THE LAST 7 DAYS

Brace yourselves, because I’m about to go ‘fully hippy’ on you.

I really love random acts of kindness. I don’t mean the recent version co-opted by forward-thinking corporations; giving twitter followers something or putting an extra badge in with your t-shirt order. I mean little unexpected touches with no financial incentive/gameplan, that someone you don’t know will receive. My main unfulfilled plan for a random act is to attach mistletoe to the rails of tubes at Christmas – an idea that never got past the planning stage due to my general fear of being responsible for a security alert/long tube delay (and at Christmas!)

For the last seven days I’ve left a postcard a day in a different place, with a short message and the offer of some kind of task or freebie, to a) see what (if any) the response is like, b) to help document other things I’ve been doing over the last week and c) for the pure ‘random act of kindness’ness of it. People ask: Why bother? But when the entire task cost about 30p and the same time it takes to watch an episode of Hollyoaks, surely it’s a case of Why wouldn’t you?

Each postcard has a brief explanation on it:

This is postcard (number) of 7. One is left each day for a week around London as part of an experiment for The Fiction Section (and then our contact details)

1) SundayPostcard says on the reverse:
So nice to see a non-stuffy craft fair! In return, let me make you a Spotify playlist. Email your five favourite songs to… (email address)

Postcard left:
At Of Cabbages and Kings craft market, Stoke Newington


2) Monday
Postcard says on the reverse:
Hi there,

I wonder if this postcard will ever be read by someone. Perhaps someone sorting unfranked/unstamped mail. How many unpostable items do you see a day. Tell me and I’ll make you a mix CD!

Postcard left:
Inside a post box in Tufnell Park

3) Tuesday

Postcard says on the reverse:
Hello gym goer. What are your tips for the best exercise? Let me know and I’ll send you a pack of ten of these postcards.

Postcard left:
At the back of gym locker #51

4) Wednesday

Postcard says on the reverse:
Thanks for outdoor swimming. Get in touch and I’ll pay for your next (£2, evening) lido trip. Why not?

Postcard left:
At the entrance to Parliament Hill Lido

5) Thursday
Postcard says on the reverse:
Hello fellow Bodeans enjoyer. Here are my tips for the best Bodeans:

1) Pulled pork > any other burger

2) Sign up on Bodeans’ website for a Q card = free stuff every visit

3) Get a loyalty card = even more free stuff

4) Don’t go large unless you’ve skipped lunch

Tell us a tip w/ your address and I’ll sign you up for a Bodeans Q card.

Postcard left:
Behind the menus at Bodeans, Soho

6) Friday

Postcard says on the reverse:
Hello there!

It’s Friday (at the time of writing) – what does your weekend hold? Doing anything exciting? If not, email me with 5 interests and I’ll find you 10 things to do. Promise.

Postcard left:
In the corner of a billboard ad next to Hampstead Heath

7) Saturday

I felt this postcard design was the most honest – this wasn’t really about a dialogue with other people, more my own interest in myself as the writer and distributor.

Postcard says on the reverse:
Hey there! Going to Croatia? That’s cool. I’d like to go soon. Via work I got this free VIP ticket to a dance festival there with Roots Manuva, Little Dragon and Zero 7 and loads of others. Want it? Have it. Hope it reaches someone in time. Let me know (attached is a ticket to a festival in Croatia)

Postcard left:
Inside a guidebook to Croatia in Angel

Each postcard is taken from the excellent McSweeney’s postcard box ‘Greetings from the Ocean’s Sweaty Face’: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Greetings-Oceans-Sweaty-Face-McSweeneys/dp/0811866432 - which, for the record, I spent a lot more than £9.10 on (hmph).

I’ll send a postcard to anyone that contacts thefictionsection@gmail.com with their address in the seven days after this is posted too.