Reading newspapers and weaving real life incidents into our stories

I have always admired writers who weave real life incidents into their stories. Even when they call their manuscript a work of fiction, there is a strong trace of a real incident/event/ in their stories. I wish I could do that. Infact, one writer told me she looks through the newspapers for inspiration for her stories/novels. 

According to her the newspapers are full of happenings, interesting incidents and small news items that trigger ideas in her head.

When she confessed this to me, I gulped. I definitely read the lead news, but other than that, my eyes just skim/glaze through the rest of the paper. Infact, you can even accuse me of missing many a small news and features all the time.

I have decided that I will take a page from her book (I know I won’t find inspiration for my Middle Grade stories in the newspapers.) But I am going to spend some time every morning reading the newspaper, glance at the rest of the stories which don’t make it to the first page. Who knows what ideas this may trigger.

Though I do advise my creative writing students to read the newspaper daily, I don’t follow what I preach. I know it’s bad of me. But it’s going to change now.

Here comes my question now. Do you all read the newspapers and by that I mean actually read (and not just glance through it)? Another question, if you were to weave a real life incident in your story, which would it be?

P.S. We get so many newspapers at home, just imagine the vast number of story ideas I must have missed. Sigh. Will be careful now.

P.P.S. As I am taking a short break, this will be my last post for 2015. I will be back on Wednesday 6th January 2016 with my first IWSG post of the year. Take care. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in advance.

IWSG Post – Tackling a feeling of Inadequacy

We have reached the last IWSG posting for 2015. This year has really gone super fast. IWSG (Insecure Writers Support Group) is an online group of writers. We post on the first Wednesday of every month. IWSG gives us a chance to discuss our writing worries, fears, doubts and anxieties with other writers who have similar fears, issues and doubts.

IWSG was started by Ninja Captain Alex J Cavanaugh (author of the Amazon Bestsellers: CassaStar, CassaStorm and CassaFire and the upcoming Dragon of the Stars). To download a free copy of the IWSG’s book ‘Guide to Publishing and Beyond’ visit the IWSG website for details. To read the IWSG Posts click here.

As the year is hurtling down toward its end, I am feeling a strong sense of inadequacy, especially when I read a few of my blog buddy’s posts. I get a shock when I read how many manuscripts they are writing, revising, plotting and marketing. OMG. It’s enough to give me a serious inferiority complex. And when they share their reading lists, I drown in a feeling of inadequacy.

I feel that neither have I written a lot this year nor read enough books. 2015 has been a year where life (family health issues) interrupted my writing every few days. I just managed to revise several old books and write one MG book and a couple of Picture Books and start my YA novel. That’s all. I hope to write a lot this month, but I am sure it won’t be enough as there are just a few days left.

How do you all tackle feelings of inadequacy? Infact, I want to ask you do you all feel inadequate in the first place? Or is it just me?