Five Ways to Keep Those Ideas Flowing

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Five Ways to Keep Those Ideas Flowing

Posted on September 26th, 2008 in Writing by Melody Arcamo Lagrimas

Don’t wait for inspiration to strike before creating a write-up. Whenever you run out of fresh ideas for your next piece, or need a new perspective on an ordinary topic, simply try these basic ways and you’re sure to come up with something fresh and worthwhile for your readers.

A writer’s mind is his tool. Without it, no ideas can be formed and no words can be woven to create a literary piece. Ideas serve as the oil that powers the writer’s mind so he can continually produce his craft.

As ideas fuel the writer’s tool which is your mind, you need to have a continuous supply of these essential reserves. A writer is compelled to write. You as a writer have an obligation to your readers to write and deliver something readable, valid, interesting, entertaining and useful to your readers. Otherwise your touch as a writer is lost.

To boost your powerhouse of ideas then you need to stock it up from time to time to ensure that whenever you tap on it, something good and valuable will come out. Here are a few essential ways to keep those ideas coming and your writer’s mind at work.

Read

Socialize

Who says that to be a good writer, one has to be a loner? Although many artists including writers are basically loners and introverts, it doesn’t necessarily follow that you have to be one too to be able to create marvelous pieces. In fact, you’ll soon find out that socializing can open your eyes and mind to something you might not have known before, or that you may be able to see something in a new light, or find some points of interest in something you previously thought to be dull.

Talk with your peers, your friends, and your family. Strike a conversation with sidewalk vendors, with the hairstylist doing your hair, or even with your local postman. You have a lot to learn from these people if you let yourself see the world from their standpoint.

Be Observant

The universe is vast. The world is enormous. The sky is high, and the ocean is deep. Such magnitudes can present numerous points of view from each little standpoint. What I am saying is that you can draw ideas even when you’re confined within the four walls of your room or on top of a lofty mountain. And you can think of something while peeping through your window watching the traffic below, or while sitting alone in a crowded park.

The key is to open not just your physical eyes, but your mental and emotional eyes as well. By doing so, you get to really see and conceive the things, the people, and the happenings all around you wherever you may be. A crowded train, a solitary garden, a busy emergency room, a solemn ceremony – all these can keep your writer’s mind working and can be sources of inspiration for your next write-up.

Talk with Children

Spend time with your kids, or if you have none, hang out with those in your neighborhood and have a real nice conversation going. Get to know them, and what they’re into. Learn what makes them tick and what they think is cool and what’s not. Mingle with them; and be accepted by being “one of the little guys.” That way they can act naturally and talk freely in your presence.

Children are naturally curious and inquisitive as they tend to grasp the meaning of everything and find its relevance in their own affairs in an attempt to create a logical pattern that they can understand and explain. When talking with kids, have an open mind and be prepared for a barrage of questions ranging from outright silly to distinctly philosophical. But be ready for a few unexpected lessons as well as you may be surprised at what you can learn from these little minds.

So the next time you need some fresh ideas, try connecting with a child for an energizing boost of imagination through a free-flowing conversation. Or if it’s a new perspective on a common topic you want try seeking and viewing it through the eyes of a child.

Write

Although the first four ways mentioned are very helpful in keeping ideas flowing and getting your writer’s mind to work, nothing beats the writing exercise itself. It acts as a sort of a pumping machine that gets your mind to work more efficiently each time you use it. The more you pump, the more you produce; the more you produce, the more you improve. In other words, constant practice makes perfect.

Like any tool, your mind gets dusty, rusty, and dull over a period of writing hiatus. To prevent that, you need to constantly hone it by engaging in regular writing exercises. Don’t wait for inspiration to strike before grabbing your pen. As a writer, you should not write simply because, or only when, you’re inspired. But first and foremost, for all intents and purposes, you must write to inspire and be inspired.

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Tags: children's perspective, observant, read, socialize, talk with children, write, writer's mind, Writing, writing ideas

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26 Responses to “Five Ways to Keep Those Ideas Flowing”

nobert soloria bermosa
September 26th, 2008 at 9:40 am

you’ve said it all,thanks
mdegenhardt
September 26th, 2008 at 10:48 am

I like this very much. I feel this is all very sound advice and that if one were to follow these steps they would never lose inspiration or encounter the dreaded block. Michael
goodselfme
September 26th, 2008 at 2:02 pm

I agree with your thoughts in this article 100%. Very well constructed too I might add. thank you.
MJ Taylor
September 26th, 2008 at 4:04 pm

Thanks for the encouragement there, Melody. All these ideas do help to oil the mind especially the areas of the mind that doesn’t get used much. A constant flow of writing really does help to open up new ideas and breed originality to content. I must take up some of your strategies. Nice one.
JReese
September 26th, 2008 at 6:03 pm

I think you covered it all, every way you listed is covered when you collaborate on storymash.com. Have you heard of it?
Melody Arcamo Lagrimas
September 26th, 2008 at 8:49 pm

Thank you, everyone. I highly appreciate your taking time to read and comment on my srticles. God bless.
valli
September 27th, 2008 at 3:57 am

Good read.
Harry Riley
September 27th, 2008 at 5:07 am

Your advice makes good sense. All my life I have been so keen to get my own message across that I have never listened enough. Talking and listening to people stimulates the mind and triggers off new ideas. Great stuff and thank you very much.
BC Doan
September 27th, 2008 at 7:41 am

Wonderful article, and great tips to keep ideas flowing..
Krislan
September 27th, 2008 at 8:42 am

I agree with talking to children. As adult, we complicate things. But children look at things in a different way. Talking to them will give you a different view of things.

Nice post Melody…
ebazaar
September 27th, 2008 at 4:20 pm

these are remarkably great tips. There are some that I actually exercising at the moment (well,not necessarily coz I write but because I like doing them) but there also few ideas here that I could start using from now. Thanks for sharing!
Lauren Axelrod
September 27th, 2008 at 10:27 pm

Very informative tips. Well done
Melody Arcamo Lagrimas
September 27th, 2008 at 11:54 pm

Thank you all for taking time to read and comment on this article. Happy writing everone!
kimiii
September 28th, 2008 at 2:33 am

I agree! Write, write, write! Actual writing really does help, inspired, or not! I’ll keep in mind the things mentioned above. Goodluck writers!
genejordan
September 28th, 2008 at 4:55 am

Thanks for the advice and for reminding that as writers we don’t need to be inspired to write but rather to inspire others through our writings.
MMV Abad
September 28th, 2008 at 11:08 am

Thanks!
thestickman
September 28th, 2008 at 1:58 pm

Some of my BEST stuff started out as a post to a blog discovered by accident, and I start writing.
Realizing that this is ‘too good to give way fro free’, I highlight & save it to desktop and instead, just post a short note on the blog site, and return to MY writing and punch it up a bit… and publish for pay.
Melody Arcamo Lagrimas
September 29th, 2008 at 5:43 am

Again, thank you all for reading and for your comments – they’re highly appreciated.

Thestickman, I totally agree with you that’s why I don’t do much blogging too.

kimiii, yes, let’s write, write, and write…

genejordan, yes you’re right, thanks too…

MMV abad, thank you very much too.
Hein Marais
September 29th, 2008 at 8:01 am

Excellent Article.
Unofre Pili
September 30th, 2008 at 9:15 am

Very clear and indispensably invaluable.
Ancient Aspie
September 30th, 2008 at 8:49 pm

That happens to me, too, Stickman. Blog posts seem to turn into articles on a fairly regular basis.
poetic enigma
October 7th, 2008 at 9:37 pm

terrific article. Very well written, great thoughts, tips, ideas and everything. Writing is a very awesome thing
Allison Jae
October 12th, 2008 at 8:39 pm

Great article and every informative. Everything you said hit right on the mark. I plan to read all your articles on writing. Thanks for reading mine. Your pal, AJ.
honeybee
October 18th, 2008 at 3:17 am

perfect!
Kim Buck
October 20th, 2008 at 8:12 am

Wonderful ideas.

Thanks for sharing.
Brian Daniel Stankich
October 31st, 2008 at 11:20 pm

I love the children idea. Thanks for sharing this one. It is atypical and creative.

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