Calling any writers or other creatively minded people!

[Ally]

Hello all! I'm in the process of writing a story for a competition (which, unfortunately, I can't give away any details about until after May...) and I'm working from a prompt they gave me. I have a solid idea for the overarching story-line, but a big component of the main story is for a character to attempt to steal something from another character, but to continually be foiled and never succeed. This is where I'm drawing an absolute blank- I am having so much trouble thinking up scenarios for the attempted theft and how they would end up failing. It's meant to be funny, so think things like character A steals into character B's bedroom to take the item, but character B comes back unexpectedly and character A becomes stuck in a wardrobe, or character A never gets far enough in because character B's friends/pets/colleagues interrupt. Any suggestions anyone might have are greatly appreciated

[lcockitt]

Completely unhelpful, but I would suggest watching Pokemon and seeing the kind of situations that Team Rocket get themselves into. Remember, it's always funnier when it's a ridiculously over-elaborate plan that fails!

[Eliste]

I think if you can figure out what they're supposed to steal and why that that will probably solve the how problem. The way you'll steal a priceless item is much different from a teddy bear.

[Ally]

The story is meant to be somewhat fantastical. The item in question (a magic mirror) was won by character A in a competition that character B also entered but obviously didn't win. It's not meant to be a grand heist or anything like that. And thank you lcockitt! Any excuse to watch Pokemon is a good one in my book!

[Laialda]

Well, I certainly think the first scenario you mention could be used for a magic mirror type item, but it also depends on the type of humor you're going for. Like slapstick, social awkwardness, or Goldberg machine like where it's just unlikely event a leading to b, and c, and in the end causes the opposite outcome like solving a pivotal plot point on accident. Watching Pokemon is good for the slapstick kind though So yeah, I would suggest thinking about what type of humor is going to fit your story for this running gag. Once you know that, it should be easier to think of scenarios.

Here are some good olde cliches though to help get you inspired though
-Item in question is in room that person B has finally reached. Person A continues to go in out of room before finally taking item with them. Person B is foiled.
-Person B has hired Person C to retrieve item. Person C misunderstood and returns with wrong item.
-Person A gladly offers Person B use of desired item, only for it to be lost/stolen/taken from Person B before they may use it/do anything with it.
-Person B is tragically thwarted by random mob event happening that separates them from the desired object.
-Person B sets up elaborate scheme that involves getting close to Person A, but by the time they can actually steal said item, they no longer wish to hurt the person who has now become a good friend.

Most sitcoms will also give you good ides to work with here. Good luck!

[Ally]

Laialda, I will be nicking your idea of employing person C to take the mirror! That was a good one! As for the humour, the prompt I was given said for it to be 'Roadrunner vs. Wile. E Coyote' style foiling, so I've thought about person A leaving things person B likes around (a la 'free bird seed'). If nothing else, writing this has been a wonderful excuse to watch cartoons!