How to Come Up With New Writing Ideas
Looking for an amazing yet affordable theme for your site? Join Elegant Themes for the all-inclusive price of $39, and you're only paying 50 cents per theme!
Our host today is Ross Hudgens. If you're interested in getting in front of the readers of Site Sketch 101, check out our guest posting invitation here.
Whether you’re a blogger or a full time writer, it can often be difficult to come up with ideas worthy of being written about. Or, it can seem way.
There are some definite ways to improve the number of ideas you have – and it shouldn’t be something you struggle with!
1. Leave your normal comfort zone.
When we see the same things every day over, and over, and over again, it’s difficult to generate new thoughts. We need sparks of creative intuition that come from changing our environment, seeing new things, and experiencing new stimulation of the senses. Even if it doesn’t relate to that pretty tree you never saw before, the experience of seeing something new can spark a connection you never thought possible.
2. Do nothing.
Ideas are made in the shower for a reason – because the way our brain works, we can’t create new ideas in the middle of a grueling workday or when stirring on something else. Ideas happen when we don’t think about them – for that reason “brainstorming” might be the most counter-intuitive think you can do! Sit back, drink a cup of coffee, smile, and read a magazine.. you’ll find the fire of ideation coming quickly to your head.
3. Explore online.
Similar to the first point, even though the internet is this great, amazing landscape of billions of websites, we can get stuck on the same cycle of our favorite blogs, Facebook, and then repeating back to step one. Take a moment and make a real effort to search on your topic and explore – you might be amazed by what you find – and what cool, innovative ideas come from it.
4. Rest and exercise.
You can’t come up with new ideas if your brain is dead. Similarly, if you exercise, you’ll feel better and have more energy – which will fuel those new ideas, even if you’re just sitting patiently on your couch. You need the mix of rest and also exercise to make the body feel great all day – and the brain too. The endorphins you’ll get will make you happier, too. I can’t cite anything behind this, but when I feel happy and good after excising, ideas seem to flow – I bet they will for you too!
That’s just the start.. now put down that internet (after reading all of Site Sketch!).. and go on a jog down that street you’ve never been!
Gabriele Maidecchi said:
Another good advice: talk with people. And I mean talk, not chat. Talking is much more “instinct” and less “thinking”, you can get awesome ideas even chit-chatting with a friend, happens to me all the time.
Gabriele Maidecchi recently posted..Unity3D anaglyph- virtual shop demo
Murlu said:
Doing nothing is by far one of my favorite ways to generate ideas.
Not only do you finally get to relax a bit but your brain will really start moving as opposed to being constantly bombarded with information from being in front of the computer, tv or radio.
Just keep a notebook handy – you could even doodle! – and be ready to write down whatever pops into that noggin of yours
Murlu recently posted..How To Say Danke! To Your Readers
Mark Johnson said:
Great tip with the note pad Murlu. I have a post-it app on my phone for exactly this reason. You never know when inspiration may strike.
I also like to batch. Somedays I feel totally un-inspired; forcing out content on these days leads to poor quality. When I feel inspired I will do a little brainstorming and jot down lots of ideas.
Right now I have about 40 post titles in my “ideas” bank. When I am in the mood to write I will browse through and pick something that interests me.
Some ideas never get acted on, but that’s fine too. Having a big choice means that I can pick the best ones, and I can always find new inspiration by reading through my old ideas.
Mark Johnson recently posted..Ways to make money online – Starting an eBay business
Murlu said:
That’s the perfect way to go about things Mark – always have some written down.
I do a very similar thing where there’s many ideas which may not be acted upon but when you look back at them weeks or months later it could spark a new thought from all the experience you’ve had in between.
One tool I only recently began using (last night) is Evernote. Before, I had just stacks and stacks of paper with all my scribbles – I’m still in the process of transfering these over – but it’s really awesome just to have everything in one area and synced up so you can bounce computer to computer (or phone).
Thanks for sharing your method as well, I really like the integration of the phone because we always have them on us – may as well put them to good work!
Mark Johnson said:
Thanks Murlu. Evernote looks pretty handy, I may have to look into that. But yeh, the phone works great. I will often get new ideas when I’m out and about, so it’s really helpful to just jot them down.
I also often brainstorm new ideas from the titles that I quickly jot down. So I make a note of a raw idea on my phone, and a week or two later it will turn into 2 or 3 great post ideas…
I also do just the same when it comes to growing my businesses. I find it is always easiest to come up with great ideas when you’re not looking for them!
Mark Johnson recently posted..Ways to make money online – Starting an eBay business
Nicholas Cardot said:
I’m with you guys. Sometimes I feel like a reach a certain level of overload and when I just get away from the computer, relax, and lay on the couch or something similar, my mind clears and I’m really able to focus and come up with ideas.
Alicia said:
This is great advice. Leaving the area that you are used to is a great idea generator. Also down times are great ways to clear your mind and come up with ideas.
Derek Jensen said:
I find myself doing a whole lot of nothing but what usually sparks my ideas are the conversations I have with people on Twitter or via Skype or even the articles that I see tweeted.
It’s also good to get an idea write many thoughts, subjects, or discussions related to that one idea.
Derek Jensen recently posted..Generating 50 Unique Ideas Just for You
Dennis Edell | Direct Sales Marketing said:
Luckily idea generation has never been an issue for me, but i can definitely see how most of those ideas could work quite well.
Dennis Edell | Direct Sales Marketing recently posted..New SEO Needed ASAP!
Ross Hudgens said:
It hasn’t been for me either! That’s why I wrote this post. You’re probably doing these things on accident.
Ron Leyba said:
My own addition (hope this can help though)
Listen to what others are talking about. It really works for new topics or ideas for posting.
Ron Leyba recently posted..Free Printable Pumpkin Carving Stencils – JackOLantern Templates
Mandeep said:
Hey Ross,
Do nothing. Interesting idea. Sometimes, you think too hard about what you are going to write, I guess. Good point. I think magazines are a great place to look for a post idea. Or you can always find another blog owner’s article to disagree with.
Mandeep recently posted..The Internet- You and Blogging
Mike said:
It’s an interesting but true contradiction that you can come up with ideas by doing nothing and also by actively looking for something. I love a good little nap or daydream to generate ideas. Just letting your mind wander on its own is a great way to generate ideas.
Jason Acidre said:
I agree with doing nothing. Most of my ideas for blog posts come in before I go to sleep, which usually tempts me to get up and open my laptop again. I guess I really need a notepad so I won’t forget once a great idea comes up.
Looking through Digg is also a good move to see what kind of posts get aggregated most.
Regards,
Jason
Jason Acidre recently posted..How to Sabotage Evil Clients and Competitors’ Sites
Stephen said:
Add me to the list of people who find the do nothing approach a good source of inspiration.
Even something as mundane as washing the dishes can spark an idea. It’s amazing what comes to mind when the brain is relaxed.
I like to take a walk too, I have a ton of ideas when I do that.
Stephen recently posted..Use Instapaper to save interesting stories to read later
Phil said:
Doing nothing and browsing around bloggs similar to my own is where I find ideas.
Just sitting down relaxing watching TV or listening to Music sometimes helps me, then I quickly write down on a notepad my ideas before I forgett.
Vinish Parikh said:
All points good, as far as i am concerned i get the best ideas just before sleep or when i am not thinking about the blog that is subconscious mind throws the best idea.
Vinish Parikh recently posted..Mistakes to Avoid while Investing in Mutual Funds
Harriet said:
Thanks for the great tips, I agree with your point that you need to not have a lot on your mind to get a good idea!
Harriet recently posted..HTC Desire HD
Biodun | UK ecommerce forum said:
A times you will have the time to write but won’t just feeling inspired. Good points, social sites can be a very valuable way to generate writing ideas, if you know how to use it.
Biodun | UK ecommerce forum recently posted..1paketcom or something else
Brian Rogel said:
Hi Ross,
You are spot on with this post. Having writer’s block can put you in a nasty cycle. You get writer’s block when you’re overly stressed and then get even more stressed once you have it.
I would probably estimate that about 85% of my best ideas have either hit me in the shower or at the gym. Every once in a while it’s important to take a step out of your situations in order to see things clearly again.
Brian Rogel recently posted..Best Web Design Tip For Changing Website Features
tushar said:
i love to do nothing and explore the web when i am short of ideas and within 10 minutes, i get an idea….
infact while reading this post, i have got one more idea to write..
thanks site sketch
tushar recently posted..Beware!! A KILLER Post Title Can KILL Your Blog
Ryan Critchett said:
Awesome comment! You got an idea!
Ryan Critchett recently posted..Methods of Getting Exposure on the Internet – Part 1
Kimi said:
Great advice!
It depends on the niche as well, i guess.
In my niche, my idea comes from related topics forums.
Thanks for sharing.
Kimi recently posted..WordPress Add Video To Post
Ben Dixon said:
I have one more suggestion for you – I often get really good ideas when I’m watching my girlfriend or a family member browse online. It’s interesting to see how others who are maybe less experienced at using the Internet go about making use of it. I got several brainwaves for an Adwords campaign this way. Try it!
Ben Dixon recently posted..Commercial Diver – Have you got what it takes
Charlie Seymour Jr said:
Here’s one of the most overlooked way to find topics to write about: just keep your blog in your mind and ideas will come to you.
“Oh, sure, Charlie… what have you been smoking?”
No, wait: I’m serious. There’s a part of our brain called the Reticular Activating System. Have you ever bought a new car and when driving off the lot you notice lots of them on the road (when you thought you were the only one with one)? Did they just suddenly appear or were they there all the time but you didn’t notice them.
BECAUSE you are thinking about them, you now see them. Same thing happens when you write for a blog: think about it, know you have posts to write, and you will find they. Almost like magic.
Charlie Seymour Jr
Ryan Critchett said:
Man Ross! Awesome post. I’m totally aligned with the way you integrated the brain into what you’re talking about.
The truth is, exercise stimulates a protein in your brain called BDNF.. all neuroscience aside, it stimulates the growth of new neurons and strengthens current ones!
Ideas totally flow into the tip of the iceberg (consciousness) out of nowhere sometimes! The unconscious processes of the brain are always firing things off, solidifying daily learning experiences and more.
Totally in agreement with going out and seeing new things, and definitely the fact that it’s easy to get caught up in the same circle of websites!
Amazing post.
RC
Ryan Critchett recently posted..Methods of Getting Exposure on the Internet – Part 1
Ricardo Bueno said:
A 3-mile run usually leaves me feeling energized and full of ideas!
Ricardo Bueno recently posted..You Can’t Always Be A Superhero
Ricardo Bueno said:
Usually, what works for me is a change of atmosphere. I get stuck but not for a lack of ideas. A change of scenery lets the creative come out in a different way.
Ricardo Bueno recently posted..You Can’t Always Be A Superhero