As a freelance writer my ability to come up with ideas is a big factor as to whether or not I will find success. Some days, the ideas flow quickly. But most of the time I need to dig a little bit. These days are more common than my more prolific ones.
But sometimes, all I need are a few prompts in order to stimulate my thoughts and find ideas for stories, articles, and other projects. Here are some of the things that I do to find ideas for my writing.
Keep Track of Ideas
It is a good idea to learn how to keep track of your ideas. I've learned to write down all my ideas as they happen. That way, I'll have something to work with on my less creative days. For my system, I carry around a pen and paper so I can write down my ideas as they happen. Then, I transfer them to an “ideas” document that I have saved on my computer.
Read the News
The news is a good place to find potential ideas for articles and stories. I try to browse the news sites at least once a day to see what I can find. I read the current events news articles, scientific stories, information on medical studies, and other articles that strike my fancy. When one seems particularly interesting, I write it down in my ideas document and then figure out how I can adapt it.
Inspiration in Nature
There is something peaceful and inspiring about nature. Sometimes, I don't feel creative because I need a change of scenery. I find being outside very relaxing. Even if nature doesn't have a direct affect on my creativity, it allows me to clear my head. Sometimes I go for walks in the woods and I've learned to bring a notebook and pen with me to capture any ideas.
Live a Little
As a freelance writer, I find that I am sometimes in front of my computer for hours at a time. This is not good for my creativity. In order to have something to write about, I need to get away from my desk and live! Sometimes it is in our daily life where we derive the most inspiration.
