Obituaries

When I was in college, I signed up for a news writing class. It wasn’t part of my curriculum, but it seemed like a good skill to learn.

The class was taught by a crusty old newspaper man who used to walk around in a WWII leather bomber jacket. He was demanding, but cool.

The first half of the semester was devoted to writing the types of stories you would typically find in a small town paper, like store openings, high school basketball games, and graduations. This really wasn’t my cup of tea. I preferred to read about peace agreements in the Middle East, the plight of minority populations in Southeast Asia, and trade negotiations in Africa.

However, the one thing I learned from these exercises is that the best news stories usually include the who, what, when, and where in the first sentence. For example: Rogers & Company opened a new store on 5th and Main St today. 

It makes sense, right? In one fell swoop, the reader gets all the main points of the story. If they want to know the how and why, they can keep on reading. If not, then they can move on to the next article.

“But how do you keep them reading?” someone asked from the back of the room.

“It doesn’t matter,” he responded.

“But how do you know if it’s a good story?” That kid liked to ask a lot of questions. He also owned a leather bomber jacket (though not from WWII).

“If you can make a buck at it, it’s good,” the professor said and continued on with the lesson.

It took me many years to fully grasp that piece of wisdom.

As for the news writing part of it, I learned to incorporate those practices into every narrative I worked on: from screenplays to novels; and poetry to songwriting. Answering the six questions always made my story more robust. 

The second half of the semester was focused on writing obituaries.

At first, the class was taken aback. No one wanted to write about dead people. They didn’t want to impose themselves on anyone who was grieving. They were afraid of what would happen if they stumbled upon someone who had a sordid past. How do you write about that? If you do, do you need permission from the grieving party?

It takes a certain kind of journalist — one with fortitude — who can objectively report on the life of another. (It also takes a smart editor.) So, on the day we were given our initial assignments, it wasn’t surprising that one or two of us decided to withdraw.

Phineas Hamlet, abominable encyclopedia salesman, died of injuries related to a stampede of angry cats on March 31st. He was 43.

I, on the other hand, found obituaries fascinating. Although I was apprehensive at first, I began to relish in the discovery of new facts and tidbits about the deceased.

Everyone has an interesting story to tell about their loved one. It could be about how they met their spouse, what kind of work they did, where they came from, or if they ever had a chance encounter with fate. You just have to dig for it, make sure the details are right, and be super polite about it.

Because the thing about writing obituaries is that not only do they have to be good, they have to be correct. Regardless of whether it is published in a small monthly newsletter or a big city daily, there will always be one person who deeply cares about what you are writing. So if you screw it up, you need to be more than just apologetic about it. That’s what makes it great training for journalism students.

However, for writers who aren’t seeking a career in news, obituaries can be a fantastic resource for story development. Especially if you have writer’s block and are in need of inspiration.

The major news outlets will always print standard obits about notable people: famous celebrities, artists, scientists, politicians, and war heros. Good newspapers will add captivating yarns and little known facts about these people. Top notch reporters will go a step further and include conflicting POVs from close relatives, friends, or associates and create a story arc (especially if the deceased was a controversial figure).

But the smaller, local publications will feature community leaders and regular citizens. These are friends, neighbors, and relatives. Their stories are personal. They are emotional. And more often than not, the writers know the deceased. These are the ones to read, because they are about real, relatable people.

The kinds of characters you want in your book.

So the next time you’re looking for a good read, or some inspiration, check out the Obits section of your local newspaper.