How to Generate Ideas for Writing

Getting started is one of the most difficult phases in writing. Even good and experienced writers experience “writer”s block’ from time to time. The ability to generate ideas swiftly and effectively is essential in writing good essays. Ideas can be generated in a variety of ways. Sometimes ideas seem to come naturally. More often than not, idea generation is an active process that you work at consciously. The most important step is to sharpen your perceptions. Be alert. Take mental and written notes about events, people and things around you. You can also develop your writing skills through the following methods:

Keeping a journal/diary

Write out your thoughts in your journal/diary.

Example:

Being stood up by friends can be hurtful. I waited for three hours but there was no sign of Noraini. What’s worse is that this isn’t the first time …

Brainstorming

Write everything you know about a given topic to help you produce the first draft.

Example:

Food – types of food – why we need food – what food can do for us -food and culture – the staple diet of Asians/Europeans/etc. – my favorite food …

Mind-mapping or clustering

Group ideas or points together. Define their relationships with each other.

Asking journalistic questions

WHO – WHY – WHEN – WHERE – WHAT – HOW

Example:

TOPIC: The Computer

• Who invented the computer?
• Why did he/she invent the computer?
• When was the first computer invented?
• Where did the inventor live?
• What did they use the computer for?
• How do people react towards the computer?

NOTE: There are many other ways to generate ideas. Try them out and find out which method suits you best.

Your creative writing skills are assessed in Section B, Paper 1. Essays required may be on one of the following types:

• Argumentative/Expository
• Narrative
• Descriptive
• Open

You will be given five topics to choose from. Study all the topics carefully. Select one that you are the most familiar with and write an essay of about 350 words. Spend about 6o minutes on this question. The time-limit given should be sufficient for you to plan, write and edit your essay. A maximum of 50marks is allocated for this question.

There are four specific areas you will be awarded marks for. Pay special attention to these areas when writing your essay.

1. Content

This covers the points/ideas that you include in your composition. These points/ideas should be relevant, original and adequate.

2. Presentation of points

The way you have organized and presented your points/ideas will also be taken into account. It is important that your ideas are clearly and logically presented and reflect a smooth progression and flow of words. Each idea or point of argument must be written with supporting information.

3. Accuracy

Proper language usage is also given emphasis in the assessment of writing skills. A good knowledge of grammar and a wide vocabulary will enable you to write with fluency and accuracy. Sentences, word usage, spellings and punctuations are all essential elements which are taken into account by the examiner.

4. Style

Style refers to the way you have expressed your ideas, the tone of’ your composition, choice of words, use of expressions and illustrations in relation to the composition you are writing. It is essential you adopt a style that is appropriate. For example, when writing a descriptive composition, you should use descriptive expressions that would enable your examiner to form a picture of what he is reading. Descriptions consisting of adverbs and adjectives will make your composition more interesting. When writing a formal letter, you would be expected to use words which project a businesslike tone. Casual or colloquial expressions should not be used. On the other hand, if you were writing an informal letter or a dialogue, the use of contractions, exclamations and colloquial expressions would be expected.

Some Figurative Expressions

Figurative expressions help make your writing more interesting and vivid. They help us “paint” pictures with words. Some common ones are listed below.

1. A bad egg/a bad penny – a worthless person
2. A close shave – a narrow escape
3. Apple pie order – in perfect order
4. A snake in the grass – an enemy who strives undercover
5. A wet blanket – one who discourages others
6. Bag and baggage – with all one’s belonging
7. Behind one’s back – without one’s knowledge
8. By leaps and bounds – with remarkable speed
9. Cutthroat competition/situation – steep/fierce competition
10. Cut your coat according to your cloth – live within your means
11. Eagle-eye – quick to discover
12. Good Samaritan – one who is kind and compassionate to someone in distress
13. Hobson’s choice – no alternative; to take it as it is or none at all
14. If wishes were horses, beggars might ride – if all people’s wishes came true everybody would be rich
15. Spick and span – smart and clean
16. To be clover – to live in luxury
17. To be in the doldrums – to be in low spirits
18. To bell the cat – to do something extremely dangerous
19. To bite the dust – to die; to be defeated in battle
20. To break the ice – to take the first step
21. To build castles in the air – to think of something that is impossible to be realized
22. To carry coals to Newcastle – to do what is unnecessary or a waste of time

A Little Note About Creative Writing

Here are some tips on how we can learn to write creatively:

Using metaphors

Describe items in as many ways as you can.

Exercise:

1. Describe a tomato/an orange/a banana or any other fruit or plant
2. Describe the sun/moon/clouds or the sea

Sample:

1. The tomato is like the two cheeks of a baby’s bottom
2. The sea is a stretch of water that seems endless and falling “off” the surface of the planet

Creating new relationship/connection

Imagine two things which have no obvious relationship with each other. Try to connect them together.

Exercise:

Imagine how a car and a coconut tree would relate to each other if they could talk to each other and be friends.

Sample:

There was not much shade for the car parked below the lone coconut tree. It was noon and the sun directly above the tree cast a shadow the size of the standing trunk; straight and slender.

Using pictures or scenery

Pictures and scenery can be a source of inspiration in creative writing. You can also use the scenery as background or setting for your story.

Exercise:

Sit by the beach or at the foot of a mountain or even at a busy street.

1. Write what you see and how you feel
2. Write what you think other people feel about the place or situation

Sample:

1. I saw a huge land rising from the ground and into the clouds. I felt so small and saw myself like an ant, looking up at the towering humans. There was also a mysterious silence surrounding the foot of this mountain.

I wonder whether the other hikers would feel as dwarfed as I were …

Tap into your inner self

Write about how you feel about yourself, how you feel about others, how you feel about your environment. Express yourself. Let out your emotions.

Exercise:

Think about a situation where you are angry, happy, sad, frustrated, ashamed, etc.

1. Describe your feelings
2. Analyse why you feel the way you feel
3. What can you do about that feeling?
4. What does it do to you?

Sample:

The tears blinded my vision for a while as I started to walk up the stage to accept the award. All the hard work had finally paid off. I was announced the recipient for the “Top Achiever Award”. My heart pounded on in ecstasy. As I turned to look at the assembly of students and parents, more tears flowed down my cheeks as I knew my parents were not among those who came.