Writers, students, in fact anyone would require loads of ideas in order to work well and got the maximum out of their existing creativity. When you are out of ideas or when there are times when you have less of ideas. This is when you need some brain storming.



- Brainstorming techniques:

1) Free writing

All you require to do is to just write. You do not need to worry about any particulars format or topic or any other thing for that matter. All you need to do is to write just about anything.

2) Break down

Here, you need to take up your initial topic and write it at the top part of the page. Now, divide the whole topic in to several subtopics, questions and themes.

3) Listing

You must list everything about the whole topic and then list any of the related phrases, sources, questions, keywords etc.

4) Cubing

Cubing refers to taking the topic and analyzing it from six different sides. Similar to the sides of a cube. Here, you must consider the topic in the following six different ways.

Describe! ? Compare! ? Associate! ? Analyze! ? Apply! ? Argue for! - Argue against!

Once you do this try to analyze all your answers and find if there is any connection between them.

5) Journalistic Questions

Always try to ask six the most important questions of journalism to yourself:

Who? ? How? ? What? ? Why? - Where? ?When?

6) Out of the frame

You must try to approach your topic from a totally different angle. Try to ask questions from a totally unrelated viewpoint. You should think in terms of the following:

a)Demographic groups

b)Cultural groups

c)Academic subjects

d)Occupations

7) Shapes

Most people usually think in words. Try to think of visuals. It is very simple. All you require to do is to put things in terms of shapes, diagramming, tables and charts.

You may also look for certain photographs related to the topic and use them in this regard. Always list what you see. Draw all conclusions from the images.

8) Slant

You need to analyze an idea or any topic in terms of audience and purpose. When stuck, try to think about a different purpose altogether.

9) Combination of techniques

Here, you can initiate with any of the techniques and then apply another technique to the results.

For instance, once you list and bullet your topic, reference each of the item that's listed.

It is good to brain storm and you would get great results. Try out the suggestions mentioned above and see the difference.