One of the best ways to improve your writing skills is to read the best things you can find out there. I’m sure every one of us has been inspired by a particular story, blogpost or writer.

Here are three news feature stories that I love. Two of them I’ve gone back to a number of times to find inspiration as a writer by trade. The third one I read for the first time yesterday, but I know I’ll want to go back to it too, even though it’s a hard one to read. They’re all a bit long, but if you have the time to take to read any of them I assure you it will be worth it.

1. Pearls Before Breakfast from Gene Weingarten, The Washington Post, April 2007. If one of the world’s most talented violinists plays one of the world’s finest violins at a subway stop during rush hour, will anyone notice? Be sure you watch some of the embedded videos, they’re key to the development of the story, which won a Pulitzer.

2. Life’s Hardest Round from Michelle Hiskey, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, October 2007. A story about when sports take on a greater meaning than just game and the complex relationship between a father and daughter. I did a workshop with Hiskey one time, and she spoke of this being the toughest story she’s ever written, but the one that’s received some of the best reception. I’ll bet many of you find that in your blog writing too.

3. The Girl in the Window from Lane DeGregory, St. Petersburg Times, July 31, 2008. The case of a child so neglected that she cannot speak, feed herself or play as a normal 9-year-old. Also the story of the family which adopted her and the mother who denies there was ever a problem. Have Kleenex ready. I will go ahead and call this for a Pulitzer win.