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Five Ways to Keep Those Ideas Flowing

Posted on September 26th, 2008 in Writing by Melody SJAL
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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

A good writer is a voracious writer, remember that. After all, most writers develop their passion for writing through reading. The desire to be a poet often stems from reading a wonderfully woven poem.

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Read everything that’s relevant. Read about current events, places and people around the world. Read the things you enjoy reading. Read what is trendy, popular, and unique. Read the things you want to write about. Read anything worth reading. You might be surprised as to what you can learn even from wrappers of chocolates or boxes of milk.

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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