For a long period in my life I had a hard time coming up with good ideas for stories and articles, mostly because I was going about it all wrong. Then when I was off doing other things in my daily life (doing housework, my job, watching TV) I would reminisce and day dreamed of good experiences in my past or what life could be like. I also had many interests and hobbies, but I failed to connect them with a means of getting ideas for my writing.
One day I woke up and said to myself...?I have all these things that I love and so many good experiences in my life, good and bad, and I have so many visions of what life COULD be like, why don't I just incorporate them into my writing?? So that's what I did. And the ideas have been flowing ever since.
Here is a breakdown of how you can come up with ideas for writing. Once you master this method I'm sure it will help you like it did me.
Fiction writing:
1. Draw on your past experiences, both good and bad, to come up with a story.
2. Draw on your day dreams, fantasies, and what you think life COULD be like.
3. Try to keep writing even if you don't have any particular idea or subject matter for a particular section of the story. A lot of the time, people like me, have a rough timeline with the main plot, actions and events, but not what happens in between. I have found that I come up with brilliant ideas as I am sitting down and actually writing my story, ideas that I didn't think of before. You should realize that there is a limit to the ideas that you can carry around in your head and it takes the actual sitting down and continuously writing the ?filler? of the story to come up with new ideas.
Non-Fiction, article writing, and copy writing:
1. What are your favorite things? What are your favorite things to do? If you have answers to those questions, write about those things. Like if you love fashion and are always shopping for a new clothes, you might as well put down on paper what your thinking when you look at that outfit you love so much. If you love it, so will other people and they want to know what you think.
2. Watch a TV program that deals with one of your favorite subjects. Or your can read a magazine that has content that deals with your favorite things. I'm not saying you should copy what you see on TV or in the magazine, I'm saying let whatever they're talking about spark an idea of your own. You will be surprised at what you can think of that the TV or magazine missed.
Writing articles every couple of weeks or so is a great idea for your online business but it can sometimes be hard to find good subject matter for your article. You write article after article and finally you just seem to draw a blank on what to write about. I am sure that has happened to all of us at one time or another.
When it happens to me there are a few things that I can do to find fresh ideas. These tips will work for you as well. Below are some good places to find interesting and fresh article content.
*Blogs - Blogs are a great place to find ideas for your article as many different things are discussed on blogs. People share their opinions, ideas, experiences and questions.
*Message Boards - Message boards are a good source of information as well. Follow the discussions and see what things people are interested in and need to know more about. I have written many articles from information I read on the boards.
*Email Discussion Groups - Again, get involved in the discussions. Find out what information people are looking for. Not only can you get ideas for your articles, but you can learn a lot as well and make some new contacts. Just go to Yahoo and do a search for the appropriate type of group for your business.
*Internet News Sites - Keeping up with Internet marketing news is very important for your business. Not only for writing articles but for keeping abreast of new developments, ideas, technology, etc. Research and write your articles to keep your readers informed as well.
*Read through your email - Take note of what people are asking you about and what they are most concerned with. Keep a file on hand and record all questions that can be used to create a powerful article.
*Subscribe to ezines - Ezines can be a goldmine of information and ideas. They allow you to keep up to date on the latest products, programs, biz opps, etc. Some of this information can make great articles.
*Do a survey - Write a two or three question survey and send it out to associates or discussion group members or better yet, your subscribers. Give your readers the information and news they are looking for.
For example: What questions do you have about Internet marketing? What resources do you need that you cannot find? Questions like this could give you some innovative article ideas.
*Read other articles - By reading other articles, you can come up with an unusual twist or angle for an overused idea. It sometimes helps to get different views and insights on the same old idea. NOTE: Never copy information or content from an article, ezine, or website.
*What would YOU like to know more about - Pick a topic you need to learn about, do some research and turn it into a resourceful article. This is a great way to learn while promoting your online business.
Always keep an open mind and eye out for article ideas. After awhile you will begin to se ideas automatically all over the net. Keep a notebook handy and when you think of an idea write it down in your notebook. I tend to think of ideas while lying awake in the middle of the night. I learned right away that if I don't write them down, they are totally gone by morning.
And remember, people want and need basic, straight forward, helpful information. They do not want or need college words, fancy storylines or over-dramatized articles.
Also, do not be afraid to give your articles a little personality, humor and best of all, heart. Write as if you were talking to the reader and doing your best to help them.
Articles are one of the most powerful marketing methods online. Don't let a little doubt stop you from making this big step towards success!
Both Michael Werner & Terri Seymour are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Michael Werner has sinced written about articles on various topics from Modelling, Writing and SEO Articles. For more tips on writing and daily lists of writing jobs and gigs, please visit my website at