Tis the season, right? Stores are stocked with wondrous items that everyone you know must want. Commercials air hourly enticing you to wish for, to yearn for, that special something that only a loved one can give.
You can’t escape the pressure. You are expected to surprise folks with the best gift, handpicked just for them. You spend hours agonizing over ads, magazines and online sites. And then you wait for a gushing thanks.
Imagine your character going through this process. Where does he look? How hard does he search? How soon before the big date does he shop? What does he buy?
Your task is to write the story of the search, the choice and the giving. Remember that there must be tension to have a viable story, something that someone wants to read. To do this, think of all the things that can go wrong. Perhaps the item is out of stock and won’t be available until too late. Or maybe the correct size in the perfect color is sold out.
And then there’s the emotional impact of choosing. What goes through his mind? How anxious is he?
Will the recipient open the gift in the giver’s presence? That might change the choice of gift as well as increase tension.
Have fun with this one.
Have Fun with This One 