“They” say write what you know. I agree with them. There’s a lot less research if you can start with something you know. There’s good stuff in my brain, but it feels trapped in there, so I have to coax it out. For me brainstorming is one of the best way to do that.
Want to know the secret to productive brainstorming? Don’t censor yourself
I’m a big believer in the unfettered brainstorm. (Unfettered – love that word.) Not every idea you have is a good one, but getting all the ideas out of your head is important.
Let’s practice, shall we?
Pretend I’ve decided to start a blog. I want to practice writing everyday and I’ve decided a blog is the way for me to do it. Now all I need is something to write about.
I love to cook, so I’ve decided to write my pretend blog about cooking. To write this post I did a quick cooking brainstorm and here’s what I came up with:
Cooking Topics
- Cookbooks I like – 3 favorites
- Kitchen gadgets I can’t live without – citrus press, good knives, pepper mill
- Dream gadgets – ones I don’t have, but want
- Salt – why it’s important, salt things to make them taste like themselves
- My favorite ingredients – chicken, lemons, jalapenos, avocados, cilantro, potatoes, all things cheese
- Best recipes – dessert, dinner, salad, appetizers, perfect salsa, crock pot
- Breakfast for dinner
- Why food matters
- Food and kids – raising healthy eaters, kids and cooking, battling a picky eater
- Family dinner – why its important, how to prioritize it, tips for making it successful, talking, kids and practicing conversation, table manners
- Food memories – secret sandwiches, baby blessings and chicken salad
- Winning school lunches
[stop]
Confession: that was only about 1 minute of brainstorming, not 5. I’ve got a baby scheduled to keep here, Bob.
Wow! Look at that – keep in mind that not every one of those topics will turn into a full blown blog post, but I probably mapped out at least 20 topics that I can turn into something. Now when I’m writing my pretend blog and I get stuck I can look back at my list and figure out what I want to write about next.
Let’s translate this into starting a book. I hear a lot of people say they want to write, but don’t know where to start. My response to that is start with whatever you know and brainstorm from there. What do you love? What do you enjoy? What are you interested in? What do you think want to write about it? What do you know?
Five minutes of brainstorming will give you a ton of ideas. Remember, not every idea will turn into something, but a couple will. And you can run with the ideas that turn out to be good ones.
Your Assignment: Brainstorm ideas for your daily writing practice. Don’t censor yourself, just start thinking of things you are interested in writing about and get those down on paper.
If you are so inclined, drop me a comment and let me know how many ideas you were able to come up with. I bet will both be amazed at what you can do with 5 whole minutes of free thinking time.
Blog to you soon,
Lisa
P.S. Pick something you really like. Writing is work. WORK. You will spend a lot of time with your topic, if you don’t love it, you will tire of it quickly.
Wife. Mother. Shoe connoisseur. Wannabe chef. Consultant. Blogger. Writer. Loves pie, a lot.
I’ve been wanting to write a book about a friend of mine but I don’t no how to start.His life,in one word has been “unreal”but so believeable.I can’t type and thats a bumer
Why, hello there.
I am writing a book about a 13-year-old boy named Joshua who has turretts syndrome (might have spelled that wrong) and slight autism and some aspergers. He use to be an orphan and, finally, he gets a home. He is having a hard time though due to his new family. His new family are all perfect and rich and adopted him because they felt bad for him. He starts to go to a school with a mixture of the preppy popular kids along with the rough trouble-making kids. He is both. He is also having a horrid time because he wants to run away and find his real family but he is also having a hard time at school. He likes this girl and wants to make friends but because of his turrets, autism, and asbergers he is having a struggle with his social life. He ios place as a “retard” in his school because he has a hard time learning. I have a brilliant thing going, dont I? You may ask me, “Whats the problem? Sounds like a great story!” Here is my dilema: I dont know about autism, asbergers, or turrets. My friend’s little brother has autism, James Durbin (American Idol 2011) has all three…but I have NO idea about the diseases. If anybody could be so kind as to help with this I would be ever so greatful! Thank you so much.
Hi Lisa,
I enjoyed your advice and maybe you can help me along the way. I have always dreamt of writing. I actually started two and never quite completed it. Before I started, it seems that I have all the words for the event, characters and places, all built up in my head, but will go blank after some pages. In the process I have come to learn like you said, how hard it is to put something on paper.
May you can help.
Ann
Uh, hey.
I’m only thirteen and I’m really keen to start writing a book. I’ve started a page about a girl who is on the run from these people who want her dead. But I don’t have the time. And I have trouble with names….
I love dancing so I’m gonna brainstorm about it!
Topics:
-Ballet: What it takes to become a Prima Ballerina, history of ballet, when is it to late to start learning, dress code for a ballet class, how to make a ballet bun, why is it important to practice at home,
-Health: Why is dance good for your health, how to make dancing fun, why is hydration important during dancing, what to eat before dancing.
-Music: Favorite hip-hop dancing music, favorite ballet music, where to find good music to practice, choose the right music for each type of dance.
Hi, I want to start a book, (I’m soon to be 14), but don’t know how. Please help! Thanks.
Hi .
Your advice makes alot of sense but i have just 1 question…..
What If you know exactly what you want to write but you can not get out the true feeling of it on paper because the person i would like to write about is my ex partner the one i still have longing feelings for but i really do not know how/were to start plus i do not know if it would be long enough due to we were only together for 2 and hlf years.
i still talk to him yes but……i no longer know how he goes about his life he is a very closed emotional person but in alot of ways he inspires me so much.
The feelings i have but yet hide away is such…..well i don’t know just exactly how to explain it.
But he as learnt me such alot and 1 of the main things is how to accept myself for who i am and how to think positivly not negativly but i just don’t know how to start the writing
Just wondered if any advice off anyone really would help i’d be grateful for anyones advice or ideas
Hello,
Really don’t know where to begin. I’m a 35 yr. old stay at home mom that has always had a passion for writing. My whole life I knew my mother’s raising and believe me it was HORRIBLE! When we tell people my moms story they can’t believe she is the person who she is today. LOVING, CARING, COMPASSIONATE!! I too have been through a lot in my life. And I feel as though a story about these things would inspire so many people. Have some started just need more of a guidance.My daughter wants to go to school for writing and I think it would be FANTASTIC with my daughter and mother and me all writing..
Thank You!!!
Thank You!!!