Woolworths And Finding Inspiration In The Supermarket Isles

Finding inspiration can be tricky at the best of times. And really easy in the worst moments. Like, grocery shopping at Woolworths - you know, the place that used to be Countdown and before that Foodtown, while grocery shopping and trying to get your life admin sorted as quickly as possible, an idea will strike and you need to get that written down asap. 

During a casual stroll through the supermarket, one evening when I was craving some salted chips I had deprived myself of for too long - at least a day and a half. An idea struck. 

I thought it was genius. 

I had recently signed up for a competition that required stories to be unique and surprise the judges - while staying true and real to the characters. 

A love story in the checkout aisle.

That was my idea and I knew it was a good one. I could no longer concentrate on my grocery list, I wandered the aisles, idling in each one, forgetting to grab the items I needed. I went around and around and around.

In the end I grabbed a bunch of mandarins and headed home - a much healthier choice.

Back at home I worked hard coming up with a story plan and characters. I was excited to use such a mundane location and turn it into something that wow’d the judges. 

Days and nights, barely sleeping and eating at my computer - but the time went fast. I handed in my story which turned Woolworths Supermarket into a location for celebrities. 

I waited months to hear back from the judges… Only to discover… Everybody else in the competition had used their local supermarket as the setting for their story. 

I guess everyone had gained inspiration on their nightly grocery run.