As many authors are fond of stating, "Ideas are all around!" when asked to be more specific. Well, in a way, that's true. Ideas ARE all around. You just have to know how and where to look for them. If anything, you will have to read like a writer.
Reading like a writer means focusing on items that catch your attention, make you wonder, or make you angry or happy. So after you've read the paper or a magazine, don't throw it out or put it aside yet. If that paper or magazine belongs to you, go back and mark or clip stuff that caught your attention and held it. Perhaps you read the entire article or skimmed it for information that mattered to you.
Chances are that you may have come across a sentence or paragraph that stated an idea much too briefly in passing. But there was something about it that engaged your curiosity and for a few seconds, raised questions. Perhaps you felt that it was too bad that the author did not explain his or her idea just a little further. Pay attention because this may be just the idea that you can develop into an article, story or book with more research.
At this point, consider clipping or highlighting that idea trigger and save it. You can do this by pasting or taping it on a blank notebook page and writing your questions and ideas below it.
Books, journals, pamphlets, fact sheets and even references are full of interesting stuff that can spark ideas. Of course, you will not be able to clip or highlight all of them, but no matter. Jot the idea trigger down, along with the name of the source and page numbers, if possible. If you need to refer to that source again, you will be able to locate it by looking at your notes.
And while you are at it, remember to take a look at your own published and unpublished articles and book manuscripts. As you reread, focus on seemingly little things that could have been expanded a bit more. For example, maybe you can grow that unpublished article into a book!
Another good source is that magazine or book subject that you've only been mildly interested in, but didn't look at again. Even if you're not "into" subjects such as RVs, astrology or mechanics or skiing, you might find it useful to at least skim magazines on those topics. How can one of those given topics be connected or related to your favorite activity or interest? And who else might be interested in it, or at least have problems understanding it or its implications? And be sure to peruse magazines such as Mother Jones, Utne, Harper's, and Atlantic Monthly. You'll notice stuff that may or should concern people, but isn't getting a lot of attention --- yet.
By the time you're finished, you will have accumulated a number of ideas to write about. I can almost guarantee it! Happy hunting, reading and writing!
Dorothy Zjawin, a published writer, has included more ideas in her website, http://www.profitable-pen.com
same day cleaning service Des Plaines ..Our Freelance Writing Needs DefinedWe must make freelance niche types... Read More
Real Estate has "Location, location, location," and writing has "Clips,... Read More
Connectors -- conjunctions, punctuation, and transitional phrases -- allow readers... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?We all tackle plotting differently. How you... Read More
Here's everything I know about improving your writing, publishing it... Read More
When you sit down to write a steamy romance, a... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?It's no use coming up with a... Read More
Among the various foolproof methods used to boost traffic to... Read More
1. PLAY A GAME LIKE SOLITAIRE....for half an hour or... Read More
In a crowded market, clients will be seeking personality as... Read More
This is a tough question for every freelance writer. For... Read More
Every morning I excitedly get out of bed. Just a... Read More
Have you ever wondered why certain writers are able to... Read More
Think you can't write a book that will sell? You... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?I have said above that if a... Read More
Open up your favorite calendar and circle today's date.Why? Because... Read More
If you want to be a writer, you must write... Read More
It turns out that "tips and templates on how to... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?When an idea comes to us for... Read More
Les Edgerton writes in his book, Finding Your Voice, that... Read More
Human beings seem to be born with a gene for... Read More
In the current job market, many editorial workers have turned... Read More
In large publishing houses, many manuscripts penned by first-time authors,... Read More
You may wonder why I have chosen this title of... Read More
As a child, I loved to write. I can't remember... Read More
home cleaning services Mundelein ..You have a great idea for a poem, a story,... Read More
If you're a writer, you're in business. It doesn't matter... Read More
Prolific authors write; they don't just dream about it. A... Read More
Riding on the fumes of potential, you take pen to... Read More
As many authors are fond of stating, "Ideas are all... Read More
So many clients come to me as a book or... Read More
Your computer is a writing machine, a word processor, a... Read More
I hate to admit this, but I rarely get an... Read More
Clustering, also called Mind Mapping, is a great way to... Read More
1. SECRETS TO SUCCESS2. MAKING A POWERFUL FIRST IMPRESSION3. AVOID... Read More
I went to school to be a teacher. In fact,... Read More
Just about every marketer on the Internet claims to be... Read More
Ah, writing. For those of us who love to play... Read More
Communication is effective when we follow certain rules. These rules... Read More
Authors need to write their book according to their target... Read More
The decision to publish a book is very exciting! It... Read More
If a writer considers writing to be a task, he/she... Read More
Last week I was having a quick browse on eBay... Read More
Questions and answers on writing life experiences for ourselves and... Read More
This article is to help identify which style, technique or... Read More
ESSAY 3Writing an autobiography involves a matching up of a... Read More
As an aspiring or an established entrepreneur, you are an... Read More
It is certainly true that we don't get a second... Read More
The following answer sounds simplistic?but think about it. The single... Read More
Imagine a three hundred page book was in the author's... Read More
Writing |