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Posts tagged ‘brainstorming’

Jun 17

Woman writing notes in a notebook with a timer showing 25:00 and a cup of coffee on the table

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.

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Oct 9

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Learn how outlining techniques can help you find your story (and have fun)

I just finished reading one of the most helpful books on writing I’ve ever read—and that’s saying a lot considering how many titles decorate my shelves.

But I hesitate to tell you the title. You might faint. You might freak out. You might jump back from your computer screen or iPhone or whatever device you’re reading this on and chuck it out the nearest window.

One word, in particular, in this book’s title is generally known to make writers quake in their pink bunny slippers as if they are witnessing a wolf spider crawl up the bathtub drain. Read more

Sep 20

Story ideas are everywhere but what is the right one for you?

Story ideas are everywhere but how do you find one that can sustain and excite you through the long process of writing an essay, novel, or even a short story?

Here are three earlier blog posts (including some exercises) to help you find what works for you:

Don’t write what you know, write what sets you free

Write to your white-hot center

Stuck on what to write? Consider these big ideas

Oct 11

Put your pen down and take a power hour

Have you considered going on a “power trip?” Not in that wild, crazy, dictator sort of way, but in a crazy good, creative idea way.

Todd Henry, author of the book, “The Accidental Creative: How to be Brilliant at a Moment’s Notice,” writes about how to maximize the creative process to solve problems or maximize ideas in the work place. I like to use his advice to build out ideas for my writing projects.

One of his tips: Make time for periodic power hours.

He suggests stopping once a week, or whenever it feels right, to spend an hour generating ideas. I use the time to write out details about characters and where my story could go next. Power hours are also good for brainstorming ideas for book titles, considering possibilities for story structure, or drumming up character names. Read more