How to Brainstorm Ideas for a Short Story

Writing is a creative challenge. Stories can come from many sources at any time. Here are some ways you can start brainstorming your ideas.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Open mind
• Observation and detailed thoughts
• Pen and paper

1. Start with yourself and your surroundings. Think about your emotions,the people you know, your neighborhood, pets and things you do everyday.
2. Be observant. Take a look around you. Notice people in different settings.
   *Look at nature. In each scene, look for interactions, energy and emotions.
3. Find inspiration through other sources. Read books or magazines. Watch movies. Listen to radio.
4. Using Steps 1 through 3--Everything mentioned above can become an idea for a short story. Visualize what you observe or listen to and let your imagination run free even if it's weird or seems stupid. Try to come up with a story line or even a simple scene and build from that point. Or let's say for example that you listen to a song that stirs an emotion in you. Build on the emotion, visualize a scene using the emotion and build your story.
5. Write it down. List your ideas, write down the scene, characters, settings, beginnings or endings.
6. Always think about it. Keep adding ideas while going about your day. Maybe you see or hear something that you think would work in your story, write down and build on it.