I had a creative writing instructor once tell the class that, sometimes, when he was going through a case of writer’s block, he would start with the title of a piece and go from there. And one of the best places for titles, he said, was Craigslist.
He told us to go through the “For Sale” section on the site and browse the headings for ideas. At first, I was extremely skeptical of this tactic. But when I finally tried it, one of the first things I saw was the heading, “Handmade Driftwood Fish.” It was literally a decorative fish made of driftwood that someone was hoping to sell—possibly something made by a late family member. I immediately thought “families,” “fish,” “driftwood,” and “death.” The result was a little piece of flash-fiction I titled, of course: “Handmade Driftwood Fish.”
For those who may be in doubt, here are some solid, interesting titles from just a quick glance at “For Sale” items:
“Everything is Peachy”
“Wonder Bit”
“Splint Boots, Neck Sweat”
“Fiberglass Greenhouse”
“Painted Desert Cross”
“Razor Blade Stealth”
All it takes from here is a bit of imagination and some thought as to what these titles suggest at first glance. What setting would the characters be in for something like “Everything is Peachy,” or “Painted Desert Cross?” What’s the main issue in “Splint Boots, Neck Sweat?” What kind of person is your main character for “Razor Blade Stealth?”
Take a look at Craigslist; you may be surprised with what you find.