Writing Prompt #3: An unexpected discovery

How is this for a great story (or novel) idea?

A Berlin burglar’s break-in took an unexpected turn when he stumbled upon a corpse and felt compelled to call the police.

“He called to say he’d just broken into a flat and found a dead body,” a spokeswoman for Berlin police said.

“He gave the address of the place and then hung up.”

Officers discovered the 64-year-old resident of the flat dead in his bedroom.

The man had passed away about two weeks ago and authorities are not treating the death as suspicious.

The burglar has not been heard of since.

Local media said he fled the apartment empty-handed, but police could not confirm this.

I’m not into crime writing, so I don’t think I will use this story idea. Still – it has intriguing possibilities. So go to it – use the idea for your next short story, novel, play script, television series – whatever.

More unexpected discoveries:

Perhaps you could extend your thinking to other possibilities. Have you ever discovered something that surprised you?

Here are some more intriguing story ideas:

1. You find a letter from many years ago reminding you of events or people long forgotten. Write about the repercussions of finding the letter which reveal things previously unknown.
2. You find an item that had been lost but one that has great sentimental value. Write about the emotional reactions to this item.
3. You go shopping and meet a long lost friend or relative who has just moved to your neighbourhood. What happens next?
4. Cleaning out a little used drawer you discover a mysterious key. After experimentation you find it unlocks a cupboard that has remained locked for over thirty years because of the missing key. What you find inside changes everything.

Good writing.