How do you get ideas? It's not like you sit down in front of your computer and automatically you know what you are going to write about and how you are going to write it. Not each and every time anyway. There is some planning and organizing involved.
I keep a messy idea file. Most of it is in a notebook which I keep in my purse. I use it to note down the ideas as they occur to me. But, ideas tend to pop up at the worst times, as far as being able to make notes. That's because its usually when I'm doing something else that I get my best ideas. Driving along to work, running a bit late, suddenly I have a great idea for a new story. I can't just pull over and start writing. Traffic would be in a mess for one thing.
So, I try to remember my idea until I can write it down. Usually I do this by focusing on a key word and depending on that to jog my memory later. It doesn't always work but it's something.
Anyway, back to how you get ideas. If you're lucky you find an idea in something already published. Those can be kept easily enough. Just get a copy of the article and store it in an idea file at home. Try to keep them organized so they actually are useful and not just a collection of paper you will use 'someday'.
Other ideas can come from freewriting and brainstorming. Two versions of the same thing. Freewriting is just letting yourself write, without stopping to think too much along the way. Write until you're finished. Ignore proper grammar, don't check spelling and leave punctuation nitpicking for later. Just write everything that comes to mind about a topic or don't even start with any one topic in mind. Brainstorming is the same but I always think of it as making a list of points more than writing in sentences.
Need more ideas? Read! Start with the newspaper and work your way along to magazines, books, newsletters, cereal boxes and so on and so on. The more you know about the more you will bring into your range. You could be writing about buttery toast and add in all kinds of information from what you know about butter, safe use of knives, etc. But, if you don't know about using a knife to butter toast you won't know to write about it. If you don't know what to look for you won't find it.
Something I do when looking for ideas to add links to my column is randomly combining words. Just think of topics, things you are interested in and put them together in ways you've never thought of before. It's really interesting what you can come up with. Sometimes you find really unique ideas this way. Best of all is finding a group of people who have had the same ideas. That is always a gold mine to a writer, a research gem.
However you get ideas, don't forget to talk to people. Talk about all kinds of stuff. Everyone has different life experiences, you can't experience everything yourself. So learn to pick up what you can along the way from the people you bump into. Great ideas are all around you it's just a matter of keeping your senses open to them. If you do get stuck, take a break. You're most likely to come up with something when you stop trying too hard.
Market and Genre Busting
How many different kinds of writing can you think of? Beyond the non-fiction and fiction there seem to be an endless variety of genres and styles and mediums for writers to get into. Everything least thing you read, someone has written.
For non-fiction writers (other than the obvious books and magazines) consider corporate writing (internal employee and external media and client publications), government ministries and bureaus putting out information and campaigns for the public, script writing for TV, movies or theatre, technical writing (specialized information which needs to be written simply into instruction manuals), public relations (speeches, creating slogans, commercials and a public image), and consulting (offering your special expertise).
Fiction writers have a different angle to consider. Look at different publications but consider a different genre. Are you stuck in a rut with your story, turn it into a soap opera instead. Branch out to the style of an old western, science fiction, horror, or make it a mystery. Try poetry, can you narrow down all your thoughts into one short haiku?
Why not try something new? After all that is the best way to beat writers block. If you keep trying new ideas I doubt you will ever feel you can't write.
Having options is the best revenge.
For non-fiction writers (other than the obvious books and magazines) consider corporate writing (internal employee and external media and client publications), government ministries and bureaus putting out information and campaigns for the public, script writing for TV, movies or theatre, technical writing (specialized information which needs to be written simply into instruction manuals), public relations (speeches, creating slogans, commercials and a public image), and consulting (offering your special expertise).
Fiction writers have a different angle to consider. Look at different publications but consider a different genre. Are you stuck in a rut with your story, turn it into a soap opera instead. Branch out to the style of an old western, science fiction, horror, or make it a mystery. Try poetry, can you narrow down all your thoughts into one short haiku?
Why not try something new? After all that is the best way to beat writers block. If you keep trying new ideas I doubt you will ever feel you can't write.
Having options is the best revenge.
Packaging a Presentation
What's in your package?
Do you have:
business cards
stationery
brochure
media kit
website
professional clothes
and
an office?
Plus, of course, your work itself. All organized in clips, articles, or the books themselves (depending on which medium you use).
Do you have a package?
Of course, we all have a package to present to the world. But, have you done much with yours? Have you put effort into making it professional and available?
You can have a home office. Something simple, organized and some kind of oasis where you keep clutter to a minimum and your writing time separate from your business time. Yes, you do need some time for the business of writing.
Business cards and stationery are part of an office set up. They don't cost an entire arm and a leg. You know you can go for good paper stock and save bucks on less fruity fonts. Just keep it simple and very easy to read.
Business cards and stationery can be mini-brochures. Space is strictly limited (especially on cards) but you can give out the basics: name, address, website, email, phone number, a logo or illustration from something you have done, office/ contact hours, sales or prizes worth bragging about, your upcoming project, quote from a great review, professional degrees or memberships in professional organizations, the name of your business and the year you started. Eliminate some and add others depending on your niche and your special talents and ambitions. But, on the business card you really want to keep it to a minimum - it's a card, not a book. Save your long winded guns for the brochure itself.
Of course the website is a brochure too.
Do you have:
business cards
stationery
brochure
media kit
website
professional clothes
and
an office?
Plus, of course, your work itself. All organized in clips, articles, or the books themselves (depending on which medium you use).
Do you have a package?
Of course, we all have a package to present to the world. But, have you done much with yours? Have you put effort into making it professional and available?
You can have a home office. Something simple, organized and some kind of oasis where you keep clutter to a minimum and your writing time separate from your business time. Yes, you do need some time for the business of writing.
Business cards and stationery are part of an office set up. They don't cost an entire arm and a leg. You know you can go for good paper stock and save bucks on less fruity fonts. Just keep it simple and very easy to read.
Business cards and stationery can be mini-brochures. Space is strictly limited (especially on cards) but you can give out the basics: name, address, website, email, phone number, a logo or illustration from something you have done, office/ contact hours, sales or prizes worth bragging about, your upcoming project, quote from a great review, professional degrees or memberships in professional organizations, the name of your business and the year you started. Eliminate some and add others depending on your niche and your special talents and ambitions. But, on the business card you really want to keep it to a minimum - it's a card, not a book. Save your long winded guns for the brochure itself.
Of course the website is a brochure too.
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