Scott, I found similar inspiration from a news story that I read the other day. Check this out... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/military-obituaries/army-obituaries/7223148/Horace-Greasley.html

This is a bit like using the obits to find apartments in NYC. Both can be effective, but unlike the apt search, the story-inspiration use doesn't have a creepy vibe.

I heard Max Millimeter does the same thing to find widows.

Teddy, that's actually right. Only he doesn't do it. He has an intern cover the obits of all Southern California newspapers.

Brad, that's awesome. Talk about being a 'prisoner of love'! Perhaps that's the title!

I was bit by the obit bug via Christine Vachon, and have since found it decreasingly morbid. It's kind of wonderful, actually. You get to know someone's story as they pass on. I can't think of a better homage to a dead stranger than letting them inspire you. I made this obit RSS bundle if anyone wants to add to their reader.

Thanks for that RSS bundle, sabrescribe.

I'm totally sold on the obit apprach...have been inspired a few times as described in my comment a few days ago... http://gointothestory.blcklst.com/2012/06/an-unbelieva-bull-story.html#comment-116761 Another thing I like doing is make up a birthday for my main characters and then punch the dae into one of those astronomy sites a get their "personal profile" -- sometimes you get great ideas for characteristics. Jolli

Ryan Gosling is...the Prisoner of Love.

jolli68, that is a trick I used in the past: Ascribe an astrological sign to a character, then work up the personality from there. I would prefer nowadays to dig into the character and then see what astrological sign fits.