A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 13

This is the 11th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I’ll work my through during this series of posts.

Tip: Obituaries.

When it comes down to it, people live extraordinary lives. And obituaries summarize those lives in nice, neat packages. For some examples, go here.

So if you’re stuck for story ideas? Hit the obits.

Today’s story: Why having a ‘vent buddy’ is important to your health.

Having a friend who listens to you no matter how overwhelming your rants or situations in life are is undeniably good for you and your health. So, keep that friend.

As a woman, especially when you’re already a mom, it is inevitable that at some point, you go through a series of tough situations which you try to bottle up until you could no longer handle them.

This is when calling a friend or a “vent buddy” comes in. A vent buddy is someone you consider a reliable friend whom you can go to whenever you want someone to talk to whom you know won’t judge you. That someone is the person who would listen to your woes no matter how serious or petty they are; a friend, a relative or even a sibling. Who comes first in your mind?

According to experts, having a “vent buddy” is good for your mental health. Here are some of the reasons why:

It will help you cope

You will see a new perspective

You will be able to practice empathy

I know about this personally as I’ve been a ‘vent buddy’ since my youth. Being a military brat, my family moved on average every 3 years. I discovered the best way to make friends quickly in a new environment was simply to listen to people. Ask how they are doing, then follow up with another question, and another, and soon, they are spilling their guts to me.

The point is this: Everybody wants someone to talk to.

Hence: Vent Buddy.

Here’s my take on the story. Let’s say you’ve got some personal issues. You could travel across town to some therapist’s office, sit there, and talk with this professional who’s going to sit there, take notes, and probe into your inner psyche. Plus, you’ll pay $100+ per appointment.

Or you can contact Daphne. She will come to your place. Meet you wherever. You want to walk on the beach and talk things out? She’s there. Go to a bar and get loaded while having her listen to your woes? She can do that. Go to a gym and unload your anger with her while you beat the hell out of a punching bag? She can handle that.

Daphne is really good at being a vent buddy. She grew up the youngest in a family of nine, so she could barely get a word in edgewise. In order to survive and navigate the complex family dynamics, she would listen, suss things out, then make her moves — getting into the bathroom first, scarfing up the last scoop of ice cream. She learned very early on that by listening, she could manipulate her way through life to her advantage.

Now she has a private practice which has spread by word of mouth. She is an excellent listener, knows just how to elicit feelings from her clients, so that by the end of each session, they feel tons better. Daphne makes a really good living as a vent buddy and would appear to be on top of the world.

Here’s the thing: Where does she go when she needs to vent? Indeed, she has no close personal friends, all of her relationships at arm’s length.

While her life seems fulfilling on the surface, underneath she is lonely. Her clients think she is their best friend, however, because of the nature of their business relationship, they know nothing about her.

I’ve got a fork in the road here story-wise. My first thought was she finds a client who does express an interest in her and she doesn’t know how to react. But then I thought: What if a rival vent buddy comes along? Someone who is so good, they actually manage to steer clients deep into their psyche so they end up crying, a release of profound emotions. He gets the reputation as The Crying Dude in that he can bring you to a place of psychological release.

Not sure which way to go, but it feels like a romantic comedy where Daphne learns to get in touch with her feelings. It needs a strong A-plot, but there’s something there. Also, great title: Vent Buddy.

There you go, my 13th story idea of the month. And it’s yours. Free! What would YOU do with it?

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12

Each day in April, I invite you to join me in comments to do some brainstorming. Take each day’s story idea and see what it can become when we play around with it. These are valuable skills for a writer to develop.

See you in RESPONSES to hear YOUR take on this story idea. And come back tomorrow for another Story Idea Each Day For A Month.