Storystorm 2022 Day 12: Heidi Tyline King Finds Inspiration in the Obituaries

Now this one I did not think of! Thanks for the idea!

Great idea! I’ll have to see if any ghosts will whisper ideas to me today

I can honestly say I’ve not heard this idea before, and will have to try it out! Thank you, Heidi!

I never would have thought of using obits as inspiration. What a clever idea, both for writing style and content. Thanks for letting us in on your secret!

I never thought about this. I love reading the obits. I will look at them with fresh eyes from now on!

Great tip! I enjoyed reading the book along with you on YouTube.

Thank you for this article Heidi. It was an eye opener for me. Very interesting and unexpectant. Congratulations on your book.

What a terrific idea! Love it -thanks for sharing.

My first journalism job out of college was a newspaper obit reporter. Maybe that’s why I don’t read the obits now but you’re convincing me that I should. Great advice in this post. Thanks for sharing!

Never thought about scanning obits! Thanks for sharing

Golly, what n innovative idea. There are so many interesting people out there who are not celebrities. I will try the Google alert.

Eyes open. Looking for inspiration.

I love to see a good story rise from the dead! thanks so much for sharing the inspiration! Best, LM

Thanks for your unique post! Regular people DO lead fascinating lives. Never considered scanning obits for story ideas!

At first I thought your idea was too macabre. On second thought I decided why not search every avenue of information. Thanks!

Two true gems in this post — the obits and the multiple themes. Thanks so much!

Such a novel approach to inspiration. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for sharing your secrets! The best part of your post for me is the depth of your advice.

Interesting ideas, thank you!

Brilliant idea! Ordinary people are doing extraordinary things daily! Thanks for your post!

Oh, what a great tip. Thanks for sharing!

Wow! I would never have thought to look through obituaries!

Obits (and gravestones) inspire me for sure, but your tips on how to turn these into stories is brilliant. Thanks!

Thanks for the idea.

Great tips, thanks! What an interesting way to find out-of-the-ordinary ideas. Congratulations on your new book!

How have I never thought of this? Thanks for giving away your gem!

This is a great way to find subjects that are obscure along with unknown people. Nice tip.

Heidi, I have to admit this is one place I have not mined for story ideas. Interesting, though. I think it might be a great rabbit-hole for those yucky, rainy, winter days when inspiration can wane. Thank you so much.

Wow! Fabulous idea! I’m often looking at obituaries when researching for my family tree. I can see how this would generate info and ideas for a bio.

Great tips!

Never thought of using Obits that way – what a genius idea!

This is a new idea to me–thank you for the great advice for finding people with interesting pasts.

This is an excellent idea! Obituaries..never thought of it.

The first tip about using obituaries to discover ways to mark time or transitions is super helpful along with all the rest! I appreciate you sharing!

This is so simple yet has never occurred to me. I read the obits often just to learn about people and their lives. What a wonderful idea and way to honor someone’s life that might be amazing but never be told otherwise. Thank you!

Interesting. I’ll give it a try!

Thanks for sharing your secret source! I have often found inspiration and great character at my local cemetery. Inspiration is everywhere if you pay attention.

People are just…interesting. Thanks for an inspiring post.

It’s a very strange and interesting idea. I never read obituaries, but maybe I’ll look into them!

Great advice! Very interested in SAVING AMERICAN BEACH. Thanks Heidi!

Thanks for your post!

This is rather unique!

I sometimes look at gravestones and get inspiration there too. I haven’t really thought about using obviously

Thank you 😊

Who knew that obituaries were such a wealth of information and inspiration? Thanks for the heads-up!

What a very interesting idea. Thank you for sharing.

Interesting. Would have never thought to look there…

What a splendidly morbid (I mean, inspiring) idea!

What a unique source for inspiration. Heidi, thank you for sharing.

This is such an interesting idea. Thank you.

I never thought about reading obituaries for ideas

And I thought obits were only good for finding apartments in NYC! Thanks for the tip.

Love the idea of going through obituaries for story ideas. I’d found some really interesting recently, and your post is helpful in terms of how to take a person or subject matter into an idea and story. Thank you!

What a unique idea

Thank you for sharing your process.

A fascinating post—obituaries as a treasure trove of new ideas. Thanks!

One of my past jobs was as a newspaper obit clerk. Lots of stories.

I love learning about the many ways people find ideas and inspiration. I would never have thought about using the obituaries in this way

Welp, I can honestly say that this idea for inspiration has never occurred to me! I kinda love it!

Thank you, Heidi, for helping us to mine obituaries for additional story ideas. I read them often and am so impressed with those who have made the most of the life that they lived, and also those who have done extraordinary things.
Happy New Year to you and best wishes for continued writing sucess!

Interesting. I would never have thought of that

Thanks for sharing your unique strategy. It is dead on.

I love reading about the gift of discovery you shared. Thank YOU 🥰

Never thought of using obituaries to harvest ideas for non-fiction books, but it’s a great idea. There are so many people out there who have fascinating stories that need to be told. Thanks!

Reminds me of how my dad always reads the obituaries – especially liked reading about the careers of older people.

Interesting post! Thanks for sharing!

Going to skim the obits right now. Thanks!

What an interesting idea! And I also always wondered about fireflies!

I have to say that scanning the obituaries is something that has NEVER occurred to me! What an interesting idea….

One of my favorite illustrators, Maira Kalman, also said that she starts her day by reading obituaries! For a while, it has been a goal for me to do so. I will start tomorrow instead of just thinking about it!

Never thought of using obituaries for story ideas! I live reading memoirs so this is very appealing to me.
Thanks!

Thank you for sharing these great ideas.

This is an interesting idea – thanks for the inspiration Heidi :o)

Reminds me of Cecelia Ahearn’s great novel, One Hundred Names. Everyone has a story, and obits are a great idea for finding new ones. Thanks!

Wow, this is such an interesting idea-mining tidbit! And I also like that it’s also a source of motivation, obits are usually distillations the extraordinary things that ordinary people do. Love it!

I have never thought to scan obituaries for ideas- can’t wait to see what comes up! This is great! Your book looks fabulous! Just requested from our local library, and I can’t wait to read!

Great idea for helping with character development. Sharing unique techniques is like sharing the secret in a family recipe.

Hi, I have not received Day 13. Has it not been posted yet? Regards Liesl Couperthwaite

On Wed, 12 Jan 2022, 14:03 Writing for Kids (While Raising Them) wrote:

> Tara Lazar posted: “by Heidi Tyline King I hesitate to give away my > treasure trove of ideas, but let’s be honest: There are more people dead > than alive, meaning that there are plenty of obituaries—and people who led > insanely interesting lives—for all of us writers to mine” >

Some truly awesome suggestions, Heidi. Thank you!

Great idea, I’ve never thought of that! Thank you for your time. Best

Obituaries…who knew? And Google Alert. Two great tips! Thanks, Heidi.

I confess, I never would have thought about mining obits for material. Thanks for the insight!

Thank you for this. Such great ideas and tips!

WHO KNEW?!? Great post! Thanks for sharing this idea.

Genius! Thanks for sharing!

You rock, Heidi! I can’t wait to see you again in our picture book critique group!

I know another author that uses obituaries for possible inspiration and character traits. It’s an interesting source for sure. 🙂

thanks for sharing your process!

I’ve enjoyed reading about interesting people in the obituaries, but never made a connection to my writing. Thanks so much for these great tips!

Congrats on SAVING AMERICAN BEACH, Heidi! You’ve layered so many hooks and themes into this fascinating book. I enjoyed hearing how you mine obits for ideas and themes. Obits are great examples of life summaries, and I’ve also discovered old tombstones can be humorous or heartbreaking one-line pitches about that person’s life. Great inspiration for any genre we’re writing.

Obituaries of ordinary people doing ordinary things💖

Heidi, I never would have picked up the obituaries before reading your wisdom. Thank you. Congratulations with, SAVING AMERICAN BEACH. I’m excited to pick it up and add it to my shelf.

What an interesting Idea. It never occurred to me to look for inspiration in obituaries. Thank you for the suggestions. T

For someone very interested in true crime and some more “dark” type things, I am surprised I’ve never considered checking out the obituaries. Great post!

Thanks Heidi for your totally unexpected post. I have never read the obituaries because I always associate them with death and sadness. You have opened my mind to a totally different way of seeing and analyzing, and for that I will be eternally grateful to you.
Good luck in your future books research.
As a teacher (recently retired) I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your Curriculum Guide for SAVING AMERICAN BEACH and your kind words “Teachers are at the frontline in educating, inspiring, and nurturing wonder in our children.”
Go illuminate everybody with FLASH!

Fascinating! Thank you!

So many great ideas from this post! Thank you!!

I would never have thought of this Heidi! Many thanks!

Have you read “If you lived here I’d know your name” ?
Your post reminded me of this story about an obituary and social column newspaper writer. On another note, I look through my ancestry.com account for cool info. Thanks for your ideas.

I love this idea. Recently read an obituary where I really wish I had met this person.

This is brilliant! I would never have thought about the incredible amount of info and inspiration you can find in obituaries.

I, too feel compelled to read obits. With people I know, I always learn new details and with those I don’t know, I get a snap shot of their life. Sometimes I find a connection to them in a family member who I know or a shared interest. I always learn something by reading them. Thanks for your inspiration.

What a fantastic idea! I’ve long read obituaries with fascination, but not before connected this practice to mining for story ideas. Thank you!

Thank you, Heidi, for this suggestion. Obituaries certainly do offer a summary of what was important or meaningful to people in their lives. I think writing about someone’s life that would typically be lost to history might be a project I’d like to try.

Brilliant! This is a genius way to look for ideas.

I like the idea of using obituaries to create compelling characters.

I’ve never been a fan of the obits but I shall read them with new eyes.

Ooh! If I can’t think of a name for a character, I’ve been known to “borrow” names from headstones in the graveyard where I walk.

I would never have thought to read the obituaries for ideas. Love it! Thanks for sharing!

I never would have thought to look at obituaries. But I will now!

Thanks for sharing. An idea I never would’ve thought of.

What a great resource! I actually have a WIP that came from an obituary but this is definitely something I’ll be doing more regularly. Thank you!

Inspiring tip, thank you! Would also be a good daily reminder of our shared commonalities & human experiences.

Great ideas – thank you!💗

I love obits! It’s so satisfying to see the greatness in everyday people’s lives. Thanks for the tip on Google Alerts. I can see lots of ways to use that. Thanks.

What great ideas for finding ideas! Thanks so much!

Very interesting idea to search obituaries! Reminds me a little of family tree research and finding little gems like news articles about ancestors and the way they wrote the news with a bit of commentary almost like an editorial. Some fascinating story ideas in those! Thanks for the tips- I have to jot down these ideas…

I read obituaries at times. I feel like there are so many people we have never met that have such interesting stories. Thanks for the advice.

When reading about reading obits sparks an idea. Thanks!

Now I need to learn how to set a google alert!!! I never would have thought to use obituaries for inspirations!!! Thank you!

Wow! I never would have thought of reading obits to get ideas. But you are right. Ordinary people do extraordinary things every day. Thanks!

I love mining obituaries. What a fascinating reads. I love your other ideas for how to use them too beyond ideas. Nice concise upbeat tone writing!

A truly inspiring idea to look for role models reading through obits. Thank you for pointing in that direction!

I’ve never considered reading an obituary for fun.

I used to be a journalist and in slow moments I used to love reading the obits that were drafted ready for broadcast when the time came. I wish I still had access to these today! They were fascinating.

Thanks for sharing your treasure trove

Thank you for the unique idea!

Great tips! Thank you!

Ooh, google alerts! 🙂 Thanks for sharing, Heidi!

A fascinating approach to writing!

“Don’t forget to delve into the archives for the forgotten stories of people who deserve to be known.” A gentle reminder for highlighting and celebrating the lives of those who have gone before us, particularly those who no longer have anyone to grieve for them…

Thank you. What a fantastic idea. I never thought about writing a non fiction picture book, but this post has inspired me to do so.

Thank you for the advice.

Thanks for the great suggestions. I will definitely try the Google Alerts!

Thank you for the unique suggestion!

Many times when flipping through the paper I stop and read the obituaries. I have always felt that everyone deserves his or her life to be acknowledged and honored in some way. I love this method for finding undiscovered or unknown people and areas of interest that could use more light shown on them.

Wow! Talk about stretching horizons. This is new for me. Thank you.

This is one I can honestly say I have never heard before but it’s so creative–the obituaries! I’m gonna give it a try.

Families must be tickled to have the legacy of their dead relative further acknowldeged.