How to Get More Writing Ideas

Here are more suggestions on getting ideas to write about for stories, essays, articles, books, poems, etc. Read on to see what I suggest to get you started.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• piece of paper or computer to record writing
• writing utensil (optional)

1. The first way that can be tried is freewriting. If there is a generalized topic in your head, write a couple of paragraphs about it on the medium you chose and save it for reference or modification later.
2. Another method that can be used is asking yourself questions--it doesn't have to be only about what is to be written. Ask yourself about current events, emotions experienced lately, what you remember from your childhood, any question that can be thought of to forward your ideas. Record your answers--or better yet write the questions down you ask yourself for future reference and make it into a writing worksheet that can be copied and used again. Be sure to update it with any other questions that you think up later and also leave enough space to write some decent details!
3. Think of your dreams or nightmares lately--would any of them make a good story? I've used dreams before as the basis for a story and it worked out great! All that needs to be done is to make sure that a dream is kept track of as soon as possible after waking up so that details aren't forgotten.
4. Look around the house and see if anything stands out. I had to do this with a college course and it turned out into a neat little essay describing ordinary household items. I also once got an idea by looking at a ceramic mask with images painted on it. Look around the house for artwork, photos, food, or anything that is there to inspire you.
5. Another way of getting ideas is through conversations you've had with others lately. Maybe someone said something that made you upset they would even think that way and you would like to write an article against it. Maybe your older relatives have told you some stories about earlier times. Perhaps someone told you about a book or music album that you would like to write a review for. The list can be endless.
6. Other media can be a good source of information--such as a magazine or newspaper. Maybe you find a story about a car accident in one of them--this could be the basis for an essay on vehicle safety or a story about a character that has to overcome a tragic car accident. The opinion page is also good inspiration. Just about any portion of other media can inspire a person to write something.
7. Television or movies can give a person ideas. This is for the same reason the newspaper can give a person ideas. I know this is a form of media--but I thought a person was thinking written media last step.
   There a great many of these media to choose from--from religious to public television to news to fiction.
8. Recordings of songs--whether instrumental or with vocal--or any other type of recorded media can also be used. Sometimes these items inspire visions of what is thought to be going on during the song that can be turned into a story.
9. Keep track of what happens to you during a day--whether by recording, hand written notes, or computer. Sometimes these can be referred back to at a later date for some great ideas for writing.
10. Anything computer related can also be a great basis for a story. A video game, something on the internet, difficulties with using computer programs, and more can inspire a person greatly.
11. Where have you gone lately that you remember? A play, a noisy restaurant, a class reunion, Paris? These and more are great items to write about.
12. These are all of my suggestions for you. Have fun writing!

Tips & Warnings

• Quiet places for inspiration can also be helpful in creating an environment to write about. If someone goes to a beach, a picturesque park, or any other place, it can help generate ideas to write about.
• If using other people's stories, television shows, video games, or other copyrighted items, only use a portion for information to get you going and don't try to write all or part of it in your own words or write fan fiction for publication in a paid source. Although these are fun to do at home, it is usually in copyright violation anywhere else unless the person who owns the copyright gave you permission to write it.