One of my writing professors once told the class to “write weirdly about the plain things, and plainly about the weird things.” And within Nocturnal Mind we have frequently commented on the strange beauty of contrast—whether from characters, ideas, settings, or situations. Beautiful songs about death; frightening-looking people having the gentlest souls… These are things in fiction that really capture our attention and make it hard for us to look away.
Find a contrast within everyday life that captures your attention and delve into the deeper meanings from each side. What, about something related to death, could be beautiful and/or lively? What kind of relationship would develop between a character who is small and meek, and a big giant monster?
There are many ways to look at the concept of contrast, and many places they can take us.