In this gust post, writer Julie Ellis shares some great tips and techniques for breaking out of that funk all of us writers know: writer’s block.
Ideas. Sometimes they flow like a water fall; other times it’s like crawling through a desert looking for an oasis with just one little puddle of water that can propel you into writing. Whether you write fiction, non-fiction or both, trolling for sources of content and ideas is a continual activity. Here is a list of 8 good sources for content ideas and a 9th tip of some tools you can also use.
1. Eavesdrop
No, this is not a tool or app. It’s a behavior. Whenever you are in public places, listen to conversations, even though your mother or grandmother probably told you this is not polite. Some great ideas can come to you as you sit in a booth at a restaurant and listen to the conversation behind you. And here’s a little tip for you non-fiction writers. Look for local meetings, seminars, and conferences in your niche – nothing says you can’t hang out and mingle when participants are on break. Walk around and listen to what they are talking about.
2. Read Everything
We all have our favorite authors. Challenge yourself to read stuff that is totally unrelated to what you write. Read online newspapers, books and articles that are of a completely different genre. You will be amazed from whence ideas may come.
3. Join Online Discussion Groups
If you write non-fiction, get into groups on LinkedIn and other social media sites. If you write fiction, join author’s discussion groups. Just from the discussions, ideas will pop out at you. There are, quite literally, hundreds of groups. Misery does love company, no?
4. Take a Course
We all get stale. We find ourselves using the same techniques, variations of the same character/plot types and the same stale language. Taking a course can help you “change it up” as well as stimulate that right brain of yours.
5. Reach Back
Go back in time and relive some of your experiences – personal and professional. You already know far more than you think, so your research may be cut down. And settings for your novels should always be in a place you know well. Put yourself back in that place and relive your experiences. Content ideas will come.
6. Turn Your Hobbies/Vocations into Book Ideas
What do you do other than write? One author was into local politics – she was just was passionate about attending city council meetings, school board meetings, and so forth. Just from meetings she came up with an idea for an entire series of novels revolving around a single heroine. If you write non-fiction, and you have a hobby, start keeping notes about it. How quickly those notes will turn into fodder for a book.
7. Interview/Survey People
If you have a general topic idea but no more than that, here is a fun way to generate more specific content ideas. Get a clipboard, dress nicely, and go to a mall. Make up a list of questions related to your general topic idea. Stop people and take a survey. Many people do love to talk and voice their opinions. What they say can spark some great ideas.
v8. Get on Big Blogs (or Niche Blogs too)
There are some great all-purpose blogs out there – big variety of topics and great idea starters. Niche blogs will tell you what people are talking about and what they want to know.
9. Tools for Content Ideas
- Pocket: This great app lets you save stuff that you come across online but don’t have time to read right now.
- Write My Paper. This is a writing service. If you want new ideas on a topic, fill out and order, get a pro to produce some fresh original content, and use it as a start point.
- Evernote: this app is like a great little notebook – as you go through daily routines and an idea strikes, make note of it. You’ll never lose a good idea again.
- Buzzsumo: type in a keyword or two and get instant access to articles, posts, and conversations about the topic.
Never, never, never discount a possible source for content ideas. They are literally everywhere you go. The key is to be constantly tuned into your surroundings and to be aggressive about your own learning.
Julie Ellis is an experienced freelance writer, marketer and passionate traveler. When she’s not engaged in helping her customers and students, you can find her reading articles and books of young writers and attending marketing conferences. Follow Julie’s Twitter to find more about academic and business writing.