Top 3 Ways to Find Ideas

Sometimes, the hardest thing is finding an idea.

It's as if somehow, being forced to write can wipe-out all inspiration. I found my school assignments the hardest writing I've done - not because they were hard or long, but because they weren't exactly inspiring. While I knew what was expected from me, I still had a hard time finding ideas.

Fear not, because there are many ways to get some ideas back to you. Yes, even for school.

1. List of Faves

2. Read the Past

3. Inspirational Pictures

1. List Some of Your Favorites

Who doesn't like lists? Okay, a lot of people - but I think most writers like lists!

One of the easiest ways to get ideas flowing is to just start writing random things down. For example, if you have to think about food, start with what you've had for breakfast all week, continue with your favorite dishes, the easiest things you know how to cook, etc. Soon, you'll have a list of dishes that you love and ideas will be flowing for you to write whatever you needed from them - articles, recipes, even how-tos!

Sometimes, the thing you need to get your lists going have nothing to do with what you have to write about. If you have to write a travel blog, maybe instead of focusing on destinations and accommodations, you can focus instead on your favorite sights to see or how you pick a destination. Maybe you can list out your favorite destination movies, or places that books have made you want to visit. Sometimes, the journey as good as the planning itself.

2. Read the Past

But, I don't like lists! you shout at me. Okay, okay, I hear you!

As a writer, sometimes it's hard to believe in yourself. How are you going to write this article if all you ever write is utter and complete compost? Well, I'm absolutely sure that that is not true!

If you need to spark your confidence, go back and read something you have already parted ways with. A published article, a printed story, you 8th grade winning poem. You have things that you have done, glance them over!

It's a bit pretentious to make yourself out to be such a big shot, but there is no harm in seeing all that you have accomplished. And, it's quite likely as well, that your writing has greatly improved since then! Bonus! If you could finish before, you can certainly do it now.

And, can we all just remember, there is nothing wrong with a compost pile. (Except maybe the smells) We must always look for the silver lining in our faults.

Another way to connect with the past, is reading classics! There are great websites that provide you with the means to read over some great, treasured stories. Read these and analyze them! PROJECT GUTENBERG is a great example. It's FREE, offered in a variety of languages, and even breaks the books down into categories, if you're not sure what type of book you want to read.

If facts and journaling are more your thing, most newspapers have archived sections. (Though, most are offered at a fee.) There's an Amazing site, appropriately named NEWSPAPERS.COM that has newspapers dating back to the 1700s! That's quite the hefty afternoon's reading.

3. Inspirational Pictures

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so surely it can inspire a few from you!

A lot of times, we don't know where our inspiration is going to come from. A lot of times, seeing some crazy poster about believing and going for it are just the right words we need to believe again. A lot more times, however, we can see those so-called motivators and get all of squat from them.

I know where you're coming from!

In this time of technology and social media, however, we are all in luck! A search of #writinginspiration on Instagram will garner thousands of images and quotes and people giving of their own tales of woe and encouragement. The same tagging on Twitter will give you pictures and snippets of the same positive encouragement.

If these aren't enough, or you just find yourself browsing for hours and hours and not getting quite the push you needed, ThereIsMagic's Pinterest boards might be just the ticket!

CREATURES is a board for the various dragons and pets that your characters might encounter. Some cute, some quite nasty.

COOL LANDSCAPES is for when you can't think of a place to send your characters. Some places could be just down your front door, others are fantastical places of imagination.

CHARACTER INSPIRATION is quite possibly my favorite and most used board. A beautiful mix of males and females, of all ages and races, as well as inspiring real people snippets to get you to think about the true meaning of character. Be certain to give this board a look!

And of course, the WRITING INSPIRATIONS board, that covers anything that can cause a writer to write.

If you're stomped, head on over to our Pinterest and allow your muse to roam. Be sure to follow for continued access.

Inspiration for ideas are everywhere. The most important thing to remember is that the creativity to see them is in the artist themselves. (Psst! That's you!) You believe in yourself and your writing will work itself out, now GET TO IT!

Keep Writing!

Ann

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