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Are You an IKEA-Human?
The great swedish meatball epiphany of the writer’s journey — or how to write a novel when your brain is in pieces.
Yes, I just invented this term as I was looking for an article to write. I never put together an IKEA item. It all started in an Ikea store in Denmark when I got purposefully lost amid Scandinavian design, full of pillows and shiny spoons after too much thinking — and had Their FOod.
Imagine strolling through the maze-like aisles of IKEA, tantalized by the scent of Swedish meatballs wafting through the air. You’re there to buy a shelf or a chair, but suddenly, you’re also contemplating a cinnamon roll. That was me in an IKEA store in Denmark: lost in a forest of Scandinavian designs and delicious distractions.
Hunger pangs and writing cramps
Ever wondered why IKEA cunningly positions their food court midway through your journey? IKEA is sneaky. It’s the same reason why writers often find themselves trapped between the allure of a new idea and the discipline of seeing one through. They place their food courts in the middle of the store. Food stimulates me. Ideas come as the article progresses, but it just keeps getting better. Why?
