideas, just have your character pop into a situation where they’ll encounter something strange.
In this post, we look at many ways that you can introduce “strange” into your story. Try some of the writing prompts or look through the menus to get an idea. We hope this helps you get your narrative to another level of fun!
Writing Prompts for Finding Something Strange
- Being new to town, you need some things for your place, so you head to a thrift store. There is a strange box on a shelf that seems to have no way to open it, but when you gently shake it, something inside rattles. Maybe you should buy it.
- At a local festival, there are a bunch of food trucks. Fun! You notice one truck, a little off the way, where there is no line up, so you venture over. The menu only has one thing on it. Strange, indeed. Do you buy it and try it?
- A friend returns from a trip to a foreign land and brings you a strange souvenir. It looks harmless enough, but is it really harmless? Take it and find out.
- Doorways can lead to strange adventures. Why not present your character with such an opportunity to open a strange door?
- A fantasy character can always find something strange in a treasure chest. Have them open one up and see what’s in there.
- In a science fiction story, an alien can meet your character. What strange abilities do they possess?
- The carnival comes to town. What strange tent do you and your friends sneak into and what thing do you see in there that you were never meant to see?
- A relative of yours is dying, and when you go for one last visit to say goodbye, they slip something into your hand and whisper a message into your ear.
- You flip through a photo album that you’ve looked at many times before; however, this time in one picture something has changed. That’s strange, isn’t it?
- Okay, all you horror fans, it’s time to find some cards or crystals, an old Ouija Board, or a book. Anything can open a portal to another dimension. Find it today!
- A big corporation has bought up land adjacent to your town. The first thing they’ve done is put up a fence with barbed wire on top. Maybe you should sneak in and see what strange things are going on in their new compound.
- There is a new fruit on sale at your local grocery store, though when you ask no one can tell you where exactly it came from. Do you eat it?
- Sitting at a coffee shop, you notice that someone has left a bag behind. After seeing no one come back to claim it, do you take it and look inside? After all, you’re just trying to be helpful.
Weird Stuff to Find
Here’s a whole list of things that you could use in your story to lead to strange new adventures. Everything and anything has the potential to be magical, to possess some strange power, or to invoke the curiosity of your characters. There is story waiting in each of these things for sure!
- picture, photo, snapshot, album, picture frame,
- mirror, looking glass, compact, prism, kaleidoscope,
- spectacles, monocle, telescope, magnifying glass,
- locket, charm, silver chain, amulet, talisman
- diamonds, gold coins, a giant ruby, obsidian, amber,
- box, chest, jewelry box, crate, bin, locked trunk, box wrapped in chains, trinket box, toy chest, hope chest, keepsakes box, music box, jack-in-the-box, treasure chest,
- candies, sweets, jelly beans, cookie tin,
- door, secret door, portal, trap door, oculus,
- hole, passage, tunnel, chamber, cave, channel, underground river,
- book, tome, diary, journal, sheet music,
- animal, dragon’s egg, petrified egg, fossil, beast, imp, pixie,
- magic lamp, ring, amulet, staff, wand, spell book,
- relic, antiquity, heirloom
- symbol, sigil, secret writing, code, cypher,
- map, plans, blueprint, design,
- computer chip, memory card, encoded program,
- robot, invention, construct, contraption, machine, trap, device,
- player piano, trumpet, bugle, harp, sitar, guitar, toy piano, accordion, mandolin, flute, piccolo,
- collection of mugs, spoons, china figurines, clay figures, porcelain dolls, stuffies, box of buttons, fridge magnets,
- baby shoes, toys, blocks, dollhouse, chess set,
- puppets, marionettes, sock puppet,
- tarot cards, Ouija board, crystal ball, runestones, crystals, stones,
- button, lever, switch, crank,
- fungus, mold, slime, mushroom, ooze, bacterial growth,
- sign: “do not enter”, “caution”, “crime scene investigation”, “biohazard”, “extreme danger”, “restricted area”,
- mask, hat, old suit, pair of shoes, lace glove, fake moustache,
- dog house, bird cage,
- skull, bones, teeth, fingernails, lock of hair,
- flag, banner, standard, tapestry, scroll,
- war memorabilia,
- medals, awards, trophy,
Places to Find Strange Stuff
- attic, cellar, basement,
- closet, wardrobe, cabinet, armoire,
- hovel, hut, shack, shed,
- flea market, rummage sale, estate sale, auction, garage sale, yard sale,
- emporium, market, bazaar, curio shop, antique mall, bibelot store, Mr. Wickles’ What-not Shop, trading post,
- cave, cavern, tunnel, burrow, den, lair, behind a waterfall,
- temple, shrine, church, sanctuary, altar,
- school locker, faculty lounge, book room, storage room,
- ruins, wreckage, derelict, rubble, foundations, vestige, residue, debris,
- archaeological dig, wonder of the world, ancient excavation,
- mine shaft, dredging operation, quarry, excavation, strip mine, trench, ditch,
- research facility, government compound, secret lab,
- crevasse, rift, abyss, crack, hollow, valley, cliff, canyon, hill,
- forest, woods, copse, thicket, hedge, bush,
- warehouse, storage locker,
- donut shop, coffee shop,
Characters who might have Odd Things
- hippy, beatnik,
- wizard, sorcerer, magician, witch, oracle, diviner, conjurer, summoner,
- juggler, fool, clown,
- troubadour, bard, poet laureate, artist, writer, composer, lyricist, filmmaker,
- circus freak,
- antique dealer, collector,
- fortune teller, psychic, astral traveler,
- elder, old lady, elderly man, grandparent, that eccentric aunt, ancient ancestor in spirit form,
- peddler, hawker, travelling salesman, trading post operator, pawn broker, bail bondsman,
- librarian, curator, archivist, lore keeper, elder, teacher, professor,
- cook at a diner,
- trucker, dock worker,
- old sailor, seaman, explorer, adventurer,
- mortician, coroner, undertaker,
- caretaker, janitor, custodian,
- hunter, bounty hunter, vampire slayer,
- gambler,
- hero, champion, king’s guardian, secret service agent, special ops, mercenary,
- doctor, scientist, dentist, surgeon, battlefield medic, EMT,
- first responder, police, firefighter,
- dealer, junkie, druggie, gangster, criminal, burglar, hood, punk,
- pirate, smuggler, hustler, dealer, black marketeer, underground trader,