Unearthing the right idea: brainstorming techniques for writers

We’ve all stared at a blank page, wondering where the next scene, poem, or essay is going to come from. Recently, my writing partner and I were talking about how we tackle this exact problem, and it usually involves a clock.

We love using a 10-minute timer. The rule is simple: quickly write down a rapid-fire bullet list of any and all ideas we can think of. No filtering, no judging. Once the timer dings, we go back through the list and weed out the concepts with lower tension and stakes. It’s an incredibly effective way to bypass the inner editor and find the raw, high-stakes material.

But sometimes, you need a different kind of shovel to dig up the right concept. Whether you’re plotting a novel, searching for the perfect sensory image for a poem, or trying to figure out how a specific scene should unfold, here are five other brainstorming methods to try.

1. The Ray Bradbury “mulch” method

Ray Bradbury famously said that our minds are full of a “fabulous mulch” of experiences. To tap into it, try his favorite exercise: Make a list of 10 things you fiercely love, and 10 things you absolutely hate. Then, take one item from the “hate” list and tear it down in a short story or poem. Take one from the “love” list and celebrate it. This is a brilliant way to access deep emotion and write with genuine stakes, especially for personal essays or poetry.

2. Associative mind mapping

Mind mapping is one of my favorite techniques. If you’re a visual thinker, a bulleted list might feel too linear. Start with a core concept in the center of a blank page—say, a magical artifact for an urban fantasy or a pivotal emotion for a scene. Draw branches outward to related ideas, sensory details, or consequences. Keep expanding outward. This web-like structure helps you see connections between seemingly unrelated concepts and can reveal hidden layers in your world-building. I usually begin my mind mapping on paper. But if I’m deep into it and/or it’s something I want to save, I transfer my mind map to software. I use Scapple by Literature & Latte. It’s inexpensive and a one-time purchase.

3. The “what if” trope inversion

This technique is gold for fiction writers. Take a common trope in your genre and ask “What if?” until you flip it completely on its head. Push past the first two or three obvious “what ifs” until you hit an idea that genuinely surprises you. For example, what if the chosen one is actually the decoy? What if the magical bloodline skipping a generation isn’t a curse, but a protection mechanism?

4. Starbursting your scenes

When you have a vague idea for a scene but it feels flat, draw a six-point star. Label the points with the journalistic questions: Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How. Then, brainstorm as many questions as possible for each point regarding your scene. Why is this conversation happening here instead of somewhere safe? How does the setting escalate the tension? This quickly highlights where your scene lacks depth or where you need to turn up the heat.

5. Looping

Think of this as freewriting with a magnifying glass. Set a timer for five minutes and write continuously about your topic without stopping to edit. When the timer goes off, read what you wrote and circle the single most interesting sentence, phrase, or image. Write that phrase at the top of a new page, set the timer again, and freewrite from there. It’s a fantastic way to drill down into the core truth of an essay or find the thematic heart of a story.

6. Stepping into the frame

When trying to conjure fresh sensory details for a poem, visual art is a phenomenal springboard. Choose a complex or surreal piece—something like Remedios Varo’s The Weaver of Verona or Salvador Dali’s The Persistence of Memory—and imagine stepping physically into the frame.

Don’t write about the painting itself. Write down what you smell, what the floor feels like under your feet, or what the air tastes like in that specific world. Anchoring your brain in an existing visual landscape often unlocks surprising, tactile metaphors you wouldn’t have found staring at a blank wall.

We all have our unique ways of digging through the creative dirt to find the gold. I’d love to hear how you tackle a blank page—what is your go-to brainstorming method when the well runs completely dry? Please let me know in the comments!