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Struggling for Original Story Ideas? Try This

There could be a goldmine on your doorstep

Joseph Yossarian
4 min readJul 30, 2022
Signage of a public library on Greek-style columns with a pitched roof above. Lots of white on the building against a clear blue sky
A treasure trove of topics (Photo by chris robert on Unsplash)

Do you struggle to come up with fresh ideas for your stories? Would you like to break away from writing how I earned… type articles, and instead post material on a topic which is unique, new to the market, and which readers will find interesting? Maybe I can help. Because there is a wealth of material you could have free access to, if you put in a little effort. And by effort, I mean a simple trip to your local library.

It is quite probable that your library holds a record of local newspapers going back many decades. In my library’s reading room, back issues used to be stored in giant leather-bound books, which progressed to microfilm and microfiche, but which is now probably all digital.

You may have to book a session on this archive, but it’s a great source of information that is exclusive to you (unless other writers on the platform live in your neck of the woods). So, if you want something new and fresh to write about, look into the past.

A Rich Seam of Information

If you decide to visit your local newspaper archive, take along a notepad and pencil, something to drink, and maybe some sweets. Heck, you can even listen to music through your ear…

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Joseph Yossarian
Joseph Yossarian

Written by Joseph Yossarian

Freelance writer and blogger from the north-east coast of England, specialising in true crime, childhood memories and whatever takes my fancy.

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