What do you do to trigger writing ideas?
Please Login to ask or answer a question, or Register if you do not have a WryteStuff Account.
Like they say goethe could only write with a rotten apple in front of him.
what's your "rotten apple"" or do you folow a ritual?
What techniques do you use to get the ideas?
Answers to this question:» Answer from Dale Lovell Answer given 2 years 233 days ago.In the days of the internet it is naturally the first place to turn when researching a topic to write about. Personally I like to collect my information/research one day, have it stored in a file and then let it sit in my head a day or so before beginning to write. When I am actually writing I like to have my email closed, web off, trance/techno/ambient music on (it is surprisngly good at energising my fingers to type and blocking out any peripheral noise - I typically listen to Friskyradio.com (I have no connection to them whatsoever) but I recommend it if you are on a tight deadline!!
Go out an play in a tree...or in my garden....or just go for a walk. Walks are great for hearing those Whispers...works every time.
"The good, bad and ugly [behavior]" triggers my thoughts.
Knowing historical events, not widely spread, are great prods to write.
Every maple tree is Boston has a story! Knowing the neighborhoods and who lived where and who did what is great. Also knowing some are good for thoughts of a story. Many of the stories belong on "Page 6".
As a youngster roaming with pals many times we walked past the residence of Kahil Gibran, "The Prophet". He'd been dead many years but definitely left his mark on this earth.
It meant nothing to us then. That is the most I can write about him.
Watch Soap Operas; TV ... anything with drama in it
Close my eyes and think long and hard any ideas for the writing.
I read other peoples' writing. Usually opinion pieces from newspaper web sites or sometimes blog posts. The problem is that I never have time to write myself so I just write it in my head.
Crazy I know.
Selected as Best Answer!
Go through the alphabet and for each letter write down the first couple of things that come to mind that begin with the letter. These are actually the ideas that are in your subconscious but just need a bit of tugging at. Next look at the words you have jotted down and think about expanding it into an interesting topic. I just did this and the word "Active" sprung to mind. I thought about why and realised it was probably because I felt guilty I had not done enough exercise recently. Expand on this. Here were some possible topics to write about - exercise, guilt, juggling our time etc
I read the newspaper and clip out articles that jar me or make me wonder "why?" For example, I clipped out an article that stated train engineers killed at least three people over the course of their careers.
Sometimes I go for a walk. Other times I look at pictures or read some of my past writings or notes. Sometimes I just sit and stare at the computer screen until either I get an idea or I pass out from boredom.
Anything that stimulates the senses - going for a walk works for me!
Ideas just pop into my head, usually when I can't sleep and once I start thinking about them I'd better write down a key word and forget about it or I won't ever get back to sleep.
Search the internet, read other people's writings and from here it's a go!
Take a shower. Ideas always hit me in the shower.
For creative writing I listen to music. Often the mood or a phrase triggers a whole scene and then I just go with it.
For non-fiction I read newspapers, magazines, listen to the news and surf the 'Net. You are bound to get a feel for what's topical and that can help you either choose something popular or be unique and come up with something new.
Total Answers: 15, Total Page Views: 197.Right now I have a folder on my desktop with "fragments" - ideas that need developing, I also see funny things in life, ironic etc and take a note, I have old notebooks where I wrote things to the Lord Jesus and took notes on scriptures and things I felt that He was laying on my heart - many of those just need scriptures that correlate to the topic to become a page in a devotional. I have a series about Dementia story of Love based on times with my folks before they passed away. U have more ideas than I ever have time to write. We have 4 very different (from each other) cats and they are "fodder" for fun stories for adults and children. I love writing everything but a novel - prefer the short stuff with a punch. the ideas are overflowing. When my hubby and I hike I often write pieces in my head and then go home and type.
The best answer has been selected.
The WryteStuff Q&A section is for entertainment and civil discourse only. As always, if you need professional advice, seek the advice of a professional.
