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Found a weird fact about old pulp magazines that changed my prompt game
I was reading a book about the history of mystery fiction and discovered that in the 1930s, some pulp magazines paid writers half a cent per word, which meant a 5,000-word story earned about $25. I tried writing a short piece based on that harsh economic pressure, and it completely shifted how I build character motivation. Has anyone else used a specific historical pay rate or job detail as a core story prompt?
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shane_morgan13d ago
That "harsh economic pressure" angle is actually brilliant. I used to think motivation had to be some big dramatic thing, but now I see how just needing to pay rent can drive a whole story.
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aliceharris13d ago
It's also a great way to make a villain. Someone who's just trying to keep the lights on can make some really bad choices.
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averyc9413d ago
Yeah, rent is the ultimate plot device.
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