Source of inspiration: advertising

[designatedvictim]

We all know that there are, perhaps, a near-infinite number of things that can inspire your writing.

Movies, TV shows, or books. People, places, or things. Events, missed-connections, connections better off missed.

I'm wondering if anyone else has ever been prompted or inspired to include something solely due to a piece of advertising.

A couple weeks ago, I ran across a piece of SPAM on my Facebook feed. I have no idea why it turned up in my feed, as on FB, I'm pretty plain vanilla.

In this case, it was an ad by [extremely low-cost Chinese retailer] for, of all things, ladies' anklets.

The photo was of the back of a woman's feet and ankles with thin faux-leather ankle straps buckled around each ankle with little faux-leather bows riveted on the back.

She was standing up on her toes.

The photo was low-quality. The colors washed out. And even though one of the toes looked like it was at an odd angle (possibly implying AI-generated art) I think it might be realistic due to the fact that dancers' toes tend to get mangled over time.

I've worked that into a scene in my current WIP.

I wasn't expecting something like that to work its way into something I was working on.

Has anyone else found advertising artwork as a source for story material?

 

[dirk2024]

I've used images from internet ads to help me. This is the most recent:

 

[designatedvictim]

I've used images from internet ads to help me. This is the most recent:

Since you showed yours, it only right that I do the same.

I hope this comes through...

 

[MrPixel]

My post in the "coffee shop" thread about inspiration from a commercial:

I was watching TV at our usual restaurant yesterday, and a commercial came on for the new, improved "Life Alert". You know, that scam-ish pushbutton thingy marketed to us old folks to summon help if we fall down and remain conscious but are unable to get up off the floor. Well...

The "call this number" graphic was headlined with "Life Alert". The subhead, "I've fallen and I can't get up!®"

Since when did this perennial joke become a trademark? I'm going to find a way to work this into one of my stories, registered symbol and all. Something else that caught my attention? The catchphrase is all over their website, without the "®". So which is it? Open invitation for parody, which I'm certain that SNL has incorporated into one or more sketches.

 

[designatedvictim]

My post in the "coffee shop" thread about inspiration from a commercial:

Trademarked?

I hadn't realized.

I like your example.

(Poor, Mrs. Fletcher. Sniffle.)

 

[MrPixel]

Probably need to get Clara Peller in on the action, too!

I can make a really good joke out of the ® thing. You know, break the fourth wall by having another character questioning "How did you do that?" with '®' appearing on his forehead or something when he said it. You know, stuff that works in text/graphic, but not in spoken words.

Reminds me of the Victor Borge routine where he read something, inserting little grunts and whistles representing the punctuation.

 

[NaughteeDragon]

I love Victor Borge. I remember watching him as a kid. My grandmother had a collection of VHS tapes of him that she bought off a late night infomercial.

 

[HordHolm]

@dirk2024 @designatedvictim those two images take me waaaay back. About 25 years ago I worked in LA for three months (horrible place, hated almost every second of it). My boss (who I rapidly found to be a needy drama queen) would insist we spend hours driving to different restaurants for lunch, because anything rather than the actual work she'd hired me for. Anyway, I would often spend a few precious minutes retreating into the confines of my head during these journeys, and one of the things I would notice were the benches at bus stops (never saw a bus, or anyone waiting for one), and on those benches an advert was often repeated. I couldn't tell you what it was for, but it was a woman's legs as she was sitting on a floor (in a white studio, clearly) and she was wearing heels. The hem of her sundress was visible too. That image played up in my mind into a full length story for my first wife...

 

[AchtungNight]

I love Victor Borge. I remember watching him as a kid. My grandmother had a collection of VHS tapes of him that she bought off a late night infomercial.

I had Borge’s Best of collection on VHS back in the day. He was hilarious.

There was an ad in the late 90s, for Havoline oil additives I think, where a progressively aging bellhop observed a car and driver that “never aged”. I featured it in a Highlander fanfic once.

The cover of Vanity Fair’s 2006 Hollywood issue also inspired my first erotic fanfic “Fear, Lust, and Vanity”. Putting nude Hollywood stars on a magazine cover will do that.

I can’t recall any other specific inspirations from advertising right now. But yeah, it can be a source.

 

[StillStunned]

Reminds me of the Victor Borge routine where he read something, inserting little grunts and whistles representing the punctuation.

You can find it by Googling "phonetic punctuation".

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

Borge's piano concerts were a riot.

Since we're doing vintage commercials, do we remember

"‘Cuz I’m a woman.
Enjoli!
I can bring home the bacon.
Enjoli!
Fry it up in a pan.
And never let you forget you’re a man.

I can work till 5 o’clock.
Come home and read you tickety tock.

Tonight I’m gonna cook for the kids.

And if its lovin’ you want I can kiss you and give you the shiverin’ fits."

https://www.mozzarellamamma.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/enjoli-woman.jpg?x85003

 

[lovecraft68]

Since you showed yours, it only right that I do the same.

I hope this comes through...

View attachment 2580437

That's umm...inspiring.

 

[lovecraft68]

This commercial led to my story "Sis, is that you?"

The ultimate inspiration. I swear I am going to write a variation of this some day. For those not familiar, the beginning of the video is the actual ad, it changes when the parents come downstairs. It was created because so many people thought there's no way a brother/sister look at each other that way.

 

[designatedvictim]

This commercial led to my story "Sis, is that you?"

The ultimate inspiration. I swear I am going to write a variation of this some day. For those not familiar, the beginning of the video is the actual ad, it changes when the parents come downstairs. It was created because so many people thought there's no way a brother/sister look at each other that way.

When I saw the age restriction on the video, I immediately thought 'Folgers!' Not disappointed.

 

[AchtungNight]

Now that I think about it, I did use moments and music from a car commercial in the “Fear, Lust, & Vanity” paparazzi chase. I also may have been inspired by other commercials here and there for things like a character’s clothing or dialogue. But specific examples still don’t come up.

 

[designatedvictim]

That's umm...inspiring.

I don't have any kind of foot or ankle fetish (that I'm conscious of, at least) but the smaller-scale version of the image caught my eye and stayed with me.

When I started my current WIP and got to the Fourth of July cookout, well...

Virtually identical anklets are on sister's roommate when she starts going after the brother.

The sister describes them to him as the roommate's 'hunting earrings.' The younger brother doesn't get it.

I'll leave the reasoning for that name up to the reader.

 

[lovecraft68]

I don't have any kind of foot or ankle fetish (that I'm conscious of, at least) but the smaller-scale version of the image caught my eye and stayed with me.

When I started my current WIP and got to the Fourth of July cookout, well...

Virtually identical anklets are on sister's roommate when she starts going after the brother.

The sister describes them to him as the roommate's 'hunting earrings.' The younger brother doesn't get it.

I'll leave the reasoning for that name up to the reader.

Anklets also have a place in hot wife/swinging stories as they signify a woman is "in play"

Or it was at one point, who knows if anklets and pineapples on the porch are still a thing.

 

[MrPixel]

Or it was at one point, who knows if anklets and pineapples on the porch are still a thing.

Upside down pineapples. Yes.

 

[Writer61]

There was a advert in the UK for a range of beauty products in which all of the actors were naked. Search for:

Elave Lab - Nothing to Hide​

I have not used it … yet.

 

[designatedvictim]

Anklets also have a place in hot wife/swinging stories as they signify a woman is "in play"

Or it was at one point, who knows if anklets and pineapples on the porch are still a thing.

I... wasn't aware of that. Not often in the LW category.

I liked the image, thought the idea of it looked hot, worked it into the WIP.


WIP:

Just-graduated-from-college brother visits five-year-older sister and her same-age-as-sister roommate for three weeks. Shenanigans ensue.

This is the 'Arizona' story. I think you posted in that thread.

 

[lovecraft68]

I... wasn't aware of that. Not often in the LW category.

I liked the image, thought the idea of it looked hot, worked it into the WIP.


WIP:

Just-graduated-from-college brother visits five-year-older sister and her same-age-as-sister roommate for three weeks. Shenanigans ensue.

This is the 'Arizona' story. I think you posted in that thread.

The Arizona story, right?

When I first looked at your post I thought it said Five year old sister and I'm like whoa, that is not getting through! I need to remember to put my glasses on when I'm reading

 

[designatedvictim]

The Arizona story, right?

When I first looked at your post I thought it said Five year old sister and I'm like whoa, that is not getting through! I need to remember to put my glasses on when I'm reading

Dude! Older!

Glasses are good.

The Arizona-derived title has been retired and its current working title is Figure Study with my Sister.

 

[lovecraft68]

Dude! Older!

Glasses are good.

The Arizona-derived title has been retired and its current working title is Figure Study with my Sister.

That title is better, you want to get the buzzword of sister in there.

 

[Bramblethorn]

I love Victor Borge. I remember watching him as a kid. My grandmother had a collection of VHS tapes of him that she bought off a late night infomercial.

Borge's comedy is all the more amazing considering he didn't learn English until his thirties. Ridiculously talented.

OP: part of the genesis for "The Floggings Will Continue..." was an ad for a corporate events company that ran a "cuddle a co-worker" activity where people would be expected to spend hours on end cuddling their workmates. Awful idea for an actual corporate event, excellent premise for a "how badly could this go wrong?" sex story.

 

[iwatchus]

OP: part of the genesis for "The Floggings Will Continue..." was an ad for a corporate events company that ran a "cuddle a co-worker" activity where people would be expected to spend hours on end cuddling their workmates. Awful idea for an actual corporate event, excellent premise for a "how badly could this go wrong?" sex story.

A VERY good story. Read it!