I am looking for inspiration for part of a Sc-Fi novel where two women (recently met and friends in mid twenties) go shopping in London. Anyone know of some specific research that may help me? Perhaps some contribution on this site has something but I have searched. I am new to writing. Many thanks.
First thing that comes to mind is to look up vlogs of women shopping in London. Since you didn't mention it, I assume the time setting is contemporary and that they're shopping for clothes. Would they be going into high-end stores, or more moderate? Shopping for themselves or for other people? Just throwing out some questions to help you work out details. Oh—are they both Londoners? Or visiting?
I'm confused. "Two new friends go shopping in London" is all you have? Are you looking for other folks to provide a premise and a plot? Or just a guide to shopping in London?
"Two girls go shopping. One girl leaves!" There's lots of youtube videos of this, but I should warn you, the shoppers seem insufferable. Just search "London vlog shopping" on youtube, and try to find a polite gal (or guy, guys record this too for some unknown reason). I'm sure they're out there. Seems like you can get a good feel of the atmosphere with those, so it's not a bad research idea. I'd link a video, but I'm not kidding about that insufferable bit.
Thanks for the replies. I think the YouTube idea is good. i want their typical dialogue. Being male and avoid shops totally green there. Fashion will be 30 years hence so i can perhaps invent that as fashion sort of cycles round so maybe go for a 50's flavour; does it not? They are visiting. One is a recently created Android (inexperienced and learning human behaviour) as an Irish girl minding the other a high flying (human born) celebrity PR type. But the scenario is mainly around two friends out for a bit of fun, to get noticed by the media. They have coffee in Harrods (Tiffany cafe) and I was thinking of bringing in a unexpected media interview attempt (spotted by a female journalist). The PR woman has a bad turn whilst shopping due to a traumatic past event which requires medical assistance but I've got that bit sorted I think. Beyond my experience but I'll search for these elements on YouTube and perhaps a novel for some female dialogue around that idea. There! Just thinking through here has generated out some ideas. I have a draft of sorts but is bad atm. Any pointers welcome e.g. how do women interact in this scenario? Should I keep a human assistant or introduce a rather clumsy human Robot? How to test the draft? Thanks.
A common scenario: Shopping is genetically programmed into one of them and the other would rather have a root canal. One goes gaga over the choices to be made and one of them carries the bags. One dithers over just the right colour for the gaucho pants and the other scrolls through her phone. One of them has heart palpitations at 25% off and the other one whines to go to the food court. One never tires in the shops and the other wonders why she agreed to come.
Further, any ideas how technology in a few decades hence will impact fashion? Found this for research.
30 years hence? They probably say nothing at all and spend all their time with their eyes glued to their mobile communication devices (that would make an interesting premise for a story, actually).
No shops then in 30 years time? Imagine streets full of people heads down bumping into each other or being mowed down! We'll need third party accident insurance. A short story maybe. I wonder if there is one out there somewhere?
30 years hence they probably do nearly all their shopping on line, and the only physical shops that survive are like galleries where shopping is a leisure activity. ( and pound shops, thrift stores , and pawn shops for those too poor to afford the internet)
Is that the British equivalent of a dollar store? Or someplace you pay to get pounded... insert your own metaphor there.
sadly its the former - we have poundstore, poundland, and poundstretcher there used to be a 99p store but it got taken over by pound shop and all the prices increased 1p
they would be the most unfortunately named british shop except that we also have screwfix (who are like bunnings, not a brothel)
People are magpies. They need to collect trinkets, hobbies and there's the turnover in living. They need to meet outside and shop. A balance will emerge between going out and online purchasing I'm sure. In 2050 society will have changed a bit. The current nipper generation will want to do what their parents did and that's have a day out. My time setting in novel is 2050. The arrival of friendly Aliens will likely generate excitement
