Tidbits of Life

By Darvell Hunt

What is one thing that almost everybody on earth has experienced in the last twenty-four hours, but none of us will ever experience again?

Let me get back to you shortly on the answer to this riddle.

Writing is composed of little tidbits of life. My best attempts at telling stories have been when I told the truth by means of a fictional story—telling the what could’ve, should’ve, or would’ve happened—if such-and-such had been slightly different.

I believe that good observation skills are one of the best tools in a writer’s toolbox. Life experiences make great fuel for interesting stories.

In Stephen King’s book On Writing, about half of the book is an autobiography of King’s life. Why does he do that in a book about writing?

Because we write what we experience. John Grisham was a lawyer, so it’s no surprise that he writes stories about lawyers. Willard Boyd Gardner has experience in law enforcement, so it’s no surprise that he writes about cops. J. K. Rowling is a . . . um, well, okay, maybe she’s not a witch, but I hope you see what I mean.

So, returning to my riddle: What is one thing that almost everybody on earth has experienced in the last twenty-four hours, but none of us will ever experience again?

Yesterday.

If you missed noticing something from yesterday that would have made a great story, it is probably gone forever. Try not to miss something from today before it becomes yesterday and thus lost forever.