Story idea:
Title: Appendectomy.
While waiting in the ER for an appendectomy, a patient is approached by a mysterious stranger who tries to talk them out of the operation. The stranger explains that they are from an ancient alien race that visited Earth during the dawn of humankind and engineered the appendix as a teleportation device that will allow humans to join them on their mothership.
The story of this story idea came about as can be expected. I had a sudden case of appendicitis and when speaking to the surgeon before being wheeled into the O.R., she gave me the option of treating the appendicitis with antibiotics instead of surgery.
I never knew that appendicitis could be treated like that. However, further conversation with the surgeon revealed that treating it that way is not a guaranteed cure. For many patients, a relapse could happen in a year, in a decade, or in a few months. Not wanting to go through the process again of waking up at 1am in excruciating pain, I opted for surgery.
But my mind kept falling down the writing rabbit hole and a story began to form. I wondered what the purpose would be of stopping someone from having their appendix removed. And, at the end of the rabbit hole, I found an alien conspiracy.
This story idea was planted a long time ago. Not long enough ago to have been implanted in my DNA by ancient aliens, but long before my appendix decided to go rogue. The appendix has always fascinated me. A part of the human body that has no function and whose original function is a mystery.
I’ve always had some form of story idea involving this mystery, but never a way into the story. As the saying goes, “write what you know.” And my real-life experience with appendicitis, I finally found my way into the story. And who knows, maybe onto the mothership?
What stories have been planted in your DNA, waiting for a way in?
Start your story in the comments below…
I have a fun story idea for you. Three older ladies try to get through airport security to no avail. They get repeatedly searched. What could be the hold up be? Kitchen accessories, innocently purchased at a farmer’s market? No way!! Add in something some double shot cocktails, thunderstorms, freezing air conditioning when finally aboard the plane, and hilarity ensues. True story!
Great ideas! Seems like something that would happen to me!
Yes. Write about what you know! That is a maxim of play writing 101 and exactly what William Hoffman and Albee insisted we do but their intent in saying that was to make play writing an organic experience. I hesitate to affirm the maxim because in my experience you can also write what others know and there is also RESEARCH! ALBEE & HOFFMAN didn’t have the expedient delight of Wikipedia. It’s so different now and I feel there is absolute proof we are better writers now. I love your idea about the intergalactic apendix mystery. The one thought I have about apedectomy is: mine was removed without permission as a protocol of prevention, as an aside gesture in removing an ovarian cyst which was an intense pain I thought was appendicitis. In another surgery 14 years later in which I opted not to be anesthesitized so I could attend my daughter’s graduation the next night, I realized the sexual act is not the most intimate human experience, surgery is. That’s what makes the movie TUSK one of the most unique and horrific films of our time. This is the POV I would write from. I started a play called BAD DENTIST and then Netflix put out a DOC called BAD SURGEON,so new title soon but I’m still working on it. My brother was a very kind and ethical dentist, and also taught dental surgery, my family trusted medical jurisdiction implicitly. But doctors have done things without my permission more than once. And that is what I would write about.