How to Generate Ideas for Your Writing : 3 Methods

One of the most stressful moment for writers is getting stuck in the middle of the writing. It means that when you run out of ideas to write. In writing, ideas are just important as your writing ability. Without ideas or new concepts, you cannot produce a piece of good writing. In fact, stimulating your thinking is the key to generate your ideas. While generating ideas, it is recommended that you should not involve any critical thinking or analytical thinking. The reason is that your brain cannot create new ideas while analyzing information (Brantley & Miler). Belows are three methods to help you generate more ideas for your writing.

Generate Ideas Method#1: Brainstorming

The first method to generate ideas is to do brainstorming. On a piece of paper, randomly write down all ideas you come up with. Do not analyze whether they makes sense or if they are relevant, correct or good ideas. Keep recording everything you have in your mind. Then, after you are finished, you can select ideas you think are relevant, logical and good. Then, you may organize these ideas and prepare how to present them in your writing.

If you get stuck, get out of your chair, take a deep breath and drink water. You can take a break and then take a moment to do exercise or meditation. Come back if you get something to write. If still not, do some research and then write them down in your own words. You can avoid ideas’ block from brainstorming.

Below is example of brainstorming.

Note that you do not have to put them in the box the way I do.
TOPIC: Please describe the process of running a workshop

Generate Ideas Method#2: Nonstop Writing

Another method to genenate new ideas is nonstop writing. Sometimes, it is called freewriting. Nonstop writing or freewriting helps you maintain the flow of ideas. To prevent yourself from generate ideas, you can simply write “I run out of ideas or I don’t have any ideas to write”. You just keep writing anything even though it does not make any sense until an idea comes up.

After you are done, you then can highlight the points that are relevant and useful. Alternatively, you can circle the ideas or put the selected ideas in the box the way I do in the example below. Keep repeating this method several times until you think you generate enough ideas to start your writing.

Below is example of nonstop writing/ freewriting

Generate ideas Method#3: Bubble Writing

Last but not least, you can generate ideas by bubble writing. Basically, bubble writing is not only useful for generating more ideas, but it also helps you orgainize your ideas better than the other two method. That is because you write your main ideas in a big circle/ bubbles which is surrounded by supporting or related ideas in smaller circles/ bubbles.

Below is example of bubble writing