Things You'll Need:
- piece of paper or computer to enter data
- 5-15 minutes
-
Step 1
Get piece of paper and writing instrument or sit in front of computer opened to Notepad or another writing program. (I would rather these be used than a surface to wipe clean and start over, as it is good to keep these lists for reference).
-
Step 2
Set a an amount of time--5 to 15 minutes will do, and begin writing whatever comes to mind, words or phrases. Keep writing until your time is up. (It is good to set a timer during this amount of time so that writing is stopped when the time is up--finish the last thing written before stopping, however).
-
Step 3
Check over the list for items that stand out or make you wonder why you wrote them. The writer might want to make a note next to them or mark them as special.
-
Step 4
Now, find out if any of the subjects in the list can be grouped together under a larger theme that may make for a great topic for your story.
-
Step 5
A second way to use brainstorming is to write down a focus already chosen and then draw branches or lines out of it, interconnecting various subjects. The theme should be at a central location.
For example--the theme is jogging around town. Draw a line to a subject that was thought of such as "people that I meet". Then draw lines from that to subjects that branch off of it such as "Mr. Fischer", "Aunt Matilda", "baby in baby carriage". Also these can be branched off more if we draw lines to various descriptions of these people such as Aunt Matilda has "glasses", "gray hair", "a limp", etc.
Keep on branching until finished. -
Step 6
Next, pick a topic to write about--unless the author is writing something lengthy, it will likely have to do with only one portion of your brainstorming. That's okay, save the rest for future reference either in a safe place or on the computer. Now is the time for the next step to begin--pre-writing. Have fun!
Comments
char540 said
on 8/18/2009 Good tips!