I like to read (or hear) David Sedaris books.
He pointed out some time back that his family quit (or tried to) telling stories in front of him, even when he swore he wouldn’t run off with them and put them in one of his books. Because he always ran off with them and put them in one of his books. Stories fly around all the time… sometimes, they need catching and spiffing up, right?
It’s not “stealing,” it’s “I can use this.” Not the same thing at all.
Yeah.. I remember this one time.. at band camp..
The best stories I’ve told are true. The second best are the ones I stole from my brother and other sources.
Other good source is dreams… that are particularly different and that you wake up and remember. Sometimes in the middle of the night a really good one-I’ll wake up and write it down, then make friends with pillow again. But yes, sometimes doing a storm-braining (on purpose done that way) with others is a GREAT way to catch story stuff to use….