A Writer’s Friend: Brainstorming

December 22, 2009 at 12:29 pm mbutler22 Leave a comment

Let’s face it. As writers we all tend to get stuck from time to time. Stuck facing a half filled page and watching the blinking cursor taunt in repetition. Or maybe stuck with the confusion of your character’s next move and the overall direction for your storyline. It happens to us all. In fact, it may be happening to me right now.

I am walking and talking myself through what it is I am intending to say — my purpose for what I am writing. I jot down ideas at the lower end of my page, add comments to the sides of my work and highlight words in question, all for the search of an idea.

Where can we go for ideas? And what can we do to amplify each idea to its fullest potential?

The answer is so simple yet it is the most powerful technique to generate thought and reach for creativity in our ideas — Brainstorming.

Brainstorming: (noun) a conference technique of solving specific problems, amassing information, stimulating creative thinking, developing new ideas, etc.

The idea behind brainstorming is separate from simply thinking as you go. You must sit down with the intention to brainstorm. Write down each and every idea that comes to you, no matter how far fetched or out-of-the-box — as these wild ideas will create a spectrum to filter through and generate new ideas. Talk aloud to hear and feel each thought. Once you get the ideas flowing, you are left with a pool to select from and develop.

Take advantage of the minds of others through group brainstorming. You have heard the phrase, “two heads are better than one.” Whether you incorporate a writer’s group, friends, family or strangers, asking the ideas of others will break you out of stale thinking patterns and offer the freshness from those around you. As a group, spontaneously share ideas back and forth to build from one another’s thoughts and inspire new directions.

Individual brainstorming practices range widely in their technique. Utilize http://www.bubbl.us/ to create online mind maps in which you can share with others and brainstorm online.

Visit http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/brainstorming.html for a variety of brainstorming exercises aimed at reviving your current project or setting your new writing task in motion.

The skill of writing is challenging as you and I search for ways to heighten our creativity and our ability. It all begins with a little brainstorming.

Need help brainstorming? Leave a comment and let’s see what we can discover.

Melissa

Entry filed under: Writing. Tags: Brainstorming, Writing, Writing Practices, Writing Techniques, writing tools.

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