Are you having difficulty finding writing ideas for your writing? You’re not alone. One of the biggest stumbling blocks to getting started on any writing project is not knowing where to start. Generally, that begins with coming up with an idea you’re excited about.
One of the most difficult things to do when working on writing is to come up with an idea. Sometimes a lack of ideas can cause writer’s block. You’ll need ideas whether you are writing for yourself, for a class, or your business. Here is a list of things that you can do to come up with ideas for your writing.
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1. Keep an Idea File for Finding Writing Ideas
Keep at least one file for your ideas. I have notebooks in Evernote that are dedicated to ideas and I have a physical notebook I take everywhere with me in case I have an idea while out in the world. (I’m not the biggest fan of trying to type ideas out on a phone). During my weekly review, I enter any ideas from my physical notebook into their appropriate places in my Evernote notebook.
In the past, I’ve used Word files and OneNote. Another system I used for a long time involved index cards and an index card box. I would make sure I always had a stack of cards available so I could jot down my ideas or observations on them. When I got home, I would file them behind their appropriate divider in the box.
The way you set up your idea file matters much less than having a system that works for you. You can use a Word document, a file folder on your desk, an index card box with an idea on each index card, or another app of your choice. What matters is that you have a spot to put ideas as they come to you and that this dedicated idea space is portable so you can write ideas down as you have them.
2. Keep Lists of Interesting Topics
If you are taking a class, the best time to come up with an idea for that term paper at the end of the semester is now. As you complete your reading assignments, keep a list of topics that interest you. For example, if you are taking a history class, keep a running file of people and events you would like to know more about. If you have questions for your professor, keep track of those as well. Something that seems simple can form the basis of a great term paper.
I also keep lists of rabbit holes I want to explore. Whenever you get the urge to Google something, jot that down. You’ll soon be finding writing ideas by tracking topics you’d like to learn more about – and that list can be a goldmine for ideas for papers, blog posts, articles, and more.
3. Designate An “Ideas Spot” In Your Notes
Allow space for finding writing ideas when you are taking notes on a meeting, lecture, or class. I always use the top of my paper or note page as my “ideas spot.” I designate that it’s an idea by writing “idea” in all caps.
Attending a lecture on social responsibility? That question that dawns on you halfway through might provide a good place to start for an article or term paper. If you talk to the presenter afterward, it’s even possible that you will have an interview source for that piece.
I find that by creating space when I’m already taking notes for my ideas, I tend to have more ideas. If you’re someone who makes marginalia, you may designate the bottom margin of books or journal articles as your “ideas spot.”
4. Record Snippets of Conversation
While you’re waiting for your meal in a diner, sometimes you overhear strange snippets of conversation. By recording them on an index card or paper, you can sometimes find the basis for a story. Jotting down snippets of conversation can also help you with creating dialogue if you’re working on fiction.
There’s another reason to people-watch when out and about. You may hear about something that interests you and gives you an idea for research. People-watching is one of my favorite methods for finding writing ideas. You might even find a great line to work with when it comes to writing content for your blog.
5. Switch Locations
Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen at The Adventurous Writer suggests working in different places as a great way to come up with ideas for your writing in her blog post, “Writing Inspiration from Margaret Laurence.” By breaking free of your routine, you can give yourself the freedom to think differently about the world.
You don’t even have to leave home or your office to see about finding writing ideas. Just try moving into a different spot from where you normally work to see how your perspective shifts.
6. Make a Mindmap
Remember in school when you would do the classic “brainstorming” exercise? Write the topic you want to write about in the center of the page and circle it. Then write words that come to your mind around it. Repeat many times until you have several ideas.
You don’t even have to start with a topic. You can start with a word and then through free association come up with ideas on your mindmap. I find that mindmaps work best when you want to generate a lot of ideas fast. It’s great when you’re feeling stuck about what to write next on your blog or for a regular column.
7. Start With The Title
In Mary Jacsch’s post, “Zen Power Writing: 15 Tips on How to Generate Ideas and Write with Ease” at Write to Done, she suggests coming up with the title first. Keep a list of potential titles in your idea folder. This is how I come up with many of my fiction projects. I often have a title in mind before I’ve named a single character or outlined a single plot point.
8. Reading Widely is a Great Method of Finding Writing Ideas
Some of my ideas come from newspaper articles (and advice columns) that I’ve read. When I find a newspaper article that sparks my creativity, I cut it out and put it in my ideas folder or I add it to Instapaper to read later. I also subscribe to several RSS feeds of major newspapers – The New York Times, USA Today, and San Francisco Chronicle. These can be great sources for finding writing ideas for both fiction and nonfiction articles.
9. Complete Writing Exercises and Prompts.
File the results away for another time. There are several great books for this. One such book is The Writer’s Idea Book by Jack Heffron. Another great book is What If? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers by Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter. If you’re still itching for writing exercises you might want to check out Bonni Goldberg’s Room to Write. You can even participate in my weekly Fiction Fridays.
10. Play the “What-if?” Game for Finding Writing Ideas.
Ask yourself, “What if stocks rose tomorrow?”
“What if Kennedy hadn’t been assassinated?”
“What if it is all just a dream?”
Come up with your own and give answers to each one. Similarly, you can ask “How?” “Why?” “When” “Where” and “What” questions and come up with a list of topics.
11. Create a “Swipe File”
Keep what’s known as a “Swipe File” of inspiring pieces. These pieces could be poetry, artwork, blog posts that resonated with you, or quotes from books and articles you’ve read. I have an app called Readwise set up to capture quotes from what I’m reading and sync them with my Evernote notebooks. This way anything that resonates with me automatically ends up in my system.
12. Mine Your Memories for Finding Writing Ideas
Our own experiences can be a great source of inspiration for writing. Keep a list of memories – sometimes it’s good to set a timer for 10 minutes, and then just jot down as many memories as you can in that space of time. Memories can be great writing sparks.
What are some of the ways you come up with ideas for your writing? Share in the comments below.
If you’re still struggling to find ideas for your writing, contact me to learn how I can help coach you. We can unlock your writer’s block together.
