Stranger Than Fiction

The 2006 film, "Stranger Than Fiction" starring Will Ferrell is about a man living a boring life only to become a real-life fictional character in Karen Eiffel's (played by Emma Thompson) newest book.

Quotes:
Dr. Jules Hilbert: Because he's real?
Kay Eiffel: Because it's a book about a man who doesn't know he's about to die. And then dies. But if a man does know he's about to die and dies anyway. Dies- dies willingly, knowing that he could stop it, then- I mean, isn't that the type of man who you want to keep alive?

Penny Escher: I'm Penny, I'm Kay's assistant.
Harold Crick: Oh, I'm Harold. Her main character.

Harold Crick: You don't understand that this isn't a story to me, it's my life! I want to live!

Harold Crick: I may already be dead, just not typed.

Sometimes in fact... 'life' is stranger than fiction. As a writer, we observe people, eavesdrop on conversations - trying to catch snippets of real life to put in our book(s) or prompt various "what if" scenarios.

Writers:
Where do you seek out "real" to put in your fiction?