It’s not actually her key, but Baltimore writer Lippman has written a fictional story about this particular key. You can read it here — and bid on getting a copy of the story and the key — on eBay here. As of this writing, the high bidder was offering $12.50. (Up from two bucks at the start of bidding yesterday.)

So what gives, is it a recession-related revenue generator meant to sustain struggling artistes? (Proceeds of the sale will go to Lippman.)

Is it a new way for writers to compete with each other? (Nicholson Baker sold a meat thermometer and a story about it and the set went for $51. Rrrr!)

Actually, it’s a project called Significant Objects meant to stimulate creative writing by combining the best qualities of a weekend yard sale with, say, the Bread Loaf Writer’s Conference.

Here’s the project description from eBay.

“THE IDEA: A talented, creative writer invents a story about an object. Invested with new significance by this fiction, the object should — according to our hypothesis — acquire not merely subjective but objective value. DETAILS: 1. The project’s curators purchase objects — for no more than a few dollars — from thrift stores and garage sales. 2. A participating writer is paired with an object. He or she then writes a fictional story, in any style or voice, about the object. Voila! An unremarkable, castoff thingamajig has suddenly become a “significant” object! 3. Each significant object is listed for sale. Care is taken to avoid the impression that the story is a true one; the intent of the project is not to hoax eBay customers. 4. The winning bidder is mailed the significant object, along with a printout of the object’s fictional story. Net proceeds from the sale are given to the respective author.”

Here’s a New York Times piece on Significant Objects from July.

Here’s someplace to see Laura in person this weekend: The Baltimore Book Festival. She’ll be joining Lizzie Skurnick on Saturday at 2 pm at the City Lit stage to talk about Young Adult Fiction.